Notable people
36 peopleFigures with the most linked events, works and records.
Royals
Monarch / Emperor
Monarchs of the successive dynasties and of regional states who held supreme authority
304people
Mural guide
In a side chamber of a palace, a yellow ceremonial robe embroidered with a dragon hangs on a wooden stand, its hem worked with waves and rocks, before a carved folding screen, while a black lacquer chest sits on a low table by a lattice window and no person is in view.
Monarchs are people who held supreme authority: the kings and emperors of the successive dynasties, rulers who founded a state in a region and took the title of king or emperor, and the early rulers before the Xia named in the histories, whose deeds rest largely on legend. Their reigns, era names and temple names are recorded mainly in the annals of the standard histories; consorts, court figures and royal kin have roles of their own.
People in this role
- Yu the Great (Da Yu)Dates unknown; legendary founder of the Xia
- King Qi of XiaDates unknown; legendary son of Yu
- Tai KangDates unknown; legendary Xia king
- Shao KangDates unknown; traditional Xia ruler
- Hou Yic. 2000 BCE–1900 BCE
- Han Zhuoc. 2000 BCE–1900 BCE
- Yu Sic. 2000 BCE–1900 BCE
- King Jie of XiaDates unknown; traditional last ruler of the Xia
- Cheng TangDates unknown; founder of the Shang
- Tai JiaDates unknown; early Shang king
- Tai WuDates unknown; king of the early Shang
- Pan GengDates unknown; mid-Shang king
- Wu DingDates unknown; late Shang king (r. c. 1250–1192 BCE)
- Gugong DanfuDates unknown; c. 12th century BCE (late Shang)
- King Wen of Zhou (Ji Chang)Dates unknown; leader of the Zhou in the late Shang
- Di XinDates unknown; last king of Shang
- Wei ZiDates unknown; late Shang to early Zhou
- King Wu of Zhou (Ji Fa)Dates unknown; founding king of the Western Zhou
- Wu Gengc. 1075 BCE–1039 BCE
- King Mu of ZhouDates unknown; Western Zhou king (r. c. 976–922 BCE)
- King Yan of XuDates unknown; traditionally placed in the reign of King Mu of Zhou (c. 10th c. BCE), by another account in the Spring and Autumn period
- King Li of Zhouc. 877 BCE–841 BCE
- Duke Wu of Wei (Ji He)853 BCE–758 BCE
- Gong Hec. 841 BCE–828 BCE
- King Xuan of ZhouBirth unknown–782 BCE
No people in this role for that dynasty.