Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Zhu Rongji (1928-): Native of Hu'nan; China's Premier from 1998 to
2003. Zhu is infamous in Taiwan for his red-faced, finger-wagging
attempt to lecture the Taiwanese voting public in 2000, instructing
them to vote for the candidate Beijing liked best or face the consequen-
ces. Zhu's unartful boorishness badly backfired, and since his blunder
Beijing has learned not to comment on Taiwan's democratic process,
lest there be more electoral results unpalatable to the Chinese Commu-
nists.
Zhu Xi (1130-1200): Southern Song philosopher and one of the major
figures in configuring and synthesizing neo-Confucianism; developed
a rationalistic cosmological dualism.
Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398): Founding emperor of the Ming
dynasty who gathered unprecedented amounts of political power into
his own hands, thus making the position of emperor much more
powerful than previously and instituting Ming despotism; he and
Liu Bang were the only commoners who ever founded major dynas-
ties in Chinese history.
Zhuangzi (ca. 369-ca. 286 B.C.): Taoist philosopher who employed
parody and parable to explain Taoist teachings.
Zou Rong (1882-1905): Chinese racist who authored the anti-
Manchu tract The Revolutionary Army.
Zuo Zongtang (1812-1885): Chinese general who helped Zeng Guo-
fan and Li Hongzhang quell the Taiping Rebellion.
