Get ready to travel back in time. Discover more about China's history through our list of the most famous Chinese people. Through this comprehensive guide, discover notable Chinese personalities, spanning from the best martial arts actors to famous entrepreneurs, who have shaped China's rich history. Discover who the most famous Chinese of all time are, highlighting their significant contributions to society.
Ancient Philosophers and Thinkers
China has a long list of philosophers and thinkers whose contributions continue to shape our culture, politics, and education. Currents such as Confucianism and Taoism have influenced human philosophy today, leaving a legacy of wisdom, ethical reflection, and the pursuit of balance.
📖 Confucius (551–479 BCE)
Confucius is the most influential philosopher in Chinese history. He was born in the Spring and Autumn period during the Eastern Zhou dynasty. Since he was very young, he showed a great inclination for studying, which is why he became a teacher of 3,000 disciples.
He taught the importance of personal virtue, family loyalty, justice and social harmony. The Analects (in Chinese Lún Yŭ or 论语, literally meaning discussion on the meaning of words) is one of his significant works, which collects a series of talks Confucius gave to his disciples.
The Analects continue to influence today's politics and education. Confucius became the cultural pillar of East Asia and a central figure in Chinese philosophy.
☯️ Laozi (6th Century BCE)
Laozi, Lao Tse or Lao-Tse was a Chinese thinker. A legendary figure and founder of Taoism, he wrote the Tao Te Ching, a text that invites to live in balance with nature and let life flow through wu wei (non-action). His thought is opposed to the rigid social order of Confucius, proposing a flexible & naturalistic spirituality.
Laozi is considered a universal sage, whose philosophy transcends religion to become a guide for life.
Discover the most relevant Chinese writers of all time who were also influenced by Taoism and Confucianism.
Taoism or Daoism is a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes doing what is natural and going with the flow in accordance with the Tao (or Dao), which is a cosmic force that flows through all things, unites them, and liberates them :)
Political Leaders
🕊️ Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925)
Known as Sun Yixian or the Father of Modern China, Sun Yat-sen led the revolution that ended the monarchy in China, becoming a representative of nationalism. He founded the Republic of China in 1912 and formulated the Three Principles of the People, which still inspire politics nowadays:
- Nationalism
- Democracy
- Social welfare
He integrated modern ideas in a country in transformation. The former president of the Republic of China is still respected in China & Taiwan.
Nationalism aimed to create a unified Chinese identity.
Democracy should provide the people with broad access to government.
Social welfare is crucial for the government to support its citizens.
🚩 Mao Zedong (1893–1976)
Mao was one of the most important Chinese figures of the 20th century. Leader of the Chinese Revolution and the founder of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Mao led the country towards radical modernization and collectivization. However, this period was also marked by controversial policies and social tensions, such as the Great Leap Forward & the Cultural Revolution.
We can divide his contributions into 3 areas:
- At the international level
- At the national level, with his reforms
- At the ideological level.
For some people, he is a visionary; for others, he is pretty controversial.
If you are interested in learning more about the Chinese dynasty throughout history or discovering the life of a famous martial arts actor, visit Encyclopedia Britannica for more in-depth biographies of Chinese people.
Scientists and Inventors
🏅 Tu Youyou (Born in 1930)
Born on December 30, 1930, in the Republic of China. By finding artemisinin, a malaria medication that has saved millions of lives worldwide, Tu Youyou made history! She won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine for her fusion of traditional Chinese remedies with the most modern science and applying them to cure diseases. She is the first Chinese woman to win a scientific Nobel Prize & the Albert Casher Prize for Clinical Medical Research in 2011 :)
🌾Yuan Longping (1930–2021)
Known nowadays as the "Father of Hybrid Rice." Yuan was initially a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, where he developed a high-yielding rice that revolutionized the industry & the world.
His research led to the creation of crops capable of feeding millions of people in China and beyond, thereby reducing the threat of famine.
Yuan Longping won multiple international awards. He won the 2004 World Food Prize, the most prestigious award in this field. Remembered today as a Chinese hero for ensuring food security.
Artists and Entertainers
🎤 Teresa Teng (1953–1995)
Known as the eternal queen of Asian pop, Teresa Teng had one of the most beloved voices in Asia. Her music style combined Western tunes with Eastern lyrics. She achieved thousands of fans in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and China, singing in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese & English. The Moon Represents My Heart is still performed today as a timeless Chinese classic. Teng was a symbol of freedom, as her music remained popular even during censorship. Her legacy made her a cultural Chinese icon.
🥋 Bruce Lee (1940–1973)
Without any doubt, Bruce Lee was one of the most famous Chinese actors who revolutionized the film industry and martial arts. After developing his career in Hong Kong, he popularized kung fu worldwide and broke racial stereotypes in Hollywood movies. With famous films such as the great action movie Enter the Dragon, he introduced Asian action cinema to the American film industry and beyond. He created Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts system based on efficiency and freedom of movement. His cultural influence is immense: he inspired generations of artists, athletes & thinkers about the power of the body and mind beyond China :) Bruce Lee was the best Chinese star of his time.
Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
🛒 Jack Ma (Born 1964)
Once considered the wealthiest man in China, Jack Ma went from being an English teacher to founding the giant Alibaba Group, one of the world's largest e-commerce companies. Ma's vision of creating a digital marketplace accessible to small and medium-sized businesses changed the economy of China forever. Renowned for his famous charismatic personality and motivational speeches, Ma is considered today a Chinese symbol of entrepreneurial spirit & a story with tons of success.
Although he has retired from the public sphere in recent years due to a tremendous financial sanction, his impact on the digital economy is, without any doubt, unquestionable!
📱 Ren Zhengfei (Born 1944)
Born on October 25, 1944, in the small province of Guizhou, Ren Zhengfei is the famous founder and CEO of Huawei Technologies, one of the world's largest Chinese telecommunications and smartphone companies, and a pioneer in 5G networks. Believe it or not, Ren Zhengfei was once a former military officer in the People's Liberation Army. With only $5,000 in start-up capital (invested personally), he applied discipline and strategic vision to turn Huawei into one of the world's most influential technology companies, achieving his goal.
Even if Huawei has struggled with geopolitical challenges and restrictions in international markets, Ren remains a key figure in the company's global innovation, one of the reasons why China is a leader and champion in all technology :)
Athletes
🏀 Yao Ming (Born 1980)
If you are a fan of sports, you probably already know that Yao Ming was the first major Chinese superstar in the NBA, where he played eight seasons for the Houston Rockets. At 2.29 m tall, he became an ambassador for Chinese basketball in the US and popularized the sport in China. After suffering some injuries, he retired and went on to become president of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Since then, he has made significant contributions to developing the sport of basketball in China. Now we can state that his famous legacy has extended way beyond the court.
🎾 Li Na (Born 1982)
Li Na was born on February 26, 1982. The best professional Chinese tennis player is ranked 2nd in the world in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association. Li Na made history as the first Asian player who won a Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros in 2011 & the Australian Open in 2014. She became a global sports icon with her aggressive and charismatic playing style, capturing the attention of millions of fans worldwide. Aside from her famous titles in sports, she inspired a new generation of Chinese and Asian tennis players and people to play on the international stage.
Li won 9 WTA Tour-level singles titles, 2 majors at the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open, among many others. She made it into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2019, which pretty much solidified her place in the sports history of China :)
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