The Most Famous

RELIGIOUS FIGURES from China

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This page contains a list of the greatest Chinese Religious Figures. The pantheon dataset contains 3,187 Religious Figures, 24 of which were born in China. This makes China the birth place of the 19th most number of Religious Figures behind Japan, and Switzerland.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Chinese Religious Figures of all time. This list of famous Chinese Religious Figures is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Chinese Religious Figures.

Photo of 14th Dalai Lama

1. 14th Dalai Lama (b. 1935)

With an HPI of 78.14, 14th Dalai Lama is the most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 117 different languages on wikipedia.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, full spiritual name: Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, also known as Tenzin Gyatso; né Lhamo Thondup; is the incumbent Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism. Before 1959, he served as both the resident spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, and subsequently established and led the Tibetan government in exile represented by the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India. The adherents of Tibetan Buddhism consider the Dalai Lama a living Bodhisattva, specifically an emanation of Avalokiteśvara (in Sanskrit) or Chenrezig (in Tibetan), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, a belief central to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and the institution of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama, whose name means Ocean of Wisdom, is known to Tibetans as Gyalwa Rinpoche, The Precious Jewel-like Buddha-Master, Kundun, The Presence, and Yizhin Norbu, The Wish-Fulfilling Gem. His devotees, as well as much of the Western world, often call him His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the style employed on his website. He is also the leader and a monk of the Gelug school, the newest school of Tibetan Buddhism, formally headed by the Ganden Tripa. The 14th Dalai Lama was born to a farming family in Taktser (Hongya Village), in the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo, at the time a Chinese frontier district. He was selected as the tulku of the 13th Dalai Lama in 1937, and formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama in 1939. As with the recognition process for his predecessor, a Golden Urn selection process was waived and approved by the Central Government of the Republic of China. His enthronement ceremony was held in Lhasa on 22 February 1940. At the time of his selection, a form of Tibetan government called Ganden Phodrang administered the traditional Tibetan regions of Ü-Tsang, Kham and Amdo. As Chinese forces re-entered and annexed Tibet, Ganden Phodrang invested the Dalai Lama with temporal duties on 17 November 1950 (at 15 years of age) until his exile in 1959. During the 1959 Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama escaped to India, where he continues to live. On 29 April 1959, the Dalai Lama established the independent Tibetan government in exile in the north Indian hill station of Mussoorie, which then moved in May 1960 to Dharamshala, where he resides. He retired as political head in 2011 to make way for a democratic government, the Central Tibetan Administration. The Dalai Lama advocates for the welfare of Tibetans and since the early 1970s has called for the Middle Way Approach with China to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet. This policy, adopted democratically by the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people through long discussions, seeks to find a middle ground, "a practical approach and mutually beneficial to both Tibetans and Chinese, in which Tibetans can preserve their culture and religion and uphold their identity," and China's assertion of sovereignty over Tibet, aiming to address the interests of both parties through dialogue and communication and for Tibet to remain a part of China. The Dalai Lama travels worldwide to give Tibetan Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism teachings, and his Kalachakra teachings and initiations are international events. He also attends conferences on a wide range of subjects, including the relationship between religion and science, meets with other world leaders, religious leaders, philosophers, and scientists, online and in-person. His work includes focus on the environment, economics, women's rights, nonviolence, interfaith dialogue, physics, astronomy, Buddhism and science, cognitive neuroscience, reproductive health and sexuality. The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Time magazine named the Dalai Lama Gandhi's spiritual heir to nonviolence. The 12th General Assembly of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace in New Delhi unanimously recognized the Dalai Lama's contributions to global peace, his lifelong efforts in uniting Buddhist communities worldwide, and bestowed upon him the title of “Universal Supreme Leader of the Buddhist World.” They also designated 6 July, his birthday, as the Universal Day of Compassion.

Photo of 13th Dalai Lama

2. 13th Dalai Lama (1876 - 1933)

With an HPI of 67.56, 13th Dalai Lama is the 2nd most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 52 different languages.

The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (full given name: Ngawang Lobsang Thupten Gyatso Jigdral Chokley Namgyal; abbreviated to Thubten Gyatso) (Tibetan: ཐུབ་བསྟན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: Thub Bstan Rgya Mtsho; 12 February 1876 – 17 December 1933) was the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet, enthroned during a turbulent modern era. He presided during the Collapse of the Qing Dynasty, and is referred to as "the Great Thirteenth", responsible for redeclaring Tibet's national independence, and for his national reform and modernization initiatives. In 1878, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. He was escorted to Lhasa and given his pre-novice vows by the Panchen Lama, Tenpai Wangchuk, and given the name "Ngawang Lobsang Thupten Gyatso Jigdral Chokley Namgyal". In 1879, he was enthroned at the Potala Palace, but did not assume political power until 1895, after he had reached his maturity. Thubten Gyatso was an intellectual reformer and skillful politician. He was responsible for countering the British expedition to Tibet, restoring discipline in monastic life, and increasing the number of lay officials to avoid excessive power being placed in the hands of the monks.

Photo of Huineng

3. Huineng (638 - 713)

With an HPI of 65.76, Huineng is the 3rd most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Dajian Huineng (traditional Chinese: 大鑒惠能; pinyin: Dàjiàn Huìnéng; Wade–Giles: Ta⁴-chien⁴ Hui⁴-nêng²; Japanese: Daikan Enō; Korean: Daegam Hyeneung; February 27, 638 – August 28, 713), also commonly known as the Sixth Patriarch or Sixth Ancestor of Chan (traditional Chinese: 禪宗六祖), is a semi-legendary but central figure in the early history of Chinese Chan Buddhism. According to tradition he was an uneducated layman who suddenly attained awakening (Chinese: 見性, jianxing) upon hearing the Diamond Sutra. Despite his lack of formal training, he demonstrated his understanding to the fifth patriarch, Daman Hongren, who then supposedly chose Huineng as his true successor instead of his publicly known selection of Yuquan Shenxiu. Twentieth century scholarship revealed that the story of Huineng's Buddhist career was likely invented by the monk Heze Shenhui, who claimed to be one of Huineng's disciples and was highly critical of Shenxiu's teaching. Huineng is regarded as the founder of the "Sudden Enlightenment" Southern Chan school of Buddhism, which focuses on an immediate and direct attainment of Buddhist enlightenment. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (六祖壇經), which is said to be a record of his teachings, is a highly influential text in the East Asian Buddhist tradition.

Photo of Je Tsongkhapa

4. Je Tsongkhapa (1357 - 1419)

With an HPI of 64.79, Je Tsongkhapa is the 4th most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Tsongkhapa (Tibetan: ཙོང་ཁ་པ་, [tsoŋˈkʰapa], meaning: "the man from Tsongkha" or "the Man from Onion Valley", c. 1357–1419) was an influential Tibetan Buddhist monk, philosopher and tantric yogi, whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism as a synthesis of the earlier Kadampa school lineages. He was the teacher of the 1st Dalai Lama. His philosophical works are a grand synthesis of the Buddhist epistemological tradition of Dignāga and Dharmakīrti, the Cittamatra philosophy of the mind, and the madhyamaka philosophy of Nāgārjuna and Candrakīrti. Central to his philosophical and soteriological teachings is "a radical view of emptiness" which sees all phenomena as devoid of intrinsic nature. This view of emptiness is not a kind of nihilism or a total denial of existence. Instead, it sees phenomena as existing "interdependently, relationally, non-essentially, conventionally" (which Tsongkhapa terms "mere existence"). Tsongkhapa emphasized the importance of philosophical reasoning in the path to liberation. According to Tsongkhapa, meditation must be paired with rigorous reasoning in order "to push the mind and precipitate a breakthrough in cognitive fluency and insight."

Photo of 11th Dalai Lama

5. 11th Dalai Lama (1838 - 1856)

With an HPI of 59.63, 11th Dalai Lama is the 5th most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 39 different languages.

The 11th Dalai Lama, Khedrup Gyatso (9 October 1838 – 01 March 1855) was recognized by the Ganden Tripa as the 11th Dalai Lama of Tibet and enthroned in 1842. He enlarged the Norbulingka, studied at Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery, and taught students. He was recognised as the 11th Dalai Lama in 1841, after being born in Garthang near Dartsedo, the same village where the 7th Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso was born in 1708. He was taken to Lhasa and in 1842, the 7th Panchen Lama, Lobzang Tenpai Nyima, gave him refuge vows, cut his hair and gave him the name of Khedrup Gyatso. In 1842, he was enthroned as the 11th Dalai Lama in the Potala Palace on the Full Moon day of the 4th Lunar month (24 May 1842). In 1846 he became a preliminary monk (rab byung), and in 1848 at the age of eleven years he took the getsul novice vows of monkhood, while both were bestowed by the 7th Panchen Lama He had a residence at the Norbulingka built in 1848, and participated in the annual Zhoton summer festival in Lhasa, while also traveling on pilgrimage to Samye Monastery, Mount Kailash and its Lake Manasarovar, and to other places. He gave public audiences, taught, and stood for his examinations in 1852 and 1853, and passed. He wrote a book of stanzas, Story of the Monkeys and Birds (Bya sprel gyi gtam-rgyud). It is an allegory of the war at the end of the 18th century between the Tibetans and the Gurkhas ('birds' and 'monkeys' respectively). He assumed political leadership on the request of Daoguang Emperor in 1854 but died less than one year later on 01 March 1855, becoming the third successive Dalai Lama who died at a young age. "During the period of the short-lived Dalai Lamas—from the Ninth to the Twelfth incarnations—the Panchen Lama was the lama of the hour, filling the void left by the four Dalai Lamas who died in their youth."

Photo of Bao Xishun

6. Bao Xishun (b. 1951)

With an HPI of 59.00, Bao Xishun is the 6th most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Bao Xishun (also known as Xi Shun; born November 2, 1951) is a Chinese herdsman from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the world's tallest living men at 7 feet 9 inches (236 cm) tall. He was formerly certified as the tallest living man by the Guinness World Records. On September 17, 2009, Sultan Kösen overtook Bao Xishun as the tallest living man.

Photo of Dazu Huike

7. Dazu Huike (487 - 593)

With an HPI of 58.65, Dazu Huike is the 7th most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Dazu Huike (487–593; Chinese: 大祖慧可; pinyin: Dàzǔ Huìkě; Wade–Giles: Ta-tsu Hui-k'o; Japanese pronunciation: Taiso Eka) is considered the Second Patriarch of Chan Buddhism and the twenty-ninth since Gautama Buddha. He was the successor to Bodhidharma.

Photo of Joseph Zen

8. Joseph Zen (b. 1932)

With an HPI of 58.21, Joseph Zen is the 8th most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, SDB (Wu Chinese pronunciation: [zəɲ zəʔ tɕyəɲ], born 13 January 1932) is a retired Chinese cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009. He was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and has been outspoken on issues regarding human rights, political freedom, and religious liberty. Zen's strong ties with the pro-democracy camp often attract criticism from the pro-Beijing camp and the government of the People's Republic of China. He retired on 15 April 2009, but remains a strong pro-democracy influence in Hong Kong. On 11 May 2022 he was arrested by the National Security Police and later that day released on bail.

Photo of Shaohao

9. Shaohao (b. )

With an HPI of 57.57, Shaohao is the 9th most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Shaohao (Chinese: 少皞; pinyin: Shàohào; lit. 'Lesser brightness'), also known as Jin Tian (金天), was a legendary Chinese sovereign, usually identified as a son of the Yellow Emperor. According to some traditions, such as that within the Book of Documents, Shaohao is one of the Five Emperors. His place in the mythical lineage of the Yellow Emperor has been subject to controversy. Members of the 19th–20th century Doubting Antiquity School of historians posited that Shaohao was added to the orthodox succession legend by Liu Xin as part of a politically motivated campaign revising ancient texts c. 1 AD.

Photo of Jianzhen

10. Jianzhen (688 - 763)

With an HPI of 55.59, Jianzhen is the 10th most famous Chinese Religious Figure.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Jianzhen (688–763), also known by his Japanese name Ganjin, was a Tang Chinese monk who helped to propagate Buddhism in Japan. In the eleven years from 743 to 754, Jianzhen attempted to visit Japan some six times, arriving in the year 753 and founding Tōshōdai-ji in Nara. When he finally succeeded on his sixth attempt, he had lost his eyesight as a result of an infection acquired during his journeys. Jianzhen's life story and voyage are described in the scroll, "The Sea Journey to the East of a Great Bonze from the Tang Dynasty."

People

Pantheon has 28 people classified as Chinese religious figures born between 101 and 1989. Of these 28, 8 (28.57%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Chinese religious figures include 14th Dalai Lama, Bao Xishun, and Joseph Zen. The most famous deceased Chinese religious figures include 13th Dalai Lama, Huineng, and Je Tsongkhapa. As of April 2024, 4 new Chinese religious figures have been added to Pantheon including Dazu Huike, Witness Lee, and Hsing Yun.

Living Chinese Religious Figures

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Deceased Chinese Religious Figures

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Newly Added Chinese Religious Figures (2024)

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Overlapping Lives

Which Religious Figures were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 10 most globally memorable Religious Figures since 1700.