Historical Leaders42
From ancient emperors to modern revolutionaries — imperial chart patterns across millennia
c. 536 BCE–448 BCE · -535-01-01
Full Four PillarsFan Li
An official dictionary says Fan Li's life dates are unknown, while later sources use conflicting estimates of about 51…
Fan Li served King Goujian of Yue, left after Yue defeated Wu, used names including Chiyi Zipi and Tao Z…
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c. 400 BCE–320 BCE · -399-01-01
Guiguzi
An archetypal strategist and master of rhetoric — even with highly uncertain birth data, his chart models the cool, in…
Tradition treats Guiguzi as a Warring States recluse and master strategist, but philological research su…
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356 BCE–323 BCE · -355-07-20
Alexander the Great
Traditional sources place his birth in 356 BCE, but the modern-date conversion is approximate and the current engine c…
Alexander the Great was a fourth-century BCE ruler of Macedon.
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259 BCE–210 BCE · -258-01-27
Full Four PillarsQin Shi Huang
The sources support the first lunar month of 259 BCE at Handan, but no day or hour. The current engine cannot compute …
Qin Shi Huang became king at thirteen, assumed personal rule at twenty-two, completed the conquest of th…
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256 BCE–195 BCE · -255-11-15
Liu Bang
Later commentaries imply either 256 BCE or 247 BCE, with no recorded month or day. The current engine cannot compute B…
Liu Bang, known as Emperor Gaozu of Han, founded the Han dynasty and was recorded as a man of Zhongyangl…
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232 BCE–202 BCE · -231-01-01
Full Four PillarsXiang Yu
The commonly used 232 BCE birth year is inferred from the Shiji's traditional-age statement, not an exact birthday. Th…
Xiang Ji, courtesy name Yu, was a man of Xiaxiang who rose with Xiang Liang, fought at Julu, assumed the…
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c. 231 BCE–196 BCE · -230-01-01
Full Four PillarsHan Xin
Official local sources differ between approximately 231 BCE and 230 BCE, while the Shiji gives no birthday. The curren…
Han Xin was a man of Huaiyin who followed Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu before joining Han, was recommended b…
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156 BCE–87 BCE · -155-07-14
Emperor Wu of Han
A conquering, centralizing Han emperor with a Ren Water Day Master sitting on Zi — a chart of sweeping expansion, cult…
Emperor Wu of Han, personal name Liu Che, was the seventh emperor of the Western Han and one of the long…
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140 BCE–117 BCE · -139-01-01
Huo Qubing
The sources support approximately 140 BCE and an origin in Hedong Pingyang, but no birthday, hour, or confirmed birthp…
Huo Qubing was a Western Han general and Marquis of Champion who took part in campaigns against the Xion…
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155–220 · 155-07-19
Cao Cao
The year 155 is inferred from Cao Cao's death in 220 at traditional age 66; the histories record no birth month or day…
Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, was a late-Han official from Qiao County in Pei Commandery and a founder …
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c. 160–220 · 160-06-24
Guan Yu
Neither the Sanguozhi nor the Palace Museum records Guan Yu's birth date. About 160 is a later convention, and the cur…
Guan Yu, courtesy name Yunchang, was from Jie in Hedong, served Liu Bei, commanded in Jing Province, cam…
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~161–199 · 161-01-01
Lü Bu
“Among men Lü Bu, among horses Red Hare”: a Ding Fire Day Master blazing in Zi month, rising on raw martial talent yet…
Lü Bu, courtesy name Fengxian, was a late Eastern Han general and warlord famed for his unmatched person…
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175–210 · 175-01-01
Zhou Yu
The cultured commander of Red Cliffs — a chart of early-rising talent, brilliant victories, and a life wired for a sha…
Zhou Yu (courtesy name Gongjin) served first under Sun Ce and later Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han. As…
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179–251 · 179-04-01
Sima Yi
The year 179 is inferred from the Jin Shu's record of death in 251 at traditional age 73; no birth month or day is rec…
Sima Yi was a Cao Wei general and regent from Xiaojingli in Wen County, Henei.
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181–234 · 181-07-23
Zhuge Liang
The year 181 is inferred from death in 234 at traditional age 54; later sources disagree between fourth-month day 14 a…
Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming, was a Shu Han chancellor from Yangdu in Langya and died in the army…
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569–618 · 569-03-16
Emperor Yang of Sui
A brilliant yet overdriven Gui Water Day Master: the emperor who unified rivers and roads, then burned out his own dyn…
Emperor Yang of Sui (Yang Guang), the second Sui emperor, was born in 569 in Chang’an. As Prince of Jin …
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598–649 · 598-01-28
Emperor Taizong of Tang
The commonly used birth year is 598, but source chronologies give either 28 January 598 or 23 January 599. The current…
Li Shimin, a son of Emperor Gaozu, took part in the Tang dynasty's founding and unification and later ru…
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624–705 · 624-02-17
Wu Zetian
624 is only a commonly inferred birth year; the exact date and birthplace remain disputed. The current engine cannot c…
Wu Zetian ruled the Zhou dynasty she established, in her own name as emperor, from 690 to 705.
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685–762 · 685-09-08
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Old Book of Tang and the repository calendar support 8 September 685 at the Eastern Capital, but no birth hour is reco…
The Palace Museum identifies Li Longji as Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, records his 712–756 reign, the early…
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697–781 · 697-01-01
Guo Ziyi
The historical record supports 697 and Zheng County in Hua Prefecture, but no birthday or hour. Stored 1 January is in…
Guo Ziyi was a native of Zheng County in Hua Prefecture who entered service through the military examina…
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927–976 · 927-03-21
Full Four PillarsEmperor Taizu of Song
The original record supports 21 March 927 at Jiamaying in the Western Capital's imperial precinct, but gives no birth …
Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin lived from 927 to 976, commanded imperial guards under Later Zhou, founded the …
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937–978 · 937-08-15
Li Yu
Reliable evidence supports 937, but the popular seventh-month birthday conflicts with Song diplomatic chronology. This…
Li Yu was the last ruler of Southern Tang, acceded at Jinling, later entered Song custody, and died in 9…
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989–1052 · 989-10-01
Fan Zhongyan
A Northern Song reformer who ‘worried before the world worried’ — a Ding Fire Day Master with clear Seal and Officer s…
Fan Zhongyan (courtesy name Xiwen) was a leading Northern Song statesman, writer, and reformer. After de…
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1082–1135 · 1082-11-02
Emperor Huizong of Song
Song Shi's tenth-month ding-si record and the repository calendar support 2 November 1082 in the palace, but no birth …
Zhao Ji was the eighth emperor of the Northern Song. Song Shi records his accession in 1100, and he reig…
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