In all fields of Chinese studies, researchers always encounter the names of persons they are unfamiliar with or about whom they need to know a little more than they know. In these cases, one initially starts surveying the person’s general biographies, which could not be a main source. As a matter of fact, one should find out more scholarly and detailed information with a thorough biographical investigation. For this matter, this bibliography deals with where to go to find out about mainly pre-modern individuals.
In order to obtain more precise or detailed information, one should consult one of the many biographical sources such as biographical dictionaries, indexes to biographical sources, biographies in dynastic histories, chronological biography (nianpu), dates of birth and death, and alternate names which include a general bibliography for biographical sources, etc.
For the purpose of this matter, such biographical sources are selected and annotated in this bibliography.