cbdb-api

name	cbdb-api
description	Query the China Biographical Database (CBDB) API to retrieve comprehensive biographical data about historical Chinese figures. Use this skill when searching for information about Chinese historical figures, scholars, officials, or literary figures from the 7th century BCE through the 19th century CE. Applicable for queries about biographical details, social relationships, official positions, or when users mention specific Chinese names or CBDB person IDs.
version	1.1.0
license	MIT
creator	AI
author	Kwok-leong Tang
contributors	["Claude (AI Assistant)","Z.ai (AI Platform)"]

CBDB API

Query the China Biographical Database (~500K historical Chinese figures, 7th c. BCE–19th c. CE).

Critical: Things Claude Won't Know Without This Skill

API endpoint:

https://cbdb.fas.harvard.edu/cbdbapi/person.php

Response structure is deeply nested:

response["Package"]["PersonAuthority"]["PersonInfo"]["Person"]

The Person object contains: BasicInfo, AltNameInfo, AddrInfo, EntryInfo, PostingInfo, SocialAssocInfo, KinshipInfo.

Encoding: Pass Chinese characters as UTF-8 directly — do not URL-encode into hex.

Python Script

Use scripts/cbdb_api.py for programmatic access (zero dependencies):

from scripts.cbdb_api import CBDBAPI
api = CBDBAPI()

# By name (Chinese or Pinyin)
person = api.query_by_name("蘇軾")
person = api.query_by_name("Wang Anshi")

# By ID (most precise)
person = api.query_by_id(1762)

# Extract structured data
basic = api.get_basic_info(person)      # name, dates, dynasty
postings = api.get_postings(person)     # official positions
assocs = api.get_social_associations(person)  # social network
kinship = api.get_kinship(person)       # family relations
alt_names = api.get_alt_names(person)   # courtesy name, pen name, etc.

# Formatted summary
print(api.summarize(person))

The script handles rate limiting, retries, and the nested JSON navigation automatically.

Quick Reference

Query by Chinese name:

https://cbdb.fas.harvard.edu/cbdbapi/person.php?name=蘇軾&o=json

Query by Pinyin: (URL-encode spaces only)

https://cbdb.fas.harvard.edu/cbdbapi/person.php?name=Wang%20Anshi&o=json

Query by ID: (most precise)

https://cbdb.fas.harvard.edu/cbdbapi/person.php?id=1762&o=json

Priority: ID > Chinese characters > Pinyin (Pinyin may return multiple matches).

Handling Results

Multiple results from Pinyin queries: Check dynasty, dates, or other context to identify the correct person. If ambiguous, present options to the user.

Error response:

{"error": {"code": 404, "message": "Person not found."}}

Try alternative name forms (Chinese vs Pinyin), check spelling, or try courtesy names (字, 號).

BasicInfo fields: PersonId, EngName, ChName, IndexYear, Gender, YearBirth, YearDeath, Dynasty, Notes

Related Skills

• chgis-tgaz: Look up birthplaces or associated locations from CBDB's AddrInfo in the CHGIS Temporal Gazetteer
• wikidata-search: Cross-reference CBDB figures with Wikidata for external identifiers (VIAF, LoC, etc.)

Resources

• references/api_reference.md — Complete endpoint specs, all parameters, response structure details
• scripts/cbdb_api.py — Python client with rate limiting and structured data extraction