EXPLORER

Xu Fu

255 BC - Today

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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. It was believed that the fleet included 60 barques with soldiers, ship crewmen, and 3,000 boys and 3,000 girls, and craftsmen of different fields. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Xu Fu is the 79th most popular explorer (down from 69th in 2019), the 217th most popular biography from China (down from 210th in 2019) and the 4th most popular Chinese Explorer.

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Among EXPLORERS

Among explorers, Xu Fu ranks 79 out of 498. Before him are Pêro da Covilhã, Willem Schouten, John Smith, Diogo Dias, Ármin Vámbéry, and Juan Díaz de Solís. After him are Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir, Richard Francis Burton, Stepan Makarov, Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, and Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca.

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Contemporaries

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

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  • Photo of Xu Fu

    Xu Fu

    EXPLORER

    255 BC - Present

    HPI: 69.28

    Rank: 1

  • Photo of Phylarchus

    Phylarchus

    WRITER

    255 BC - Present

    HPI: 59.88

    Rank: 2

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In China

Among people born in China, Xu Fu ranks 217 out of 1,610. Before him are Empress Xiaoyichun (1727), Jiang Wei (202), Charles K. Kao (1933), Donnie Yen (1963), Shitao (1642), and Meng Tian (-250). After him are Emperor Ling of Han (156), Zhao Bing (1271), Jie of Xia (-1728), Pang Tong (179), Wang Xizhi (303), and Jin Yong (1924).

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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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