Dictionary of Names and Titles of Chinese Figures in the 20th Century

Author: Zhou Jiazhen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-06-01
Features: This dictionary has the following four characteristics:
First, in terms of time frame, it includes influential Chinese figures of the 20th century with their names, aliases, pen names, and titles. We are currently at a crucial historical juncture as the world transitions from the great 20th century to the even more brilliant 21st century. Summarizing the past and looking toward the future is a common task for all humanity at this century, especially for the great and glorious task of the Chinese nation, whose destiny underwent fundamental changes in the 20th century. The study and summary of the historical process and rich experiences of the 20th century are increasingly becoming a topic of widespread concern. Among these studies, the research on 20th-century historical figures holds a prominent position, as any study of historical events and experiences inevitably involves the various figures who played roles on the historical stage. This creates an urgent need for a comprehensive dictionary of names, titles, and aliases to effectively serve people's research on 20th-century Chinese figures.
Second, in scope, it covers all fields of social life, including influential figures from various industries within the aforementioned time frame. This makes the dictionary widely applicable and user-friendly, as flipping through it can solve name, title, and alias issues for figures across different fields.
Third, in content, it focuses primarily on the names, titles, and aliases of figures while also providing brief biographical information. As a dictionary of names, titles, and aliases, it strives to include all relevant names and titles of the figures it covers. However, to help users accurately identify the figures they are researching and their corresponding names and titles, brief introductions—including gender, birth and death years, place of origin, resumes, and major works—are also necessary. Yet, these introductions are secondary to the primary names and titles and must adhere to the principle of conciseness.
Fourth, in form, the design of the entries is structured to be clear at a glance. To achieve this, the author not only lists each figure's brief biography and their names, titles, and aliases separately but also categorizes their names, titles, and aliases into original names, academic names, courtesy names, titles, pen names, aliases, and foreign names. This approach not only facilitates easy lookup but also minimizes confusion, making the dictionary both clear and aesthetically pleasing.
This dictionary includes 19,305 entries. The included figures are 20th-century Chinese individuals who hold certain status and influence in various sectors, including politics, economics, military, diplomacy, science and technology, education and culture, arts, sports, religion, and overseas Chinese communities.