Illustrated Dictionary of Famous Figures Throughout Chinese History

Author: Li Dian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: What did the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns look like? Who were Laozi and Confucius? Were the empresses and consorts of emperors truly beautiful? Take a look at this "Illustrated Dictionary of Famous Figures in Chinese History" to find out. However, you might be disappointed because the portraits are not as realistic as photographs—I always feel they all look quite similar. In his preface, Mr. Shi Shuqing notes that portraits of historical figures from different dynasties were often not direct likenesses but rather later reproductions or creations by successors. The authenticity of these portraits is best understood by the viewer. The illustrations in this book are mostly hand-drawn by painters from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, covering figures from ancient times to the late Qing era. They are divided into four categories: Emperors and Empresses, Scholar-Officials and Martial Officials, Sages and Scholars, and Literary and Artistic Figures.
A "famous figure" is, first and foremost, a person of renown. Here, "renowned" does not refer to a "name" or "title," but to "fame." In other words, a famous figure is one who has achieved "fame." The ancients spoke of the "Three Immortals"—virtue, words, and deeds. It was believed that through these three paths, one could attain eternal "renown." Yet, reality is often different. Through the course of history, many once-great generals have faded into obscurity, even forgotten by time; numerous scholars whose brilliant works were lost have become indistinct figures in later generations; and many virtuous hermits, whose names were never recorded, have vanished from public memory. History's choices are not always just, but they are definitive. We should be grateful that many famous figures have endured, becoming role models for future generations to admire.
This book collects images of over 500 famous figures from Chinese history, offering a gallery of these individuals. The figures are generally arranged in chronological order based on their birth and death dates.