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Fan Zhen (c. 450–c. 510 CE) was a prominent materialist philosopher of the Southern Qi and Liang dynasties during the Southern Dynasties period. His courtesy name was Zizhen, and he was a native of Wuyin, Nanxiang Commandery (in present-day northwestern Biyang County, Henan).
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Zu Ti’s Northern Expedition (313–321 CE) refers to the military campaign led by the Eastern Jin general Zu Ti across the Yangtze River to recover the Central Plains from non-Han regimes following the collapse of the Western Jin.
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Zu Chongzhi (429–500 CE) was a preeminent scientist of the Southern Dynasties during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. His courtesy name was Wenyuan, and his ancestral home was Qiu County, Fanyang Commandery (in present-day Laishui, Hebei).
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Zhinü (“Weaver Girl”) is an ancient Chinese star name, also known as Tiansun (“Granddaughter of Heaven”). It refers to an asterism of three stars arranged in a triangular formation, located on the western side of the Milky Way, directly opposite the Niulang (Cowherd) stars on the eastern bank.
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Niulang (“Cowherd”) is an ancient Chinese star name, also known as Qian Niu (“Heavenly Cowherd”). It refers to an asterism composed of three stars located on the eastern side of the Milky Way, directly opposite the star Zhinü (“Weaver Girl”) – identified with Vega in Western astronomy – on the western bank.
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Zhuge Liang (181–234 CE) was a preeminent statesman and military strategist of the Shu Han state during the Three Kingdoms period. His courtesy name was Kongming, and he was born in Yangdu, Langya Commandery (in present-day Yinan County, Shandong).
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Ban Chao (32–102 CE) was a distinguished statesman, general, and diplomat of the Eastern Han dynasty. His courtesy name was Zhongsheng, and he was a native of Anling, Fufeng Commandery (in present-day northeastern Xianyang, Shaanxi). He is widely recognized as one of the key figures in reopening and securing the Silk Road during the…
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Ban Biao (3–54 CE) was a prominent historian of the Eastern Han dynasty. His courtesy name was Shupi, and he was a native of Anling, Fufeng Commandery (in present-day northeastern Xianyang, Shaanxi).