Post by galvatron prime on Aug 21, 2014 8:26:23 GMT
Top 10 famous generals of ancient China
In Chinese history, countless numbers of military generals and strategists led their armies to fight against enemies on battlefields or mapped out strategies for battles. Although they died many years ago, and their fates might not always have been fair, their spirits of loyalty and dedication to the country remain in people's minds forever, and their glorious deeds are still talked about in modern China.
Yuan Chonghuan 袁崇焕
Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630), also known as Yuansu and Zi Ru, was a famed politician and military commander of the late Ming Dynasty, who battled the Later Kin in Liaoning. He was born in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, on June 6, 1584. During his adolescence, Yuan spent time travelling from town to town, and befriended many foreigners along the way. In 1619, he passed the imperial examinations and was appointed to the minor post of magistrate in Shaowu County in south China's Fujian.
Yuan Chonghuan was later known to have excelled in artillery warfare, and was in charge of guarding Shanhai Pass and eastern Liaoning. His military career reached its pinnacle when he defeated Nurhaci and the Manchu army in the Battle of Ningyuan. Nurhaci's son and successor, Huang Taiji, was also defeated by him in the Battle of Ningjin.
However, General Yuan was a tragic figure. He was executed by the emperor on uncertain charges. Without much evidence, he was accused of collusion with the enemy and other charges, and was condemned to "death by a thousand cuts" at Ganshiqiao in Beijing on September 22, 1630. Local people at that time all thought that he colluded with the enemy, so they hated him very much, but now many scholars believe that the truth remains a mystery still to be uncovered.
Qi Jiguang 戚继光
Qi Jiguang (1528-1588), also known as Yuanjing, Nantang and Mengzhu, was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was born in Shandong, and his father Qi Jingtong was a water transport official.
Qi Jiguang was best remembered for and most credited with his courage and leadership in the fight against the Japanese Wokou pirates along the southeast coast of China in over 80 wars for more than ten years, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China to guard the borders for peace. Although he wasn't the only general involved in the effort, many historians regarded him as the one who contributed the most. Historians also held that Wokou interference ended during his lifetime. He died of illness on January 5, 1588, after he resigned and returned to his hometown.
Not only a brilliant general, Qi Jiguang also left behind invaluable practical experience in two books on military strategy – "Ji Xiao Xin Shu" (New Book of Efficiency) and "Lian Bing Shi Ji" (Record of Military Training). He also wrote a great number of poems and prose, which were compiled into the "Collection of Zhizhi Hall."
Yue Fei 岳飞
Yue Fei (1103-1142), also known as Pengju, was a famous military general in Chinese history who fought for the Southern Song Dynasty against the Nvzhen armies of the Kin Empire. He was born in Xiangzhou (in today's Henan Province) during the Northern Song Dynasty. He was the first of the "Four Generals of Zhongxing" – Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun and Liu Guangshi – in the Southern Song Dynasty. His extraordinary military talent earned him the title of "most outstanding military general" during the period of Song, Liao, Kin and Xixia.
At the age of 30, Yue Fei supposedly wrote his most famous poem "Man Jiang Hong," which was a great encouragement for his army and still inspires people today. The army he led was called the "Yue Army" and there was a popular saying among the people: "It's easy to shake a mountain, but it's not easy to shake the Yue Army." This was the highest appraisal for the army led by Yue.
On January 27, 1142, Yue was poisoned to death in prison in Hangzhou by Chancellor Qin Hui after being accused of false charges. However, 21 years later, Emperor Xiaozong of the Song ascended the throne, and ordered the rehabilitation of General Yue's reputation. The emperor decreed that Yue's tomb be built near Hangzhou's West Lake.
link
www.china.org.cn/top10/2011-08/26/content_23291459.htm
In Chinese history, countless numbers of military generals and strategists led their armies to fight against enemies on battlefields or mapped out strategies for battles. Although they died many years ago, and their fates might not always have been fair, their spirits of loyalty and dedication to the country remain in people's minds forever, and their glorious deeds are still talked about in modern China.
Yuan Chonghuan 袁崇焕
Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630), also known as Yuansu and Zi Ru, was a famed politician and military commander of the late Ming Dynasty, who battled the Later Kin in Liaoning. He was born in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, on June 6, 1584. During his adolescence, Yuan spent time travelling from town to town, and befriended many foreigners along the way. In 1619, he passed the imperial examinations and was appointed to the minor post of magistrate in Shaowu County in south China's Fujian.
Yuan Chonghuan was later known to have excelled in artillery warfare, and was in charge of guarding Shanhai Pass and eastern Liaoning. His military career reached its pinnacle when he defeated Nurhaci and the Manchu army in the Battle of Ningyuan. Nurhaci's son and successor, Huang Taiji, was also defeated by him in the Battle of Ningjin.
However, General Yuan was a tragic figure. He was executed by the emperor on uncertain charges. Without much evidence, he was accused of collusion with the enemy and other charges, and was condemned to "death by a thousand cuts" at Ganshiqiao in Beijing on September 22, 1630. Local people at that time all thought that he colluded with the enemy, so they hated him very much, but now many scholars believe that the truth remains a mystery still to be uncovered.
Qi Jiguang 戚继光
Qi Jiguang (1528-1588), also known as Yuanjing, Nantang and Mengzhu, was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was born in Shandong, and his father Qi Jingtong was a water transport official.
Qi Jiguang was best remembered for and most credited with his courage and leadership in the fight against the Japanese Wokou pirates along the southeast coast of China in over 80 wars for more than ten years, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China to guard the borders for peace. Although he wasn't the only general involved in the effort, many historians regarded him as the one who contributed the most. Historians also held that Wokou interference ended during his lifetime. He died of illness on January 5, 1588, after he resigned and returned to his hometown.
Not only a brilliant general, Qi Jiguang also left behind invaluable practical experience in two books on military strategy – "Ji Xiao Xin Shu" (New Book of Efficiency) and "Lian Bing Shi Ji" (Record of Military Training). He also wrote a great number of poems and prose, which were compiled into the "Collection of Zhizhi Hall."
Yue Fei 岳飞
Yue Fei (1103-1142), also known as Pengju, was a famous military general in Chinese history who fought for the Southern Song Dynasty against the Nvzhen armies of the Kin Empire. He was born in Xiangzhou (in today's Henan Province) during the Northern Song Dynasty. He was the first of the "Four Generals of Zhongxing" – Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, Zhang Jun and Liu Guangshi – in the Southern Song Dynasty. His extraordinary military talent earned him the title of "most outstanding military general" during the period of Song, Liao, Kin and Xixia.
At the age of 30, Yue Fei supposedly wrote his most famous poem "Man Jiang Hong," which was a great encouragement for his army and still inspires people today. The army he led was called the "Yue Army" and there was a popular saying among the people: "It's easy to shake a mountain, but it's not easy to shake the Yue Army." This was the highest appraisal for the army led by Yue.
On January 27, 1142, Yue was poisoned to death in prison in Hangzhou by Chancellor Qin Hui after being accused of false charges. However, 21 years later, Emperor Xiaozong of the Song ascended the throne, and ordered the rehabilitation of General Yue's reputation. The emperor decreed that Yue's tomb be built near Hangzhou's West Lake.
link
www.china.org.cn/top10/2011-08/26/content_23291459.htm