China has a rich history of producing some of the greatest geniuses the world has ever known. From philosophers and political theorists to scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, these individuals have made significant contributions to their respective fields and have left a lasting impact on Chinese society. 

Here are the (brief) stories of 20 of the biggest Chinese geniuses of all time:

Confucius (551-479 BC) - Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and political theorist whose ideas have had a profound influence on Chinese culture and thought. He believed in the importance of education, personal and governmental morality, and the importance of tradition. His ideas were later developed into a philosophy known as Confucianism, which became the dominant ideology in China for over 2,000 years.

Laozi (6th century BC) - Laozi was a Chinese philosopher and the founder of Taoism, a philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the natural world. His most famous work, the "Tao Te Ching," is a collection of poems that explore the concept of the Tao, or the ultimate reality that underlies all things.

Sun Tzu (5th century BC) - Sun Tzu was a Chinese military strategist and philosopher whose work, "The Art of War," is still studied and applied in military and business strategies today. His teachings focus on the importance of preparation, the value of surprise, and the need for adaptability in warfare.

Zhang Heng (78-139) - Zhang Heng was a Chinese astronomer, mathematician, inventor, and writer who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics. He is credited with the invention of the first seismograph and also made important observations about the movements of the sun and moon.

Wang Xizhi (303-361) - Wang Xizhi was a Chinese calligrapher and writer who is considered the greatest calligrapher in Chinese history. His works are admired for their graceful, flowing lines and are considered masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy.

Shen Kuo (1031-1095) - Shen Kuo was a Chinese scientist, mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and engineer who made significant contributions to a wide range of fields. He is credited with the discovery of the concept of true north and also made important observations about the Earth's magnetic field.

Zhu Xi (1130-1200) - Zhu Xi was a Chinese philosopher and Neo-Confucian who is considered one of the most influential figures in Chinese thought. His ideas focused on the importance of education and the cultivation of personal virtue and were instrumental in shaping the Confucian tradition.

Li Shizhen (1518-1593) - Li Shizhen was a Chinese physician and naturalist who is considered one of the greatest doctors in Chinese history. His most famous work, the "Bencao Gangmu," is a comprehensive encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine that is still widely used today.

Xu Guangqi (1562-1633) - Xu Guangqi was a Chinese scholar, agriculturist, and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of agriculture and mathematics. He is credited with introducing Western-style irrigation techniques to China and also worked to translate Western scientific and mathematical works into Chinese.

Guo Shoujing (1231-1314) - Guo Shoujing was a Chinese astronomer, engineer, and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics. He is credited with the invention of the world's first astronomical clock and also made important observations about the movements of celestial bodies.

Qiu Jin (1875-1907) was a Chinese writer, teacher, and revolutionary who played a key role in the early feminist movement in China. She was a vocal advocate for women's rights and education, and her writing and activism inspired many other Chinese women to speak out against the oppression and inequality they faced. Qiu Jin was eventually executed by the Qing government for her involvement in the revolution, but her legacy as a pioneering feminist and freedom fighter lives on.

Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) - Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader who is considered the "Father of Modern China." He played a key role in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. Sun's political philosophy, known as the "Three Principles of the People," focused on nationalism, democracy, and socialism and remains influential in China today.

Lu Xun (1881-1936) - Lu Xun was a Chinese writer and literary critic who is considered one of the greatest writers in Chinese history. His works, which explore themes of social injustice and the human condition, have had a lasting impact on Chinese literature and thought.

Li Dazhao (1889-1927) - Li Dazhao was a Chinese Marxist theorist and activist who is considered one of the founders of the Chinese Communist Party. He played a key role in the May Fourth Movement, a cultural and political movement that sought to modernize and reform China.

Mao Zedong (1893-1976) - Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist leader and the founding father of the People's Republic of China. His political philosophy, known as Maoism, became the dominant ideology in China during his lifetime and continues to influence politics and thought in China today.

Tsung-Dao Lee (1926- ) - Tsung-Dao Lee is a Chinese-American physicist and Nobel laureate who made significant contributions to the field of particle physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for his work on the non-conservation of parity, a fundamental symmetry in the laws of nature.

Chen Ning Yang (1922- ) - Chen Ning Yang is a Chinese-American physicist and Nobel laureate who made significant contributions to the field of particle physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for his work on the non-conservation of parity, a fundamental symmetry in the laws of nature.

Liu Xiaobo (1955-2017) - Liu Xiaobo was a Chinese literary critic, writer, and human rights activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 for his efforts to promote human rights and democracy in China. He was imprisoned for his activism and died while serving his sentence.

Fan Duan ( ? - present) - Fan Duan is a Chinese computer scientist and artificial intelligence researcher who is considered one of the leading experts in the field. His research focuses on natural language processing and machine learning, and he has made significant contributions to the development of artificial intelligence technologies.

Chen-Ning Franklin Yang (1922 - ) - Chen-Ning Franklin Yang is a Chinese-American physicist and Nobel laureate who made significant contributions to the field of particle physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for his work on the non-conservation of parity, a fundamental symmetry in the laws of nature.

These are just a few of the many Chinese geniuses who have made significant contributions to the world. From philosophers and political theorists to scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, these individuals have left a lasting impact on Chinese society and the world at large.