A calendar of Chinese history
15 events
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An Lushan proclaims himself emperor
War
In 756, General An Lushan, of Göktürk origin at least by adoption, who had risen to prominence defending the north-eastern Tang frontier against the Khitans, proclaims himself emperor of China and founds the short-lived state of Yan. His rebellion devastates China, kills millions and hastens the decline of the Tang dynasty; he dies in 757.
Source : An Lushan
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Death of the Shunzhi Emperor
Death
The Shunzhi Emperor, born in 1638, dies in 1661. Son of Hong Taiji, he is the first ruler of the Manchu Qing dynasty to ascend the imperial throne in Beijing, in the Forbidden City: emperor of northern China from 1643 to 1644, he reigns over the whole of China from 1644 until his death.
Source : Shunzhi · On chine.in
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Birth of computer scientist Wang Xuan
Birth
Wang Xuan is born in 1937. A computer scientist who transforms the Chinese printing industry, an academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he founds the technology conglomerate Founder Group in 1986 and serves as vice-chairman of the CPPCC. He dies in 2006.
Source : Wang Xuan (computer scientist)
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Birth of actress Vivian Wu
Birth
Vivian Wu is born in Shanghai in 1966. The actress breaks through in 1987 in The Last Emperor, then appears in The Joy Luck Club (1993) and stars in The Pillow Book (1996) and The Soong Sisters (1997); in 2020 she plays Dr Lu Wang in the Netflix drama Away.
Source : Vivian Wu
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Shanghai People's Commune proclaimed
Politics
In 1967, at the height of the Cultural Revolution launched by Mao Zedong the previous year, the Shanghai People's Commune is formally proclaimed, with Yao Wenyuan and Zhang Chunqiao appointed as its leaders.
Source : Cultural Revolution
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Birth of table tennis champion Deng Yaping
Birth
Deng Yaping is born in Zhengzhou, Henan, in 1973. Between 1989 and 1997 the table tennis player wins six world championships and four Olympic medals, and she is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Source : Deng Yaping · On chine.in
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Death of General Su Yu
Death
General Su Yu, born in 1907, dies in 1984. A Communist officer, he fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War, commanding the Eastern Army, renamed the Third Army in 1949; Mao Zedong regarded him as the best commander of the People's Liberation Army after Lin Biao and Liu Bocheng.
Source : Su Yu
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Death of Buddhist master Hsing Yun
Death
Taiwanese Buddhist monk Hsing Yun, born Li Guoshen in Jiangsu in 1927, dies in 2023. Founder of the Fo Guang Shan order and of the Buddha's Light International Association, he is regarded within the Linji school of Chan Buddhism as its forty-eighth patriarch.
Source : Hsing-Yun
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Birth of Wu De
Birth
Wu De is born in Hebei in 1913. During the Cultural Revolution he runs the city of Beijing from 1966, serves as first secretary of its Party committee from 1972 to 1978, and is stripped of all his posts in February 1979. He dies in 1995.
Source : Wu De
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Birth of tennis player Zheng Saisai
Birth
Zheng Saisai is born in Shaanxi Province in 1994. A professional since 2009, nicknamed 'the jaguar' for her footwork and defence, she reaches the women's doubles final at the French Open in 2019 with Duan Ying-Ying.
Source : Zheng Saisai
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Birth of swimmer Li Xuanxu
Birth
Chinese swimmer Li Xuanxu is born in Zhuzhou in 1994. She specialises in middle and long distance freestyle and individual medley events.
Source : Li Xuanxu
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Birth of synchronised swimmer Yin Chengxin
Birth
Chinese synchronised swimmer Yin Chengxin is born in Wuhan in 1995. She wins silver in the team event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Source : Yin Chengxin
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Death of poet Zang Kejia
Death
Poet Zang Kejia, born in Zhucheng in 1905, dies in Beijing in 2004.
Source : Zang Kejia · On chine.in
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First Olympic mixed relay in short track, in Beijing
Sport
In 2022, the mixed 2000 metre relay in short track speed skating is held at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing during the Winter Olympics, the first time the event is contested at the Games.
Source : Relais mixte de patinage de vitesse sur piste courte aux Jeux olympiques de 2022
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Birth of hurdler Ji Wei
Birth
Ji Wei, a Chinese 110 metres hurdler, is born in Tianjin in 1984. His best time of 13.40 seconds is set in Urumqi in September 2007.
Source : Ji Wei