了解一个**，必先了解此国的人。在本书中，你将一览中国历史长河，认识曾在哲学、艺术、文学、宗教、科技和政治等领域留下深深烙印的88位重要人物。 To understand a country is to understand its people. In this book, we will take you on a tour through the long history of China to recall the life stories of 88 important figures who left their personal marks in philosophy, art and literature, religion, science and technology and political movements.

Contents Philosophers 老子 A Legendary Philosopher 孔子 The Greatest Thinker 墨子 Pacifist Thinker and Inventor 孟子 Principal Interpreter of Confucianism 庄子 Freewheeling Taoist 荀子 "All Humans are Born Evil’ 韩非 Sage of ‘Rule by Fear’ 王充 An Iconoclastic Thinker 朱熹 Foremost Neo-Confucian Thinker 黄宗羲 The Chinese Rousseau 王夫之 Enlightenment Thinker Poets & Writers 屈原 A Great Patriotic Poet 司马相如 The Poet Who Eloped 司马迁 Historiography Father 曹植 The Poetical Prodigy 王勃 Brief Life, Lasting Fame 陈子昂 Tang Poetry’s Pioneer 李白 The ‘God of Poetry’ 杜甫 Suffering Poetry Saint 苏轼 A Rare, Versatile Scholar 李清照 Ci’s Finest Female Poet 陆游 The Patriot of Poetry 辛弃疾 Lyric Poet and Patriot 关汉卿 China’s Own Shakespeare 施耐庵 Author Steeped in Mystery 吴承恩 Man behind Monkey King 曹雪芹 The Author of a Great Classic Buddhists 玄奘 A Great Buddhist Monk 惠能 Rustic Patriarch Scientists & Craftsmen 鲁班 Legendary Master Carpenter 孙武 Winning Ways of Ancient Strategist 扁鹊 The First Physician in China 蔡伦 Paper Trail Leads to Eunuch Cai 张衡 Inventor of the Seismometer 张仲景 Plague Prompts Doctor’s Work 华佗 A Pioneering Chinese Surgeon 祖冲之 An Early Chinese Star of Astronomy 贾思勰 Scribe of Guide to Farming 郦道元 Water Writer Plumbs New Depths 孙思邈 The ‘King of Medicine’ 毕昇 Inventor of the Movable Type Technology 沈括 China’s Great Scientific Mind 黄道婆 Granny’s Great Innovations 李时珍 Saint of Medicine and Scribe of Herbs 徐光启 City’s Son Introduces European Science 詹天佑 Father of China’s Railways Painters & Calligraphers 王羲之 Sage of Chinese Calligraphy 顾恺之 Originator of Chinese Painting 吴道子 Painter’s Death a Tall Tale 郑燮 An Eccentric Painter Influential Figures 管仲 Leading Reformer 项羽 A prideful, Tragic Hero 王昭君 A Beautiful Lady Helps Keep Peace 商鞅 A Great Statesman and Political Reformer 陈胜 Leader of First Peasant Rebellion 诸葛亮 A Godlike Prophet 关羽 Lord Guan Revered for His Bravery 魏征 Candid Official Earns Great Respect 鉴真 Monk Spreads the Word in Japan 包拯 Iconic Official Who’s Incorruptible 王安石 Statesman with a Gift for Writing 岳飞 A Peerless General and National Hero 文天祥 Hero Stays Loyal to the Bitter End 郑和 Did the Admiral Discover the New World? 海瑞 Moral Official Dares to Criticize Emperor 戚继光‘Tiger General’ Stops Japanese Pirates 徐霞客 Intrepid Explorer Keeps a Meticulous Diary 郑成功 A National Hero Who Recaptures Taiwan 李自成 Shortsighted Military Genius 林则徐 Patriotic Official Fights the Opium Trade 龚自珍 A Reform-minded Official and Poet 李鸿章 Powerful Official Invites Controversy 严复 Educator Pushes for Modernization 康有为 Reformer Tries to Change China 蔡元培 Educator Supports Civil Rights Movement 陶行知 A Great Educator and Reformer Emperors & Empresses 黄帝 Father of This Great Civilization 大禹 Taming the Long and Wild Rivers of China 秦始皇 The ‘First Emperor’ of China 刘邦 Founder of The Powerful Han Dynasty 汉武帝 Insatiable Ambition for Territorial Expansion 曹操 Speak of His Name and He Arrives 李世民 Creator of a Dynastic Golden Age 武则天 The Only Empress Regnant in China’s History 成吉思汗 Founder of the World’s Largest Empire 朱元璋 From a Beggar to an Emperor 康熙 Longest Reign Brings Prosperity 慈禧太后 Mysterious ‘Queen Without a Crown’