20 ?s 332

[DreamTrawler]

1,2. Real male human being
1,5,9,12,16,17. Born 1801-1850
3,4,7,8,18. Born in Asia, but not in what is now: Japan, South Korea, Southern China, a Muslim-majority country, or an Anglophone country (I don't think this rules out any)
6,10. Native speaker of a Sino-Tibetan language (not an Indo-European language)
11,14. Not a political or military figure within the Qing Empire, Republic of China, or People’s Republic of China
13. Not known for works of writing
15. Primarily known for involvement in science or academic study though this answer might be misleading

PASSED: Is this person a native speaker of some variety of Chinese? (But assumed yes)

[DreamTrawler]

1,2. Real male human being
1,5,9,12,16,17. Born 1801-1850
3,4,7,8,18. Born in Asia, but not in what is now: Japan, South Korea, Southern China, a Muslim-majority country, or an Anglophone country (I don't think this rules out any)
6,10. Native speaker of a Sino-Tibetan language (not an Indo-European language)
11,14. Not a political or military figure within the Qing Empire, Republic of China, or People’s Republic of China
13. Not known for works of writing
15. Primarily known for involvement in science or academic study though this answer might be misleading

PASSED: Is this person a native speaker of some variety of Chinese? (But assumed yes)

Correction - missed a question

1,2. Real male human being
1,5,9,12,16,17. Born 1801-1850
3,4,7,8,19. Born in Asia, but not in what is now: Japan, South Korea, Southern China, a Muslim-majority country, or an Anglophone country (I don't think this rules out any)
6,10. Native speaker of a Sino-Tibetan language (not an Indo-European language)
11,14. Not a political or military figure within the Qing Empire, Republic of China, or People’s Republic of China
13. Not known for works of writing
15,18. Primarily known for involvement in science or academic study though this answer might be misleading

PASSED: Is this person a native speaker of some variety of Chinese? (But assumed yes)

[Hominidae]

Also note that Sino-Tibetan is also uncertain.

I am also wondering if this person is famous for being a student in some capacity.

[wintergreen]

What an excellent puzzle you've selected, wintergreen. I'm stumped after hours of research. Because I have other things to do, I will submit my free guess, though I am fairly certain the odds are quite long.

Free guess: Kanaung Mintha.

Food for thought for other guessers: Not sure if your "bending rule 6" means it's a real person who inspired a fictional character, is super super obscure, or just something like an iteration of the Dalai Lama. Also it seems like we still have a wide array of countries bordering China, could be an obscure figure there, or someone from the Chinese diaspora of the 1800s? Or someone who shares one name with someone already on the list?

Anyway, I look forward to finding out. Enjoy your day!

No, not Kanaung Mintha. And yes, you can have two questions.

Not sure if your "bending rule 6" means it's a real person who inspired a fictional character, is super super obscure, or just something like an iteration of the Dalai Lama.

The way this person bends rule 6 is something none of you have mentioned yet.

[Spartaculous]

Free guess: Dalai Lama #11.

[wintergreen]

Free guess: Dalai Lama #11.

No.

[cdngooner]

Free guess: Dalai Lama #11.

I too think all the signs point to one of the short-term Dalai Lamas from the early 19th century. But QM specifically said subject did not bend Rule 6 in a way that had been suggested, and someone specifically suggested that it could be a reiteration of a Dalai Lama. If this is it, that is a serious misdirection.

[Hominidae]

1,2. Real male human being
1,5,9,11,15,16. Born 1801-1850
3,4,7,8,18. Born in Asia, but not in southern China, or in what is now: Japan, South Korea, a Muslim-majority country, or an Anglophone country (I don't think this rules out any)
6. Not a native speaker of an Indo-European language
10,13. Not a political or military figure within the Qing Empire, Republic of China, or People’s Republic of China
12. Not known for works of writing
14,17. Primarily known for involvement in science or academic study though this answer might be misleading

PASSED: Is this person a native speaker of a Sino-Tibetan language?
Is this person a native speaker of some variety of Chinese?

NOTE: QM has made it clear that this person was a native speaker of either Chinese, or a NON-Sino-Tibetan language, but Chinese can be assumed.

[wintergreen]

Free guess: Dalai Lama #11.

I too think all the signs point to one of the short-term Dalai Lamas from the early 19th century. But QM specifically said subject did not bend Rule 6 in a way that had been suggested, and someone specifically suggested that it could be a reiteration of a Dalai Lama. If this is it, that is a serious misdirection.

FYI, this is not a Dalai Lama, or any other figure in Tibetan Buddhism.

[Hominidae]

No questions for the QM in this post.

6. The question master may choose entities real or fictional that are not horribly obscure, so long as they are not repeats.

So, what is going on here?

-Not chosen by the question master
-Not an "entity" (no idea what that would mean, and this person is confirmed to be human)
-Neither real nor fictional (but QM said this person was real)
-Horribly obscure (but someone already said that)
-A repeat in some way (someone already alluded to this, but it might be worth looking into because I don't see how the other options could work)

Someone already suggested an inspiration for a fictional character. Maybe this is some kind of alternate version of a person who has already been the target?

[MythosOfMen]

I think it may also be a literal repeating name, like Jakob Jakobsen or something

[MythosOfMen]

It at least seems more likely than the other possibility which speaks out to me, which is that you are looking for a quasi-legendary or religious figure, someone who, though real, has a whole fictional/legendary side built up around him... Sort of like both real and fictional at same time.

[wintergreen]

I think it may also be a literal repeating name, like Jakob Jakobsen or something

No, not a literal repeating name. Although I'm interested to see what everyone comes up with.

[Hominidae]

Is this person primarily famous for association with religion or philosophy?

[wintergreen]

Is this person primarily famous for association with religion or philosophy?

No.

[Spartaculous]

It at least seems more likely than the other possibility which speaks out to me, which is that you are looking for a quasi-legendary or religious figure, someone who, though real, has a whole fictional/legendary side built up around him... Sort of like both real and fictional at same time.

I have very much appreciated MythosOfMen's analysis this round. It is very impressive!

[MythosOfMen]

It at least seems more likely than the other possibility which speaks out to me, which is that you are looking for a quasi-legendary or religious figure, someone who, though real, has a whole fictional/legendary side built up around him... Sort of like both real and fictional at same time.

I have very much appreciated MythosOfMen's analysis this round. It is very impressive!

Now if only any of that analysis had helped at all!

Not a question to QM but there is one figure on the list that quite sticks out to me, of former answers, and that is tank man. It might be an 18th century equivalent, tied to opium wars, or maybe one of the world's fairs, etc... some kind of exhibition or showing in another country?

[Spartaculous]

-A repeat in some way (someone already alluded to this, but it might be worth looking into because I don't see how the other options could work)

I haven't been able to make this work, but it crossed my mind that this could be someone who shares a name with a previous target. (Example: picking Michael Collins the Irish revolutionary.)

It at least seems more likely than the other possibility which speaks out to me, which is that you are looking for a quasi-legendary or religious figure, someone who, though real, has a whole fictional/legendary side built up around him... Sort of like both real and fictional at same time.

I thought about Hong Xiuquan, who I misremembered as having claimed to be Jesus (he only claimed he was the brother of Jesus).

[cdngooner]

I thought about Hong Xiuquan,

That's a good shout. I had been circling around the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions, but hadn't settled on this particular name. I won't steal your answer, but if someone else does, I hope they give it to you.

I was thinking about Cao Futian, the leader of the Boxer Rebellion, but as far as I can tell his DOB is unknown, and we got definite answers to the DOB questions.

[DreamTrawler]

The thing is the QM gave pretty certain Nos on “involved in religion” and “involved in politics of military of Qing Empire” and I feel like the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions are in those buckets