Famous Chinese or Chinese-speaking/writing people.

Note In Chinese names, the family name is typically placed first (for example, the family name of "Mao Zedong" is "Mao"). For westernized names, the family name is placed last (for example, the family name of "Maggie Cheung" is "Cheung"). The following names are listed in alphabetic order, by family names.

Rulers and politicians

Imperial times

• Aixinjueluo Puyi, the last emperor
• Cao family
  • Cao Cao
  • Cao Fang
  • Cao Huan
  • Cao Mao
  • Cao Pi
  • Cao Ren
  • Cao Rui
  • Cao Zhang
  • Cao Zhi
• Chen Youliang, founder of Dahan
• Empress Dowager Cixi, Qing dynasty de facto leader
• Dong Zhuo, Han dynasty general
• Dou Xian
• Gao Lishi, Tang, corrupt
• Guo Jia, Kingdom of Wei strategist
• Emperor Gao of Han China
• Hongwu Emperor of China
• Hong Tianguifu, king of Taiping
• Hong Xiuquan, king of Taiping
• Hua Xiong
• Huang Chenyan
• Kangxi Emperor of China, Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
• Kublai Khan
• Li Chengqian, Tang prince
• Li Tai, Tang prince
• Li Hongzhang, Qing statesman
• Li Houzhu, Southern Tang ruler and poet
• Li Si, Qin prime minister, Legalist, invented systemized script
• Li Zicheng, Ming rebel leader
• Lin Zexu, Qing official
• Liu Bei, founder of Kingdom of Shu
• Liu Biao
• Liu Chan, Kingdom of Shu emperor
• Liu Ying
• Lu Su, Kingdom of Wu advisor
• Empress Dowager Lü of Han Empire
• Ming Yuzhen, founder of Daxia
• Pang Tong
• Qianlong Emperor of China, Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
• Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor
• Sima Guang
• Sima Lun
• Sun Ce
• Sun Jian
• Sun Quan, founder of Kingdom of Wu
• Emperor Tang Taizong of China
• Wang An-shih
• Wang Mang
• Wen Tianxiang, Song prime minister, writer
• Wei Yan
• Wu Zetian, Empress of China
• Xu Shu
• Yan Song, corrupt prime minister
• Yang Guozhong, Tang official by guanxi
• Yinreng
• Yongle Emperor of China
• Yuan An
• Yuan Taotu
• Zeng Guofan, Qing official
• Zhao Gao, Qin eunuch
• Zhang Zhao
• Zheng Chenggong
• Zhou Tai
• Zhuge Liang, Han dynasty strategist
• Zuo Zongtang, known as General Tso in the West

See also: Chinese sovereign, Table of Chinese monarchs

Warlords

• Chang Hsüeh-liang
• Chang Tso-lin
• Feng Yü-hsiang
• Gongsun Du
• Gongsun Kang
• Gongsun Yuan
• Sheng Shicai
• Wang Jingwei
• Yuan Shikai

Communist Party of China / PRC

• Bo Xilai
• Chen Duxiu, CPC cofounder
• Chen Yun
• Deng Xiaoping family
  • Deng Xiaoping
  • Zhuo Lin
  • Deng Nan
  • Deng Pufang
• Deng Yingchao
• Gang of Four
  • Jiang Qing
  • Wang Hongwen
  • Yao Wenyuan
  • Zhang Chunqiao
• Hu Jintao
• Hu Yaobang
• Hua Guofeng
• Huang Ju
• Jia Qinglin
• Jiang Zemin
• Lei Feng
• Li Dazhao, CPC cofounder
• Kang Sheng
• Li Peng
• Li Ruihuan
• Li Xiannian, PRC president
• Lin Biao
• Liu Bocheng
• Liu Shaoqi
• Luo Gan
• Mao Zedong
• Peng Dehuai
• Peng Zhen
• Tung Chee Hwa
• Wang Fanxi, Trotskyist
• Wang Guangya, ambassador
• Wen Jiabao
• Wu Bangguo
• Wu Guanzheng
• Wu Yi, vice-premier
• Xie Fuzhi
• Yang Shangkun, PRC president
• Ye Jianying
• Zeng Qinghong
• Zhao Ziyang
• Zhou Enlai
• Zhu Rongji, PRC premier

Nationalists (Kuomintang)

• Chen Cheng
• Chen Yi (Kuomintang)
• Chiang Ching-Kuo
• Chiang Fang-liang
• Chiang Kai-shek
• Du Yuming, field commander
• H. H. Kung, banker, politician
• Hau Pei-tsun
• Huang Hsing
• Li Tsung-jen
• Lin Sen
• Liu Chih
• Lu Muzhen
• Qiu Jin, female revolutionary
• Soong family
  • Charlie Soong
  • T. V. Soong
  • Soong sisters
    • Soong Ai-ling
    • Soong Ching-ling
    • Soong May-ling
• Sun Yat-sen
• Sung Chiao-jen
• Yen Chia-kan
• Yen Hsi-shan

Republic of China

• Feng Kuo-chang
• Li Yüan-hung
• Ts'ao K'un
• Tuan Ch'i-jui
• Wey Daw-ming

See also: List of leaders of the Republic of China, Premier of the Republic of China

Current Taiwanese politicians

• John Chiang
• Chang Chun
• Chen Li-an
• Chen Shui-bian
• Sisy Chen
• Chang Chau-hsiung
• Chiang Wei-kuo
• Chu Mei-feng
• Frank Hsieh
• Lee Teng-hui
• Lien Chan
• Lin Yang-kang
• Annette Lu
• Ma Ying-jeou
• Vincent Siew
• James Soong
• Su Tseng-chang
• Sun Yun-suan
• Yu Shyi-kun
• Wang Chien-shien
• Wang Jin-pyng

Dissidents

• Wuer Kaixi
• Li Lu
• Wang Dan
• Wei Jingsheng
• Chai Ling
• Yang Jianli
• Liu Binyan

Non-political royalty

• Concubine Qi
• Xishi, melancholy beauty
• Yang Guifei, emperor's consort

Artists and perfomers

Painters and calligraphers

• Dong Yuan
• Fu Baoshi
• Jiang Tingxi
• Liang Kai
• Qi Baishi
• Wang Xizhi, calligrapher
• Wei Shuo, female calligrapher
• Xu Peiheng
• Xu Wei
• Xue Wei , painter
• Zhao Mengfu
• Zhu Da, also known as Bada Shanren

See also: List of Chinese painters

Actors and actresses

• Jackie Chan
• Sammi Cheng
• Leslie Cheung
• Maggie Cheung
• Chow Yun-Fat
• Gong Li
• Sammo Hung
• Leon Lai
• Andy Lau
• Alec Su
• Bruce Lee
• Tony Leung Chiu Wai
• Jet Li
• Ling Bai
• Betty Loh Ti
• Anita Mui
• Michelle Reis
• Ruan Lingyu, suicided silent-film actress
• Sally Yeh
• Michelle Yeoh
• Yuen Biao
• Zhang Ziyi

Film-makers

• Ang Lee
• Jackie Chan
• Chen Kaige
• Samson Chiu
• Stephen Chow
• King Hu
• Ringo Lam
• Stanley Kwan
• Patrick Tam
• Ng Wui
• Tsui Hark
• Wayne Wang
• Wong Kar-wai
• John Woo
• Zhang Yimou

See also: Cinema of China

Singers

• Andy Lau
• Aaron Kwok
• Jacky Cheung
• Sam Hui
• Bic Runga, Chinese–Māori singer–songwriter
• Roman Tam
• Wing Yee, Singer-Songwriter.

See also: Cantopop

Musicians

• Ch'eng Mao-yün, violinist and composer
• Yundi Li, pianist
• Muhai Tang, conductor
• Wing Yee, Guitarist.

See also: List of Chinese musicians

Comedians

• Raybon Kan, New Zealand Chinese comedian and newspaper columnist

Martial Artists

• Cheng Man-ch'ing, T'ai Chi
• Leung Sheung
• Wong Fei Hung, kung fu during the Qing dynasty
• Wu Chien-ch'üan, T'ai Chi
• Yang Ch'eng-fu, T'ai Chi
• Yip Man
• Zhang Sanfeng

Athletes

• Ding Junhui, snooker player
• Fu Mingxia, diver
• He Ying, archer
• Ma Jian, basketball player
• Mengke Bateer, NBA basketball player
• Li Ning, gymnast, entrepreneur
• Lin Sang, archer
• Liu Xiang, hurdler
• Sun Wen, woman footballer
• Teng Haibin, gymnast
• Wang Zhizhi, NBA basketball player
• Wu Qingyuan (Go Seigen), go player
• Xie Jun, chess player
• Xu Jun, chess player
• Yao Ming, NBA Basketball player, Houston Rockets
• Ye Jiangchuan, chess player
• Zhang Juanjuan, archer
• Zhang Zhong, chess player

See also: Category:Chinese sportspeople

Educators

• Cai Yuanpei, chancellor
• Chang-lin Tien, chancellor
• Winston Chang

Business tycoons

• Zhou Zhengyi

Taiwan:

• Tsai Wan Lin
• Wang Yung-ching
• Terry Gou
• Koo Chen-fu
• John Tu and David Sun , cofounders of Kingston Technologies

Hong Kong:

• Li family
  • Li Ka-shing
  • Victor Li
  • Richard Li
• Walter Kwok
• Thomas Kwok
• Raymond Kwok
• Lee Shau Kee
• Michael Kadoorie
• Nina Wang
• Patrick Wang
• Cheng Yu-tung
• Stanley Ho
• Chen Din Hwa
• Henry Fok Ying Tung
• Tung Chao Yung
• Teddy Wang
• Wang Din-shin
• Gordon Wu

Explorers

• Xu Xiake
• Zhang Qian
• Zheng He

Law

• Mai Chen, NZ-based constitutional lawyer
• Andrew Li, judge

Military officers and soldiers

• Cai Mao
• Chen Yi (communist)
• Guo Ziyi, Tang general
• Five Tiger Generals (Kingdom of Shu):
  • Guan Yu
  • Huang Zhong
  • Ma Chao
  • Zhang Fei
  • Zhao Yun
• Fu Zuoyi
• Gan Ning
• Huang Gai
• Jiang Wei, Kingdom of Shu general
• Le Jin
• Liao Hua
• Lin Biao
• Liu Huaqing
• Lu Yi
• Ma Su
• Nian Gengyao
• Nie Rongzhen
• Shi Lang
• Sima Yi
• Sima Zhao
• Song Zheyuan
• Sun Ce
• Wuqiu Jian
• Yuan Chonghuan
• Yuan Shao
• Xu Shouhui, Yuan dynasty rebel leader
• Zhang He
• Zhang Liao
• Zhang Xueliang
• Zhang Zizhong
• Zhou Yu
• Zhu De

See also: People of note in the PLA

Philosophers and writers

• Bai Shouyi, historian
• Ban Gu, Han dynasty historian
• Cao Yu, dramatist
• Chang San-feng
• Ch'ien Mu
• Confucius, philosopher
• Cui Hao, Tang dynasty poet
• Du Mu, Tang poet, official
• Gao Qi, Ming dynasty poet
• Gao Xingjian
• Gongsun Longzi, one of the Logicians of the Warring States Period
• Guan Hanqing, Yuan dynasty playwright
• Guo Moruo, poet, historian, archaeologist
• Han Yu, founded Neo-Confucianism, essayist, poet
• Hu Shih, writer
• Jia Dao, poet
• Jin Shengtan, editor and critic
• Jinyong, novelist
• Kang Youwei
• Lao She
• Lao Zi, philosopher
• Li Ao, writer
• Li Po, poet
• Li Qiao, Tang poet
• Li Shangyin, poet
• Liang Ch'i-ch'ao
• Lin Yutang, writer
• Liu Zongyuan, poet
• Lu Hao-tung
• Lu Xun, novelist
• Luo Binwang, Tang poet
• Mao Dun, writer
• Mei Yaochen, Song dynasty poet
• Meng Haoran, Tang dynasty poet
• Mo Zi, philosopher
• Mencius, philosopher
• Ouyang Xiu, Song statesman, historian, poet
• Pai Hsien-yung, writer
• Pu Songling, Qing writer
• Qian Xuantong, phonetician
• Qian Zhongshu
• Qu You, Ming novelist
• Qu Yuan, State of Chu poet
• Shen Congwen, writer
• Sima Qian, historiographer
• Su Dongpo, poet
• Sun Tzu, philosopher
• Tao Qian, poet
• Tian Han, playwright
• Tu Wei-ming, ethicist
• Wang Yi-Ch'eng, poet
• Wang Pi, Three Kingdoms philosopher
• Wang Wei, Tang poet, painter, official
• Wang Wei (17th century poet), poet
• Wang Yangming, Ming neo-Confucianist
• Wu Cheng'en, Ming novelist, poet
• Xu Zhimo, poet
• Xun Zi, philosopher
• Zhang Ailing, woman novelist
• Zhuang Zi, philosopher

See also: List of Chinese authors, List of Chinese language poets, List of Confucianists

Linguist

• Xu Shen, dictionary compiler
• Woo Tsin-hang, linguist
• Zhang Binglin, phonologist
• Y. R. Chao, phonologist and dialectologist

Religion

• Faxian, Buddhist monk, explorer
• Huangbo Xiyun, Chan Buddhism master
• I Ching (monk), Buddhist monk
• Jianzhen Buddhist monk
• Witness Lee, Christian founder of the Local Church
• Liang Fa, Christian preacher
• Gong Shengliang, Christian preacher
• K. H. Ting, Christian leader
• Abbot Wang, Daoist priest
• Xuanzang, Buddhist monk
• Zhang Daoling, founded Daoist sect

See also: List of Taoists

Scientists and engineers

• Chen Jingrun, mathematician
• David Ho, AIDS researcher
• Charles Kao, pioneer of optical fiber
• Yuan T. Lee, Nobel Laureate, Chemistry
• Liu Hui, mathematician
• Qian Sanqiang , nuclear physicist
• Qin Jiushao, mathematician
• Su Buqing, mathematician
• Tsien Hsue-shen, rocket scientist
• An Wang, computer scientist
• Zhang Heng, astronomer, mathematician, artist and literature scholar
• Zhu Shijie, mathematician
• Zu Chongzhi, mathematician and astronomer
• Li Zhengdao, Nobel Laureate, Physics
• Yang Zhenning, Nobel Laureate, Physics
• Daniel Chee Tsui, Nobel Laureate, Physics
• Wu Jianxiong, Physicist
• Andrew Yao, physicist, computer scientist
• Zhang Yuzhe, astronomer

Others

• Ching Shih, woman pirate
• Jing Ke, assassin
• Li Shuxian, wife of Aixinjueluo Puyi
• Wan Hu, would-be astronaut
• Wang Wei (pilot), crashed PLAAF pilot
• Jack Yan, publisher and businessman
• Ying Lianzhi, newspaperist

Fictional Chinese people

• Cato of the Pink Panther series of films
• Charlie Chan, detective
• Judge Dee, Tang dynasty detective by Robert van Gulik
• the characters from the musical Flower Drum Song
• Fu Hsi, mythical first emperor of China
• Fu Manchu, criminal mastermind
  • parodied in the radio series Round the Horne as "Dr Chou En Ginsberg MA (failed)"
• Kai Lung, of stories by Ernest Bramah
• Kato of The Green Hornet TV series
• Li Kao and Number Ten Ox, of novels by Barry Hughart
• Dr Julius No, villain in the Ian Fleming novel of the same name and later the film
• Nüwa, mother goddess of Chinese mythology
• Xuanzang and his disciples (including Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie), of Journey to the West

See also

• Overseas Chinese
  • Chinese American, List
  • Chinese Canadian
  • Indonesian Chinese
  • Malaysian Chinese
  • Chinese Puerto Rican
  • Singaporean Chinese
  • List of overseas Chinese
• American-born Chinese
• Taiwanese, List of Taiwanese_people
• Taiwanese American
• Chinese clan
• List of people by nationality