King Wu of Zhou (? – 1043 BCE) was the founder of the Western Zhou dynasty. His personal name was Ji Fa, and he was the second son of King Wen of Zhou. Because his elder brother, Bo Yikao, had been executed by the tyrannical King Zhou of Shang, Ji Fa became heir and…
King Wen of Zhou (c. 1152–1056 BCE) was the paramount leader of the Zhou people at the end of the Shang dynasty. His personal name was Ji Chang, and during the reign of the tyrannical King Zhou of Shang, he held the title “Western Count” (Western Lord or Xibo), ruling over the Zhou domain…
The Duke of Zhou (Zhou Gong) was a foundational statesman of the early Western Zhou dynasty (11th century BCE). His personal name was Ji Dan, and he was the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou and son of King Wen of Zhou – the two principal architects of the Zhou overthrow of the…
Zheng Xuan (127–200 CE) was a preeminent Confucian classicist of the Eastern Han dynasty. His courtesy name was Kangcheng, and he was a native of Gaomi, Beihai Commandery (in present-day Gaomi, Shandong).
The Hou Jing Rebellion was a devastating uprising that erupted in the final years of Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty (r. 502–549 CE), led by Hou Jing, a former general who had defected from Eastern Wei.
The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) is a legendary sovereign of high antiquity, revered as the progenitor of the Huaxia (early Chinese) people. Said to be the son of Shaodian, he originally bore the surname Gongsun. Because he resided at Xuanyuan Hill, he was also known as Xuanyuan Shi (“Master of Xuanyuan”). Later, after settling near…
Shenguai Fiction (“Tales of Gods and Strange Beings”) is a genre of classical Chinese fiction named for its focus on supernatural, divine, and monstrous themes. It is also commonly referred to as “shenmo xiaoshuo” (“gods-and-demons fiction”).