Most Famous Chinese Religious figures

China has produced 59 notable religious figures throughout history, led by 14th Dalai Lama. Rankings are drawn from a cross-verified academic dataset of 152,953 people.

Top Ranked

  1. 14th Dalai Lama — Chinese Bhikkhu (Born 1935) , ranked #252
  2. Xuanzang — Chinese Monk (602–664) , ranked #2851
  3. Bodhidharma — Chinese Bhikkhu (483–540) , ranked #6448
  4. Li Hongzhi — Chinese Religious (Born 1951) , ranked #12619
  5. Huineng — Chinese Monk (638–713) , ranked #12983
  6. Faxian — Chinese Monk (340–418) , ranked #18487
  7. Ferdinand Verbiest — Chinese Priest (1623–1688) , ranked #20100
  8. Zhiyi — Chinese Monaco (538–597) , ranked #29227
  9. Linji Yixuan — Chinese Monaco (?–866) , ranked #35039
  10. Choekyi Gyaltsen (10th Panchen Lama) — Chinese Bhikkhu (1938–1989) , ranked #36159
  11. Qiu Chuji — Chinese Disciples (1148–1227) , ranked #36763
  12. Huiyuan (Buddhist) — Chinese Monk (334–416) , ranked #57995
  13. Jianzhen — Chinese Bhikkhu (688–763) , ranked #63972
  14. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima — Chinese Bhikkhu (Born 1989) , ranked #70788
  15. Charlie Soong — Chinese Missionary (1863–1918) , ranked #76246
  16. Paul Yü Pin — Chinese Cardinal (1901–1978) , ranked #78112
  17. Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje — Chinese Monk (1904–1987) , ranked #99981
  18. Thomas Tien Ken-sin — Chinese Priest (1890–1967) , ranked #117270
  19. Paul Shan Kuo-hsi — Chinese Priest (1923–2012) , ranked #119323
  20. Nanyue Huisi — Chinese Bhikkhu (515–577) , ranked #122813