There are various forms of exhibitionism and they are defined by the act that the individual is carrying out. For example, lifting the skirt to share with the world the fact that one isn’t wearing undergarments is called “Anasyrma.” There are also the more familiar forms of exhibitionism such streaking and morning. Believe it or not, placing obscene phone calls that consist of making sexual noises and foul language is also a form of exhibitionism when it results in one being sexually stimulated.

Sad to say, some stars are known more for their body parts being constantly displayed more than they are for their actual crafts. Even those who are known simply for who they are and what they have have gained reputations for their partially nude antics and totally bizarre outfits. Being an exhibitionist doesn’t always mean that one is flaunting their body parts, some stars like to put their sexuality on display as well.

10. Miley Cyrus

This former child star is all grown up and has no problem showing it all! The star has been busted wearing next to nothing and baring it all at one time or another. She is so comfortable with her exhibitionism that she was the keynote speaker at an event for exhibitionist. True to form, she showed up wearing no undergarments and the paparazzi were happy to share the news.

9. Rihanna

When Rihanna first stepped on to the music scene, all anyone could speak about the pretty girl with the honey brown eyes and teasing Barbadian accent. The sweet faced, innocence may still be there. If it is, it’s hidden beneath the naughty girl that is presented to her audience.

As of late, Rihanna’s seems to love leather and latex and gives no second thought to showing herself off on stage. The cameras always seem to catch her baring her assets in sheer dresses with little to nothing beneath. With racy magazine covers and interviews admitting that she loves walking on the wild side. Many believe that her recent switch from good girl to bad girl may have been a result of recent difficult events that have taken place in her life.

8. Lady Gaga

If there is one thing that Lady GaGa isn’t, it’s shy. The pop loves living for shock value and goes to the necessary lengths to get the results she’s after. The stunning blond singer gets a kick out of teasing her viewers with glimpses of breasts and buttocks. She isn’t as bad as some of her peers who blatantly show their private parts. She simply shows just enough to garner the title.
Many believe that Lady Gaga’s exhibitionism is linked directly to her superstar persona and is used as a marketing ploy. Whatever it is, it gets her the attention that she is after.

7. Britney Spears

Britney Spears in no longer the little girl that’s singing about a mistake she has made again, now a days, the things she does are on purpose; especially when it comes to showing skin. There is no denying that the young girl who made catholic skirts sexy for another generation has an issue with keeping herself covered. On stage, Ms. Spears is clad in leather, lace, latex and strings. With cheeks hanging and breasts peeking, there is no shame in her showing it all.
Much like some other stars of her generation, Britney has a penchant for exiting cars and showing the world her lady parts.

6. Kim Kardashian

The simple fact that she gained her fame as a result of a what was supposed to be a personal sex tape, should day enough. Yet since then, Kim Kardashian’s perfectly proportioned body has been the object of many photo spreads and near nude outfits. This bosom beauty has no qualms with showing her prized asset. Her rear end is the envy of women around the world and the heart’s desire of their husbands.

When in public, Kim may tone it down a bit. But her painted on clothing still allow those looking to see every curve, crease and crevice on her hour glass shaped figure. She knows what she’s doing when she takes it off and when she puts it on. In Kim’s case, taking it off can really get a career going.

5. Danielle Staub

One of the stars of a poplar reality show, Danielle Staub’s exhibitionism led to her being booted from the show. Her past caught up with her when it was found that she not only once went by another name but was also arrested. Shortly after her release from the show, the internet was flooded with a sex tape which Danielle was subsequently blamed for leaking.

It became evident afterwards that Danielle may indeed have a problem. As opposed to doing damage control and attempting to clear up the raunchy past that caught up to her; the star fueled the flames by posting naughty pictures of herself on the internet. Adding to the heat, she accepted a contact as a fully nude dancer at a popular gentleman’s club. The deal was nullified when Danielle decided that she should seek counseling.

4. Kendra Wilkinson

Everyone knows that in order to be affiliated with a particular men’s magazine and its founder, one of the requirements is that you aren’t afraid to take it all off. And although Kendra was never officially aboard as one of the company’s stars, she has bared it all; over and over again. Whether donning her own skin or covered in paint, nudity is not a problem for the beautiful blonde.
Little controversy arose when a video of Kendra with an unidentified man surfaced on the World Wide Web. It was almost as if it were expected. Kendra’s wild days have slowed down since she has parted ways with her adopted family and has settled into married life as a mother.

3. Paris Hilton

This wealthy socialite has worked hard to earn her title as an exhibitionist…over and over again. The fact that she constantly refuses to wear underwear and then insists that everyone in the world is made aware of it has solidified her spot amongst others. Ms. Hilton was already rich when a sex tape featuring her in a starring role was leaked to the media. Yet, she wasn’t the household name that she is now until her female parts were put on public display. Paris has also been the victim of nude photos being leaked to the public as well.

Having money doesn’t take away her urge to expose herself to others; it just ensures that she is looking good when she does it. There have been photos of Paris lifting ball dresses as she “walked”. There can be no way that someone is unaware that she is mooning the crowd. Which would also lead one to believe that there is no way she doesn’t realize that she’s “smiling” at the crowd when she exits a car, sans panties.

2. Cher

One of the best to ever do it and probably the inspiration behind some of the fetish like outfits that today’s young stars are sporting is Cher. The other half of the classic duo, Sonny and Cher, she has worn some outfits that would put Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Jenny McCarthy all to shame. This old school diva is not ashamed to show her butt…literally. Cher owns more sheer dresses, leather strap body suits and shoe lace designed outfits than any one person should. And she has always worn them well. When it comes to letting it all hang out, Cher will always be a name that is mentioned.

1. Madonna

This singer’s name will always invoke thoughts of exhibitionism. The singer has been showing her parts for decades and even at her present age, she will still bare it all. Madonna has graced the cover of many magazines in the buff, in the semi-buff and in the may-as-well-be-buff. The freedom she feels in showing her body today is the same freedom she had in doing it so many years ago.

As you can see, being an exhibitionist may be a part of who some famous people are or a part of who they need to present to the world. Either way, celebrities seem to be fine with showing it all. Even those who are a bit more on the conservative side find a way to tease us with their secret. One would have to admit, feeling like you know some celebrities on a personal level isn’t without merit.

For many, shoes are a necessity. Then there are those who see them as a reward. Yet again, some people see them as a must have and can’t stop buying them. There are people are addicted to shoes like others are addicted to alcohol and food. Their addiction leads to them owning excessive amounts of them or spending excessive amounts of money on them. But when you’re famous and/or rich, it doesn’t really matter. There are even some not-so-famous people who are shoe fanatics as well.

Famous names are attached to a variety of obsessions. Many celebrities are shoe fanatics and are addicted to shoes like others are addicted to drugs and alcohol. And most have no problem admitting it. This may have something to do with the fact that they can afford their habit. None is ever surprised when they hear how many pairs of shoes a celebrity has or how much money they spent on the custom made pair they were seen wearing.

10. Bernie Madoff

Bernie Madoff ripped a lot of people off.  Using a “Ponzi scheme”, the money that would-be investors thought they were using to ensure a secure financial future, was instead used to fund hid lavish lifestyle and upkeep his fake persona. He ended up paying for his crime with his freedoms.

However, there was something that few people knew about Bernie. Mr. Madoff was a shoe fanatic, with a fetish for leather loafers. When Madoff’s personal property was seized for auction, everyone was surprised to find that he owned 250 pairs of leather loafers from around the world. Many of the never-worn shoes came from England, France or Italy.

9. Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera started seeking fame and fortune early in life as a young performer a popular children’s channel. By the time she was 19 years old, she was on her way to becoming a pop star. Christina had no problem speaking of her shoe addiction and has a closet in her LA mansion, with a wall in it that is solely dedicated to her collection. Her extensive collection is sorted by designer and boasts names like Louboutin, McQueen and YSL. Christina’s collection is built of more than 750 pairs of shoes. The floor to ceiling wall comes fully equipped, there’s a rolling ladder installed for easy access.

8. Mariah Carey

A singer with a voice that reaches octaves that are unbelievable, Mariah Carey loves her shoes. She owns a variety of pairs of wedges, boots and designer labeled stilettos that total over 1,000.  To show how much she loves her shoes, she had a space specially designed for them. Made of gold leaf and bleached wood, Mariah’s shoes are housed in class.

7. Eva Peron (1919 – 1952)

Eva Peron, also known as Evita, was the wife of First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until she passed away. In her lifetime, however, he accomplished many things that won her favor with the people of her country. She fought for the rights of laborers and women, and was the head of the first political party that catered to women on a large scale, the Female Peronist Party.

As a child, Eva was poor and often wore shoes that were broken and torn. Once she became a theatre star, she learned to appreciate the finer things in life. As the First Lady, her status required she had only the best. A loyal fan of Salvatore Ferragamo, she had her shoes custom made with mink fur; which was considered the most expensive fur in the world during her time. While no one is sure of how many pairs she owned, it has been often said that her collection would rival that of Imelda Marcos.

6. Imelda Marcos

Filipino politician and widow of the 10^th Philippine President, Imelda Marcos’ name will always be synonymous with “shoes”. In 1986, the Marcos family was forced to flee the Philippines after a 4 fay revolution overthrew the government. There was no time to gather personal belongings before the desperate flight to Hawaii.

Imelda was forced to abandon all of her worldly possessions. It was revealed, that inside the Malacanang Palace, Imelda had left behind an amazing amount of clothing and accessories. Among them, 15 mink coats and 1000 hand bags. Yet, the discarded items that shocked the world most, was the 1,060 pairs of shoes that she was forced to run away from. Uproar started when it was revealed that there was no evidence to point to the Marcos family having personal worth that would allow them to support such a lavish lifestyle. The suggestion that taxpayer money was spent so that Imelda could have the finer things in life, shed a bad light on the then exiled former first-lady.

5. Beth Shak

This 41 year old, Million Dollar Matchmaker is the owner of more than 1200 pairs of shoes. Her exclusive shoe collection carries famous names like Manolo Blahnik, Chanel and Lanvin. Yet, the envy of any woman in the world is sure to be the 700 pairs of her favorite label, Christian Louboutin. Her expensive habit is funded by her winnings as a professional poker player. She is known for wearing her heels to her poker games and you can bet that everyone notices when she isn’t donning her high heeled, butt kickers.

4.  Paris Hilton

Heiress to the Hilton fortune, this pretty blonde can afford to have an appetite for shoes. And she does! Paris Hilton is a true shoe fanatic with over 2000 pairs of shoes in her collection. Her well broadcasted obsession with shoes was the motivation behind a Christmas gift that she received from a local business man. He gave the fashionista a custom made, size 11, 14 karat gold and diamond studded pair of shoes.

Paris’ collection of foot wear is full of all of her favorite names; Louboutin, YSL and her newest addition….Tory Burch. The socialite fell so deeply in love with the designer’s shoes that she ordered 20 pair, at one time. She was sure to order 3 each of the basic colors, in case they are phased out. Still, Paris will swear that a pair of Christian Louboutin red-bottoms is something that every girl should have.

3. Celine Dion

Singer, Celine Dion, will forever be remembered for her chart-topping song, “My Heart Will Go On.” The sweet voiced crooner has been singing songs of love for over a decade. Yet, there is a love in her life that she will never deny…shoes! Celine Dion is another famous shoe fanatic that has no issues with admitting that she has an obsession. The singer has openly said that she can’t stop buying them. The songbird admits to owning 3000 pairs of them. Her shoe collection is dear to her heart. She houses them in closets built into the wall of her home.

2. Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan is all grown up and has the taste to prove it. As a child star, she won the hearts of people across the country with her flaming red hair and adorable freckled face. She has starred in many movies and even tried her hand as a vocalist. As a teen and young adult, she has seemed to find trouble and it won’t stop following her.

With expensive taste, Lindsay has no qualms with dropping $1200 on a single pair of shoes id she likes them enough. Lindsay isn’t in denial about being a shoe fanatic and is the first to admit that she owns 5000 pairs of shoes from designers all over the world. She has even called her obsession with shoes “mad”.

1. Danielle Steele

Danielle Steele is an American romance novelist who had peened over 50 books and is one of the top selling authors in the country. She is also a serious shoe fanatic with an obsession with one designer….Christian Louboutin.  A devoted fan of the man responsible for high heeled craze, Steele owns over 6000 pair of the high priced designer’s signature red bottom shoes.

Steele is known to fly from the US to France just to purchase his merchandise. It’s been said that she has even purchased 80 pair at one time. Her Louboutin collection by itself puts a value of nearly $3,000,000 on the famed writer’s shoe closet. At last count, it was joked that it would take the author 16 years to wear a different pair of shoes each day before she had to wear the first pair again.

As you can see, anyone can be a shoe fanatic. From criminal master minds to presidential first ladies; no one is exempt from the power that shoes can gain over ones senses. Many famous shoe fanatics have shoes that they will never wear. Yet, they can’t help but buy more.

Is it possible that some of these people really have an issue that they are trying to ignore? Who needs more shoes than they can possibly wear in one lifetime? Or is it because they have the money, it doesn’t matter. Whatever the reason, shoes are an obsession for some. And anyone who isn’t a shoe fanatic wouldn’t understand unless the shoe was on the other foot.

1. Brad Pitt

2. Angelina Jolie

3. Denzel Washington

4. Britney Spears

5. Rhianna

6. Selena Gomez

7. Beyonce

8. Justin Bieber

9. Jennifer Lopez

10. Oprah Winfrey

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10. Charles “Chuck” Feeney

American businessman and billionaire Charles “Chuck” Feeney became mind-bogglingly wealthy as one of the founding partners of the chain of duty-free shops whose discounted goods entice last-minute shoppers in airports and hotels around the world. Feeney is the antithesis of flashy movers and shakers like Ted Turner and Richard Branson — he lives simply, keeps a very low profile, and avoids most public appearances and media coverage. Still, by most estimates, Feeney ranks among the most generous of major philanthropists. Over the last several decades, he has given away nearly $5 billion to foundations, universities, hospitals, and non-profit groups around the globe. What’s even more impressive – and most unusual – is that Feeney typically goes out of his way to ensure that his gifts remain anonymous. For example, to avoid U.S. government disclosure rules, he incorporated his private foundation in Bermuda and claims no tax deductions for his charitable donations. Some observers say that in terms of charitable donations as a percentage of one’s overall net worth, Feeney may someday be recognized as the most altruistic philanthropist in American history.

9. Thomas Cannon

Virginia resident Thomas Cannon didn’t consider himself to be a religious man, but at the age of 47, he took on a charitable mission that he described to friends as a “one-man ministry.” The postal worker began distributing small grants, most totaling $1000, to foundations, nonprofit organizations, charity groups, and individuals whose work he admired or whose circumstances he wanted to help improve. Over the course of his lifetime, Cannon has distributed nearly $200,000 in his own funds, most of which he and his wife Princetta amassed by living frugally on his salary, which was never more than $30,0000. Later, when Princetta was struck with terminal cancer, well-wishers from across the United States returned the favor and pitched in to buy the Cannons a more comfortable home. Though Princetta succumbed to the disease soon afterward, Thomas continued to focus on his charitable work until his death in 2005.

8. Ted Turner

Few people have moderate opinions on bold and outspoken Georgia-based billionaire Ted Turner – he tends to inspire either intense admiration or loathing. The media magnate has ownership stakes in CNN, WTBS, and the Atlanta Braves, and has amassed more American real estate than any other private individual. But before you dismiss Turner as nothing more than a brazen capitalist, it’s also important to note that his charitable donations and work on behalf of environmental conservation causes have catapulted him into the rarefied ranks of the world’s top philanthropists. In 1998, Turner sparked a firestorm of media interest when he pledged $1 billon of his then $3 billion fortune to the United Nations, a then-unprecedented act of philanthropic largesse. Since then, Turner has also made sizable donations to an array of environmental causes and organizations designed to assist the development of third-world countries.

7. Larry Stewart

In the late 1970s, Kansas City resident Larry Stewart suffered a devastating string of bad career luck when he was fired twice in two years. What’s more, both the terminations occurred right before Christmas, adding insult to injury. After the second incident, a sympathetic waitress tried to cheer up the down-on-his-luck Stewart with a gift of a free meal. Surprised by how much the kind gesture cheered him up, Stewart began to show the same kindness demonstrated to him to others he encountered. In his first such act, he gave a carhop a large tip. Soon afterwards, Stewart upped the ante and began handing out money to people he saw on the street, a tradition he would carry on under the anonymous moniker “Secret Santa” for nearly three decades. Just before Stewart succumbed to esophageal cancer in 2007, he revealed his story to local media outlets. Since then, Secret Santa clubs have sprung up around the nation that are dedicated to carrying on Stewart’s tradition of generosity.

6. Warren Buffett

The so-called “Oracle of Omaha” is widely recognized as one of the world’s savviest and most successful businessmen. Warren Buffett has advised presidents and various other heads of state on all things business-related, and he’s widely regarded as one of the world’s most skillful investors. Still, even with a personal fortune that is estimated to be more than $60 billion, ranking second only to Microsoft founder Bill Gates on the list of the wealthiest Americans, Buffett remains humble and chooses to stick to a relatively modest lifestyle. His philanthropic efforts are fueled in part by his belief that families should not pass significant wealth to their heirs, as the offspring of these wealthy dynasties tend to be unproductive and complacent, rather than contributing fully to society. In 2006, Buffett made a public pledge to give away his personal fortune, with the bulk of the money going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffet promptly followed up on his pledge by signing over ownership of stock worth more than $30 billion, which experts consider to be single largest donation ever recorded.

5. George Soros

Though often a lightning rod for controversy, Hungarian-born business man and currency speculator George Soros has emerged as one of the most significant figures in the global philanthropic landscape in recent years. Through years of savvy investments and currency swaps, Soros amassed a personal fortune estimated to be worth more than $13 billon – including a one-day take of more than $1 billion in the controversial “Black Wednesday” currency crisis that nearly brought some of England’s most prominent financial institutions to their knees. From the get-go, George Soros’ charitable donations have been somewhat political in tone, as with the millions of dollars he funneled to groups involved in the transition of Hungary to capitalism, in fomenting Georgia’s “Rose Revolution,” and, more recently, to the defeat of George W. Bush’s 2004 presidential campaign. In recent years, Soros’ charitable donations have focused on issues such as developing technological infrastructure in poor nations and helping to eradicate poverty in Africa and elsewhere. As of 2007, Time magazine estimated that Soros’ foundation had donated more than $6 billion.

4. Bill Gates

The company he helped to create — software giant Microsoft — has often come under fire for allegedly engaging in non-competitive business practices, and as far as spokespeople go, he’s kind of awkward, to put it mildly. But no matter what else you can say about Bill Gates, one thing is incontestable – the richest man in America has emerged as perhaps the single most important figure in global philanthropy in recent years. Founded in 1994, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation now has an endowment of more than $33 billion, and analysts say that its record-breaking donations in fields such as the treatment and eradication of malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS have made a significant difference in the lives of many of the world’s poorest populations. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has a mandate to donate at least 5% of its assets each year, which amounts to more than $1.5 billion a year based on current funding levels.

3. Paul Newman

Actor Paul Newman amassed a significant personal fortune over the course of his career in the movies, turning his boyish good lucks and photogenic charm into plum roles in classic films such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, and Cool Hand Luke. Although he had always dabbled in philanthropy, it wasn’t until 1982 that Newman took a more serious approach to charity, forming the brand “Newman’s Own” with the intention of donating all of the profits garnered by the company to good causes. With an initial focus on salad dressing, the company soon had products for sale on virtually every aisle in the typical American grocery store, with offerings ranging from pasta sauce to dog food. In 1993, the company created a subsidiary called Newman’s Own Organics which applied the same model to the then virtually unheard of realm of organic foods. Over the course of the existence of the Newman’s Own brand, nearly $300 million has been generated for charity.

2. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey began her career as a local newscaster and has created a multibillion-dollar media powerhouse the likes of which have never been seen. Along the way, she accumulated a personal fortune estimated to be in the $2 billion range, making her the richest African American in history. Since the beginning, Oprah has been generous with her earnings, making sizable charitable donations since her syndicated daytime talk show was first brought to the national market. She has given millions of dollars to charitable causes around the globe, including donations of more than $50 million to create a girls’ school in South Africa. In addition to her own charitable work, the media magnate founded Oprah’s Angel Network in 1998 with the aim of encouraging people everywhere to engage in philanthropic and charitable acts to the best of their financial ability.

1. Slacktavists, Armchair Philanthropists, and….You

Although the massive one-time donations made by wealthy philanthropists often get the most media coverage, experts say that real social change can only be effected when everybody gets in on the act. That’s why nonprofit organizations and other groups are trying to make it as simple as possible for average people to get involved in philanthropy. Case in point: after a series of devastating earthquakes hit Haiti in January 2010, millions of cell phone users donated to relief efforts by sending a text message to a special number set up by the Red Cross. Most of the donations were only $10 each, but in the end, more than $22 million was collected, proving once and for all exactly how true the old adage about strength in numbers really is.

Events outside of Asia started to move the world in different directions. The Roman Empire came and went, as did others. Eventually Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire reached the farthest of all. After the Jewish faith, Christianity became the predominant religion, and Islam was born. There were still amazing happenings in Asia, but many of these were not known outside of Asia. Japan and China both sought to keep European influences away, but eventually learned to live in the same world with the West.

Asian ideas of philosophy and religion, most notably Buddhism, are still alive today. China is now the most populous country in the word, with India behind it. There have been many amazing Asians over the last 3000 years. Some of them are famous and well-known around the world, while others are remembered in their home country and the region. Certain men, like Mahatma Gandhi and the current Dalai Lama, have inspired new generations of people around the world with their personal codes and lives of service.

15. Admiral Yi Sun-sin

Admiral Yi is one of Korea’s greatest historical figures. Famous for his successful naval tactics strategies, he has been compared to Lord Horatio Nelson. During the 1590’s, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had unified Japan, and attacked Korea. He was extremely successful on land. However, Admiral Yi stopped him at sea. Yi built up the Korean navy, and was undefeated in 23 naval battles over seven years. He was killed by a single bullet during the final battle. However he is revered in Korea for stopping the Japanese from annexing Korea, something they actually did centuries later in 1910.

14. King Mongkut Rama IV

This king was the ruler of Thailand, then known as Siam, from 1851 to 1868. He was a forward looking and reform-minded monarch. He brought many European ideas and practices to Siam. While men had been prohibited from wearing shirts at court to show that they had no concealed weapons, King Mongkut decreed that men should wear shirts at court, so that visiting Europeans would not consider Siam barbaric. King Mongkut was interested in everything from astronomy to the law. He helped keep Siam strong, and was responsible for the country maintaining its independence from conquest by a European power, a challenge that would continue under his son’s reign.

Westerners know King Mongkut as the King in “The King and I” and imagine Yul Brenner. In fact, he did hire Anna Leonowens to teach his children. However, the Thai dispute the portrayal of the king as well as the country at that time. History shows that King Mongkut freed many of his wives so they could marry others. Despite what he says in the movie, he did not offer to send Abraham Lincoln elephants to help him win the Civil War. Hid did offer elephants to President James Buchanan as beasts of burden, but by the time the letter arrived, Lincoln was in the White House.

13. Duke of Zhou

China was united by the Zhou, leading to the long Zhou Dynasty (1100 BCE–771 BCE). King Wu was the first Zhou king, and he came to power with the assistance of his brother, the Duke of Zhou. When King Wu died, the title was supposed to pass to his son, King Cheng, who was only a child. Duke Zhou took on the tasks of government but not the throne, serving as regent until the boy came of age. The fact that he did not steal the throne is admired, and he is remembered as “The First Virtuous Younger Brother” of the first Zhou king.

The Duke of Zhou contributed significantly to the development of what would later influence Confucius. He was perhaps the writer of what is called “The Chinese Book of Documents.” His Pronouncements and advisory pieces were mainly written to the people conquered by the Zhou, and also to King Cheng. Zhou’s writings are the heart of the Documents and were the most important parts later read by Confucius. Duke Zhou is considered one of the “Ancient Sages” of China. It is amazing that documents written a thousand years BCE still have influence today.

12. Zheng He

It may not have been Columbus who “discovered” the Americas. The Chinese had a naval fleet under Zheng He that some claim circumnavigated the globe in the early 1400’s. Zheng Hi was a Chinese Muslim from the southern part of China. When the Ming Army put down resistance in his area, he was captured and made into a eunuch at the age of 11. He was sent to the Imperial Court where he became a favorite of the Yongle Emperor. The Emperor wanted a Chinese navy to establish its presence and impress other countries with Chinese superiority. He made Zheng the admiral of a large fleet, with some 200 to 300 ships, many called “Treasure Ships” and near 28,000 crew. As he travelled, he gave and received gifts from Arabia, East Africa, Indonesia, India, and Siam. He used force when necessary and tried to curb the pirates operating in the area. How far he actually travelled is not clear. He was in possession of a map showing what appeared to be the Americas. It is considered possible that he travelled that far, and ever farther, circumnavigating the globe, although this is in dispute. He died on his last voyage. The next Emperor did not pursue Chinese naval superiority.

11. Akira Kurosawa

Akira Kurosawa was Japan’s greatest movie director, one of the best in the world. He is most often remembered for his films taking place during Japan’s samurai past, each with an indelible Kurowasa stamp

“Rashomon” portrays the rape of a woman and murder of her husband from multiple, contradictory points-of-view, and its influences are still felt today. It won the Golden Lion at the 1951 Venice Film Festival and an Academy Award for the Best Foreign Film in 1952. Kurosawa worked with Japanese film star Toshiro Mifune on this and many other movies.

“The Seven Samurai” (1954) won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It was remade in the west as “The Magnificent Seven.” Kurosawa was influenced by Western drama, and the award winning “Ran” (1985) was his take on Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” The West was also influenced by him. George Lucas says that “The Hidden Fortress” was one of the inspirations for “Star Wars IV” and “VI.” Kurosawa worked with Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola to make “Kagemusha” (1979), a drama about historical events during the time just before Tokagawa Ieyausu united Japan (see number 7). “Kagemusha” won the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1980. In 1989, Kurosawa was given an honorary Oscar by the American Academy.

10. Empress Wu Zetian (625-705) China

Wu Zetian was the only woman to actually rule China. Sent at a young age to the court, she became the concubine of Emperor Taizong and then Emperor Gaozong, surpassing his wife and other concubines to become his favorite. She heavily influenced the Emperor in all his decisions. She is believed to have poisoned a number of her rivals, as well as exiling or killing some of her own children. When Emperor Gaozong died in 683, Empress Wu ruled through her youngest son, but that was not enough. She declared herself the “Sacred and Divine Empress Regnant” and founded the short-lived second Zhou Dynasty.

While she was ruthless, certain of Wu Zetian’s actions changed China. She put Buddhism above Taoism. It has been said that after her rule there was better equality between the sexes in China. The Empress was removed from the throne in 705 and died later that year.

9. Prince Shotoku (574-622) Japan

Prince Shotoku of Japan (also called Prince Umayado) was responsible for political reforms and for bringing Buddhism into Japan on the 7th century. This was during the Asuka period, when he was regent.

Prince Shotoku was inspired by Confucian teachings from China, which were reflected in his political writings, including a constitution, and in his achievement of centralizing the government. He was also a Buddhist, and wrote commentaries on various Buddhist tracts. He had the first Buddhist temples in Japan built in Osaka.

8. Xuanzang

Xuanzang (or Xuan Dang) (602 or 603 – 664) China. Xuanzang was born into a scholarly and conservative Confucian family. After the death of his father, Xuanzang became a Buddhist monk at the early age of 20 due to his keen intelligence and knowledge.

Xuanzang was concerned that the Chinese translations of Buddhist documents were not accurate, so he determined to undertake the long journey to India, to get to the source material. His trip to India and back took seven years, along the so-called Silk Roads. It has been memorialized as a fictional book called “Journey to the West,” but he really did make the journey. He kept a record of his travels, called “Great Tang Records on the Western Regions” which is the main source of information about some of the areas at that time, including what are now Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal. He brought back three copies of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra (the Heart Sutra) so that he could be sure of an accurate translation. He and his helpers translated all 600 chapters. He also translated some 657 Sanskrit Buddhist works. He had an enormous influence on Buddhism in China and left historians invaluable information about the period in which he lived.

7. Tokugawa Ieyasu

The third of Japan’s “Three Unifiers,” Ieyasu unified Japan under his leadership after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 (The second unifier was Toyotomi Hideyoshi. See number 15.) The emperor gave him the title of Shogun in 1603. This was the beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which lasted from 1600 to 1868. There were many years of relative peace and prosperity. However, the social stratification was so strict that the common people often suffered under the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Tokagawa Ieyasu was deified, pronounced a god, after his death. The deification was said to protect his descendants from evil.

The novel “Shogun,” written by James Clavell, was about this period in Japan. He called Ieyasu Toranaga instead of Tokugawa, but most of the events in the book were real. It was made into one of the first television miniseries in the United States, starring Richard Chamberlain as a European shipwrecked on Japanese shores who Toranaga uses for his own purposes. In the miniseries, Toshiro Mifune played Toranaga.

6. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

The fourteenth and current Dalai Lama, whose full name is Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of the main Tibetan Buddhist sect. The Dalai Lamas have been the leaders of the Galug school of Tibetan Buddhism for centuries. In 1659 the fifth Dalai Lama united Tibet, and the Dalia Lama was the head of the Tibetan government from the 17th century until 1959. The current Dalai Lama was forced into exile when China took control of the region in1959. The Tibetan government-in-exile resides in India. Tenzin Gyatso tries to maintain Tibetan traditions; the ongoing fight to free Tibet from China seems to be without end.

The charismatic Dalai Lama has travelled the world spreading messages of harmony, ethics and peace. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. He has received greater than a hundred honorary degrees and awards, including the U. S. Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

The Dalai Lama is semi-retired from leading the government-in-exile. There have been many protests in Tibet and around the world about the Chinese treatment of the area. When a Dalai Lama dies, he is reincarnated into the next Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama said that he may not be reincarnated and that a Dalai Lama should not be reborn in a land that is not free.

5. Sun Yat-sen

Sun Yat-sen. (1866 or 1870 – 1925) China. Sun Yat-sen, the Father of Modern China was a Nationalist leader and one of the main participants in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in the 1911 Chinese revolution. !n 1912, when the Republic of China was founded, he was its first provisional president. He also founded and acted as the first leader of the Kuomintang.

Sun Yat-sen lived all over the world, including spending his teenage years in Hawaii. He trained as a medical doctor in Hong Kong. He wanted China to embrace some of the modern, Western ideas including democracy. After a failed coup in 1895, he lived in exile. He spent years all over the world gathering ideas and building financial support for a new China. The revolution occurred when he was in the United States. He returned to China to take up the post as provisional president. Many years of fighting continued in China between different factions. By 1927, it would turn into civil war.

During these years Sun tried to establish a government based on the “Three Principles of the People” which include nationalism (as opposed to imperial domination), democracy (a constitutional government) and “government for the people” which may mean socialism or alternatively social welfare. He died in 1925 without seeing a unified China. He is still thought of highly in both China and Taiwan.

4. Mohandas Gandhi, the Mahatma

Mohandas Gandhi, called the Mahatma. (1869 – 1948) India. It is almost impossible to briefly summarize the life of such a person, the Father of India. Mohandas Gandhi was born to into a Hindu family, educated in India and then sent to England to become a barrister. He spent years in South Africa where he experienced blatant anti-Indian sentiment, and first used non-violent protest, or civil disobedience against that government.

When he returned to India he saw the suffering of many people, the peasants, laborers, and “untouchables” and others under British rule. He organized protests to help farmers who were being heavily taxed during times of famine. The protests in Kheda made Gandhi famous. People began to call him “Bapu” or father, as well as “Mathatma” which means Great Soul. He continued practices of civil disobedience and non-cooperation with the British essentially for the rest of his life. His goal was to free India from British rule, and to improve conditions for all her people. He kept the Hindu faith, lived in a self-sufficient community as a vegetarian, and dressed in traditional dhoti. During years of civil disobedience, he was imprisoned a number of times.

During World War II, Gandhi took the position that the British must “Quit India.” India would not fight for the British unless it was free. He was again imprisoned. The British did quit India, but not before it was separated into two countries, India and Pakistan. Gandhi was assassinated in 1948.

3. Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan. (1162-1227) Mongolia. Born into one of the Mongol tribes, he acquired the name Genghis Khan after consolidating the nomadic groups into the early Mongolian Empire in 1206. He is also called ruler of the Mongol Horde.

Genghis Khan and his armies conquered region after region. He was a brilliant military strategist, a great leader, and ferocious in battle. The Mongol Empire became the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world, from much of China on the west to “Georgia and Volga Bulgaria” south of Russia on the east. Genghis Khan died after his last campaign against the Chinese Tanguts in 1227. His heirs expanded the Mongol Empire even farther.

The empire was governed under a meritocracy, with relative peace for its people and religious tolerance. The Silk Roads were controlled under the Mongols, making travel easier. For these reason, history remembers some positive aspects of the Empire and Genghis Khan.

2. Confucius

Confucius. (551BCE – 479 BCE) China. Confucius was a great philosopher whose teachings emphasized correct personal and societal conduct. His teachings became the basics of the correct code of conduct for all Chinese for years after his death. No work definitively written by Confucius remains, but the “Analects of Confucius” were put together by his followers after his death. It was his students and disciples that spread what would be called Confucianism. Much of what is known about his life was recorded by Sima Qian, who wrote “Records of the Grand Historian” between 109 BCE and 91 BCE.

A basic precept of Confucianism is that education of individuals should lead to moral development. The basis of government would then be moral virtue and not coercion. Confucius believed in “ancestor worship,” respect of elders, and strong family loyalty. He emphasized the “Golden Rule” as did many other philosophers and religious leaders. He also stressed the Five Bonds: 1. Ruler to Subject, 2. Father to Son, 3. Husband to Wife, 4. Elder brother to Younger Brother, and 5. Friend to Friend. His belief system contained codes for correct governance by rulers, correct behavior of the governed, advancement based on merit, and other precepts which he believed would make a better society.

His disciples and commentators on his work continued to teach many of his principles. Confucianism first took hold in China, but spread throughout Asia, and much later, to Europe. It is still important in countries influenced by China

1. Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha. (563 BCE – 483 BCE) Nepal/India. Siddhartha Gautama created of one of the five largest religions in the world. He was born into the ruling family of Kapilvastu (now in Nepal), married, and lived in the palace for 29 years, protected from the suffering in the world. He decided to leave the palace and first saw elderly, impoverished and miserable people. This propelled him to leave the royal life and train under ascetic hermits. He learned to meditate. But he wanted to move beyond his teachers. He and five companions fasted, put aside worldly goods, and practiced self-mortification. This did not achieve what he wanted. He found peace in meditation called jhana.

He discovered the “Middle Way,” moderation in between self-indulgence and self-mortification. Sitting under the Bodhi tree in India, he meditated until he achieved Nirvana (Enlightenment). He was now called Buddha which means “Enlightened One.” He understood the “Four Noble Truths” and the “Nine Characteristics” of all Buddhas.

He and his disciples travelled, gaining more companions and teaching. Each community following his teachings was called a Sangha. Those of his disciples who attained Enlightenment were called arahants. During his lifetime he visited many different areas in India and gained more followers. At the end of his life, he was said to enter Parinirvana, abandoning the earthly body.

His disciples continued to teach Buddhist philosophy, which accumulated more spiritual teachings as time went on, and also split into many different groups who interpret the Buddha’s teachings in disparate ways. Buddhism spread throughout Asia. There are an estimated 1.2 to 1.6 billion Buddhists across the world today, including practitioners in the United States, South America, and Europe. It is the fifth largest religion in the world.

Clearly, some of the Asians on this list from early history affected many groups of people and eventually the world that they knew. Confucius and Buddha in particular left legacies of codes of behavior and morality that influenced the Asian character. 750 years later, Gandhi brought a new way of political activism, personal behavior and change to India and the rest of the world. Gandhi influenced many people who used civil disobedience and non-violent protest, such as the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. as well as President Barack Obama. The Dalai Lama also inspires people today. Most people in the United States as well as other Western countries do not learn much of this information. Knowing the feats of these “Amazing Asians” and understanding how they changed the course of history is important for anyone who really wants to understand the world.