Dalai Lama (26 June 1876-17 December 1933), spiritual and temporal ruler of 1 ibet. The thirteenth Dalai was known for his economic and political reforms and for trying to establish independence in Tibet. Born into a peasant family in an isolated district of Tak-po province in southeastern Tibet, the thirteenth Dalai Lama had several brothers, […]

Chu Hsi-tsu (1879-5 July 1944), historian, taught at such universities as Peking (1913-26; 1928-30), Chung-shan (1931-33), and National Central (1934-44). After 1939 he served as executive secretary of the' Kuo-shih kuan [bureau of national history]. Little is known about Chu Hsi-tsu's childhood. His native place was Haiyen, Chekiang. After receiving his early education in the […]

Chu Teh 朱德 T. Yü-chieh 玉階 Chu Teh (18 December 1886-), commander in chief of the Chinese Communist forces for many years, became associated with Mao Tse-tung in 1928, when their forces combined to form the Fourth Red Army and to establish the central Communist base in Kiangsi. During the 1930's and early 1940's Chu […]

Chang Erh-t'ien (17 March 1874-15 February 1945), traditional scholar and university professor, was noted for his historical studies, including his contributions to the Ch'ing-shih kao, the provisional history of the Ch'ing dynasty published in 1928, and his studies of Mongol history. A native of Ch'ient'ang, Chekiang, Chang Erh-t'ien came from a prominent family which had […]

Hsiung Hsi-ling (1870-1942), government official, is best known as the premier of the "first caliber cabinet" of 1913-14. Hsiung all but retired from public life in 1914. He later achieved considerable reputation as a philanthropist and sponsor of charitable works. A native of Fenghuang hsien, Hunan, Hsiung Hsi-ling was the son of a military officer […]

Hsü Shih-ch'ang 徐世昌 T. Chü-jen 菊人 H. Tung-hai 東海 Hsü Shih-ch'ang (23 October 1855-6 June 1939), protege of Yuan Shih-k'ai who in 1918 became the only man of civilian background to hold the presidency at Peking. After his retirement in June 1922, he devoted himself to literary and cultural pursuits. Little is known of Hsü […]

Wang K'o-min (1873-26 December 1945), sometime minister of finance at Peking and governor of the Bank of China who later became a member of the Hopei-Chahar political council. From December 1937 to March 1940 he headed the Japanese-sponsored government in north China. Little is known about Wang K'o-min's family background or early life except that […]

Miao Ch'üan-sun (1844-22 December 1919), the foremost Chinese bibliographic scholar of his day and the founder of several excellent libraries. Chiangyin, Kiangsu, was the birthplace of Miao Ch'üan-sun. He was a sixth-generation descendent of Miao Sui (d. 1716), whose rule as magistrate of Tinghai, Chekiang, from 1695 until his death was so benevolent that the […]

Chiang Fang-chen (13 October 1882-4 October 1938), trained in military science in Japan and Germany, did much to revolutionize military training in republican China and was powerful as adviser to many military commanders, notably Wu P'ei-fu, Sun Ch'uan-fang, and Chiang Kai-shek. He also introduced to China knowledge of Western culture, constitutional ideas, and military practices. […]

Chang Tso-lin 張作霖 T. Yü-t'ing 雨亭 Chang Tso-lin (1873-June 1928), known as the Old Marshal, military leader who consolidated control of the Northeast. He began as the leader of a local army in Fengtien and rose to rule Manchuria as a virtually autonomous state from 1919 to his death. After 1924, Chang extended his control […]