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Chinese Characters

Series of essays exploring Chinese history through the life stories of key personalities.

Ranked #1

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Kumarajiva: Translator Monk

Kumarajiva: Translator Monk

Millions of Chinese speak the words of Kumarajiva (334-413) every day. Far fewer have any idea of who he is. He was perh... Read more

11 Apr 2018

13mins

Ranked #2

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Kublai Khan: Cosmopolitan Conqueror

Kublai Khan: Cosmopolitan Conqueror

He was the man with the pleasure dome, according to Coleridge, but in reality Kublai Khan didn't have so much time for p... Read more

17 Apr 2018

13mins

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Ranked #3

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Confucius: Becoming the Sage

Confucius: Becoming the Sage

If there were a competition for most famous Chinese in history, Confucius (551-479 BCE) would surely come out on top. He... Read more

18 Apr 2018

13mins

Ranked #4

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Matteo Ricci: Jesuit and Geometrist

Matteo Ricci: Jesuit and Geometrist

Better living through geometry. That was one of the lessons shared with the Chinese emperor by the Jesuit priest Matteo ... Read more

12 Apr 2018

13mins

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Ranked #5

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Sima Qian: Grand Historian

Sima Qian: Grand Historian

He wasn't quite the man who invented history in China, but he certainly shaped it for thousands of years. Author of the ... Read more

16 Apr 2018

13mins

Ranked #6

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Ding Ling: Sophie, Sensation and Sex

Ding Ling: Sophie, Sensation and Sex

In 1927, China's literary scene was struck by a sensational new character. Her name was Sophie, and she was tormented by... Read more

13 Apr 2018

13mins

Ranked #7

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Li Qingzhao: Patriotic Poet

Li Qingzhao: Patriotic Poet

Li Qingzhao, who lived (1084-1151) during the late Song dynasty, is recognised as one of China's greatest poets. She gre... Read more

19 Apr 2018

13mins

Ranked #8

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Zheng He: The Admiral Goes to Africa

Zheng He: The Admiral Goes to Africa

China rarely had an image as a great maritime power. But for a brief time in the mid-15th century, that all changed unde... Read more

23 Apr 2018

13mins

Ranked #9

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Lu Xun: Compassionate Cynic

Lu Xun: Compassionate Cynic

To create one character who says something profound about the society you live in might be a stroke of luck. To create t... Read more

25 Apr 2018

13mins

Ranked #10

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Robert Hart: Chinese Customs

Robert Hart: Chinese Customs

He was a servant of the Chinese empire, respected in Beijing and London alike. Yet he was no son of Shanghai, but of Uls... Read more

24 Apr 2018

12mins

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