Wang Anshi

Wang Anshi was many things: a brilliant scholar, an influential statesman, and a poet of no small repute. Born into a prominent family, he quickly climbed the bureaucratic ladder, eventually becoming chancellor under Emperor Shenzong. His big idea? The "New Policies," a series of reforms aimed at strengthening the state and improving the lot of the common people. Think progressive taxation, state loans for farmers, and a revamped military. He was, in essence, the Bernie Sanders of 11th-century China, only with more poetry and less kvetching about billionaires.

Unfortunately, like many a well-intentioned reformer, Wang Anshi found that shaking up the status quo tends to upset the people benefiting most from the old ways. His policies were met with fierce opposition, not least from the conservative faction led by Sima Guang, who probably thought the whole "state intervention" thing was a bit much. The debates were legendary, bitter, and ultimately, a political roller coaster for Wang.

Despite the intense pushback and the eventual reversal of many of his reforms, Wang Anshi's influence on Chinese history is undeniable. He genuinely believed in his vision for a stronger, fairer society, even if execution proved trickier than drafting a poem. His economic theories were centuries ahead of their time, a fact that probably did little to console him as his political fortunes waxed and waned. Oh, and he was definitely Chinese, from a long line of Chinese ancestors, which pretty much settles the "Jew" part of the equation.