Shanxi

**Shanxi** (山西) is a province of the People's Republic of China. It is in northern China. The Yellow River flows through it. The name *Shanxi* means "mountain's west" or "west of the mountains", as it is west of the Taihang Mountains.

Its major cities are its capital Taiyuan, Datong, Changzhi, and Yangquan.

The abbreviation of Shanxi is Jin (晋), since there is another province, Shandong (山东), that has the word "Shan" (山) in it, meaning "mountain" in Chinese, exactly, it's Tai Mountain. During the Zhou Dynasty, there was a Jin (晋) state located in present-day Shanxi, later, many states and dynasties with similar positions also adopted this name. This is the origin of its abbreviation.

Although in pinyin, the name of the neighboring province to the west, "Shaanxi", is spelled exactly the same as "Shanxi", the only difference in how the two words are pronounced is that the first syllable in "Shanxi" is said using the first tone in Mandarin, while the first syllable in "Shaanxi" is said with the third tone. Since tone markers are not usually used to show how to pronounce the two different names, the first word in "Shaanxi" is spelled using the Gwoyeu Romatzyh method instead, which indicates tones by adding extra letters to a syllable.

## Notable residents 
*Note: This list includes not only people born in Shanxi, but also those who have lived here or whose ancestors lived here.*

### Ancient 
#### Myth or very ancient history 
Pu Yi, Yao's teacher

Yao, Shun, and Yu, three emperors of ancient times in Chinese mythology and legend

#### Before Qin Dynasty 
Jizi, the founder of Jizi Joseon (Korea)

Ji Chong’er, Duke Wen of Jin

Jie Zitui, follower of Duke Wen of Jin during his wandering

Zhao Dun, minister of Jin

Lin Xiangru, a minister of Zhao and a diplomat

Xunzi (Xuncius), thinker, philosopher, educator, representative of Confucian school

Li Bing, he and his son presided over the construction of the Dujiangyan water conservancy project, for which he is most famous

#### Dynasty Han and Three Kingdoms 
Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, two great generals of Han, successfully fought off the attack of the Xiongnu

Huo Guang, Huo Qubing's brother

Ban Jieyu, Chinese female writer of Western Han Dynasty, Ban Gu's grandaunt, but she said that women should abide by etiquette and comply with female virtues

Guan Yu, great general of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, born in Xie Zhou Town, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City

Zhang Liao, great general

Pei Xiu, famous minister and cartographer

Diaochan, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. It is said that Diaochan was born Ren Hongchang, a village girl in Shanxi Province

#### Dynasty Jin (晋) 
Wei Shuo (Lady Wei), famous artist

Shi Le, statesman, military strategist, the founding emperor of Later Zhao

Shi Hu, Shi Le's nephew.

Wei Jie, metaphysician, official, one of the four beautiful men in ancient China

#### The Northern and Southern Dynasties 
Tuoba Gui (the founder), Tuoba Tao, and Tuoba Hong, three emperors of Northern Wei

Gao Huan, minister of Eastern Wei, created a foundation of Northern Qi

Gao Yang, founder of Northern Qi

Dugu Xin, a great general

#### Sui and Tang dynasties 
Pei Shiqing, official, Sui sent him to Japan

Wu Shiyue, Wu Zetian's father, founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty

Wang Ji, poet

Weichi Gong (Weichi Jingde), late Sui and early Tang general

Wang Fangyi, general of Tang

Wang Bo, famous poet

Kuiji, famous monk in the Tang and the founder of the Only Knowledge School, the common family name is Weichi, and known as the "Benevolent Master"

Pei Xingjian, famous minister of Tang

Xue Rengui, great general of early Tang, attacked Goguryeo

Pei Yan, prime minister of Tang

Wu Chengsi, Wu Zetian's nephew

Di Renjie, Tang Dynasty statesman and prime minister of Wuzhou

Wu Zetian (real Wu Zhao or original Wu Mei), Tang to Wuzhou stateswoman, the founder of Zhou (or Wuzhou, r. 690-705, often included in Dynasty Tang), the only female emperor in Chinese history

Wu Sansi, Wu Zetian's nephew

Song Zhiwen, poet and official

Xue Ji, artist and poet

Xue Yao, minister of Tang

Xue Ne, Xue Rengui's son, famous general

Zhang Shougui, An Lushan's adoptive father, famous general of Tang

Wang Zhihuan, famous poet

Pei Yaoqing, prime minister of Tang

Wang Han, famous poet

Wang Hong, Wang Fangyi's grandson

Wang Wei, famous poet

Wang Changling, famous poet

Lu Lun, famous poet

Liu Zongyuan, famous poet

Bai Juyi, famous poet

Pei du, politician and literary figure

Zhang Yanyuan, minister of Tang and painter

Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism

Liu Mian, a relative of Liu Zongyuan, author of the old and new Tang Books

Wen Tingyun, a famous poet and lyricist of late Tang

Zhang Guolao, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism

Yang Yuhuan, palace dancer and musician, the favored concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, one of the four great beauties of ancient China

#### Five Dynasties 
Li Keyong, warlord from the late Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Li Cunxu, the founder of Later Tang, Li Keyong's son

Li Siyuan, emperor of Later Tang, Li Keyong's adopted son

Shi Jingtang, founding emperor of Later Jin, Li Siyuan's son-in-law

Liu Chong (or Liu Min), founding emperor of the Northern Han

Liu Chengjun, the second emperor of Northern Han

Li Jun, famous general

#### Dynasty Song 
Sima Guang, during the Northern Song Dynasty, famous politician, historian, and writer

Mi Fu, artist and poet

#### Dynasty Jin (金) and Dynasty Yuan 
Yang Yunyi, literati and official of Jin

Yuan Haowen, literati and historian

Guan Hanqing, one of the Four Great Masters of Yuan Opera

Bai Pu, one of the Four Great Masters of Yuan Opera

Sa Dula, famous poet and painter in Yuan

#### Dynasty Ming 
Luo Guanzhong, famous writer, author of *Three Kingdoms*

#### Dynasty Qing 
Yu Chenglong, famous minister in early Qing

Chen Tingjing, poet and minister, Emperor Kangxi's teacher

### Modern and Contemporary Times 
#### Revolutionaries 
Gao Junyu, Xu Fanting, He Chang, Bo Yibo, Peng Zhen, Fu Zuoyi, Hua Guofeng, Li Xuefeng, Ji Chaozhu, Ji Dengkui, Ji Pengfei, Cheng Zihua, Chai Zemin, Chang Zhiqing

#### Founding generals of PRC 
Marshal: Xu Xiangqian; Generals: Zhao Erlu, Dong Qiwu; Major General: Chang Qiankun; Major Generals: Wang Xiao, Wang Zhan, Wang Lanlin, Wang Qingsheng, Che Minjian, Niu Mingzhi, Shi Jinqian, Shi Jingban, Baiyun, Lv Yishan, Liu Su, Liu Ren, Liu Jinghai, Xu Zhifen, Li Wenyi, Li Maozhi, Yang Wen'an, Wu Xiaomin, Gu Jingsheng, Zhang Zheng, Zhang Zizhen, Zhang Ziming, Zhang Zhongru, Zhang Wenzhou, Zhang Shizhen, Zhang Tingzhen, Zhang Yingming, Zhang Zhuguo, Zhang Zizhen, Zhang Xiankui, Fan Fushan, Hu Shangli, Hu Ronggui, Ru Fuyi, Duan Shikai, Chai Qikun, Gao Dexi, Yan Jiesan, Liang Zhongyu, Zhishengyuan, Xue Kezhong, He Ming, Feng Zi

#### Generals 
Fu Quanyou, Xu Xiaoyan, Zhang Gong, Zhang Zhijian, Pei Huailiang, Xing Yongning, Xu Chunyang, Wang Zuoyi, Zhang Qinsheng, Wang Jitang, Li Maifu, Wang Wei, Liu Yahong, Wang Jilian, Huo Ling, Zhang Xueyi, Bai Lv

#### Political circle 
Ren Jianxin, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, Li Yizhong, Hu Fuguo, Li Ligong, Ling Hu'an, Wang Jun, Liu Jing, Wang Yunlong, Zhao Qinping, Gao Hucheng, Jiao Huancheng, Huo Shilian, Zhi Shuping, Wang Wanbin, Zheng Weiping, Wang Xinxian, Shi Taifeng [14], Yin Hejun, Wang Weizhong, Ma Xiaowei [35], Hu Yuting [38] [39]

#### Social science 
Fan Shoushan, Niu Hanben, Ren Zhigong, Li Jinghai, Ma Hong, Hu Naiwu, Li Fanggui, Zhang Gaoli, Zhang Cuiping

#### Model workers 
Li Shunda, Guo Fenglian, Chen Yonggui, Shen Jilan, Chen Buliang, Li Shuangliang, Song Liying, Che Ankui

#### Painting and Calligraphy 
Ma Wenwei, Dong Shouping, Ma Quan, Li Qi, Li Qun, Wang Chaorui, Yao Tianmu, Cheng Zhaoxing, Ren Lisheng

#### Writers 
Zhao Shuli, Chai Yong, Shi Pingmei, Ma Feng, Xirong, Li Jianwu, Hu Zheng, Zhao Yu, Zhang Ping, Zhao Bingyu, Zheng Yuanjie, Zhang Xingjian, Han Shishan, Tang Dynasty, Li Rui, Zhong Zhongyang, Cao Naiqian, Gong Liu, Di An, Wang Hanxing, Chen Peng, Jiang Yun, Liang Heng, Liu Cixin

#### Directors 
Jia Zhangke, Zhang Jigang, Niu Chaoyang, Ning Hao, Zhang Yongshou, Pi San, Wang Yi, Yu Shui, Hao Yun, Wang Weinian

#### Performers 
Zhao Ziyue, Zhang Yongshou, Xing Jiadong, Cheng Taishen, Zhang Aijia, Cui Yan, Nie Xin, Zhang Yan, Shi Yao, He Gang, Jia Yumeng, Zhou Qiqi, Bian Xiaoxiao, Zhao Tao, Gao Ziqi, Wang Luyun, Qi Fang, Yuan Jun, Zhao Wenhao, Meng Yao, Han Xiao, Gao Ren, Wang Heming

#### Music 
Zhang Yadong, Guo Feng, Wang Huiqiang

#### Singers 
Guo Lanying, Ma Yutao, Guan Guimin, Nie Jianhua, Yu Shuqin, Shan Xiurong, Yan Weiwen, Tan Jing, Lu Xiumei, Niu Baolin, Shaanxi Army, Cheng Fangyuan, Abao, Xin Lisheng, Gao Baoli, Shi Zhanming, Wang Rong, Zhao Yan, Zhang Lin, Du Zhiwen, Wang Xinping, Tao Yanqing, Cui Tan, Wang Yunyi

#### Traditional opera 
Ding Guoxian, Niu Guiying, Guo Lanying, Wang Aiai, Tian Guilan, Guo Fengying, Cheng Yuying, Hua Yanjun, Ma Yulou, Zhang Mingqin, Song Zhuanzhuan, Guo Caiping, Zhang Aizhen, Wu Guohua, Zhang Baoping, Guo Ming'e, Fu Yongliang, Chen Suqin, Zhang Zhiming, Guo Xiaoming, Du Yumei, Li Aimei

#### Sports World 
Zhou Xiaolan, Jiang Zhujiu, Song Ligang, Zhang Jinsong, Wang Tao, Xi Enting, Yuan Xiaochao, Zhao Yan

#### IT 
Robin Lee, Zhang Yaqin, Jia Yueting, Chen Nian, Shi Lirong, Huang Zhihua, Liu Wenbin, Li Yuebin, Feng Xin, Liu Xingliang

#### Media 
Xing Zhibin, Chai Jing, Ren Zhihong, Li Wenjing, Moon Sister, Wei Chenxia, Zhang Lei, Zhang Tengyue, Qiang Qiang, Yu Fei, Shi Qiang, Guo Tao, Ren Yuxiang, Liu Xingyu, Miao Kai, Zhang Shixuan

#### Business community 
Sun Hongbin, Chen Feng, Qin Xiao, Sun Yulin, Hao Hongfeng

#### Scientific community 
Yin Hejun, Zhang Jie, Xie Kechang, Zhao Qinping, Guan Qiao, Guo Chengji, Peng Kunchi, Miao Jianming, Yang Jinlong, Li Xiaoying, Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang

#### Other 
Kong Xiangxi, Yan Xishan, Cheng Zhiqiang, Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang, Chen Baoguo, Wang Fu

## References