EXPLORER

Xu Fu

255 BC - Today

Photo of Xu Fu

Icon of person Xu Fu

Xu Fu (Hsu Fu; Chinese: 徐福 or 徐巿; pinyin: Xú Fú; Wade–Giles: Hsu2 Fu2; Japanese: 徐福 Jofuku or 徐巿 Jofutsu; Korean: 서복 Seo Bok or 서불 Seo Bul) was a Chinese alchemist and explorer. He was born in 255 BC in Qi, an ancient Chinese state, and disappeared at sea in 210 BC. He served as a court sorcerer in Qin dynasty China. Later, he was sent by Qin Shi Huang to the eastern seas twice to look for the elixir of life. His two journeys occurred between 219 BC and 210 BC. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Xu Fu has received more than 432,625 page views. His biography is available in 23 different languages on Wikipedia. Xu Fu is the 69th most popular explorer, the 209th most popular biography from China and the 4th most popular Chinese Explorer.

Memorability Metrics

  • 430k

    Page Views (PV)

  • 63.65

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 23

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 4.73

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 2.38

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Among EXPLORERS

Among explorers, Xu Fu ranks 69 out of 498. Before him are Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, Davy Crockett, Nikolay Przhevalsky, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, and John Davis. After him are Alonso de Ojeda, Willem Schouten, Jules Dumont d'Urville, Richard Francis Burton, Hernando de Soto, and William Dampier.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 255 BC, Xu Fu ranks 1. After him is Phylarchus.

Others Born in 255 BC

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  • Photo of Xu Fu

    Xu Fu

    EXPLORER

    255 BC - Present

    HPI: 63.65

    Rank: 1

  • Photo of Phylarchus

    Phylarchus

    WRITER

    255 BC - Present

    HPI: 55.17

    Rank: 2

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In China

Among people born in China, Xu Fu ranks 209 out of 1,610. Before him are Zhang Zuolin (1875), Cao Xueqin (1724), Liu Xiaobo (1955), Wang Anshi (1021), Zhang Liang (-290), and Wang Yangming (1472). After him are Donnie Yen (1963), Emperor Yingzong of Song (1032), Empress Xiaoyichun (1727), Chien-Shiung Wu (1912), Liu Bian (176), and Emperor Qianshao of Han (-150).

Others born in China

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Among EXPLORERS In China

Among explorers born in China, Xu Fu ranks 4. Before him are Zheng He (1387), Xuanzang (602), and Zhang Qian (-200). After him are Gan Ying (100), and Ma Huan (1380).

Chinese born Explorers

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