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People · 235 · – 294 · historical figure
Tang Bin (235–294), courtesy name Ruzong, was a man of Zou in the state of Lu and a general of Cao Wei and Western Jin. He took up bow and horse in youth and the classics later, served as vanguard under Wang Jun in the conquest of Wu, then commanded Youzhou, where he restored the old wall and pushed back the frontier. He died in office as governor of Yongzhou in 294 with the posthumous name Xiang.
People · literary character
Tuxingsun is a disciple of Judge Liusun in Investiture of the Gods, no more than four chi tall, who can travel a thousand li a day underground. Egged on by Shen Gongbao, he steals his master's binding rope, becomes a subordinate of Deng Jiugong, marries Deng Chanyu, and later goes over to the Zhou. At Mianchi he meets Zhang Kui, who is better at underground travel, and is killed, later becoming the Earth Mansion star.
People · literary character
Duobao Daoren (Daoist of Many Treasures) is a senior disciple of the Heavenly Teacher Tongtian in Investiture of the Gods, listed with Jinling Shengmu, Wudang Shengmu and Guiling Shengmu. Tongtian gives him four swords to set up the Zhuxian formation, but Taishang Laojun sweeps him away with a wind-and-fire cushion. His disciple is Huoling Shengmu.
People · mythological figure
Tianhuang Dadi, in full the Supreme Emperor of the Curved Array's Upper Palace, also called the Gouchen Emperor, is one of the Four Sovereigns of Daoism and the lord of the Tianhuang star. He is the eldest son of Doumu Yuanjun and the elder brother of the Ziwei Emperor. He assists the Jade Emperor in ruling heaven, earth and humanity and presides over war, and his Curved Array star is linked to the fortunes of earthly emperors.
People · literary character
Queen Consort Jiang is the first queen of King Zhou of Shang in Investiture of the Gods and the earlier tale of King Wu's Attack on Zhou. She is the daughter of Jiang Huanchu, Lord of the Eastern Marches, and the mother of the crown princes Yin Jiao and Yin Hong. Framed by Daji, she is demoted and put into the cold palace, is restored, and then dies at Daji's hands, afterwards becoming the Taiyin star. The sources give no personal name.
People · literary character
Sun Shaozu is the husband of Jia Yingchun in Dream of the Red Chamber, nicknamed the Wolf of Zhongshan. He is from Datong prefecture in Shanxi, descended from army officers, and was once a protege of the Ning and Rong houses. Coarse and vile, he loves women, gambling and drink, and he abuses Yingchun until she dies. After the Jia family's property is seized, he writes to Jia Zheng demanding money that Jia She owed him.
People · – 271 · historical figure
Meng Zong (died 271), courtesy name Gongwu, was a man of Jiangxia and a senior minister of late Eastern Wu who rose to minister of works. He later changed his name to Meng Ren to avoid a taboo on the courtesy name of Sun Hao, and is the hero of the filial tale of weeping in the bamboo grove that brought forth shoots, in the Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety. He died in the ninth month of 271 and was buried at Wuchang.
People · literary character
Su Yuanjing is a grand commandant of the court in the novel Water Margin, who fits a prophecy of the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens. Honest, loyal and upright, he strongly favors amnesty for Liangshan. The court sends edicts three times, and only the third, carried by him, succeeds. The Liangshan heroes also rely on his protection whenever they fall into danger.
People · literary character
Ning Sui is a fictional character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a Shu Han general serving as Jiang Wei's deputy. In the Wei conquest of Shu, the Wei general Zhuge Xu holds the Yinping bridgehead to cut off Jiang Wei's retreat, and Ning Sui proposes striking what the enemy must rescue: Jiang Wei should feign an attack on Yongzhou to draw Zhuge Xu back.
People · literary character
Lin Hongyu is a maid of the Rongguo house in Dream of the Red Chamber. Because her name clashed with those of Daiyu and Baoyu, she came to be called Xiaohong or Hong'er. She is the daughter of Lin Zhixiao, the second steward of the Rong house, begins with rough tasks in Yihong Court, and is later taken by Wang Xifeng to run errands. She and Jia Yun like each other, and the commentary hints that she may play an important part in the lost chapters after the eightieth.
People · literary character
Lady You is the wife of Jia Zhen and the legal mother of Jia Rong in Dream of the Red Chamber, the mistress who runs the Ningguo house, described as a gourd with its mouth sawn off. When her daughter-in-law Qin Keqing died she fell ill and Jia Zhen asked Wang Xifeng of the Rong house to manage the household. She tried hard to stop the marriage of You Erjie but failed. The sources give no personal name.
People · literary character
Wang Jin is the arms instructor of the eight-hundred-thousand imperial guards at Dongjing in the novel Water Margin, skilled in all eighteen weapons and above all in the staff. Having offended the grand commandant Gao Qiu, he flees by night with his mother, teaches and takes Shi Jin as a pupil at the Shi estate, then goes on to Yan'an, after which he does not appear in the book. The Chinese Wikipedia article says a historical person of this name also existed.
People · 1119 · – 1141 · historical figure
Yue Yun (1119–1141), courtesy name Yingxiang, style name Huiqing, was a man of Tangyin in Xiangzhou and the eldest son of the Southern Song general Yue Fei. He joined the army at twelve, led the climb up the walls with two iron mallets in the recovery of the Xiangyang region, and rose to Left Martial Grand Master and defense commissioner of Zhongzhou. After his father was stripped of command in 1141, Qin Gui and Zhang Jun framed him and Zhang Xian, and he was executed with Zhang Xian.
People · 594 · – 632 · historical figure
Zhang Gongjin (594–632), courtesy name Hongshen, was a man of Fanshui in Weizhou and an early Tang general. Before the Xuanwu Gate incident he urged the Prince of Qin to act rather than rely on divination, and during the coup he closed the gate alone against the Crown Prince's troops. As governor of Daizhou he set out six reasons to attack the Eastern Turks, served as Li Jing's deputy, and died in 632 as governor of Xiangzhou with the name Xiang.
People · literary character
Zhang Shao is a character in Investiture of the Gods who sets up the Red Sand formation, one of the Ten Heavenly Lords of Golden Turtle Island. King Wu of Zhou goes in to break it himself and suffers for a hundred days inside before the Southern Pole Immortal rescues him. The Immortal fans away the red sand with the five-fire seven-bird fan, and the White Crane Boy gives Zhang Shao the fatal blow.
People · – 266 · literary character
Zhang Jie is a fictional character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, an official of Cao Wei who holds the post of attendant gentleman of the yellow gate. When Sima Yan pressed Emperor Yuan of Wei, Cao Huan, to abdicate, he denounced Sima Yan as a usurper and was beaten to death by Sima Yan's soldiers. Wikidata records his death in 266.
People · mythological figure
Juliusun is a mythological figure of Investiture of the Gods and one of the twelve immortals of Kunlun under the Primordial Heavenly Worthy. He lives in the Feiyun cave on Mount Jialong and has Tu Xingsun as his disciple. With his talisman that turns the ground to steel and his immortal-binding rope he breaks Zhao Jiang's formation in the ten-formation battle, and he later becomes the Buddha Juliusun.
People · mythological figure
Cihang Daoren is a character of Investiture of the Gods, corresponding to the Daoist goddess Cihang Zhenren. The novel makes her a disciple of the Primordial Heavenly Worthy, one of the twelve immortals of Kunlun with her own cave on Mount Putuo, who later joins the Western Buddhist teaching. The cited article notes that the novel merges her with the Buddhist Guanyin.
People · mythological figure
Jieyin Daoren is a character of Investiture of the Gods and, with Zhunti Daoren, a head of the Western teaching, whose role is to lead immortals of the Chan and Jie teachings who have a bond with the West to the West. He is sixteen chi tall and wears his hair in a topknot, and his treasures are the sarira, the green-lotus banner, a whisk and the pouch of heaven and earth. In the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation he gathers into the pouch all who share that bond.
People · mythological figure
Dǒumǔ, also written Doumu, is a Daoist goddess and the mother of the stars of the Northern Dipper. Daoist scriptures make her Lady Ziguang, consort of King Zhouyu in the Longhan age, who bears nine sons from golden lotus buds. She is also merged with Marichi and the Queen Mother of the West. Investiture of the Gods calls her Holy Mother Jinling, teacher of Grand Preceptor Wen, and makes her the spirit of the dipper mother of the Kan palace.
People · literary character
Zhong Jin is a fictional character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms who does not appear in the standard histories. He is the younger brother of Zhong Yao, governor of Chang'an, and a commander under Cao Cao in the novel. When Ma Chao attacks Chang'an, he guards the west gate and is cut down by Pang De when he runs to put out a fire at night.
People · mythological figure
Puxian Zhenren is a character of Investiture of the Gods, a disciple of the Primordial Heavenly Worthy and one of the twelve immortals of Kunlun, with his own cave on Mount Jiugong and the disciple Mu Zha. In the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation he subdues Lingya Xian, who reverts to a white elephant and becomes his mount. He later turns to the West and becomes the bodhisattva Puxian.
People · 130 · – 143 · historical figure
Cao E (130 – 143) was a filial daughter of the Eastern Han from Shangyu in Kuaiji. In the second year of Han'an her father Cao Xu drowned in the river during a rite, and his body was not found. At fourteen she wept along the river for seventeen days and then threw herself in. In the first year of Yuanjia the magistrate Du Shang reburied her and set up a stele, and she came to be honored as a water spirit.
People · – 249 · historical figure
Cao Yan (died 249) was a man of Qiao county in the commandery of Qiao, a son of Cao Zhen and younger brother of Cao Shuang in Cao Wei. When Cao Shuang held the regency he made him an attendant at court. In 249 Cao Shuang accompanied Emperor Cao Fang on a visit to the Gaoping tombs and Sima Yi seized power. Cao Yan was dismissed and soon beheaded for treason, with his three clans exterminated.
People · – 249 · historical figure
Cao Xun (died 249) was a man of Qiao county in the commandery of Qiao, a son of Cao Zhen and younger brother of Cao Shuang in Cao Wei, enfeoffed as Marquis of Wansui Pavilion. Cao Shuang made him general of the guards while he held the regency. After the coup at the Gaoping tombs in 249 Cao Shuang and all his brothers were beheaded for treason, and Cao Xun's three clans were exterminated.
People · literary character
Gao Qiu is a fictional character in Water Margin, holding the rank of grand marshal in the Northern Song. He is also recorded under the forms Grand Marshal Gao and Commander Gao of the Palace Guard. The figure is based on the historical Gao Qiu. This entry rests on Wikidata alone, so only a few facts can be confirmed.
People · literary character
Li Chunxiang is a fictional character in chapter 57 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the concubine of the attendant gentleman Huang Kui, who is secretly involved with Huang Kui's brother-in-law Miao Ze. At Miao Ze's urging she draws out Huang Kui's plan to kill Cao Cao and tells Miao Ze, who informs Cao Cao, and Huang Kui and Ma Teng are killed. Cao Cao despises Miao Ze for it and has him and Li Chunxiang executed together.
People · 195 · historical figure
Li Fu, courtesy name Sunde, was an official of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period. Wikidata records his birth in 195 and his birth place as Mianyang. After Liu Bei took Yi province he served as clerk, magistrate of Xichongguo and magistrate of Chengdu, and in the Jianxing years as grand administrator of Baxi and other posts. On orders he visited the ill Zhuge Liang and carried his last words back to the emperor. He died of illness not long after the first year of Yanxi.
People · literary character
Li Gui is a character in chapter 42 of Water Margin, a bandit in Yishui county of Yizhou who passes himself off as Li Kui. Li Kui, on his way down the mountain to fetch his mother, meets him. Li Gui lies that he has a ninety-year-old mother, is spared and given ten taels of silver, but later plots with his wife to poison Li Kui when he lodges at their house. The plot fails and Li Gui is killed. Today Li Gui, set against Li Kui, means a fake or counterfeit.
People · literary character
Cai Jing is a fictional character in Water Margin who holds the rank of grand preceptor and is also called Grand Preceptor Cai. The figure is based on the historical Cai Jing. This entry rests on Wikidata alone, so only a few facts can be confirmed.
People · literary character
Lin Ruhai is a character in Dream of the Red Chamber and the father of Lin Daiyu. He comes from a noble house that has passed down its title for generations and is also a family of scholars. He passes the imperial examination as tanhua, serves as a grand master of the Lantai office, and is later posted out to Yangzhou as salt censor. His wife Jia Min is a daughter of the Lady Dowager. Their son dies at three, Jia Min dies when Daiyu is six, and he dies of illness when she is ten.
People · 598 · – 642 · historical figure
Duan Zhixuan (598–642) was a general of the late Sui and early Tang and one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of the Lingyan Pavilion. He joined Li Yuan's rising, won merit at Tongguan and against Wang Shichong, and stood with Li Shimin in the Xuanwu Gate incident. Under Taizong he rose to general of the left valiant guard, was made Duke of Fan and later Duke of Bao, and died of illness in 642.
People · – 622 · historical figure
Yin Qiao (died 622), known by his courtesy name Kaishan, was from Huxian in Yongzhou and was a general of the late Sui and early Tang and one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of the Lingyan Pavilion. After Li Yuan rose he served in the general's office and followed Prince of Qin Li Shimin against Xue Ju and Wang Shichong, and was made Duke of Yun. He fell ill and died in 622 on the road to fight Liu Heita, and was given the posthumous name Jie.
People · literary character
Yin Hong is a character of Investiture of the Gods, said to be the second legitimate son of King Zhou of Shang by Empress Jiang and a younger brother of Yin Jiao, with the rank of commandery prince. He is rescued and taught by Chijingzi, but on going down the mountain to help the Zhou he is swayed by Shen Gongbao and fights for the Shang. His teacher captures him with the Taiji diagram and burns him to ashes, and he is later made the spirit of the star of the five grains. Daoism also honors him as a guardian deity, popularly called Little Marshal Yin.
People · mythological figure
Yin Jiao, also written with a different second character (殷交), is a famed guardian deity of Daoism and said to be the leader of the sixty Tai Sui star lords. In Investiture of the Gods he is the crown prince of King Zhou of Shang, studies the Dao under Guangchengzi, and is sent down the mountain to help the Zhou, but is turned by Shen Gongbao, fights against the Zhou, is defeated by Jiang Ziya and Randeng Daoren, and dies by the plow. He is then made the Tai Sui spirit of the ruling year. His brother is Yin Hong.
People · literary character
Emperor Huizong of Song is a figure in Water Margin, an emperor of the Song in the novel, who is also recorded under the forms Prince Duan and the Daoist Lord Emperor. The figure is based on the historical Emperor Huizong of Song. This entry rests on Wikidata alone, so only a few facts can be confirmed.
People · 100 · – 188 · historical figure
Fa Zhen (100–188), courtesy name Gaoqing, was from Mei in Fufeng and a great Confucian scholar of the Eastern Han, son of the Nanjun grand administrator Fa Xiong and grandfather of Fa Zheng of Shu Han. He knew the classics and charts inside and out and drew pupils from afar. He refused every office, including four summonses from Emperor Shun, and his friend Guo Zheng called him a teacher of a hundred generations and had a stele cut naming him Master Xuande. He died at eighty-nine in 188.
People · 191 · – 269 · historical figure
Xin Xianying (191–269) was a daughter of Xin Pi of Cao Wei, an elder sister of Xin Chang and the wife of Yang Dan, known for her shrewd judgment of men and events. She saw misfortune in Cao Pi's joy at becoming heir, advised her brother to do his duty and leave the city with Lu Zhi during the coup at the Gaoping tombs, and foresaw that Zhong Hui would turn against the state on the Shu campaign, and warned her son Yang Xiu. She died in 269 at seventy-nine.
People · mythological figure
The Demon King of Confusion is a monster in Journey to the West, tall, carrying a great sword, able to ride the clouds, and living in the Shuizang cave of Mount Kanyuan. While Sun Wukong is away learning the arts, he seizes the monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain as slaves, and is killed by Sun Wukong on his return, the first monster Sun Wukong defeats. The name is also used for a person of great power who defies all rules.
People · literary character
Tong Guan is a fictional character in Water Margin, also recorded under the form Privy Councillor Tong. The figure is based on the historical Tong Guan. This entry rests on Wikidata alone, so only a few facts can be confirmed.
People · literary character
Jin Yuanyang is the senior maid of the Lady Dowager in Dream of the Red Chamber, a household-born slave of the Jia family and the Lady Dowager's trusted right hand. Her brother Jin Wenxiang is the purchasing agent of the Lady Dowager's rooms. When Jia She wants to take her as a concubine she swears she would die before yielding, and she is freed from his pursuit only when the Lady Dowager steps in. In the last forty chapters she hangs herself in despair after the Lady Dowager's death.
People · literary character
Li Shishi is a character in Water Margin whom Wikidata describes as a courtesan of Bianjing, and who is also recorded under the form Li Xingshou. The figure is based on the historical Li Shishi. This entry rests on Wikidata alone, so only a few facts can be confirmed.
People · literary character
Sheyue is a maid at Jia Baoyu's side in Dream of the Red Chamber, second only to Xiren in the Yihong Court, honest and steady in manner. In chapter 63 she draws the tuMi flower lot, which hints that after the fall of the Jia family she will be the last maid left beside Baoyu and Baochai. After Baoyu becomes a monk only she and Baochai remain to depend on each other, a sad end that moves the commentators.
People · literary character
Huang Wenbing is a fictional character in Water Margin, an idle assistant prefect of Wuwei Army in Jiangzhou, capable but narrow-minded, fawning on the powerful and spiteful, nicknamed Wasp Sting. When he finds the rebellious poem Song Jiang wrote at Xunyang Tower he reports it eagerly, and he sees through the false letter carried by Dai Zong and urges that both men be executed, until the Liangshan band raids the execution ground and rescues them. Song Jiang then takes revenge, and Zhang Shun captures him alive and he is put to death.
People · literary character
Huang Tianhua is the eldest son of Huang Feihu in Investiture of the Gods and a disciple of the Perfected Lord of Pure Void. Taken as a pupil at three, he comes down the mountain at sixteen to help his father, kills the Four Generals of the Mo family with his heart-piercing nails, and becomes a commander of Xiqi. On the eastern campaign he is killed by Gao Jineng at Jinji Ridge, and after death is made Lord Bingling, in charge of the three mountains.
People · – 228 · literary character
Gong Qi is a fictional character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, an auxiliary general of Shu Han. In chapter 97 he is killed by the Wei general Wang Shuang, and Wikidata records his death as 228.[^wikidata][^zhwiki]
People · – 195 · historical figure
Huangfu Song (died 195), courtesy name Yizhen, was a Late Han general from Chaona in Anding and a nephew of the general Huangfu Gui. He helped suppress the Yellow Turban rising, killing Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, and later survived Dong Zhuo's seizure of power before dying of illness during Li Jue's revolt.[^zhengshi][^wikidata]
People · literary character
Liu Guangshi is a character in Water Margin. Wikidata describes him as a Song-dynasty general in the novel and links him to the historical Liu Guangshi as his model; the novel's character is also known as Dudu Liu.[^wikidata]
People · literary character
Wang Bing is a character in Water Margin. Wikidata describes him as a Song army general in the novel and links him to the historical Wang Bing as his model.[^wikidata]
People · – 264 · historical figure
Shi Zuan (died 264) was a Cao Wei general who served as Sima Zhao's chief clerk and later joined Deng Ai's invasion of Shu. He helped defeat Zhuge Zhan at Mianzhu, was given Yi Province after Shu fell, and was killed in 264 together with Deng Ai.[^zhwiki][^wikidata]