A journey through the 5000 years of history documented by one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations. For all the episodes for free, as well as additional content, please subscribe and/or visit http://thehistoryofchina.wordpress.com.
The podcast The History of China is created by Chris Stewart. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Everything you ever wanted to know (and probably some you didn't) about Court Eunuchs in Imperial China
(warning: contains description of castration & its effects)
Mary M. Anderson, Hidden Power: The Palace Eunuchs of Imperial China.
Duhalde, Marcelo. "How an army of eunuchs ran the Forbidden City" in The South China Morning Post.
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Genghis Khan is dead, and his 3rd son Ögedei has ben selected to lead the Mongol Empire into an uncertain future. Once he is confirmed on the throne, he'll strike on in every direction against every foe at once. On the way, there will be virgin sacrifices, talking wolves, free money, mass enslavement, Persian princes, Assassins, poison, angry water spirits, battle-mages, cannibalism... and that's just the tip of the iceberg!
Time Period Covered:
1227-1234 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ogedeids:
Ogedei Khaghan
Subotai the Valiant
General Chormakhan
General Dokholkhu Cherbi
Minister Yelu Chu Cai
Toluids:
Tolui Khan
Sorkhakhtani Beki Khatun
Chagatids:
Chagatai Khan
Khwarazmia:
Jalal al-Din
Kingdom of Georgia:
Queen Rusudan
Jin Dynasty:
Emperor Aizong
General Wanyan Yi
General Cui Li
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Galdan is dead. Kangxi's victory is total. It's all over but the crying.
... and the executions via slow-slicing... and the crushing of his bones... and the punishment of his family... and the writing him out of history...
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Time Period Covered:
1697-8 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Dynasty:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1654-1722]
Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary
Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary
Gen. Fiyanggu
Gen. Sunsike
Dzungar Mongols:
Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]
Lamist Tibetans:
The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso [1683- after 1706]
sDe-pa Desi Sangye Gyampo [1653-1705]
Major Sources Cited:
Perdue, Denis. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Spence, Jonathan D. Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-hsi.
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The Kangxi Emperor ruthlessly tracks down Galdan Khan, leaving him and his followers with nowhere to turn and nowhere to hide. The end draws close...
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Time Period Covered:
1697-8 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Dynasty:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1654-1722]
Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary
Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary
Gen. Fiyanggu
Gen. Sunsike
Dzungar Mongols:
Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]
Lamist Tibetans:
The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso [1683- after 1706]
sDe-pa Desi Sangye Gyampo [1653-1705]
Major Sources Cited:
Perdue, Denis. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Spence, Jonathan D. Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-hsi.
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Even the invincible Genghis Khan must face the inevitability of death. It holds no fear for him personally, but before he surrenders at last to oblivion, he needs to see two tasks through to the end: who will succeed him as Emperor of the World, and making sure an old enemy gets what has long been coming to them...
Time Period Covered:
1220-1227 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol Empire:
Genghis Khan [Temüjin] (1162-1227)
Börte Khatun (c.1161-c.1130)
Yesui Khatun (d. ?)
Jochi (1181-1226)
Chagatai Khan (1183-1242)
Ögedei Khan (c.1186-1241)
Tolui (c.1191-1232)
Xi Xia:
Emperor Shenzong [Li Zuxun] (r. 1211-1223)
Emperor Xianzong [Li Dewang] (r. 1223-1226)
Emperor Mo [Li Xian] (r. 1226-1227)
Empress Kurbelzhin (d. 1227)
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The jaws of the Kangxi Emperor close in around Galdan Khan, as his own dream of "The Great Mongol Enterprise" crash down around him at a fateful stand of 100 trees abutting a tiny stream somewhere in the vastness of the steppes. To the victor go the draft histories...
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Time Period Covered
1696 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Dynasty:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1654-1722]
Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary
Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary
Gen. Fiyanggu
Gen. Sunsike
Dzungar Mongols:
Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]
Lamist Tibetans:
The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso [1683-after 1706]
sDe-pa Desi Sangye Gyampo [1653-1705]
Major Sources Cited:
Perdue, Denis. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Spence, Jonathan D. Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-hsi.
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Galdan Khan has slipped The Kangxi Emperor’s trap, but only by the skin of his teeth. Now having retreated deep into the heart of Central Asia, he’ll think himself safe. But the Dread Lord of Great Qing is not one to let a vendetta go so easily…
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Time Period Covered
1691-1696 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Dynasty:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1654-1722]
Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary
Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary
Dzungar Mongols:
Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]
Lamist Tibetans:
The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso [1683- after 1706]
sDe-pa Desi Sangye Gyampo [1653-1705]
Major Sources Cited:
Perdue, Denis. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Spence, Jonathan D. Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-hsi.
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In an epic handshake of history, the Qing and Russian Empires hammer out the first major treaty between East and West. It's good for Great Qing, it's maybe good for Russia... but it's definitely not good for the Mongols who got iced out of the negotiations by a couple of Puritan hustlers, like Galdan Khan and his harried host of Dzungars. Not good news at all...
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Time Period Covered:
1690-91 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Dynasty:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1654-1722]
Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary
Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary
Russian Empire:
Count Fedor Alekseevich Golovin [1650-1706]
Mongols/Tibetans:
Lamist Tibetans:
The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso [1617–1682]
Dzungar Mongols:
Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]
Khalkha Mongols:
Jebzongdanba Khutukhtu
Tusiyetu Khan
Chechen Khan
Tsewang Rabdan
Major Sources Cited:
Liu, Cixin. Death's End.
Munkh-Erdene, Lamsuren. The Taiji Government and the Rise of the Warrior State.
Perdue, Denis. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Thokmay, Darig. “Game Changers of the Tibetan Buddhist Political Order in Central Asia in the Early Eighteenth Century” in The Tibet Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1.
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A chat with Vince and Cassie of the Autocrat Podcast comparing and contrasting the Roman and Chinese origins and genesis legends, folktales, & mythos.
Find Autocrat Podcast at: autocratpodcast.wordpress.com
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A hefty second helping of weird, whimsical, wondrous, and wicked tales of the supernatural from the Zhou, Han, Liu Song, Yuan, and Qing Dynasties, for evenings when leaves quake from branches & the walls between the worlds grows thin.
0:00:00 - "Finishing Jiao's Poem" By: The One Within the Mound (Tr. Larry Hammer & Chris Stewart).
0:02:51 - "The Taoist Monk" Liaozhai Zhiyi, vol. 3.
0:09:57 - "A Report From the Qin Imperial Envoy At Xicheng, Gan Zong" Baopuzi.
0:11:33 - "The Ghoul" Shuyiji.
0:14:23 - "The Devil's Advocate" Liaozhai zhiyi, vol. 3.
0:21:57 - "REPORT: Flock of Bears Goes Rogue" Xu Yijian zhi.
0:23:13 - "The Face-Stealer" Shuyiji.
0:26:39 - "Manfox/Foxman" Liaozhai zhiyi, vol. 10.
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By Edgar Allen Poe [1809-1849]
Published: 1845
Happy Halloween 2024!
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A trio of seasonal tales about the Korean version of the classic fox spirit, the kumiho (huli jing [CN]/kitsune [JP]) as well as their implications bout the societies they stemmed from.
"The Maiden's Grave" - 02:21
"The Bone The Was a Fox" - 03:39
"The Fox Sister" - 06:22
From:
Fenkl, Heinz Inzu. "Fox Wives & Other Dangerous Women."
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The Kangxi Emperor of Great Qing squares off again Galdan Khan of the Dzungar Khanate in the sociopolitical-religio-military showdown of the late 17th century! Kangxi wants to flex his imperial muscle - in person! - up to and including enacting a "Final Solution" against the un-subdued Mongol peoples under Galdan, but the wily khan will amply demonstrate that all the imperial planning from Beijing in the world means nothing once your army is out in the wilds of the steppe.
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patreon.com/thehistoryofchina
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1690 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Qing:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
The Lifan Yuan (Office of Barbarian Control)
Dzungar Khannate:
Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]
Other Mongols:
Erdeni Qosuuci
Morgen Alana Dorji
Lobzang Gunbu Labdan
Batur Erke Jinong [d. 1709]
Prince Gandu
Lamist Tibet:
The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso [1617–1682]
Russian Empire:
Count Fedor Alekseevich Golovin [1650-1706]
Major Works Cited:
Munkh-Erdene, Lamsuren. The Taiji Government and the Rise of the Warrior State.
Perdue, Peter C. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Thokmay, Darig. “Game Changers of the Tibetan Buddhist Political Order in Central Asia in the Early Eighteenth Century” in The Tibet Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1.
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A brief history of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the tale of Hou Yi the Archer & the Ten Suns, and Chang'e & the Moon
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you.
Sources:
Barlett, Scarlett. The Mythology Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Tales.
Masaka, Mori. “Restoring the ‘Epic of Hou Yi’” in Asian Folklore Studies, vol. 52, no. 5.
Yang, Lihui, Demin An, and Jessica Anderson Turner. Handbook of Chinese Mythology.
Republication, original Episode Sept. 22, 2022.
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With its southern border finally pacified, the Qing Dynasty under its Kangxi Emperor must now contend with a rising challenge to the northeast: the ascent and enthronement of a real steppe wildcard, the chieftain Galdan, as reigning Khan of the Dzungar Mongols. Kangxi will strive to use him as he has used all other neighboring petty-potentates - as semi-disposable ablative armor for the soft innards of China proper under the longstanding guidelines of "Use The Barbarians to Deal With the Barbarians" foreign policy... but Galdan is mercurial enough to have ideas of his own, and friends in surprisingly high places (the Tibetan Highlands).
Time Period Covered:
~1679-1684 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Qing:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
The Lifan Yuan (Office of Barbarian Control)
Dzungar Khannate:
Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]
Other Mongols:
Erdeni Qosuuci
Morgen Alana Dorji
Lobzang Gunbu Labdan
Batur Erke Jinong [d. 1709]
Prince Gandu
Lamist Tibet:
The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso [1617–1682]
Russian Empire:
Count Fedor Alekseevich Golovin [1650-1706]
Major Works Cited:
Munkh-Erdene, Lamsuren. The Taiji Government and the Rise of the Warrior State.
Perdue, Peter C. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Thokmay, Darig. “Game Changers of the Tibetan Buddhist Political Order in Central Asia in the Early Eighteenth Century” in The Tibet Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1.
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Across the trackless expanses of the northwestern frontier zones, far beyond the final vestiges of Great Qing sovereignty or protection, independent, oasis trade hubs survive and even thrive across central Asia during the chaos of the 16th & 17th centuries. They and their denizens, though largely cut off from the rest of the wider world, nevertheless serve a vital – though fragile – linkage between east and west. Here, north of the Taklamakan Desert, the Oirat Mongols continue to live much as they have these past several centuries… until a group known as the Dzungars under a rising leader called Batur Hong Taiji will start dreaming bigger: an Albany Plan of Union… with Mongol characteristics…
Time Period Covered:
~1680 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Four Oirat/Dzungar Mongols:
Baibagas Khan [r. 1585-1640]
Chechen Khan (Ochirtu) [r. 1640~1670]
Zaya Pandita [d. 1662]
Khara Khula [d. 1634]
Batur Hongtaiji [r. 1634-1653]
Sengge [r. 1653-1671]
Queen Anu of the Khoshuts [~1653-1696]
Boshoghtu Khan (Galdan) [1644-1697, r. 1671-97]
Other Mongols:
Altan Khan of the Golden Horde
Jasaku Khan of the Khalkhas
Dge-lugs-pa Tibetan Buddhist Sect:
The 5th Dalai Lama (Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso] [1617-1682]
Great Qing:
The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
Major Work Cited:
Amitai-Preiss, Reuven & David O. Morgan (eds.) The Mongol Empire & its Legacy.
Halkovic, Jr., Stephen A. The Mongols of the West.
Miyawaki, Junko. “The Chinggisid Principle In Russia” in The Frontier In Russian History, Vol. 19, No. 1/4.
Perdue, Peter C. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Taupier, Richard. “Yeke Caaji, the Mongol-Oyirod Great Code of 1640: Innovation In Eurasian State Formation” in Asian Literature and Translation, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2018.
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With border disputes and foreign affair emergencies levelling off, the Kangxi Emperor is able to turn his attentions inward toward the domestic, the home and hearth. But it's not all bbqs and pickleball there, either - there's the questions of succession, for one... who will be next when Kangxi is no more? And an heir there is... but... does something seem a little *off* about the crown-prince??
Time Period Covered:
~1660-1722 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Kangxi Emperor (Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
Yunreng, Heir-apparent [1674-1725]
Prime Minister Songgotu [1636-1703]
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A set of short fever dreams from Chinese folklore to beat the summer heat...
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Doc 1: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, A Student Demonstration of Sorts in Tiananmen Square (11/21/85)
Doc 2: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Government Arrests Student Demonstrators (11/25/85)
Doc 3: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, More Student Demonstrations (12/23/85)
Doc 4: From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Student Demonstrations Update (12/24/86)
Doc 5: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 1-87, China: Student Demonstrations (01/02/87)
Doc 6: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 10-87, China: Hu Yaobang Resigns (01/17/87)
Doc 7: Memorandum of Conversation, [George Bush] Meeting with Wan Li, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Member of the Politburo, People’s Republic of China (05/23/89)
Doc 8: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/0289, China: Stalemate Continues
Doc 9: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/03/89, China: Police Use Tear Gas on Crowds
Doc 10: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 27: Martial Law with Chinese Characteristics (06/03/89)
Doc 11: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 28: Ten to Fifteen Thousand Armed Troops Stopped at City Perimeter by Human and Bus Barricades (06/03/89)
Doc 12: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, and All Diplomatic and Consular Posts, TFCHO1: SITREP 1, 1700 EDT (06/03/89)
Doc 13: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/04/89, China: Troops Open Fire
Doc 14: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 32 (06/04/89)
Doc 15: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 33 (06/04/89)
Doc 16: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, China Task Force Situation Report No. 3 (06/04/89)
Doc 17: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/05/89, China: After the Bloodbath
Doc 18: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 35 (06/05/89)
Doc 19: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/06/89, China: Descent into Chaos
Doc 20: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 37 (06/06/89)
Doc 21: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/07/89, China: Tense Standoff Continues
Doc 22: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 38 (06/07/89)
Doc 23: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/9/89, China: Uneasy Calm
Doc 24: Department of State Intelligence Brief, "Current Situation in China: Background and Prospects" (Ca. 06/10/89)
Doc 25: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/10/89, China: Mixed Signals on Purge
Doc 26: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 49, (06/11/89)
Doc 27: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/14/89, China: Back to Business, But Crackdown Continues
Doc 28: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/15/89, China: Accusation over Fang Lizhi
Doc 29: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/21/89, China: Swift Justice
Doc 30: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Eyewitness Account of June 4 PLA Tank Crushing 11 Students and Related Early Morning Events in Tiananmen Square (06/22/89)
Doc 31: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, What Happened on the Night of June 3/4? (06/22/89)
Doc 32: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01: SITREP No. 65 (06/27/89)
Doc 33: State Department document entitled "Themes" (06/29/89)
Doc 34: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "Status Report on Situation in China as of 07/ 26/89"
Doc 35: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "China: Aftermath of the Crisis" (07/27/89)
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As he feels the inevitable passage of time take its toll on his body and soul, Genghis Khan looks for answers - about how to extend his rule and his life, perhaps even how to gain life everlasting. Thus, when word reaches him on the eve of his Khwarazmian campaign of a Daoist Immortal living in the mountains of Shandong, he will seek this master out in order to gain his wisdom. But this supposed immortal isn't quite what he claims to be...
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1219-1224 CE
Major Figures:
Genghis Khan (Temüjin)
Master Changchun, Leader of the Daoist Quanzhen Sect (Qiu Chuji)
Temuge-otchigin, Hearthkeeper of Mongolia
Liu Wen, alchemist, arrow-maker, caravan-leader
Yelu Chu Chi, brother of the Governor of Samarkand, translator for the Great Khan
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Be sure to check out Airwave Media's list of 100 Best podcasts! ThoC is #69 (Nice!):
https://blog.feedspot.com/airwave_media_podcasts/
The Kangxi Emperor squashes his beef with the three rebellious feudatories of the south by squashing their traitorous lords, only to have to pivot northward once again to face down... who? The Russians? And the Mongols?! And Tibetans?! And the Catholic Church?!
Time Period Covered:
1670-1722 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Qing:
The Kangxi Emperor [r. 1661-1722]
Crown-Prince Yunreng [1674-1725]
Grand Secretary Songgotu [1636-1703]
Fan Chengmo, Governor-General of Fujian [1624-1676]
Nian Gengyao, Viceroy of Sichuan and Tibet [1679-1726]
Mei Wending, mathematician [1633-1721]
Tsarist Russia:
Tsar Alexis Romanov, "The Quietest" [r. 1645-1676]
Tsar Feodor III [r. 1676-1682]
Tsar Ivan V [r. 1682-1696]
Tsar/Emperor Peter I, "the Great" [r. 1682-1725]
Izmailov
Roman Catholic Church:
Pope Clement XI [1649-1721]
Cardinal Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon [1668-1710]
Jesuit Missionaires:
Fr. Jean-François Gerbillon [1654-1707]
Fr. Tomé Pereira [1645-1708]
Fr. Joachim Bouvet [1656-1730]
Ö
löd/Mongol/Dzungar Khanate:
Erdeniin Galdan, Boshugtu Khan [r. 1671-1697]
Tsewang Araptan [r. 1697-1727]
General Chereng Dondub the Elder [d. 1737]
Major Works Cited:
Perdue, Peter C. (2009). China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Spence, Jonathan D. "The K'ang-Hsi Reign" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 9: The Ch'ing Dynasty, Part 1: To 1800.
Wakeman, Frederic Evans. The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order In Seventeenth-Century China.
Wakeman, Frederic Evans. "Romantics,Stoics, and Martyrs In Seventeenth Century China" in The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 43, No. 4.
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The Excellent Adventure:
In the course of their pursuit of the fleeing Khwarazmian Amir, Genghis Khan’s two top commanders have reached the shores of the Caspian Sea, and heard some of the strangest tales about what – and who – lay beyond. When the Great Khan gives his go-ahead to scout it out, they’ll launch a three-year trek that will remake the world in their bloody image.
The Bogus Journey:
Reaching the far side of the Caucuses Mountains, Subotai and Jebe have a surprise in store. But the true wonders, riches, and opportunities still lie ahead among the forests and winding rivers north of the Black Sea.
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Just as the last vestiges of the Ming are being swept away, a new round of wars will erupt to challenge Manchu suzerainty over China. From both within - as in the rebellions led by the three great feudatory lords of the south - and without - as in the challenges coming from Mongolia and Taiwan - the Kangxi Emperor's reign, and the Qing Dynasty itself, will be tested as never before.
Time Period Covered:
~1661-1683 CE
Great Qing:
The Kangxi Emperor (Xuanye) [r. 1654-1722]
Prince Lergiyan
Gyesu, Prince Kang of the First Rank [1645-1697]
Shang Kexi, Prince of Pingnan [1604-1676]
Southern Ming:
Zhu Youlang, Prince of Gui [1623-1662]
Gen. Li Dingguo [1621-1662]
Gen. Bo Wenxuan [d. 1662]
Kingdom of Tungning:
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) [1624-1662]
Zheng Jing [1642-1681]
The Three Feudatories:
Yunnan & Guizhou:
Wu Sangui "Emperor of Wu Zhou" [1612-1678]
Wu Shifan [1663-1681]
Guangdong:
Shang Zhixin "Prince Who Pacifies the South" [1636-1680]
Fujian:
Geng Jingzong, Prince of Jingnan [d. 1682]
Chahar Mongols:
Burni [d. 1675]
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After the untimely death of Shunzhi, a regency will be established for the 8-year-old newly-enthroned Kangxi Emperor. These four powerful Manchu lords will each be vying with power for themselves, and the last thing they'll be expecting is a 13-year-old kid to outwit them all.
Time Period Covered:
1661-1669 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Kangxi Emperor (Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
Prince-Regent Oboi of the Gulwgiya Clan [c. 1610-1669]
Prince-Regent Soni of the Heseri Clan [1601-1667]
Prince-Regent Ebilun of the Noihori Clan [d. 1673]
Prince-Regent Suksaha of the Nara Clan [d. 1667]
Grand Empress-Dowager Xiaozhuang [1613-1688]
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With the untimely and mysterious death of Prince-Regent Dorgon, the thirteen-year-old Shunzhi Emperor takes personal command of the still unsteady Qing Empire. He's got a lot to do - and it will turn out, not terribly long to do it! From purging prince, to beheading grand secretaries, to winning conquests... to perhaps that hardest of them all: standing up to his own mother, it's Shunzhi in the driver's seat!
Time Period Covered:
1651-1661 CE
Major Historical Figures:
House of Aisin Gioro:
The Shunzhi Emperor (Fulin) [r. 1651-1661]
Prince-Regent Dorgon [1612-1650]
Jirgalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank [1599-1655]
Qing Imperial Court:
Grand Secretariat Chen Mingxia [1601-1654]
General Tantai of the Plain Yellow Banner [1594-1651]
Grand Academician Feng Chuan [1596-1572]
Grand Academician Ning Wanwo [1593-1665]
General Ren Zhen
Hong Chengchou, Pacifying General of Jiangnan [1593-1665]
Wu Sangui, Prince of Western Pacification [1612-1678]
Southern Ming/Rebels:
Li Dingguo, Prince of Jin [1621-1662]
Zheng Chenggong, Koxinga, Prince of Yanping [1624-1662]
Works Cited:
Dennerline, Jerry. "The Shun-chih Reign" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 9: The Ch'ing Dynasty, part 1: To 1800.
"Records of Emperor Shizuzhang, Vol. 74" in Records of the Qing Dynasty [Qing Shilu].
Wakeman, Frederic Evans. The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China.
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Genghis Khan leaves the Jin Empire's subjugation to his generals, and makes his way home to Mongolia... only to find that his 5 years of campaigning have left his homeland in a bit of a mess. Siberians in rebellion and old foes cropping up in new places are things he can deal with... but when an unfamiliar warmongering powerhouse to the far West picks a fight, the nearly 60-year-old Great Khan will unleash the wrath of the Eternal Heaven down upon them.
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Koxinga takes Taiwan by storm, forcing the Dutch East India Company off the island for good, and heralding the dawn of Chinese rule over that overseas outpost.
Time Period Covered:
1661-1664 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Southern Ming Loyalists [Xiamen, Fujian]:
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), Lord of the Imperial Surname [1624-1662]
Yang Ying, Court Revenue Officer & Recordkeeper
Dutch East India Co. (VOC) [Ft. Zeelandia, Taiwan]:
He Tingbin, Headman & translator
Cornelius Caesar [Governor, 1651-1656]
Frederick Coyett [Governor, 1656-1662]
Hermanus Clenk van Odesse [Governor-select, dispatched 1662]
Admiral Jan van der Laan
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Between the Southern Ming warlord Zheng Chenggong in Fujian, and the Dutch East India Company across the Taiwan Strait in Ft. Zeelandia, a curious figure named He Tingbin serves as the two powers' sole line of communication and diplomacy. But He Tingbin has only one true master - himself. And in his drive to maximize his own gains (and minimize his risk of exposure) he will throw the entire cross-strait dialogue into chaos...
Time Period Covered:
1657-1661 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Southern Ming Loyalists [Xiamen, Fujian]:
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), Lord of the Imperial Surname [1624-1662]
Yang Ying, Court Revenue Officer & Recordkeeper
Dutch East India Co. (VOC) [Ft. Zeelandia, Taiwan]:
He Tingbin, Headman & translator
Cornelius Caesar [Governor, 1651-1656]
Frederick Coyett [Governor, 1656-1662]
Hermanus Clenk van Odesse [Governor-select, dispatched 1662]
Admiral Jan van der Laan
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As the Manchu armies of Great Qing press ever-southward, they put increasing pressure on Ming loyalists seeking either escape or additional lands to feed their war efforts. The warlord of Fujian, Zheng Chenggong, the Lord of the Imperial Surname, will begin eying the holdings of the Dutch East India Co. on Formosa as just such a target.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1639-1659 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), Lord of the Imperial Surname [1624-1662]
VOC:
Christiaan Beyer, Ft. Zeelandia Surgeon-in-chief
Taiwanese:
Guo Huaiyi, rebel leader [d. 1652]
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Though the Japanese bow out of the race for Taiwan with the establishment of the Sakoku "Closed Country" laws, the Spanish set up shot on the northern shore in an effort to stymie Dutch efforts at Ft. Zeelandia in the south. Of course you realize this means war. And surely the Chinese must be around here somewhere, right? Also, there will be rice... and sugar.
Time Period Covered:
~1630-1643 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Dutch East India Co./ Ft. Zeelandia:
Governor Hans Putmans
Iberian Union/Santissama Trinidad
/Manila:
King Philip II
Luis Perez Dasmariñas, Governor of Manila
Hurtado de Corcuera, Governor-General of the Philippines
Ming Dynasty:
Zheng Zhilong
Other:
Yan Siqi
Aboriginal Factions:
Taparri
Kimaurri
Mattau
Soulang
Baccluan
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Events on the high seas and islands alike reach a fevered pitch as the Dutch, Japan, China, and Portugal all vie for profit and supremacy over Taiwan and its lucrative trade. Meanwhile - call them what you will (because it's hard to keep track - but the "independent merchants" or "pirate lords" ... sometimes even turned government agents keep looking to exploit every opportunity to enrich themselves while avoiding the noose.
Take what you can, give nothin' back!
Timeframe Covered:
ca. 1600-1639
Major Historical Figures:
Dutch East India Company/Batavia/Ft. Zeelandia:
Capt. Elie Ripon
Pieter Nuyts, Governor of Formosa [1598-1655]
Catholic Church:
Georgius Candidus [1597-1647]
Independent Traders/Pirates of Taiwan:
Salvador Diaz of Macau
Yan Siqi [d. ~1625]
Li Dan "Captain China" [d. ~1625]
Li Kuiqi ("Quitsicq")
Zhong Bin
Liu Xiang
Ming China:
Chen Di, Ming imperial official [1541-1617]
Xu Xinsu ("Simpsou"), merchant-contact
"Patrolling Admiral" Zheng Zhilong [1604-1661]
Shogunate Japan:
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, "The Great Unifier" [1537-1598]
Suetsugu Heizo Masanao, merchant-lord [1546-1630]
Suetsugu Heizo Masafusa, the scion
Taiwan Aboriginal Groups:
the Sinkan
the Mattau
Major Sources Cited:
Andrade, Tonio (2005). How Taiwan Became Chinese: Dutch, Spanish, and Han Colonization in the Sevententh Century.
Andrade, Tonio (2004). "The Company's Chinese Pirates: How the Dutch East India Company Tried to Lead a Coalition of Pirates to War against China, 1621-1662" in Journal of World History, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Dec., 2004).
Clements, Jonathan (2004). Coxinga and the Fall of the Ming Dynasty.
Ripon, Elie [Leonard Blussé & Jaap de Moor, trans.] (2016). Captain Ripon’s Maritime Adventures in the East Indies: The Diary of a Mercenary Soldier, 1617-1627.
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Pirates!
Headhunters!
Samurai!
The Dutch!
Every day's high-stakes adventure on the island everyone's totally ignored until the 1600s!
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Nemo me impune lacessit.
In pace requiescat!
by: Edgar Allen Poe, 1846
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Prince Regent Dorgon of Great Qing is riding high, at the height of his majesty, power, and untouchability. Why, he's even starting to think of himself as more of the ruler than the 6-year-old emperor who is his charge. Those are mighty fine wings you've got there, Icarus...
Time Period Covered:
1646-1651 CE
Major Historical Actors:
Qing:
The Shunzhi Emperor (Fulin) [r. 1663-1661]
Prince Dorgon, Regent of Great Qing [1612-1650]
Ajige, Prince Ying of the First Rank [1605-1651]
Dodo, Prince of Yu [1614-1649]
Bolo, Prince Duanzhong [1613-1652]
Hong Chengchou [1593-1665]
Jirgalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank [1599-1655]
Haoge, Prince Su [1609-1648]
Mandahai, Prince Xunjian of the First Rank [1622-1652]
Gen. Tantai of the Plain Yellow Banner [1594-1651]
Gen. Wu Sangui, "Prince of Western Pacification" [1612-1678]
Southern Ming:
Zhu Yujian, Prince of Tang/Longwu Emperor [1602-1646]
Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu, Regent of Great Ming [1618-1662]
General Zheng Hongkui [d. 1654]
Zheng Zhilong (Nicholas Iquan Gaspard), Marquis of Tong'an [1604-1661]
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) [1624-1662]
Other Rebel Forces:
Zhang Xianzhong, "Emperor of Xi" [r.1644-1647]
Jin Shenghuan [d. 1649]
Mi-la-yin [d. 1650]
Major Works Cited:
Dennerline, Jerry. "The Shun-chih Reign" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 9, Part One: The Ch'ing Empire to 1800.
Struve, Lynn A. "The Southern Ming, 1644-1662" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7 The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, part I.
Wakeman, Frederic. The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China.
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A panoply of season spookiness for your yearly, ear-ly shocks and delights!
0:00:44 - "The Secrets of Hanlin Academy" - Old haunts have many mysteries contained within, some best left alone...
0:04:55 - "Meat Vegetables" - You are what you eat...
0:08:30 - "The Appearance of the Sha" - Sometimes they come back...
0:16:10 - "What Qi Becomes" - ... And sometimes they want more than what you're willing to give...
0:21:02 - "That Which Remains" - Justice is swiftly forgotten; injustice frequently lasts beyond the grave...
0:25:05 - "A Conversation With a Friend About the End of Things" - What do we leave behind?
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A brief history of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the tale of Hou Yi the Archer & the Ten Suns, and Chang'e & the Moon
Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forever more
You are all I long for, all I worship and adore
Sources:
Barlett, Scarlett. The Mythology Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Tales.
Masaka, Mori. “Restoring the ‘Epic of Hou Yi’” in Asian Folklore Studies, vol. 52, no. 5.
Yang, Lihui, Demin An, and Jessica Anderson Turner. Handbook of Chinese Mythology.
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Manchu occupation of the lands south of the Yangtze River proceed smoothly... right up until Prince Dorgon is convinced by some of his advisors that everyone needs a haircut.
Within Southern Ming, multiple princes vie for power - such as it it - at pretty much the worst possible time to be having a throne-fight.
Time Period Covered:
1645-1646 CE
Major Historical Actors:
Qing:
Prince Dorgon, Regent of Great Qing [1612-1650]
Dodo, Prince of Yu [1614-1649]
Bolo, Prince Duanzhong [1613-1652]
Hong Chengchou [1593-1665]
Southern Ming:
Zhu Yujian, Prince of Tang/Longwu Emperor [1602-1646]
Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu, Regent of Great Ming [1618-1662]
General Zheng Hongkui [d. 1654]
Zheng Zhilong (Nicholas Iquan Gaspard), Marquis of Tong'an [1604-1661]
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) [1624-1662]
Major Works Cited:
Dennerline, Jerry. "The Shun-chih Reiegn" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 9, Part One: The Ch'ing Empire to 1800
Struve, Lynn A. "The Southern Ming, 1644-1662" in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7 The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, part I.
Wakeman, Frederic. The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China.
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Beijing has been brutally captured, with the Ming emperor committing suicide rather than face the bandit army of Li Zicheng. However, before he can get comfortable, the full might of the Qing are on their way to "liberate" the Chinese empire from, well, the Chinese. What follows is as chaotic as it is lightning swift, as the Manchu hordes, chase the fleeing remnants of the fallen Ming court south to what they pray will be a refuge: Nanjing.
Time Period Covered:
Apr. 1644- Nov. 1645
Major Historical Figures:
Qing:
The Shunzhi Emperor (Aisin Gyoro Fulin) [r. 1643-1661]
Dorgon, Prince Ruizhong [1612-1650]
Ajige, Prince Ying [1605-1651]
Dodo, Prince Yu [1614-1649]
Prime Minister Fan Wencheng [1597-1666]
Ming:
The Chongzhen Emperor [r. 1627-1644]
General Wu Sangui [1612-1678]
General Hong Chengchou [1593-1665]
General Zuo Liangyu [1599-1645]
General Shi Kefa [1601-1645]
Bandit:
Li Zicheng [d. 1644]
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It's been a hot summer, and a long break for me! Let's get back into things with a little extra Mongol action...
“The imperial city was ripped open … Zhongdu was not one but four cities. We took each of them in turn, methodically killing and razing everything that dared stand upright under Tenggeri. The palaces and gardens of the King of Gold [Jin] were ransacked, revealing such riches that the tribute paid three seasons before by the Jin emperor now seem derisory and humiliating.
“A whole moon was needed to collect the bodies and count them. And the city burned for another moon still, creating such a stench that even the scavengers kept away.”
- Jöchi, ca. 1215
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For the once-great Ming, the 1630s... suck. Manchus are battering down the creaky northern defenses, foreign silver has dried up, the treasuries are empty, famine, plague and locust swarms are ripping through the populace, and bandit warlords are causing a ruckus in the west... with an increasing eye on the capital itself.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1638-1644 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Ming:
The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Youjian) [r. 1627-1644]
Xiong Wencan, Supreme Commander of Bandit Pacification [d. 1639]
General Yang Sichang [d. 1641]
General Sun Chuanting [d. 1643]
General Wu Sangui [1616-1678]
Great Qing:
Hong Taiji [1592-1643]
Prince Abatai [1589-1646]
Prince Dorgon [1612-1650]
Rebels/Bandits:
Li Zicheng, "The Dashing King" [1606-1645]
Zhang Xiangzhong, "The Yellow Tiger" [1606-1647]
Major Sources Cited:
Atwell, William. "The T'ai-ch'ang, T'ian-ch'i, and Ch'ung-chen reigns" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Brook, Timothy. The Troubled Empire: China in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.
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What does the aftermath of a massacre entail, on the world stage?
CIA Memo 6/10/89 - Begins: 2:25
US Beijing Embassy Cable 7/11/89 - Begins: 6:05
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We're releasing one from the paid vaults to share with everyone! (Don't worry, there's still plenty more exclusive Mongol content)... consider heading on over to Patreon.com/thehistoryofchina to support the show and catch up with all things steppe-rider!
Genghis Khan rules the steppe. Yet before he'll be able to expand beyond its vast, rolling expanse, he'll have to deal with several in-house issues, particularly the ambitions of a powerful shaman named Teb Tengri, who may have designed on Genghis' power and position...
Time Period Covered: 1206-1209CE
Major Historical Figures:
Borjigin:
Genghis Khan (Temujin)
Börte, Temujin's First Wife
Ho'elun, Temujin's Mother
Khasar, Temujin's Second Brother
Temuge Otchigin, Prince of the Hearth, Temujin's Youngest Brother
Chaga, Temujin's 11th Wife
Mongol:
Kokhchu Teb Tengri, Shaman
Monglik
Jurchen Jin:
Emperor Zhangzong of Jin
Wanyan Yongji, Prince Shao of Wei
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As the newly enthroned Khan of the Manchus, Hong Taiji has a lot of plates to keep spinning. Conquest of Joseon Korea to the east, conquest of the Chahar Mongols to the west, and continuing to pound against the ever-weakening Ming Dynasty to the south. But he still has time for aesthetic considerations, such as the fact that names like "Jurchen" and "Jin" are so passé, while names like "Manchu" and "Qing" are the new hotness.
Time Period Covered:
1626-1643 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing:
Hong Taiji (Emperor Taizong of Qing) [r. 1626-1643]
Prince Amin [1585-1640]
Prince Haoge [1609-1648]
Prince Dorgon [1612-1650]
Prince Fulin (The Shunzi Emperor) [r. 1643-1661]
Ming:
Gen. Mao Wenlong [1576-1629]
Gen. Yuan Chonghuan [1584-1630]
Gen. Zu Dashou [d. 1656]
Gen. Hong Chenchou [1593-1665]
Gen. Wu Sangui [1612-1678]
Joseon:
King Injo [r. 1623-1649]
Northern Yuan:
Ligdan Khan [r. 1603-1634]
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The Chongzhen Emperor takes command of the Ming, but things are not going well... and they're not going to get any better. After purging his government of partisan elements, he find he's now condemned it to hopeless deadlock. Along the southern coasts, pirate fleets and Dutch privateers prowl the water, making trade all but impossible. Economic and currency woes lead, combined with repeated natural catastrophes lead to widespread banditry and rebel factions doing what they must to survive... and through it all, the Manchu threat to the north continue to press its advantage, breaking through the Great Wall, and going so far as to raid around Beijing itself!
Time Period Covered:
1628-1636
Major Historical Figures:
Ming Empire:
The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Yujian) [r. 1628-1644]
General Yuan Conghuan [1584-1630]
Zheng Zhilong, Admiral of the South Seas [1604-1661]
Grand Secretary Wen Tiren [1584-1639]
Qing Dynasty:
Hong Taiji (Emperor Taizong of Qing) [r. 1626-1643]
Amin [1585-1640]
Commander Kong Youde [d. 1562]
Geng Zhongming [1604-1649]
Rebels:
Li Zicheng [1606-1649]
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Great Ming's 15th emperor steps up to bat at the tender age of 15, but he's not terribly interested in tackling the challenges facing the empire. He'd rather sit in his room and... build models. As if that weren't enough, things go from already-bad to even-worse when a certain eunuch with a mountain of a chip on his shoulder manages to wrangle the reins of power from the teenage monarch.
Time Period Covered:
1620-1627 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Tianqi Emperor (Zhu Youjiao) [r. 1620-1627]
Exalted Duke Wei Zhongxian [1568-1627]
Madame Ke [1605-1627]
Minister of War Cui Chengxiu [1571-1627]
Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao [1559-1627]
Minister Liu Zongzhou [1578-1645]
Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Lian [1572-1625]
Xu Hengru, White Lotus rebel leader [d. 1623]
The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Yujian) [r. 1627-1644]
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WE today join the host of The History Daily Podcast, Lindsay Graham, as he recounts the harrowing 1281 invasion of Japan by the fearsome combined force of Mongols, Chinese, and Koreans. All seems lost for the archipelagic kingdom... until a most unusual wind begins to blow...
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We revisit the pivotal Battle of Sarhu of 1619/20, but this time from the Ming perspective. Then we'll finally send the Wanli Emperor into his tomb and take stock of his reign and legacy, before getting into our final few emperors Great Ming has left in the tank.
Time Period Covered:
1619-1621 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yujin) [r. 1572-1620]
The Taichang Emperor (Zhu Changluo) [r. 1620-1620]
The Tianqi Emperor (Zhu Youjiao) [r. 1620-1627]
Consort Li
Supreme Commander Yang Hao [d. 1629]
General Du Song, "The Madman" [d. 1619]
General Ma Lin [d. 1619]
General Li Rubo [d. 1621]
General Liu Ting [d. 1619]
Manchu/Later Jin:
Nurhachi [r. 1616-1626]
Amba Beile Daisan [1583-1648]
Hong Taiji [1592-1643]
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With Manchuria all but tapped out, Nurhachi and his Manchus seek to expand in the only direction that makes any sense - south into Ming territory. It's time for the Airing of Grievances! He's got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it!!
Time Period Covered:
~1618-1626 CE
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In the frigid wilds beyond the Great Wall, a young warrior will begin a grand campaign to establish himself as the sovereign of All Under Heaven, and overthrow an ancient rival.
Time Period Covered:
1559-1619 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Wanli Emperor
General Li Chengliang
Aisin-Gioro/Later Jin/Manchu:
Nurhachi, Heavenly Mandated Khan of Jin [1559-1626]
Giocangga [d. 1582]
Surhaci [d. 1611]
Cuyen [d. 1615]
Hong Taiji
Nikan Wilan
Dragon-Tiger General Meggebulu
Check out the French History Podcast by Dr. Gary Girod:
http://thefrenchhistorypodcast.com
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Ming China gets down and dirty with a Miao Rebellion the the Southwest, a Mongol(-ish) urprising in the Northwest, and a newly re-unified Japan gettin just a little too big for their britches in Korea.
Time Period Covered: 1587-1600 CE
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As Ming China enters the 16th century, the Wanli Emperor, his ministers, a new canal, Portuguese & Spanish explorers, the usual gaggle of Chinese neighbors, the Philippines, the Christian Church, The White Lotus, and - of course - the Jesuits all start becoming one another problems...
Time Period Covered:
~1600-1617 CE
Major Historical Figures:
MING:
The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yizhun) [r. 1572-1620]
Li Zhi, persecuted Neo-Confucian philosopher [1527–1602]
Li Rusong, Ming Commander in Chief [d. 1598]
Wang Yangming, Master of the "School of the Mind" [1472–1529]
Wang Zhicai, politician & assaultee [d. 16??]
Zhang Zha, the "Attack With the Club" Intruder [d. 1617]
OTHERS:
Limahong (Lin Feng), Pirate Leader out of Manila [1499-1574]
Wang Wang Gao, Ming Captian/Spanish Liason [15??]
Fr. Martin de Rada [1533-1578]
Nurhaci, Mysterious Aisin Gyoro Leader [1559- 1626]
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First a brief lookback on the crazy, nutso year that was 2022, as our intrepid host deals with an unfortunate year-end bout of COVID... Then, a reach deep into the archives for an oldie, but goodie from a few centuries ago...
This short episode covers the life of one of the great mathematicians, astronomers, and engineers of ancient China: Zu Chongzhi. In his life from 429-500 CE, he will re-create an ancient precursor to the compass that had been lost for centuries, calculate the motions of the celestial objects with a degree of accuracy in excess of 99.9%, design a comprehensive new calendar system, and derive the value of π to a degree of accuracy that would not be surpassed the world over for another millennium.
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Being the most powerful person in the empire must be nothing but the good life, right? Well... not so much. And especially with the truly dysfunctional Ming system facing the newly-adult Wanli Emperor, it's a system that promises all the perks, but delivers only drudgery, frustration, and disappointment. Not even 5,000 concubines can make up for that...
Time Period Covered:
1582-1600 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yizhun) [r. 1572-1620]
Empress Xiaoduan (Wang Xijie) [1564-1620]
Noble Consort Wang [1565-1611]
Prince Zhu Changluo, "First Imperial Son" [1582-1620]
Noble Consort Zheng [1565-1630]
Prince Zhu Changxun, "Third Imperial Son" [1586-1641]
Grand Secretary Zhang Zhuzheng [d. 1582]
Major Sources Cited:
Duhalde, Marcelo. “Life inside the Forbidden City: how women were selected for service” in South China Morning Post (July 12, 2018).
Huang, Ray. 1587, A Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty in Decline.
Huang, Ray. “The L’ung-ch’ing and Wan’li Reigns, 1567-1620” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Toshima, Yoriko [Su Chung]. Court Dishes in China.
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Protests erupt across Chinese cities in perhaps the largest demonstration of public outcry in more than 30 years. Today, we look at some of the major reasons why.
[WARNING: Disturbing Content - audio clips of deadly fire, protests, clashes with police]
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At 29, the weak and ineffectual Longqing Emperor take the Dragon Throne in 1567. But it won't be long before the curse of the House of Zhu strikes him down, leaving Great Ming to his 9-year-old son, Wanli. That means - of course - the government is in the hands of the court ministers and its all-powerful Grand Secretary, the ruthlessly conniving Zhang Juzheng.
Time Period Covered:
1567-1582 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Longqing Emperor (Zhu Zaihou) [r. 1567-1572]
The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yijun) [r. 1567-1620]
Grand Secretary Xu Jie [1503-1583]
Grand Secretary Gao Gong [1513-1578]
Senior Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng [1525-1582]
Sources Cited:
Huang, Ray. 1587, A Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty In Decline.
Huang, Ray. “Lung-ch’ing and Wan-li Reigns” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part 1.
Melvin, Shelia. “China’s Reluctant Emperor” in The New York Times (11/07/2011).
Miller, H. State Versus Gentry In Late Ming Dynasty China, 1572-1644.
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Great Ming has a pirate problem on its hands. Unable to effectively suppress it militarily, the officials in charge turn to wheeling and dealing to get the seabooters to give up their outlaw ways. But when the Jiajing Emperor starts sticking his nose in to such affairs from way up in Beijing, suddenly all bets are off...
Time Period Covered:
1549-1567 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567]
Grand Chancellor Yan Song [1480-1567]
Nanjing Minister of War Zhang Jing [d. 1555]
Censor Zhao Wenhua [d. 1557]
Censor Hu Zongxian [1512-1565]
Commander Yu Dayou [1512-1579]
Commander Qi Zhiguang [1528-1588]
Pirates:
Wang Zhi, CEO of the High Seas [d. 1559]
Captain Xu Hai [d. 1556]
Lord Shimazi of Osumi Province
Works Cited:
Andrade, Tonio and Xing Hang. “Introduction: The East Asian Maritime Realm in Global History: 1500-1700” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.
Chin, James K. “Merchants, Smugglers, and Pirates: Multinational Clandestine Trade on the South China Coast, 1520-50” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.
Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Laver, Michael. “Neither Here nor There: Trade, Piracy, and the ‘Space Between’ in Early Modern East Asia” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.
Petrucci, Maria Grazia. “Pirates, Gunpowder, and Christianity in Late Sixteenth-Century Japan” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.
Wills, John E. “Maritime China from Wang Chih to Shih Lang: Themes In Peripheral History” in From Ming to Ch’ing: Conquest, Region, and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century China.
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A man of science and his subject conduct one final experiment in an attempt to stave off death itself...
by. Edgar Allen Poe
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As I am once again locked in at home, things are getting rather touchy on a bridge in Beijing, as well as online, threatening to spoil the Party's Big Party...
All due credit to Samuel Wade for excellent episode name idea
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Not all ghosts are scary! Some just want to be loved... some just want to write poems...
1:10 - Twenty Years a Dream
20:33 - A Fox Spirit Takes Off the Mask
25:32 - The Fire That Burst Into Flames Far From Where It was Set
29:08 - Yellow Leaf
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The Cremation of Sam McGee
By: Robert W. Service (1907)
There are strange things done in the Midnight Sun
By the men who moil for gold.
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold...
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Someone has to be there to switch the projectors at the exact moment that one reel ends and the next one begins. If you look for it, you can see these little dots come into the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
In the industry, we call 'em "cigarette burns."
That's the cure for a changeover. He flips the projector, the movie keeps right on going, and nobody in the audience has any idea.
In which THoC begins a glorious partnership with Airwave Media.
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We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves.
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads,
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Stand up me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1521-1550 CE
Sources Cited:
Andrade, Tonio and Xing Hang. “Introduction: The East Asian Maritime Realm in Global History: 1500-1700” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.
Chin, James K. “Merchants, Smugglers, and Pirates: Multinational Clandestine Trade on the South China Coast, 1520-50” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.
Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Laver, Michael. “Neither Here nor There: Trade, Piracy, and the ‘Space Between’ in Early Modern East Asia” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.
Petrucci, Maria Grazia. “Pirates, Gunpowder, and Christianity in Late Sixteenth-Century Japan” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.
Wills, John E. “Maritime China from Wang Chih to Shih Lang: Themes In Peripheral History” in From Ming to Ch’ing: Conquest, Region, and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century China.
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A brief history of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the tale of Hou Yi the Archer & the Ten Suns, and Chang'e & the Moon
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you.
Sources:
Barlett, Scarlett. The Mythology Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Tales.
Masaka, Mori. “Restoring the ‘Epic of Hou Yi’” in Asian Folklore Studies, vol. 52, no. 5.
Yang, Lihui, Demin An, and Jessica Anderson Turner. Handbook of Chinese Mythology.
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The Jiajing Emperor rounds out the back-half of his interminably long reign by hiding away in his personal palace, and only occasionally coming out to tell everyone what a terrible job they're all doing. The Mongols seize on Ming weakness to basically do whatever they want, and the Ming respond by turtling even harder and building more walls. Without a imperial guiding hand, the ministers are left to their own devices... with predictably selfish and myopic results.
Time Period Covered:
1550-1567 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming Empire:
The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567]
Gen. Qiu Ruan [d. 1552]
Grand Secretary Xia Yan [1482-1548]
Grand Secretary Yan Song [1480-1567]
Grand Secretary Xu Jie [1512-1578]
Mongolia:
Altan Khan [1507-1582]
Prince Toghto
Major Works Cited:
Bacon, Francis. “Of empire” in The essays of Francis Bacon (1908).
Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
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Let the state be small and the people few:
So that the people…
fearing death, will be reluctant to move great distances
and, even if they have boats and carts, will not use them.
So that the people…
Will find their food sweet and their clothes beautiful,
will be content with where they live and happy in their customs.
Though adjoining states be within sight of one another
and cocks crowing and dogs barking in one can be heard in the next,
yet the people of one state will grow old and die without having had any dealings with those of another.
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The Jianwen Emperor plays shell-games with his dad's spirit tablet, decides Confucius has had it too good for too long, gets gross in his pursuit for immortality, and tries breath-play with his concubines... oh yes, and fire. So, so much fire.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1524-1547 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567]
Empress Dowager Zhang [r. 1505-1541]
Empress Chen [r. 1522-1528]
Empress Zhang [r. 1529-1534]
Empress Fang [r. 1534-1547]
Confucius [551-479 BCE]
Minister Xia Yan
Minister Huo Tao
Major Sources Cited:
Works Cited:
Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Huang, Weibo. “The palace rebellion of ‘Renyin’ and the Jiajing Emperor’s belief in alchemy” in Xiang Chao.
McMahon, Keith. Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing.
Zhang, Tingyu. History of Ming, Vol. 114, Historical Biography 2, Empresses and Concubines 2.
Zhang, Yongchang. “The ‘Renyin’ palace rebellion: palace women sacrifice themselves” in Quanzhou Wenxue.
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ca. 1470-1480 CE
Under the tutelage of his queen Mandukhai, Dayan Khan grows from helpless boy to leader of men, learning along the way that vengeance is a dish best served cold.
Part 1 of 2 (whole version available at https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofchina):
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The widow-queen of the Mongols, Mandukhai, seizes the reins of her own fate, entreating the spirits of sky and earth to help her in her quest to reunite her broken people and return sovereignty and glory to Mongolia. Oh, and she also marries a 7-year-old, which is a little strange, but makes sense in context.
Time Period Covered:
1470~1480 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mandukhai Khatun [ca. 1449-1510]
Dayan Khan (Batu Mongke) [1462-1543?]
Gen. Une-Bolod [?-?]
Ismayil Taishi [d. 1486]
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In the chaos that grips the steppes in the mid 15th century, anarchy reins. Though there are though who call themselves khans, they were merely figureheads controlled by their own prime ministers, the taishis. The once mighty Borjigin Clan has been bled nearly dry, and usurpers are over every hill crest.
Into this world of destruction and disarray, two children are born on opposite sides of the vast Gobi. The first is one of the last members of the House of Borjigin, a boy called Bayan Möngke, who will in time become the heir to the office of Great Khan of the Mongols. The other a girl of seemingly little significance, Mandukhai, who will be given to the sitting Khan in marriage as his second queen.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1448~1478 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Northern Yuan:
Beg-Arslan Taishi
Ismayil Taishi
Manduul Khan, "The Old Khan" [ca. 1438-1478]
Bayan Möngke Jinong, "The Golden Prince" [ca. 145?-147?]
Yeke Qabar-tu Khatun, "Big Nose" [14??-14??]
Mandukhai Khatun [ca. 1448-1510]
General Une-Bolod [14??-14??]
Siker [144?-14??]
Boroghchin [ca. 14??-147?]
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Aziz, Ashaya, Sean, and myself have a ball discussing all the things GRRM took - and didn't - from Chinese history when he "created" the mysterious empire of Yi-Ti!
I had an absolute ball, and I hope you will, too!!
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Great Ming is having some problems with its border troops who think orders are actually "suggestions." The Jiajing Emperor is having some problems with his ministers being self-serving twits. Meanwhile, there's some strange happenings going on beyond the wild frontiers...
Time Period Covered:
~1510-1540 CE
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05/13/2022
"Relax," said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive."
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With the Zhengde Emperor dead without an heir, the succession is in question and rebellion brewing. Fortunately, Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe has planned for this and calls in his backup - the 13-year-old Prince of Xing, Zhengde's younger cousin. He'll come to power as the Jiajing Emperor... but Secretary Yang will very quickly find out that, though young, Jiajing is a spitfire who's here to play the game, not be played.
Time Period Covered:
1519-1524 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Zhu Houcong (The Jiajing Emperor) [r. 1521-1567]
Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe [1459-1529]
Empress Dowager Zhang [1471-1541]
Lady/Empress Dowager Jiang
Major Works Cited:
Geiss, James. “The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.”
Legge, James. The Chinese Classics, Vol. III.
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Day 15 of 4: An overview of individual accounts of the unfolding Covid lockdown situation in Shanghai, the siege-mentality that has set in, and the struggles of day to day existence both on- and offline in a city cut off from the rest of the world.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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There's trouble brewing in the south. A minor prince with delusions of grandeur gets a bit too big for his britches. Portuguese Pirates plunder peninsular ports before coming to call on Canton. This sounds like a job for the great General Zhu Shou, Heroic Defender of the Realm and Ultimate Party-Boat Enjoyer.
Time Period Covered:
~1514-1521 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Zhengde Emperor (Zhu Houzhao) [r. 1505-1521]
The Prince of Ning (Zhu Chenhao) [1477-1520]
Jiang Bin
Qian Ning [d. 1520]
Grand Secretary Fei Heng
Sun Sui, Governor of Jiangxi [d. 1519]
General Wang Yangming [1472-1529]
General Zhu Shou, Heroic Defender of the Realm, Duke of Zhenguo [?? -??]
Tomé Pires, Portuguese explorer and ambassador [c. 1465-1524? or 40?]
Major Works Cited:
Brook, Timothy. The Troubled Empire: China in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.
Geiss, James. “The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.”
Keevak, Michael. Becoming Yellow: A Short History of Racial Thinking.
Pires, Tomé, Armando Cortesão & Francisco Rodrigues. The Suma oriental of Tome Pires; and account of the East, from the Red Sea to China, written in Malacca and India in 1512-1515; and, The book of Franciso Rodrigues: Pilot-Major of the armada that discovered Banda and the Moluccas: rutter of a voyage in the red sea, nautical rules, almanack, vol. 1.
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A new update with all the new craziness 2 years on before we once again step into Ye Olde Chinese Medicine Shoppe for the tour...
Traditional Chinese Medicine – as its name duly implies – has been a part of China for at least 2,500 years. But what does it mean? Where does it come from? How does it work? And does it have a place it modern society?
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The Zhengde Emperor decides that being the divine sovereign is *boring* and that being a cool war-hero would be way cooler... and... it goes weirdly better than expected. Also, he gives himself a cool nickname, and makes everyone call him that.
Time Period Covered:
1510-1518 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Zhengde Emperor (Zhu Houzhao) [r. 1505-1521]
Jiang Bin
Qian Ning
Liu Yun, Eunuch Commander
General Zhu Shou, Heroic Defender of the Realm [?? -??]
Tibet
The Prince of Rin-Sprungs [r. 1512-1544]
Mongols:
Dayan Khan (Batu Möngke) [r. 1479-1517]
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The adolescent Zhengde Emperor sits the throne, but everyone in the know knows that it is the eunuch-lord Liu Jin who truly controls Great Ming. Not everyone's exactly thrilled with this situation, and they're gonna get Liu Jin got... or die trying.
Time Period Covered:
1506-1510 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Zhengde Emperor (Zhu Houzhao) [r. 1506-1521]
Liu Jin, Director of the Ceremonial [1451-1510]
The Prince of Anhua (Zhu Zhifan) [d. 1510]
Commander Qiu Yue
General Yan Yiqing
Inspector-in-Chief Zhang Yong
Major Works Cited:
Bourgon, Jérôme, Muriel Detrie, & Regis Poulet."Execution in Canton" in Chinese Torture – Supplices Chinois.
Brook, Timothy. The Troubled Empire: China in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.
Geiss, James. “The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.”
Meadows, Thomas Taylor. The Chinese and Their Rebellions
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Happy Year of the Tiger!
Great Ming decides that it's going to (re-)(re-)Build a Great, Great, Great Wall...and MAKE THE MONGOLS PAY FOR IT!*
(*claim disputed by Mongolia)
Major Work Cited:
Fairbanks, John King. China: A New History, 2nd Edition.
Mote, Frederick W. “The Ch’eng-hua and Hung-chih Reigns, 1465-1505” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, Part I.
Waldron, Arthur. The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth.
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After a very rocky start in life, the Chenghua Emperor takes the throne, only to be endlessly shoved around by overbearing mother, manipulative and murderous consorts, and conniving, terrorizing eunuchs. What else would one really expect for a guy with the personality of a west dishrag?
Time Period Covered:
1464-1487 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Chenghua Emperor (Zhu Jianshen) [r. 1464-1487]
The Hongzhi Emperor (Zhu Youcheng) [1470-1505]
Noble Consort Wan Zheng'er [1430-1487]
Empress Wang
Empress Wu
Empress Dowager Zhou
Empress Dowager Qian
Grand Secretary Li Xian
Lady Zhi Tangmei
Eunuch Zhang Min
Spymaster Wang Zhi
Notable Works Cited:
Mote, Frederick W. “The Ch’eng-hua and Hung-chih Reigns, 1465-1505” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, Part I.
Li Shizhen. Bencao Ganmu (The Compendium of Materia Medica)
Tsai, Shi-shan Henry. The Eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty.
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What the only thing better than 8 years on the podwaves? 8 years & 10,000,000 downloads, THAT'S WHAT!!
In this episode we talk about what the definition of "is" is, Zen masters, *yet more farming history!,* when I plan to shut up, me reading poetry in Mandarin... & then the same poem in *reconstructed Old Chinese from 2k+ yrs ago*, and divination, which includes Nazis, Princess Mononoke, pigs & fish, and fictions within fictions with fictions at the heart of the truth!
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Emperor Yingzong is back on his throne thanks to the conspirators loyal to him. Only they turn out to be not so much loyal to "him," as they are to the idea that they should have more and more power. It all culminates with yet another coup d'etat..真讨厌...
Time Period Covered:
1457-1464 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Yingzong (Zhu Qizhen) [r. 1435-1449, 1457-1464]
Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen [b. 1448]
Yu Qian, Minister of War [d. 1457]
Xu Yuzhen, Earl of Wugong [?]
Shi Heng, Duke of Zhongguo [d. 1459]
Cao Zhixiang, Director of Ceremonies [d. 1461]
Grand Secretary Li Xian
Imperial Guard Commander Lu Gao [d. 1461]
General Cao Qin [d. 1461]
General Shi Biao [?]
General Sun Tang
General Ma Ang
General Wu Jin
General Wu Cong
Commander Ma Liang
Commissioner Wanzhe Tuliang
Vice Commissioner-in-Chief Esen Temur
Works Cited:
Qi, Dongfang. “Funerary Perception and Ritual Institution of Imperial Tang” in Kaogu Xuebao (tr. Lee Yun-kuen).
Robinson, David M. “Politics, Force and Ethnicity in Ming China: Mongols and the Abortive Coup of 1461” in The Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 59, No. 1.
Stutton, Donald S. “Death Rites and Chinese Culture: Standardization and Variation in Ming and Qing Times” in Modern China, Vol. 33, No. 1.
Twitchett, Denis & Tilemann Grimm. "The Cheng-t'ung, Ching-t'ai, and T'ien-shun reigns, 1436-1464" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Waldron, Arthur. The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth.
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Following the events at the Tumu Fort, Emperor Yingzong takes an unscheduled sabbatical in Mongolia, the Mongol warlord Esen Taishi attempts to return something lost for a price, Beijing battens down the hatches in preparation for Genghis Khan come anew, and brotherly love reaches its breaking point.
Time Period Covered:
1449-1457 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming Dynasty:
Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong) [r. Zhengtong Era: 1435-1449, Tianshun Era: 1457-1464]
Zhu Qiyu (the Jingtai Emperor) [r. 1449-1457]
Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen [b. 1447]
Crown Prince Zhu Jianzhi [1448-1453]
Minister Xu Yuzhen
Xing An, Head Imperial Eunuch
Yu Qian, Minister of War [1398-1457]
Northern Yuan/Oirat Mongols:
Esen Taishi [1407-1455, (r. as Khaghan of N. Yuan, 1453-1455)]
Toghto Bukha (Taisun Khaghan) [r. 1433-1453]
Xi Ning, turncoat eunuch [d. 1450]
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Our annual creepy charcuterie of 4 strange stories from all across Qing China, collected by Ji Yun from Beijing all the way to Urumqi.
Today, we have 4 tales to send shivers down your spine:
1) "Professional Notes on the Jiangshi & Other Revenants" (begins @ 2:50)
2) "Checkpoints" (begins @ 19:44)
3) "Yeti Stones" (begins @ 28:43)
4) "Visitors From Beyond" (begins @ 34:37)
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"There are black zones of shadow close to our daily paths, and now and then some evil soul breaks a passage through. When that happens, the man who knows must strike before reckoning the consequences."
By: H.P. Lovecraft
Read By: Chris Stewart
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Nyarlathotep . . . the crawling chaos . . . I am the last . . . I will tell the audient void. . . .
Written By: H.P. Lovecraft
Read By: Chris Stewart
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A child sits the throne of Great Ming, which goes surprisingly alright… at least for a while. But when the old guard of the imperial regency starts dying off, a combination of naive youthful exuberance and pure political ambition from the power behind the throne will throw everything into chaos on the plains north of Beijing.
Time Period Covered:
1435-1449 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Ming:
Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong, the Zhengtong/Tianshun Emperor) [r. 1335-1449, 1457-1464]
Grand Empress Dowager Chen [d. 1442]
Wang Zhen, Eunuch Lord [d. 1449]
Mongol Tribes:
Esen, Taishi of the Oirat [d. 1455]
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While dying emperors, shifting policies, and vindictive princes keep the capital busy, Admiral Zheng He will manage to sneak in on last joy-ride into the sunset aboard his beloved Treasure Fleet...
Time Period Covered:
1424-1435 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Hongxi Emperor (Zhu Gaochi) [r. 1424-1425]
The Xuande Emperor (Zhu Zhanji) [r. 1425-1435]
Zhu Gaoxu, the Prince of Han [1380-1426]
Zhu Gaosui, the Prince of Zhao [1383-1431]
Grand Admiral Zheng He [1371-1433]
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Zheng He's Treasure Fleet finally arrives on the African coast, and the Yongle Emperor celebrates the apex of his reign with the grand opening of Beijing and the Forbidden City. But dark clouds continue to build, but in the emperor's aged, troubled mind, and literally on the horizon... a storm is coming...
Time Period Covered:
1416-1424 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424]
The Noble Consort Zhaoxian, née Wang [d. ca. 1420]
Grand Admiral Zheng He [1371-1435]
Mirza Sharukh, Sultan of the Timurid Dynasty [r. 1405-1447]
Major Works Cited:
Chan, Hok-lam. “The Yung-lo reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Pt. I.
Dreyer, Edward L. Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405-1433.
Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433.
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Having laid waste to the once glorious city of Baghdad, Hulegu Ilkhan now sets his sights east of the Euphrates, to the fertile lands of Syria and Egypt beyond. But what's to follow will set of a momentous clash in Galilee, at a spring called Ain Jalut, that will shake the very fundaments of history...
Time Period Covered:
1258-1260 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol Empire:
Mongke Khaghan
Khubilai Ilkhan
Ariq Boke
Ilkhanate:
Hulegu Ilkhan
General Baiju
General Kitbuqa
Ayyubid Dynasty:
al-Muzzam Turanshah
al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf
al-Aziz
al-Zayn al-Hafizi
Mamluks:
Saif ad-Din Qutuz
Baybars al Bunduqdari, "The Great Lord Panther"
European Christendom:
King Louis IX of France
Bohemond V of Antioch
Bohemond VI of Antioch
King Hethum I of Cilicia
Major Sources Cited:
Amitai, Reuven. Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk Ilkhanate War, 1260-1281.
Amitai, Reuven. “An Exchange of Letters in Arabic Between Abakha Ilkhan and Sultan Baybars (A.H. 667/A.D. 1268-69)” in Central Asiatic Journal, Vol. 38, No. 1.
Gillespie, Alexander. Causes of War, Volume II: 1000 CE to 1400 CE.
Grousset, René. Empire of the Steppes: A history of Central Asia.
Subani, Hamad. The Secret History of Iran.
Richard, Jean. The Crusades, C.1071-1291.
Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades, Volume 3, The Kingdom of Acre and the Later Crusades.
Tschanz, David W. “History’s Hinge: ‘Ain Jalut” in Saudi Aramco World.
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The treasure Fleet goes on missions 2-4, resulting in increasingly strange, valuable, and even divine gifts being presented to Great Ming.
Time Period Covered:
1407-1415 CE
Major Historical Figures
Ming:
Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424]
Admiral Zheng He [1371-1435]
Commodore Yang Min
Ma Huan, translator & chronicler [1380-1460]
Kingdom of Malacca:
King Parameswara [r. 1402-1414]
Major Works Cited:
Chan, Hok-lam. “The Yung-lo reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Pt. I.
Dreyer, Edward L. Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405-1433.
Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “Kéramos” in Keramos and Other Poems: A Book of Sonnets, Part II.
U.N. Museum. “Nanjing pagoda – Seven wonders of the medieval world.” www.unmuseum.org
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A live retelling (wart & all) of Genghis Khan's invasion of Khwarazmia ca. 1221, and the doomed flight of all who stood against his wrath... followed by a Q&A. From the 2021 Intelligent Speech Conference!
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There once was a fleet that put to sea
All in name of the Imperial Ming
With phoenix sterns, & dragon prows
Oh go, my baochuan, go!
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
Commanded by an admiral
So tall he seem unnatural
His voice rang out like temple bell
To get those treasures stowed
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
They sailed the southern seas so vast
They’d catch the wind with all nine masts
Astrologers would watch the skies
From Champa to Guangzhou
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
But on wave-crest a Pirate Lord
He spied the fleet and greedily roared
“Make ready all your cannon shot,
We’ll take all their cargo!”
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
Through flame and smoke they battled on
Til in a flash a month was gone
The Pirate Lord would taste defeat
His ships sunk deep below
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
At last they came to Indian shores
In search of spice and jewels and more
The deal was struck, with solemn vow
To pay all that was owed
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
But homeward bound the skies grew dim
The winds did howl, their fate seemed grim
The sailors prayed, “Help us, Tianfei!”
The masts began to glow
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
The Goddess heard their earnest pleas
She stilled the waves & calmed the breeze
The sailors gave their sober thanks
She’s spared them from their woe
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor
To bring ceramics & silk galore
One day, when the trading is done
They’ll take our spice & go
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Zheng He & Co. have left the station and are sailing out! They leave the safety of the Yangtze River and set their compasses southbound and down, first to Fujian, then to Vietnam, Java, Sri Lanka, and finally all the way to India, all in the name of trade and riches. But the return journey will turn out to be anything but a pleasure-cruise. Between pirate raiders adn deadly storms, they might need a miracle to pull this off...
Time Period Covered:
1405-1407 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Grand Admiral Zheng He [1371-1433/5]
Chen Zuyi, Pirate Lord Extraordinaire [d. 1407]
Ma Huan, Chinese Muslim translator & chronicler [1380-1460]
Major Sources Cited:
Chan, Hok-lam. “The Chien-wen, Yung-lo, Hung-xi, Hsüan-te Reigns” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433.
Pregadio, Fabrizio (2004). The Encyclopedia of Taoism.
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What does the aftermath of a massacre entail, on the world stage?
CIA Memo 6/10/89 - Begins: 2:25
US Beijing Embassy Cable 7/11/89 - Begins: 6:05
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In this darkest of timelines, flickers of remembrance are more precious than ever...
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The Yongle Emperor decides it's time for Great Ming to bust out its swim trunks and its flippy-floppies... because he's going to make the biggest, bestest oceanic fleet of awesomesauce that the world has ever seen! And put in command is his trusted, tried-and-true battle-buddy: the Grand Admiral Zheng He!
Time Period Covered:
1371-1405 CE
Significant Historical Figures:
The Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424]
Grand Admiral Zheng He (né Ma He) [1371-1433]
Tianfei, the Goddess of the Sea and Patron Protector of Sailors [eternal]
Sources Cited:
Chan, Hok-lam. “The Chien-wen, Yung-lo, Hung-xi, Hsüan-te Reigns” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.
Levathes, Louise. The China Ruled the Seas:The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433.
Paterson, Erik T. “James Lind, Zheng He and the Prevention of Scurvy” in The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Vol. 20, No. 4.
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We're back with Part 2 of my conversation with Caroline Vahrenkamp of The Wonders of the World Podcast, this tie all about the little city that Yongle built mostly to show his dead dad up - Beijing, and at its heart, the city-within-the-city, the Imperial Purple Palace - The Forbidden City!
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Part 1 of my interview with Caroline Vahrenkamp of "The Wonders of the World Podcast" all about Beijing and it's meteoric rise as (the once and future) capital of China in the early Ming Dynasty!
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The Yongle Emperor decides to build a new capital. It goes well!
He also decides to invade both Mongolia and Vietnam. It goes not so well.
Time Period:
1402-1424 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424]
General Zhang Fu [1375-1449]
Gen. Mu Sheng [1368-1439]
Mongol Khanates:
Bunyashiri of the Eastern Tribes [d. 1412]
Mahmud of the Oirat [d. 1416]
Arughtai of the Oirat [d. 1434]
Dai Viet:
Ho Qui Ly [1336- ca. 1407]
Tran Thien-binh [d. 1406]
Tran Nguy [?-?]
Tran Qui-khoang (Trung Quang Emperor) [d. 1414]
Le Loi [1384-1433]
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A great conversation with Alex & Peter of "History's Most" about the worst civil war many have *still* never heard of - the Taiping Rebellion!
Check out their great show at:
https://historysmost.libsyn.com/
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The Yongle Emperor has taken command... and we're in for a really, really, really great time....
Time Period Covered: 1402-1424 CE
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The civil war between the Jianwen Emperor and his uncle, the Prince of Yan, rages on across the realm. Both sides will feel the terror and pain of the fearsome realities combat... but in the end, only one will be left standing.
Time Period Covered:
1399-1402 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Jianwen Emperor (Zhu Yunwen) [r. 1398-1402]
Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan [1360-1424]
Minister Huang Zicheng [1350-1402]
Minister Qi Tai [d. 1402]
Minister Fang Xiaoru [1357-1402]
General Geng Bingwen [1334-1403]
General Li Jinglong [1369-1424]
Major Works Cited:
Andrade, Tonio. “How Yongle learned to stop worrying and love the gun” in The Ming World.
Chan, Hok-lam. “The Chien-wen, Yung-lo, Hung-hsi, and Hsüan-te Reigns, 1399-1435” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1633, Part I.
Ditmanson, Peter. “Venerating the Martyrs of the 1402 Usurpation: History and Memory in the Mid and late Ming Dynasty” in T’oung Pao, Second Series, Vol. 93.
Ditmanson, Peter. “Fang Xiaoru: Moralistic Politics in the Early Ming” in The Human Tradition in Premodern China.
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In the wake of the Hongwu Emperor's death, his grandson - Zhu Yunwen - will assume command. He's been brought up and trained in the highest of Confucian ethics and morals, and will seek to curb the excesses of his dear grandfather's... more bloodthirsty policies. But not everyone is thrilled at the new leaf being turned in the book of the regime... especially those who stand to lose much more than they could possibly gain.
Time Period Covered:
1398-1399 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Jianwen Emperor (Zhu Yunwen) [r. 1398-1402]
Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan [1360-1424]
Minister Huang Zicheng [1350-1402]
Minister Qi Tai [d. 1402]
Minister Fang Xiaoru [1357-1402]
General Geng Bingwen [1334-1403]
General Li Jinglong [1369-1424]
Major Works Cited:
Andrade, Tonio. “How Yongle learned to stop worrying and love the gun” in The Ming World.
Chan, Hok-lam. “The Chien-wen, Yung-lo, Hung-hsi, and Hsüan-te Reigns, 1399-1435” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1633, Part I.
Ditmanson, Peter. “Venerating the Martyrs of the 1402 Usurpation: History and Memory in the Mid and late Ming Dynasty” in T’oung Pao, Second Series, Vol. 93.
Ditmanson, Peter. “Fang Xiaoru: Moralistic Politics in the Early Ming” in The Human Tradition in Premodern China.
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The Hongwu Emperor enters the twilight of his life. But before he's ready to ride off into that long sunset, he's going to take a hell of a lot more people with him...
Time Period:
1387-1398 CE
Major Historical FIgures:
The Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) [r. 1368-1398]
Crown Prince Zhu Biao [1355-1392]
Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen (The Jianwen Emperor) [1377-1402]
Zhu Shuang, the Prince of Qin [1356-1395]
Zhu Gang, the Prince of Jin [1358-1398]
Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan [1360-1424]
Zhu Su, the Prince of Zhou [1361-1425]
General Fu Youde [1327-1394]
General Feng Sheng [d. 1395]
Major Sources:
Langlois, John D., Jr. “The Hung-Wu-Reign” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 13698-1644m Part I.
Robinson, David M. In the Shadow of the Mongol Empire: Ming China and Eurasia.
Sun, Bing. “The burial system of imperial concubines in the Ming Dynasty and the ‘ancestral system’ of the Ming Dynasty.”
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(NOTE: This is Pt. 1 or 2. The Full Episode & all other bonus content is available via Patreon.com/thehistoryofchina)
Mongke has ascended as the Great Khan of the Mongols and set loose his younger brother, Hulegu Ilkhan to bring the Islamic world to heel. The Caliph of the Abbasid Dynasty, al-Mustasim, sits ensconced in his citadel city of Baghdad - the jewel of Islam - and believes that Allah above and his loyal subjects beneath will be more than a match for barbarian hordes.
He's about to learn a lesson neither he - nor the world - will ever forget...
Time Period Covered:
1258-1259 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol Empire:
Hülegü Ilkhan [ca. 1215-1265]
General Kitbukha [d. 1260]
General Baiju [1201-1260]
Abbasid Caliphate:
al-Musta’sim-Billah Abu-Ahmad Abdullah bin al-Mustansir
Billah, 37th Caliph [1213-1258]
Governor Shahab al Din Sulaiman shah [d. 1258]
Vizier Ibn al Alkami [1197-1258]
Major Sources Cited:
Al-Din, Rashid. Jami al Tararikh (Compendium of Histories).
Al-Din, Rashid (tr. John Andrew Boyle). The Successors of Genghis Khan.
Chugtai, Mizra Azeem Baig. “The Fall of Baghdad” in The Annal of Urdu Studies.
Daftary, Farhad. The Isma’ilis: Their History and Doctrines.
Hillenbrand, Robert. “Propaganda in the Mongol ‘World History’” in British Academy Review, issue 17 (March 2011).
Hodgson, M. G. S. “The Isma’ili State” in The Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. 5: The Saljuq and Mongol Periods.
Jamal, Nadia Eboo. Surviving the Mongols: Nizari Quhistani and the Continuity of Ismaili Tradition in Persia.
Marozzi, Justin. Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood.
Paris, Matthew of (tr. John Allen Giles). Chronica Majora (Matthew Paris’s English History From the Year 1235 to 1273, Volume 1).
Saunders, J.J. The History of the Mongol Conquests.
van Ruysbroeck, Willem (tr. W. W. Rockhill & Peter Jackson). The journey of William of Rubruck to the eastern parts of the world, 1253-55, as narrated by himself, with two accounts of the earlier journey of John of Pian del Carpine.
Wiet, Gaston. Baghdad: Metropolis of the Abbasid Caliphate.
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To both the north and south, the armies of Great Ming continue to achieve order from chaos and stability across the realm, in the imperial palace at Nanjing, the Hongwu Emperor sits the Dragon Throne - as mercurial and temperamental as its very namesake... and woe betide anyone who stokes the dragon's wrath. Still, in the name of greater peace (and fewer mass slaughters), many a brave (and often fatally foolish)scholar will tempt fate by trying to tell Hongwu what he's doing wrong.
Time Period Covered:
1379-1389 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
The Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) [r.1368-1398]
Duke Li Wenzhong [d. 1384]
General Fu Youde [d. 1394]
General Feng Sheng [?]
General Lan Yu [d. 1393]
General Mu Ying [d. 1392]
Scholar Chen Wenhui [d. 1381]
Scholar Li Shilu [d. 1381]
Scholar Xie Jin [1369-1415]
Yuan/Yunnanese:
Toghus Temür Khan [d. 1388]
Basalawarmi, the Prince of Liang [d. 1382]
General Naghachu [d. 1388]
Si Lunfa, Chieftain of Shan [d. 1386?]
Major Works Cited:
Crossley, Pamela Kyle, et al. Empire at the Margins: Culture, Ethnicity and Frontier in Early Modern China.
Dillon, Michael. China’s Muslim Hui Community: Migration, Settlements and Sects.
Langlois, John D., Jr. “The Hung-Wu-Reign” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 13698-1644m Part I.
Tsai, Shi-shan Henry. The Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty.g.
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Following the destruction of the Khwarazmian Empire in 1221, the Mongol Empire's appetite for conquest to the west is whetted. It will take a few Great Khans to kick it off, but with the accession of Möngke to the throne in 1251, the way will be laid bare - to be led by his brother Hülegü Khan.
The only thing standing between him and the beating heart of Islam is a ragged band of heretics scattered across the mountain fortresses of northern Persia - a group known as the Nizari Isma'ili... or more infamously: the Assassins.
Time Period Covered:
765-1257 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol Empire:
Möngke Khaghan [r. 1251-1259]
Hülegü Ilkhan [r. 1251-1265]
General Ket-Buqa (Noyan) [d. 1260]
Nizari Isma'ili:
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq [702-765]
Hassan-i Sabbah [1050-1124]
Imam Jalal al-Din Hassan [1187-1221]
Imam Ala al-Din Muhammad III [1211-1255]
Imam Rukn al-Din Khurshah [1230-1256]
Other:
Brother Matthew of Paris [1200-1259]
Friar William of Rubruck [1220-1293]
Ata-Malik Juvayni [1226-1283]
Rashid al-Din Hamadani [1247-1318]
Major Sources Cited:
Al-Din, Rashid (tr. John Andrew Boyle). The Successors of Genghis Khan.
Daftary, Farhad. The Isma’ilis: Their History and Doctrines.
Hillenbrand, Robert. “Propaganda in the Mongol ‘World History’” in British Academy Review, issue 17 (March 2011).
Hodgson, M. G. S. “The Isma’ili State” in The Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. 5: The Saljuq and Mongol Periods.
Jamal, Nadia Eboo. Surviving the Mongols: Nizari Quhistani and the Continuity of Ismaili Tradition in Persia.
Marozzi, Justin. Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood.
Paris, Matthew of (tr. John Allen Giles). Chronica Majora (Matthew Paris’s English History From the Year 1235 to 1273, Volume 1).
Saunders, J.J. The History of the Mongol Conquests.
van Ruysbroeck, Willem (tr. W. W. Rockhill & Peter Jackson). The journey of William of Rubruck to the eastern parts of the world, 1253-55, as narrated by himself, with two accounts of the earlier journey of John of Pian del Carpine.
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The founder of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor... has got a bit of a trust problem. It starts with him getting upset that his officials are "cutting corners" when it comes to official counts of tribute payments & the stamped documents verifying them. But it quickly spirals into full-blown paranoia that absolutely everyone is out to get them, and the only was he knows how to confront this problem is by getting all of his "enemies" first.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1373-1382 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) [r. 1368-1398]
Crown Prince Zhu Biao [1355-1392]
Zhu Shuang, Prince Min of Qin [1356-1395]
Zhu Gang, Prince Gong of Jin [1358-1398]
Zhu Di, Prince of Yan [1360-1424]
Chancellor Hu Weiyong [d. 1380]
Gao Qi [1334-1374]
Prefect Ye Boju [d. 1376]
Academician Zheng Shili [d. 1376]
Sources Cited:
Brook, Timothy. The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China.
Langlois, John D., Jr. “The Hung-Wu-Reign” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 13698-1644m Part I.
Laozi. Dao De Jing.
Luo, Yuming. A Concise History of Chinese Literature.
Strassberg, Richard E. Inscribed Landscapes: Travel Writing from Imperial China.
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You might not be able to go on a real holiday - but today we take a little audio trip to the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang... famed across the millennia for its beautiful bay, canals, and the famous West Lake.
This is no ordinary tourist get-away, though, because we'll be skipping across time, looking at the highlights of its early history.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 5,000 BCE- ca. 960 CE
Major Sources:
Cotterell, Arthur. The Imperial Capitals of China – An Inside View of the Celestial Empire.
Giles, Lionel (tr.) Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
Loewe, Michael and Edward L. Shaughnessey. The Cambridge History of Ancient China.
Mote, F.W. Imperial China.(900-1800).
Rossabi, Morris. China Among Equals: the Middle Kingdom and its Neighbors, 10th-14th centuries.
Schmidt, J. D. Within the Human Realm: The Poetry of Huang Zunxian, 1848-1905.
Yan, Zi. Famous Temples in China.
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The Hongwu Emperor officially accedes to the throne as the founding ruler of Great Ming, to as much pomp and circumstance as his ministers can possibly pack in to the ceremony. After the parties are all done and the sacrifices all made, however, the real work of governing an empire that has been ravaged for centuries begins… and not everyone is happy about having a new sovereign sitting atop the dragon throne.
Time Period Covered:
1367-1373 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Ming:
The Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) [r. 1368-1398]
Empress Xiaocigao (née Ma Xuying) [1332-1382]
Zhu Biao, Crown Prince [1355-1392]
Zhu Shuang, Prince of Qin [1356-1395]
Zhu Gang, Prince of Jin [1358-1398]
Zhu Di, Prince of Yan [1360-1424]
Tao Kai, Minister of Rites
General Xu Da [1332-1385]
General Deng Yu
General Fu Youde [1327-1394]
Ambassador Zhao Zhi
Xia Kingdom (Sichuan):
Emperor Ming Yuzhen [r. 1360-1366]
Emperor Ming Sheng [r. 1366-1371]
Nanchō Japan:
Prince Kaneyoshi, the Chinzei Shogun [c. 1329-1383]
Monk Sorai
Major Works Cited:
Chan, Hok-Lam. “Ming Taizu’s Problem With his Sons: Prince Qin’s Criminality and Early Ming Politics” in Asia Major, Third Series, Vol. 20, No. 1 (2007).
Langlois, John D. “The Hung-wu Reign” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part 1.
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"The list of their disasters was much lengthened [...] and whenever they tried to force a way into the borders of the empire, they were beaten back. They were once more confined to the great desert, whence they originally sprang.”
“Although I am a woman, I have avenged the vengeance of my husband. When I die, there will be no regret.”
Time Period Covered:
1368~1399 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Yuan/ Northern Yuan:
Toghon Temür (Emperor Shun) [r. 1333-1368, 1368-1369]
Ayurshiridara (Biligtü Khan) [r. 1370-1378]
Prince Maidiribala [1338-1378]
General Köke Temür [1330-1375]
Elbeg Khan [r. 1393-1399]
Oljeitu Khatun [d. ~1399]
Ming:
Zhu Yuanzhang (Hongwu Emperor) [r. 1368-1399]
Xu Da, "Barbarian-Conquering Generalissimo" [1332-1385]
General Li Wenzhong [1339-1383]
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You are invited to a very exclusive party. Everyone who's anyone will be there, dressed to the nines. You're sure to have the time of your life, and won't even know where the time's gone...
Story by: Edgar Allen Poe
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The chill of autumn is in the air once again, which can only mean one thing! It’s time for more tales to terrorize & titillate, baffle & bemuse… it’s time to once again venture into the studio of Pu Songling and listen to his strange tales. So gather round the light of the fire… or the iPhone… and get ready for seven strange stories of sly foxes, flights of fancy, monstrous appetites, unusual encounters, otherworldly lessons, tricky traders, and enchanting apparitions...
00:58: The Half-Fox Girl
10:55: The Painted Wall
18:27: The Monster In the Buckwheat
21:48: The Girl From Nanjing
25:45: A Most Exemplary Monk
28:07: Stealing a Peach
33:38: The Hungry Bride
36:07: The Magic Sword & the Magic Bag
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How does a peasant, orphan, son of a farmer
in the Black Death, made a monk in the middle of a forgotten spot
In central Anhui by providence impoverished
In squalor, grow up to be a rebel hero, then a monarch?
Time Period Covered:
1364-1368 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ming:
Zhu Yuanzhang (Hongwu Emperor) [r. 1368-1398]
General Xu Da [1332-1385]
General Chang Yuchun [1330-1369]
Commander Li Wenzhong [1338-1384]
Yuan:
Emperor Toghon Temür [r. 1333-1368, 1368-1370]
Crown Prince Ayushiridara [1340-1378]
General Chaghan Temür [d. 1362]
General Köke Temür [1330-1375]
General Bolod Temür [d. 1364]
Wu:
Zhang Shicheng (King of Dazhou) [r. 1354-1367]
General Li Bosheng
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It's our 200th(ish) episode!
And so we take to the listeners to answer some of their burning questions about... Daoist gods... Islam in China... The Mandate of Heaven... sacrifices! ... the political expedience of murdering Mongol ambassadors... The Duke ... the names of emperors... technology transfers ... Korean empresses... and more!
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You don't understand! Chen Youliang coulda had class! He coulda been a contender! He coulda been somebody... instead of a bum, which is what he is after the fiasco on the waters of Lake Poyang. Let's face it.
Time Period Covered:
1360-1363 CE
Major Historical Figures:
State of Ming:
Zhu Yuanzhang
Commander Hua Yun [d. 1360]
Han Lin'er, "Emperor of Song"
General Kang Maocai
General Xu Da
General Hu Dahai [d. 1361]
General Shao Rong [d. 1361]
State of Han:
Emperor Chen Youliang [r. 1360-1363]
General Chen Yuren
Xu Shouhui, "Emperor" of Tianwan [d. 1360]
State of Wu:
Zhang Shicheng
Yuan Dynasty:
Emperor Toghon Temur
Prince Chaghan Temur [d. 1361]
Köke Temur (Wang Baobao)
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When Ögedei dies in late 1241, the empire must choose a successor before it can move forward. In spite of the late Khan determining in advance that it should be his grandson, his empress has other ideas - namely, installing her own irascible son, Güyük, instead. This raises more than a few eyebrows, especially from the Lord of the Golden Horde (and Güyük's personal nemesis) Batu Khan. He'll spend then next 5 years doing absolutely everything in his power to prevent Güyüks' enthronement. And so, when Güyük is finally installed... is it any surprise that he'll seek to get even on his hated cousin? Their looking showdown on the fields of Dzungaria will set the stage for a truly unpredictable series of events, that will leave the Mongol Empire altered forever...
(NOTE: This is Part 1 of a Bonus Episode! Get the rest, and all other bonus content by subscribing via patreon.com/thehistoryofchina
Time Period Covered:
1242-1254 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol Empire:
Temuge Otchigin, Genghis Khan's youngest brother, Prince of the Hearth [1168-1246]
House Ögedei:
*Ögedei Khaghan [r. 1232-1241]
Toregene Khatun [r. 1242-1246]
Güyük Khaghan [r. 1246-1248]
Oghul Khaimish Khatun [r. 1248-1251]
Prince Shiremun [d. 1251]
Prince Khodan [d. 1246]
Lady Fatima [d. 1246]
House Tolui:
*Tolui Otchigin [1191-1232]
Sorkhakhtani Beki [1190-1252]
Möngke Khaghan [r. 1251-1259]
Prince Khubilai
Prince Hulagu
Prince Ariq Boke
General Menggesar, Noyan Companion of Mongke
House Jochi:
*Jochi [c. 1182-1225]
Batu, Khan of the Golden Horde [1205-1255]
Major Sources Cited:
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As Guard-Captain of the Red Turbans, Zhu Yuanzhang sets his sights on the jewel of the southlands: Nanjing. Once that's in his grasp, he'll truly join the ranks of the top-tier warlords of the era... but when you've elbowed you way up to the head table, don't be surprised if those you bump up against take exception to you shoving them aside...
Time Period Covered:
1355-1360 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Yuan Dynasty:
Emperor Toghon Temur (Huizong/Shundi) [r. 1333-1368, 1368-1370]
General Shimo Yisun [d. 1360]
Red Turban:
Emperor of Song, Han Lin'er, the Little Lord of Light [r. 1351-1367]
Guo Zixing [d. 1355]
Ming:
Guard-Captain Zhu Yuanzhang, "Outstanding Hero" [1328-1398]
General Xu Da [1332-1385]
General Chang Yüchen
General Hu Dahai [d. 1362]
Minister Song Lian [1310-1381]
Han:
King Chen Youliang [1320-1363]
Wu:
Zhang Shicheng, the "Heaven Blessed" King, Salt-Smuggler Extraordinaire [1321-1367]
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My long-lost conversation with the hosts of the excellent ReConsider Podcast, Xander and Eric... now *finally* delivered to you!
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As the cataclysmic decade of the 1340s rolls in to the 1350s a planned rerouting of the Yellow River will trigger a massive uprising by what the Yuan authorities call the Red Turban Rebels. But who are they really? What do they believe? Why are they fighting? And how do they tie in with the eventual overthrow of the Mongols from their hegemony over China?
Major Historical Figures:
Maitreya Buddha, Successor to Gautama Buddha [???]
Mani the Last, Prophet of Manichaeism [ca. 216-277 CE]
Red Turbans:
Peng Yingyu, Buddhist Monk, "Father" of the Red Turbans [d. ca. 1348-1358]
Northern:
Han Shantong, Lord of Light [d. 1351]
Han Lin'er, the Young Lord of Light [1340-1367]
General Liu Futong (AKA "Liu Fangshi") [1321-1363]
Guo Zixing, Leader of Red Turban Army, Lord of Haozhou [d. 1355]
Zhu Yuanzhang, Buddhist mendicant monk, Guard Commander of the Red Turbans [1328-1398]
Southern:
Xu Shouhui, cloth-merchant, Emperor of Tianwan Kingdom, Maitreya Incarnate [1320-1360]
Qing Dynasty:
Huang Yupian, Qing Dynasty Magistrate and White Lotus Hunter [mid-19th century]
Major Sources Cited:
Brook, Timothy. The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China.
Buckley Ebrey, Patricia and Anne Walthall. Pre-Modern East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History, Volume I.
Chao, Wei-pang. “Secret Religious Societies in North China in the Ming Dynasty” in Folklore Studies, Vol. 7.
Farmer, Edward L. Zhu Yuanzhang and Early Ming Legislation: The Reordering of Chinese Society following the Era of Mongol Rule.
Flower, Theresa. “Millenarian Themes of the White Lotus Society.”
Hung, Hing Ming. From the Mongols to the Ming Dynasty: How a Begging Monk Became Emperor of China, Zhu Yuan Zhang.
Lin, Wushu. “A Study On Equivalent Names of Manichaeism in Chinese” in Popular Religion and Shamanism.
Lin, Wushu. Manichaeism and its Dissemination in the East.
Ma, Xisha. “The Syncretism of Maitreyan Belief and Manichaeism in Chinese History” in Popular Religion and Shamanism.
Mote, Frederick W. Imperial China: 900-1800.
Mote, Frederick W. “The Rise of the Ming Dynasty, 1330-1367” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty.
Overmeier, Daniel L. “Folk-Buddhist Religion: Creation and Eschatology in Medieval China” in History of Religions, Vol. 12, No. 1.
Shek, Richard. “Religious Dissenters in Ming-Qing China” in Religion and the Early Modern State: Views from China, Russia, and the West.
Tan, Chung. Across the Himalayan Gap: An Indian Quest for Understanding China.
Ter Haar, B.J. The White Lotus Teachings in Chinese Religious History.
Wang, Kristen. “Scandalous Tales Behind Nanjing’s 70 Ancient Names” in The Nanjinger, 07/04/2019.
Waterson, James. Defending Heaven: China’s Mongol Wars, 1209-1370.
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As Toghon Temur - the eleventh and final Great Khan of the Yuan, takes the throne - the dam holding back the near century of bad decisions back begins to buckle. Things are not helps by a dramatic climate shift, or the outbreak of one of the worst pandemics in human history, either... can we really blame the apocalyptic cults that spring up for thinking it's the end of the world?
Time Period Covered:
1333~1344 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Toghon Temur Khaghan [r. 1333-1368, 1370]
Grand Chancellor Bayan Ba'atur of the Merkid [1280-1340]
Zhu Yuanzhang [1328-1398]
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31 years later,
To forget is to risk it all happening anew...
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In the aftermath of the Golden Horde's devastating strike into Eastern Europe, Christendom reels. As apocalyptic as the assaults were, the great enemy's sudden and inexplicable evaporation offers no comfort, and only more questions.
In order to get some answers, the Holy See will dispatch an unlikely candidate to make his way across the whole of Eurasia in an attempt to first find, and then meet with, the King of the Tartars - whoever, and wherever he may be...
Time Period Covered:
1245-1247 CE
Major Historical Figures:
European Christendom:
Pope Innocent IV [r. 1243-1254]
Friar Giovanni da Pian del Carpine (John of Plano Carpini) [ca. 1185-1252]
Friar Benedict of Poland [ca. 1200-ca. 1280]
Friar Stephen of Bohemia
Konrad I, High Duke of Krakow [ca. 1187-1247]
Prince Daniel Romanovich of Galacia [1201-1264]
Grand Prince Vasilko (Basil) Romanovich of Kiev [1203-1269]
Grand Prince Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich of Vladimir [1191-1246]
Mongol Empire:
Guyük Khaghan [r. 1246-1248]
Toregene Khatun [r. 1241-1246]
Batu Khan of the Golden Horde [ca. 1205-1255]
Grand Secretary Chinqai of Khwarazm
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My interview with Beijing-based author and journalist Michael Schuman about China's history, present, future, and food... and of course about his upcoming book, "Superpower Interrupted: The Chinese History of the World," available on June 9th, 2020.
Find Michael on Twitter under the handle @michaelschuman
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We start today in the aftermath of the murder of the 9th Great Mongol Khan and the 5th Emperor of Yuan. We end a decade later, at the beginning of the 15th Great Khan and 11th Yuan Emperor... coincidentally (or not) the last of both. The treachery, assassinations, wars, and power-plays that get us from that start to that end will threaten to split the very soul of the empire in two. Also, there's a lot of Temürs along the way... like, a *lot,* a lot!
Time Period Covered:
1323-1333 CE
Major Events:
* Coup at Nanpo [Sept. 4, 1323] - Outcome: assassination of Shidebala Khaghan, accession of Yesün Temür Khaghan
* War of the Two Capitals [Aug. 1328-Nov. 14, 1328 (sporadic resistance thru 1332)] - Outcome: Khaishan Restorationist victory/ Shangdu Loyalist defeat, overthrow of Aragibagh & enthronement of Jayaatu Khaghan
* Incident at Ongghochatu [Aug. 26-30, 1329] - Outcome: assassination of Khoshila, restoration of Togh Temur Khaghan to the throne
Relevant Historical Figures:
Great Yuan:
Shidebala (Gegeen Khaghan/Yuan Yingzong) [r. 1320-1323]
Yesün Temür (Khaghan/Yuan Taiding) [r. 1323-1328]
Aragibagh (Khaghan/Yuan Tianshun) [r. Oct.-Nov. 1328]
Togh Temür (Jayaatu Khaghan/Yuan Wenzong) [r. Oct. 1328-Apr. 1329, Sept. 1329- Sept. 1332]
Khoshila (Khutughtu Khaghan/Yuan Mingzong) [r. Feb. 1329-Aug. 1329]
Rinchinbal (Khaghan/Yuan Ningzong) [r. Oct. 29, 1332-Dec. 14, 1332]
Toghon Temür (Ukhaghatu Khaghan/Yuan Huizong) [r. 1333-1368]
Empress Budashiri [1307-1340]
Crown Prince Aradnadara [d. 1330]
Prince El Tegüs [c. 1329-c. 1340]
Daula-shah, Grand Councilor of the Right [d. 1228]
El Temür, General & Grand Councillor of the Right [d. 1333]
Bayan of the Merkids, General & Grand Councillor of the Left [d. 1340]
Chagatai Khanate:
Esen Bukha I, Khan [r. 1310-1318]
Eljigidey Khan [r. 1326-1329]
Golden Horde:
Öz Beg Khan [r. 1313-1341]
Ilkhanate:
Abu Sa'id (Bahadur Khan) [r. 1316-1335]
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Temur Khan's death without an heir sparks a power vacuum within the Yuan court - two brothers will come to power together, but only one will be able to sit the throne at a time, who will succeed? Meanwhile, as money issues continue to plague the empire, the Mongol nobility get more and more fed-up with the Yuan Borjigins' continual shift toward Chinese-style reforms.
Time Period Covered:
1307-1323 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Khaishan (Külüg Khaghan/Emperor Wuzong) [r. 1307-1311]
Ayurbarwada (Buyantu Khaghan/Emperor Renzong) [r. 1311-1320]
Shidebala (Gegeen Khaghan/Emperor Yingzong) [r.1320-1323]
Grand Empress Dowager Targi [d. 1322]
Empress Bulukhan [d. 1307]
Khosila, Prince of Zhou
Prince Ananda [d. 1307]
Grand Councilor of the Right, Harghasun [d. 1307]
Grand Councilor of the Right, Temüder [d. 1322]
Grand Councilor of the Left/Right, Baiju [d.1323】
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King Bela IV of Hungary has a bit of a barbarian problem. You see, he let in some Cumans, but now some different barbarians are demanding that he give them back. So Bela does the sensible thing: he kills the Mongol emissaries. Batu Khan and General Subotai are less than pleased...
Time Period Covered:
c. 1239-1242 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol Empire:
Batu Khan [c. 1205-1255]
General Subotai Ba'atur ("the Valiant") [c. 1175-1248]
General Khadan [d. 125?]
General Shiban [d. 1266]
Kingdom of Greater Hungary:
King Bela III [r. 1172-1196]
King Andrew II [r. 1205-1235]
King Bela IV [r. 1235-1265]
Duke Coloman of Slavonia [d. 1241]
Archbishop Ugolin of Kaolocsa [d. 1241]
Duke Palatine of Hungary [d. 1241]
Bishop Benedict of Oradea [d. 1241]
Templar Master Rembald de Voczon [d. 1241]
Archdeacon Thomas of Spalato [1200-1268]
Master Roger of Torre Maggiore, Archdeacon of Varad [1205-1266]
Cuman Tribes:
Chieftain Khotan [d. 1140]
Austria:
Duke Frederick of Austria "the Quarrelsome" [d. 1245]
Holy Roman Empire:
Emperor Frederick II [r. 1220-1250]
Conrad IV, King of Italy, Germany, the Romans, and Jerusalem [r. 1228-1254]
Roman Catholic Church:
Pope Gregory IX [r. 1227-1241]
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Olziyet Temur - the Blessed Iron Khan - takes the throne as the Yuan Dynasty's second emperor, Changzong "The Preserver." He has taken it upon himself to uphold and protect his grandfather Khubilai's glorious legacy... but granddad sure left a bit of a mess for him to try to clear up.
Time Period Covered:
1294-1307 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Olziyet Temur Khan (Emperor Changzong of Yuan) [r. 1294-1307 CE]
Empress Bulukhan
Crown Prince Deshou [d. 1306]
Empress-Dowager Kököchin
Gammala, Prince of Jin
Öljei, Grand Councilor of the Right [d. 1303]
Sayyid Boyan al-Dīn, Finance Minister
Khaidu Khan of House Ögedei [d. 1301]
Du'a Khan of House Chagatai
Öljeitu, Ilkhan of House Hülegü
General Bayan of the Barin, "Hundred Eyes"
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Khubilai is ancient, pained, and sick... but he still has more Mongol justice to mete out before he joins the Eternal Sky. Still, some campaigns will go better than others.
Period Covered:
ca. 1287-1294 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Yuan Dynasty:
Khubilai (Emperor Shizu) [r. 1260-1294]
Crown Prince Olziit Temur (Emperor Chengzong) [r. 1294-1307]
Prince Esen Temur
Prince Temur Bukha
General Shibi
General Gao Xing
Admiral Yike Musi
Ambassador Meng Qi
Phagspa Lama, Imperial Preceptor of Tibet [1235-1280]
Imperial Preceptor Dharmapalarasita
Kingdom of Pagan (Burma):
King Narathihapate [r. 1256-1287]
Kingdom of Singhasari (Java):
King Kertanagara [d. 1292]
Prince Raden Vijaya [r. 1293-1309]
Duke Jayakatwang of Kediri [d. 1293]
Mongol Khanates:
Du'a Khan of the Chagatids
Khaidu Khan of the Ögedeids [d. 1301]
Prince Nayan [d. 1287]
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Traditional Chinese Medicine - as its name duly implies - has been a part of China for at least 2,500 years. But what does it mean? Where does it come from? How does it work? And does it have a place it modern society?
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Khubilai Khan has led a pretty blessed existence as of the year 1279. But fate has a way of balancing things out in starkly brutal fashion...
Time Period Covered:
~1279-1287 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Yuan Dynasty:
Emperor Khubilai
Empress Chabi (d. 1281)
Crown Prince Zhenjin (1242-1285)
Prince Toghon, Prince of Suppression of the South
Finance Minister Ahmad Fanakati (d. 1282)
Finance Minister Lu Shijing (d. 1285)
Admiral Hong Tau
General Fan Wenhu
General Xindu
General Nasir al-Din
Commander Sodu (d. 1285)
Commander Arigh Khaya
Japanese Shogunate:
Hojo Tokimune, Regent of the Shogun
Kingdom of Pagan:
King Narathihapate
Kingdom of Champa:
King Jaya Indravarman VI
Kingdom of Dai-Viet:
Emperor Tran Than-Tong
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Khubilai Khan is a man astride multiple worlds - trying to be both the Khan of the Great Mongol Nation, and the Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. This will take quite a bit of accommodation, and between Mongolian shamanism, Chinese Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Islam, and Christianity... more than a little behaving like a cultural chameleon to square those civilizational circles.
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Jochi was tasked with subduing the Cuman tribes of the western steppes. Jochi failed. Now, under the second Great Khan Ögedei, it will fall to his successor, Batu, Khan of the Golden Horde, to finish what his father could not. He won't be going alone, though. In addition to his invincible tumens, he'll bring with him a host of imperial princes, as well as the greatest commander to ever mount a steed - Subotai the Valiant, now returns to the Western expanses to finish what he began 15 years ago...
Note: this is part 1 of an extended bonus episode! Find the full episode and all other Bonus Episodes by become a patron at patreon.com/thehistoryofchina
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1235-1240 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol Khanate:
Ögedei Khaghan (1186-1241)
Subotai Ba'atuur, The Last Orlok (ca. 1176-1248)
General Uriyangkhadai (1201-1272)
House Ogedeid:
Guyuk (1206-1248)
Khadan (?)
Khaidu (c. 1230-1301)
House Jochi (Golden Horde):
Batu Khan (ca. 1205-1255)
House Tolui:
Möngke (1209-1259)
Bujek (?)
House Chagatai:
Baidar(?)
Buri (d. 1252)
Kipchak-Cuman Confederacy:
Bachman Khan (d. 1237)
Khoten Khan (d. 1241)
Russian Principalities:
Grand Prince Yuri II of Vladimir (1188-1238)
Prince Roman of Vladimir (d. 1238)
Prince Michael of Chernigov (1179-1246)
Dmitri, Voivode of Kiev (?)
Kingdom of Hungary:
King Béla IV (1206-1270)
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It's finally time to give holiday thanks and - of course - submit myself before the high inquisitors pelting me with questions day and night!
Topics this year ranged far and wide:
1. How wide-ranging was Genghis Khan's last command in Western Xia?
2. How do I keep my loud mouth out of trouble with the PRC?
3. How "good" were the good times of dynasties for the normies?
4. Which Khan has got it goin' on?
5. Were there plagues in ancient China? How were they dealt with?
6. Did the Mongols trigger anti-foreign conservatism in the Ming?
7. Where should we divide "Chinese" history from "non-Chinese" history?
8. Just how incompetent was the Song Dynasty?
9. Why does THoC be like it do?
10. How did the Mongols relay orders over long distances before writing?
11. How much was opium to blame versus other factors in the decline and fall of the Qing Dynasty?
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While his armies have been keeping busy in every direction on both offense and defense, Emperor Khubilai had been hard at work re-organizing the mess his family made in China and reformatting it into a stable, lawful Yuan Dynasty. And Grandpa Genghis was right: it's was a *lot* more work to run an empire, than to conquer one...
Period Covered:
ca. 1261-1290
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Khubilai must face off against his most potent threat - his own traditionalist cousin, Khaidu. Meanwhile, Khaidu frets over his daughter Khutulun - a girl as desirable as she is formidable, and will brook no husband who cannot best her at wrestling.
Time Period Covered: ca. 1265-1306 CE
Notable Historical Figures:
Yuan Dynasty:
Khubilai Khan
Prince Zhenjin
Prince Nomukhan
Prince Kokochu
Prime Minister of the Right Antong
General Bayan
Chagatai Khanate:
Khaidu Khan
Princess Khutulun
Rebel Princes:
Togh Timur
Shiregi
Yobukhur
Melik Timur
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The armies of Great Yuan sweep across the east, destroying and conquering all who would stand against them. Goryeo Korea eventually sees the writing on the wall and cuts a deal with the Great Khan. Khubilai will then turn his sights out over the waters of the Pacific, to the Land of the Rising Sun... and send its monarch a friend request.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1257-1275 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Yuan Dynasty:
Khubilai, Great Khan of Mongolia, Emperor of Yuan
Princess Hutulun Jielimishi
Zhao Liangbi, Yuan Emissary to Japan
Goryeo Korea:
Choi Ui, Warlord of Korea [d. 1257]
King Wonjong [r. 1260-1274]
Im Yon, Warlord [d. ca. 1271]
Pan Pu, Yuan Emissary to Japan
Kamakura Japan:
Hojo Tokimune, Regent of the Shogun (Shikken, de facto ruler of Japan)
Shoni Sukeyoshi, Magistrate of Chikuzen City
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With the untimely death of Möngke Khaghan outside the walls of Chongqing, the Mongol Empire will be fore to choose for a new emperor for the 5th time in just three decades. Unlike the first four conclaves, however, this will result in not one, but two khuriltais, and two who would be Great Khan. Möngke’s brothers, Khubilai and Ariq Böke, will duel it out across Central Asia to determine who will rule all under the Eternal Blue Sky.
Time Period Covered:
1259-1266 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Toluids:
Möngke Khaghan [d.1259]
Khubilai’s Supporters:
Khubilai Khaghan [r. 1260-1289]
Chabi Khatun [1225-1281]
Hulegu Ilkhan [d. 1265]
General Ked Bukha [d. 1260]
King Hethum I of Armenia [r. 1226-1270]
Ariq Böke Supporters:
Ariq Böke Khaghan [r. 1260-1264, d. 1266]
Berke Khan (Golden Horde/Jochid) [d. 1266]
Alghu Khan (Chagatids) [d. 1265]
Jumukhur (Ilkhanate)
Urung Tang (Möngke Toluid)
General Alandar [d. 1262]
General Durchi
Mamluk Sultanate:
Sultan Saif ad-Din Qutuz [r. 1259-1260]
Sultan Baibars [r. 1260-1277]
Song Dynasty:
Chancellor Jia Sidao [d. 1273]
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Confucius talked about a *lot* ... but there were certain things about which even the Master dare not speak. Today we break that ancient taboo with 4 stories of spooky strangeness...
2:01 - "A Karmic Meal"
5:30 - "The Concubine's Revenge"
20:22 - "Too Poor to Be Haunted"
24:26 - "A Hell of a Trial"
Adapted from:
Zibuyu "What the Master Would Not Discuss" by Yuan Mei
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Genghis Khan is dead, and his 3rd son Ögedei has ben selected to lead the Mongol Empire into an uncertain future. Once he is confirmed on the throne, he'll strike on in every direction against every foe at once. On the way, there will be virgin sacrifices, talking wolves, free money, mass enslavement, Persian princes, Assassins, poison, angry water spirits, battle-mages, cannibalism... and that's just the tip of the iceberg!
Note: This is part 1 of the 2-part conclusion to the life of Genghis Khan, with the conclusion available to subscribers via: www.patreon.com/thehistoryofchina
Time Period Covered:
1227-1234 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Ogedeids:
Ogedei Khaghan
Subotai the Valiant
General Chormakhan
Minister Yelu Chu Cai
Toluids:
Tolui Khan
Sorkhakhtani Beki Khatun
Chagatids:
Chagatai Khan
Khwarazmia:
Jalal al-Din
Kingdom of Georgia:
Queen Rusudan
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The people throughout China have been plunged into bitter suffering and tribulations since the Chiang Kai-shek Kuomintang reactionary government betrayed the fatherland, colluded with imperialists, and launched the counter-revolutionary war. Fortunately our People's Liberation Army, backed by the whole nation, has been fighting heroically and selflessly to defend the territorial sovereignty of our homeland, to protect the people's lives and property, to relieve the people of their sufferings, and to struggle for their rights, and it eventually wiped out the reactionary troops and overthrew the reactionary rule of the Nationalist government.
Now, the People's War of Liberation has been basically won, and the majority of the people in the country have been liberated. On this foundation, the first session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , composed of delegates of all the democratic parties and people's organization of China, the People's Liberation Army, the various regions and nationalities of the country, and the overseas Chinese and other patriotic elements, has been convened. Representing the will of the whole nation, [this session of the conference] has enacted the organic law of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, elected Mao Zedong as chairman of the Central People's Government; and Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Song Qingling, Li Jishen, Zhang Lan, and Gao Gang as vice chairmen [of the Central People's Government]; and Chen Yi, He Long, Li Lisan, Lin Boqu, Ye Jianying, He Xiangning, Lin Biao, Peng Dehuai, Liu Bocheng, Wu Yuzhang, Xu Xiangqian, Peng Zhen, Bo Yibo, Nie Rongzhen, Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu, Seypidin, Rao Shushi, Tan Kah-kee [Chen Jiageng], Luo Ronghuan, Deng Zihui, Ulanhu, Xu Deli, Cai Chang, Liu Geping, Ma Yinchu, Chen Yun, Kang Sheng, Lin Feng, Ma Xulun, Guo Moruo, Zhang Yunyi, Deng Xiaoping, Gao Chongmin, Shen Junru, Shen Yanbing, Chen Shutong, Szeto Mei-tong [Situ Meitang], Li Xijiu, Huang Yanpei, Cai Tingkai, Xi Zhongxun, Peng Zemin, Zhang Zhizhong, Fu Zuoyi, Li Zhuchen, Li Zhangda, Zhang Nanxian, Liu Yazi, Zhang Dongsun, and Long Yun as council members to form the Central People's Government Council, proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China and decided on Beijing as the capital of the People's Republic of China.
The Central People's Government Council of the People's Republic of China took office today in the capital and unanimously made the following decisions: to proclaim the establishment of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China; to adopt the Common Program of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as the policy of the government; to elect Lin Boqu from among the council members as secretary general of the Central People's Government Council; to appoint Zhou Enlai as premier of the Government Adminstration Council of the Central People's Government and concurrently minister of Foreign Affairs, Mao Zedong as chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government, Zhu De as commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army, Shen Junru as president of the Supreme People's Court of the Central People's Government, and Luo Ronghuan as procurator general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the Central People's Government, and to charge them with the task of the speedy formation of the various organs of the government to carry out the work of the government.
At the same time, the Central People's Government Council decided to declare to the governments of all other countries that this government is the sole legal government representing all the people of the People's Republic of China. This government is willing to establish diplomatic relations with any foreign government that is willing to observe the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Mao Zedong
Chairman
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You know it’s hard out there for a prince. The fourth sons of a fourth son, Khubilai of the Borjigin will grow up little recognized, and bound for a life of little more than comfortable obscurity. But between his mother’s machinations, his wife’s guidance, his own skills… and a healthy smattering of good fortune, he’ll find himself suddenly thrust into the spotlight and tasked with overseeing the conquest of the Mongols’ oldest foe.
Time Period Covered:
1215-1259 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Mongol:
Tolui [c. 1191-1232] – 4th son of Genghis Khan, Khubilai’s father
Sorkhokhtani Beki [c. 1190-1252] – Khubilai’s mother, Nestorian Christian
Möngke Khaghan [1209-1259] – Tolui’s eldest son, 4th Great Khan of the Mongols
Khubilai, Ilkhan of the Left [1215-1289] – favored grandson of Genghis
Hulagu, Ilkhan of the Right [1218-1265] – 3rd son of Tolui and Sorkhokhtani
Ariq Böke [1219-1266] – youngest son of Tolui, Otchigin “Hearthkeeper”
Chabi Khatun [1225-1281] – Khubilai’s 2nd wife & only love, Tibetan Buddhist
North China:
Minister Yao Shu
Liu Bingzhong, Buddhist Monk, Adviser & Architect of Kaiping/Shangdu city
The Phagspa Lama [1235-1280]
Dali Kingdom:
King Duan Xingzhi [r. 1251-1254, 1256-1260 (as Maharaja)]
Prime Minister Gao Taixiang [d. 1253]
Major Sources:
Atwood, Christopher P. Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire.
Broadbridge, Anne F. Women and the Making of the Mongol Empire.
Clements, Jonathan. A Brief History of Khubilai Khan: Lord of Xanadu, Founder of the Yuan.
May, Timothy (ed.). The Mongol Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia, vol. 1.
McLynn, Frank. Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy.
Rossabi, Morris. “The Reign of Khubilai Khan” in The Cambridge History of China, v. 6: Alien Regimes and Border States, 907-1368.
Weatherford, Jack. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens.
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Kubla Khan
Or, a vision in a dream. A Fragment.
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round;
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.
But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher’s flail:
And mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean;
And ’mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!
The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!
A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight ’twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.
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Hangzhou is surrounded by the Mongol Yuan army, and is soon to fall. When the child-emperor and the Empress Dowager are taken captive, it will fall to the last two princes of House Zhao to flee to the islands and archipelagos of the Deep South, if they’re to stand any chance at all of keeping the flame of the Song from guttering out forever.
Time Period Covered:
1275-1279 CE
Southern Song:
Grand Empress Dowager Xie
Empress Dowager Chuan
Emperor Zhao Xian (Gong of Song) [r.1274-1276, d. 1323]
Emperor Zhao Shi (Duanzong) [r. 1276-1278]
Emperor Zhao Bing [r. 1278-1279]
Chancellor Chen Yizhong
Mongol Yuan Dynasty:
Khubilai, Mongol Khan & Emperor of Yuan
General Bayan, Commander of the Southern Campaign
General Atzuhan
Admiral Dong Wenping
Lt. Menkhutai
Lt. Fan Wenhu
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Mongolia is gripped in a civil war of its own, meaning the Song Empire has a chance to breathe. But with the immediate threat allayed for now, other problems become apparent. And when the new Great Khan, Khubilai, returns his attention to the land south of the Yangtze, China will find out whether it was a decade well spent in preparation for the coming assault, on one utterly squandered.
Time Period Covered:
1259-1275 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Song Empire:
Emperor Lizong (Zhao Yun) [r. 1221-1264]
Emperor Duzong (Zhao Qi) [r. 1264 -1274]
Grand Empress Dowager Xie [1210-1283]
Chancellor Jia Sidao [1213-1275]
Mongolia:
Möngke [1209-1259]
Khubilai [1215-1294]
Ariq Böke [1219-1264]
General Aju [1227-1287]
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Genghis Khan is old, wracked by pain in his body and heart, and in spite of his best efforts, has come to accept there is one foe he cannot defeat: mortality itself. Thus, even before setting out on his campaign against the Khwarazmian Empire, he will assemble his four sons and together reach a fateful decision - who among them will rule when Genghis is gone?
Note: This is part 1 of the 2-part conclusion to the life of Genghis Khan, with the conclusion available to subscribers!
Time Period Covered:
1220-1227 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Genghis Khan [Temüjin] (1162-1227)
Börte Khatun (c.1161-c.1130)
Jochi (1181-1226)
Chagatai Khan (1183-1242)
Ögedei Khan (c.1186-1241)
Tolui (c.1191-1232)
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The Mongol Khanate is on the warpath against all who would stand against it... until several unexpected system errors for the whole system to reboot. How will Song China deal with these unexpected years of preparatory time?
Time Period Covered:
1241-1260 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Song Dynasty:
Emperor Lizong
Chancellor Jia Sidao
Mongol Empire:
Ögedei Khan
Toregene Khatun
Guyuk Khan
Oghul Khaimish Khatun
Sorkhokhtani Beki
Möngke Khan
Khubilai Ilkhan
General Uriyangkhadai
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Just off of the heady victory over the Jin Dynasty with their new BFFs, the Mongols, a first-in-a-century visit to the Imperial Tombs gives the Song court a brilliant idea - what if we just took them back without asking? What's the worst that could happen?
Time Period Covered: 1234-1241 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Song Dynasty:
Emperor Lizong
Chancellor Zheng Qingzhi
Chancellor Shi Miyuan [d. 1233]
General Zhao Kui
General Quan Zicai
Mongol Khanate:
Ögedei Khaghan
Töregene Khatun
Prince Khödan
Prince Khöchu
Ambassador Wang Qi
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In the course of their pursuit of the fleeing Khwarazmian Amir, Genghis Khan's two top commanders have reached the shores of the Caspian Sea, and heard some of the strangest tales about what - and who - lay beyond. When the Great Khan gives his go-ahead to scout it out, they'll launch a three-year trek that will remake the world in their bloody image.
Time Period Covered:
1220-1221 CE
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The Jin Dynasty is surrounded on all sides. It cannot get out. Soon enough, the Mongol stranglehold around Kaifeng will signal the Empire of Black & Gold's death-knell.
Time Period Covered:
1224-1234 CE
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With enemies on all sides, and the Mongol sledgehammer poised to strike its crushing blow against them, the Jin Dynasty seeks an out by plunging southward, only to find that the Song defenses have become the anvil on which they rest. Exhausted, they’ll seek peace at any cost… but will it be enough to save the tatters of their empire?
Time Period Covered:
1217-1225 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Song:
Emperor Ningzong (Zhao Kuo) [r. 1194-1224]
Emperor Lizong (Zhao Yun) [r. 1224-1264]
Empress Yang [1162-1232]
Chancellor Shi Miyuan [1164-1233]
Crown Prince Zhao Xun [1194-1220]
Prince Zhao Hong [1207-1225]
General Zhao Fang
An Bing, Commandant of Sichuan
Jin:
Emperor Xuanzong (Wudubu/Wanyan Xun) [r. 1213-1224]
Emperor Aizong (Ningjiasu/ Wanyan Shouxu) [r.1224-1234]
Mongol:
Genghis Khan (Temüjin) [r. 1206-1227]
General Mukhali [1170-1223]
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Even after 30 years...
When you're ordered to forget, to remember becomes an act of defiance.
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The Jin Empire is all at once ripped apart from 4 different directions all at once: Shandong rebels from the east, Khitan from the northeast, Mongols from the northwest, and Tanguts from the West. So they decide to go the only direction left… and invade Southern Song.
Time Period Covered:
1208-1217 CE
Relevant Historical Figures:
Song:
Emperor Ningzong
Chancellor Shi Miyuan
Minister Zhen Dexiu
Jin:
Prince Wei
Emperor Xuanzong
Commander Hesheli Zhizhong
Councilor Zhuhele Guoleqi
Mongol:
Genghis Khan
Red Jacket Rebels:
Yang the Saddler
Khitan:
Yelu Liuge, puppet-Emperor of Liao
Dazhen Kingdom:
Heavenly King Puxian Wannu
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Chancellor Han Tuozhou is down-but-not-yet-out following his ill-fated attempting to bring down the Neo-Confucians. Thus, in an attempt to salvage his career and reputation, he'll launch the Song Empire into full-scale war against the Jin Dynasty... with unexpected results.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1200-1207 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Ningzong of Song
Empress Yang
Chancellor Han Tuozhou
Minister Shi Miyuan
General Wu Xi
Commissioner Cheng Song
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Neo-Confucianism has made a strong comeback through the synthesis of its various doctrines under the philosophical guidance of Zhu Xi of the Southern Song court. He and his likeminded ministers seek to bring back the perfection of eras gone by by being perfectly morally upright, and expecting everyone else to do the same. But when it turns out that certain other loose-living party-boys like Chancellor Han Tuozhou and Emperor Ningzong aren’t so thrilled about their buzzkilling ways, it will set up a massive conflict at court.
Time Period Covered:
1194-1202 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Ningzong
Chancellor Han Tuohzou
Minister Zhu Xi
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Back in Song China, we have a tale of two emperors: one who is devoted utterly to his father, and the other who's...well... not.
Time Period Covered:
1165-1194 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Retired Emperor Gaozong [r. 1127-1162, as retired emperor 1162-1187]
Emperor Xiaozong [r. 1162-1189, as retired emperor 1189-1194]
Emperor Guangzong [r. 1189-1194]
Empress Dowager Wu [1115-1197]
Empress Li [1144-1200]
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You know you want to...
www.patreon.com/thehistoryofchina
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Temujin Khan crushes his enemies, sees them driven before him, and hears the lamentations of their women!!!
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1202-1206 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Borjigin/Mongol:
Temujin (Genghis Khan)
Khasar, Temujin's Brother
Börte - Temujin's 1st Wife
Yesugen - Temujin's 2nd Wife
Yesui - Temujin's 3rd Wife
Jochi, Temujin's first son(?)
Jirkho’adai (Jebe the Arrow)
Khubilai
Jelme
Subedei
Jadaran:
Jamukha (Gurkhan) - Temujin's anda/nemesis
Kereyid:
To'oril (Ong Khan)
Senggum, Ong's son
Cha'ur Beki, Ong's daughter
Naiman:
Tayang Khan
Queen Gürbesu, Tayang's Wife/Stepmother
Works Cited:
Allsen, Thomas (1994). “The Rise of the Mongolian Empire and Mongolian Rule in North China” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 6: Alien Regimes and Border States.
Kahn, Paul (tr.) (2005). The Secret History of the Mongols: The Origin of Chingis Khan.
Onon, Urgunge (2001). The Secret History of the Mongols: The Life and Times of Chingghis Khan.
Ostrowski, Donald (2002). Muscovy and the Mongols: Cross-Cultural Influences on the Steppe Frontier, 1304-1589.
Pelliot, Paul (1959). Notes on Marco Polo, Vol. 1.
Weatherford, Jack (2005). Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.
Weatherford, Jack (2017). Genghis Khan and the Quest for God.
Weatherford, Jack (2011). The Secret History of the Mongol Queens.
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Temujin will enlist the aid of his recently-sworn father, To'oril AKA Ong Khan of the Kereyid to rescue his stolen wife, Börte. But his successful rescue of his beloved will only mark the beginning of his remarkable journey from isolated herder, to powerful khan of the steppes. Unfortunately, one of the sacrifices he'll be forced to make along the path to power will be that most-sacred: his sworn brotherhood with Jamukha, who will transform from Anda to Nemesis for Temujin.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1178-1201 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Borjigin:
Temujin, Khan of the Borjigin
Börte, wife of Temujin
Ho'elun, mother of Temujin
Khasar, Brother of Temujin
Belgutei, Half-Brother of Temujin
Jelme, Companion of Temujin
Bo'orchu, Companion of Temujin
Jochi, Temujin's first-born son(?)
Kereyid:
To'oril, Khan of the Kereyid (Ong Khan)
Jadaran:
Jamukha (Gurkhan)
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In spite of difficulties, Ho'elun and her family endeavor to persevere. Temüjin discovers the power of friendship, and the clarity of purpose that comes with true love <3.
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High in the wildlands of the Khentii Mountains, a tribe of hunters and scavengers comes into possession of a young and captured bride. Ripped out of her old life, she and the family her new husband create at the edge of the world will have to find a way to survive.
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1158~1170 CE
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Both Song and Jin have a new set of emperors at the helm... it will mean war... and peace... but the riptides of history will ensure that, whatever the outcome of this conflict, very little will remain the same for much longer.
Time Period Covered: ~1140-1162 CE
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Emperor Gaozong really, *really* wants his dad's coffin.
Qin Hui really, *really* wants to give the Jurchen whatever they ask for.
The Jurchen really, *really* want the Mongol khan to stop tweaking their emperor's beard.
Time Period Covered: 1135-1160 CE
Major Works Cited:
Allsen, Thomas. “Chapter 4: The rise of the Mongolian empire and Mongolian rule in north China” in Vol. 6, Alien Regimes and Border States.
Franke, Herbert. “Chapter 3: The Chin Dynasty” in Vol. 6, Alien Regimes and Border States.
Tao, Jing-Shen. “The Move to the South and the Reign of Kao-Tsung” in Vol. 5, the Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors.
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General Yue Fei will reach career highs as he strikes back against Jurchen aggression with remarkable success. He'll drive his enemies so fast and hard, that he'll drive the Jin Dynasty close to its breaking point. But on the precipice of victory, ministerial machinations back in Hangzhou will spell the undoing of him and his life's work...
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In this first of a two-part look into the life and legend of this epic Chinese hero, we chronicle Yue Fei's early life and education, his induction into the military to serve his nation with utmost loyalty, his meteoric rise through the ranks, and his stalwart resolve in facing the greatest crisis his country his known in centuries, all while garnering a cult-like following of soldiers, and the panicked attention of the imperial court.
Time Period Covered:
1103-1137 CE
Major Works Cited:
Foster, Robert W. The Human Condition in Premodern China.
Jenne, Jeremiah. “The Execution of Yue Fei: 875 Years of Patriotic Myth” from radiichina.com
Li, Xiaobi. China at War.
Lorge, Peter. War, Politics and Society in Early Modern China, 900-1795.
Mote, Fredrick W. “Ch. 13: The Southern Song and Chinese Survival” in
Imperial China 900-1800.
Tao, Jing-shen. “The Move to the South and the Reign of Kao-tsung” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 05: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, 907-1279.
Wills, Jr., John E. E. Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History.
Zhou, Zuoren, trans. Tim Cronen. “A View of the Hero Yue Fei and the Traitor Qin Hui” in The China Heritage Quarterly No. 28, December 2011.
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The JURCHEN JIN reigns. Having decimated the Song Dynasty, Emperor Jin Taizong now deploys his merciless legions to seize military control of the Yellow River Valley.
Only Prince Zhao Gou and his band of LOYALIST ministers stand against the rising tyranny, certain that the last scion of Zhao can yet restore a spark of hope to the fight.
But the Loyalists have been exposed. As the Jin cavalry speeds toward Yintian Fu, the brave heroes mount a desperate escape....
Historical Period Covered:
1127-1130 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Song Dynasty:
Prince Zhao Gou, Prince of Kang (Emperor Gaozong of Song) [r. 1129-1162]
Chancellor Li Gang [1083-1140]
Yue Fei, LEGENDARY CHINESE HERO [1103-1142]
General Zong Ze, He Tried [d. 1129]
General Du Cheng, Brave Sir Du Cheng Ran Away... Bravely Ran Away, Away!
General Han Shizheng, He Means Business
Jin Dynasty:
Emperor Taizong of Jin (Wuqimai) [r. 1123-1135]
Prince Wanyan Wuzhu, Commander of Jin Strikeforce [d. 1148]
Zhang Bangchang, Puppet Emperor of Great Chu [r. 1129-1129]
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The Song Dynasty manages to epically pull defeat from the jaws of victory when it manages to twice goad its nominal ally, the Jurchen Jin, into a border war. The first time, it’s beaten so badly that it has to give up almost half of its northern holdings. But when even that’s not enough to quench Emperor Qinzong’s delusions of grandeur, he and his regime will pay with everything they have…
Time Period Covered:
1125-1127 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Northern Song:
Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) [r. 1100-1126, ret. Emperor 1126-1127]
Emperor Qinzong of Song (Zhao Huan) [r. 1126-1127]
General Tong Guan [1054–1126]
General Wang Bing [d. 1126]
Jurchen Jin:
Emperor Taizong of Jin (Wuqimai) [r. 1123-1135]
Prince Wanyan Zonghan (Nianhan) [1080-1136]
Prince Wanyan Zongwang (Wolibu) [c. 1073-1133?]
Zhang Bangchang, Puppet Emperor of Chu [1081–1127]
Major Works Cited:
Levine, Ari Daniel. “The Reigns of Hui-Tsung and Ch-in-Tsung” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol.05: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, 907–1279. Part 1.
Lorge, Peter Allen. War, Politics, and Society in Early Modern China, 900-1795
Tao, Jing-shen. “The Move to the South and the Reign of Kao-Tsung (1127–1162)” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol.05: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, 907–1279. Part 1.
Various. the Accounts of Jingkang
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A very sexy Halloween edition...
Stir Fry - 1:45
Steel Skin - 4:15
Silkworm - 5:35
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Our third entry of Seasonal Spookiness for your unsettling aural pleasure.
From Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (聊齋志異) by: Pu Songling
1:25 - "The Girl in Green"
8:30 - "A Very Sharp Sword"
10:45 - "He Came Back"
18:25 - "A Transformation"
22:45 - "Mr. Miao"
34:05 - "A Prank"
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Emperor Huizong’s Song Dynasty’s luck runs dry with a series of epic screw up that throw the whole system in disarray. War with the Tangut Xi Xia goes badly awry – and his generals won’t even tell him about it. And then rebellions start breaking out in the south – on by a millennialist death-cult led by a 12th century Jim Jones: Fang La… and another breaking out in the swamps and marshes of Liangshan, and led by Chinese Robin Hood of literary fame: Song Jiang. All of this will throw the Song military's carefully laid plans against the crumbling Khitan Liao into disarray, and make their would-be allies the Jurchen Jin wary of how reliable a partner the Chinese might actually be.
Time Period Covered: 1103-1123 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) [r. 1100-1126]
Chancellor Cai Jing [1047-1126]
General Tong Guan, Commander of the Imperial Armies, eunuch [1054-1126]
Fang La, lacquer farmer-cum-millenialist death-cult leader and rebel commander, mad as hell and not going to take it anymore [d. 1121]
Song Jiang, Liangshan rebel commander, Leader Star of Destiny, “Timely Rain,” Haohan Hero [d. ca. 1123]
"Chapter/Poetry Music" "Spring River Flower Moon Night" 古筝 - 春江花月夜 - played on guzheng
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To the north of Song China, sandwiched between Goryeo Korea and the invincible Liao Empire, a new force arises on the banks of the Black and Gold Rivers, that will shake the very foundations of All Under Heaven...
Time Period Covered:
1099-1123 CE
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With Wang Anshi out of the picture, Emperor Shenzong's ministers find to their horror that theg uy they thought was radicalizing the monarch... had actually be holding him back this whole time. Now there's nothing to stop Shenzong from fulfilling his lifelong ambition to conquer Western Xia... nothing, that is... except the idiocy of the commanders he'll put in charge of the operation.
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Wang Anshi's heady, glorious dream at last comes crashing into the cold, mechanical reality of imperial bureaucracy, to everyone's chagrin.
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Wang Anshi weilds his newfound power to implement, through his hand-picked Finance Planning Commission, a sweeping series of reforms aids at revitalizing that dynasty's sagging economy. They'll include a government loan program, new tax policies to pay for laborers, a rethink of the state's very relationship with commerce and traders, and a re-formatting of the empire's volunteer self-defense forces.
Time Period Covered:
1069-1073 CE
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In this first part of a mini-arc, southern provincial nobody Wang Anshi rises above his station and attracts both the curiosity and the attention of Emperor Shanzong and his court by laying out a bold new vision to lead the Song Dynasty out of its economic malaise before disaster inevitably strikes. But when neither Wang nor his critics are willing to give an inch on their principles, sparks fly...
Time Period Covered:
1021-1070 CE
Relevant Historical Figures:
Emperor Shenzong of Song (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067 - 1085]
Wang Anshi, Economic Maverick [1021-1086]
Sima Guang, Conservative Historian [1019-1086]
Ouyang Xiu, "Old Drunkard" [1007-1072]
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"Like milk on a hot day in San Diego, it turned out that Emperor Yingzong was a bad choice."
Time Period Covered: 1063-1067 CE
Important Historial Figures:
Song:
Emperor Renzong (Zhao Zhen)[r. 1022-1063]
Emperor Yingzong (Zhao Shu)[r. 1063-1067]
Emperor Shenzong (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067-1085]
Empress Cao [1016-1079]
Chancellor Han Qi（韩琦）[1008-1075]
Prime Minister Fu Bi
Chief Censor Sima Guang [1019-1086]
Minister Ouyang Xiu [1007-1072]
Western Xia:
Li Liangzuo (Weiming Liangzuo)[b. 1046, r. 1048-1067]
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Emperor Renzong of Song continues to twiddle his thumbs. Confucianism get a much-needed adrenaline shot to the arm via Daoism. Zhuang superpatriot Nong Zhigao declares simultaneous war on China and Vietnam in the name of his people's liberation.
Time Period Covered:
1043-1054 CE
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Emperor Renzong of Song isn't exactly... into the whole "rule" thing. He'd much rather wile away his days talking about Confucian philosophy, writing calligraphy, and making love to his concubines. But he'll be forced to uneasily embody the might of Song China when the Tangut state of Western Xia declares its independence, triggering a massive conflict on the borderlands.
Time Period Covered:
1033-1044 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Song:
Emperor Renzong
Chancellor Li Yijian
Fan Zhongyan, Commander of Yanan Circuit
Xi Xia:
Li Yuanhao (Weiming Nangxiao), Emperor of Xia
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When Emperor Renzong of Song takes the throne, he's just a boy of 12 and surely in need of his mother's guidance... but how long until Mom becomes more of a hinderance than a help? ... And what if she's not really his mother?
Time Period Covered:
1022-1033 CE
Important Historical Figures:
Emperor Renzong of Song [Zhao] (r. 1022-
Empress Dowager Liu (-1033)
Lady Li (-1032)
Chancellor Ding Wei
Chancellor Wang Zeng
Assistant Minister of the Palace Library, Lu "Fish-Head" Zongdao (-1029)
Sun Shi, Director of Education
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A Q&A like this only comes around once in a thousand years!
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After feeling forced to sign the costly and humiliating Treaty of Chanyuan with the Liao Dynasty to end the Liao-Song War, Emperor Zhenzong needs a pick-me-up to make himself feel better. He thinks that a ritual that hasn't been performed in 3 centuries might be the way... and that's when the text messages from Heaven start popping up in his inbox...
Time Period:
1004-1022 CE
Major Historical Figures
Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng)[r. 997 - 1022]
Wang Qinruo, Minister of Grand Ritual [c. 962 – 1025]
Chancellor Kou Zhun [c. 961 – 1023]
Du Hao, Imperial Antiquarian.
Minister Sun Shi, Grand Imperial Buzzkill.
Major Works Cited:
Cahill, Suzanne E. "Taoism at the Sung Court: The Heavenly Text Affair of 1008" in Bulletin of Sung and Yüan Studies, No. 16.
Choi, Mihwa. Death Rituals and Politics in Northern Song China.
Lau Nap-Yin and Huang K'uang-Chung. "Founding and Consolidation of the Sung Dynasty" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 5: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, Part 1.
Li, Tao. Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian ("The Extended Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Government")
Sima, Guang. Sushui Jiwen ("Records of Rumors from Sushui").
Toqto'a and Alutu. Songshi ("The History of the Song").
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The new Song Emperor, Zhenzong, sits uneasily on the Chinese throne after his father’s untimely death in 997. But court intrigues and attempted coups will only be the tip of the iceberg for this untested and unlikely sovereign, because the Liao Dynasty to the north has its eyes and hearts set on revenge for Chinese slights, and will send a massive force bent on crushing Song resistance to their will.
Time Period Covered:
997-1005 CE
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"Rice is great if you're really hungry and want eat 2,000 of something." - Mitch Hedberg
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To the Northwest of the Song Empire, a group of non-Chinese known as the Tanguts have long been subject to the whims and subjugations of their greater neighbors. But with the Chinese focused on their struggle against the Khitan Liao, and the Tibetans and Uighur states having collapsed to the far west, the Tanguts need to unite - in spite of their often fractious nature - if they're to seize the moment and carve out their place in history.
Time Period Covered: ~735-1001 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Song Dynasty:
Emperor Taizong of Song (Zhao Jiong) [r. 976-997]
Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng) [r. 997-1022]
Western Xia:
Governor-General Tuoba Sigong (Li Sigong)of Dingnan, Duke of Xia [d. 886?]
Li Yiyin/Yixin, Prince of Xia (posthumous) [d. 967]
Li Kerui, Governor-General of Xia [r.967-978]
Li Jiqian, rebel leader against Song Dynasty[963–1004]
Li Deming (post. Emperor Taizong of Western Xia), founder of Xi Xia Dynasty [981–1032]
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Song's second emperor, Taizong, wants to achieve the heights of Chinese glory, power, and territory just like the Tang and Han before him. But aspirations are easier than results, and he's going to have to contend with neighbor states on all sides far more powerful than his predecessors - and with his own position far weaker. Still it's either that or the utterly unthinkable: acknowledge that China is no longer the preeminent superpower of the East, but now just one state among equals.
Time Period Covered:
976-986 CE
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Zhao Kuangyin has seized the north and now aims to reunify China under his new Song Dynasty by smashing the south. And it’s super effective! But when a strange order of succession leaves question mark surrounding his legacy, it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen next.
Time period covered:
960-976 CE
Major Historical Figures
Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin) [r. 960-976]
Emperor Taizong of Song (Zhao Guangyi) [r. 976-997]
Prince Zhao Dezhao [951-979]
Chancellor Zhao Pu [922-992]
Liu Chang, Emperor of Southern Han [r. 958-972]
War Elephants!!!
Li Yu, King of Southern Tang [r. 961-976]
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The Duke of Song Circuit and Grand Marshal of the armies of Later Zhou is dispatched by the 6-year-old emperor and his mom to the northeast to investigate and drive out a reported incursion by the Khitan Liao and their Northern Han allies. But he won’t make it very far at all before the nature of his mission changes dramatically…
Time Period Covered:
960-962 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Gong of Later Zhou (Guo Zongxun) [r. 959-960, d. 973]
Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu of Song) [r. 960-976]
Zhao Kuangyi (Guangyi) [939-997]
Zhao Pu (922-992)
Governor Li Yün of Luzhou [d. 960]
Governor Li Chengjin of Yanzgzhou [d. 960]
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We round out our overview of the 10 Kingdoms of the south by looking at the trials and tribulations of Chu, Former & Later Shu, Jingnan, and Southern Han’s travails against Annam… but little do they know, they’re one and all riding for a fall…
Time Period Covered:
870-960 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Huang Chao
Chu:
Governor Liu Jianfei,
King Ma Yin,
Minister Gao Yu,
King Ma Xifan,
Prince Ma Xi’ou,
King Ma Xiguang
Former/Later Shu:
King Wang Jian (“Bandit Wang Eight”) [r. 903-918],
Minister Feng Juan,
Minister Wei Zhuang,
King Wang Yan [r. 918-925]
King Meng Zhixiang [r. 933-965]
Governor Dong Chang [d. 930]
Jingnan:
King Gao Zhichang [r. 907-]
King Gao Congmei
Southern Han:
Governor Liu Qian, of the Man People [d. 896]
Prince Liu Yin of Nanhai [r. 896-911]
Emperor Liu Yan, “The Heavenly Dragon” [r. 911-942]
Emperor Liu Hongdu [r. 942-960]
Annam (N. Vietnam):
Governor Duong Dinh Nghe [d. 938]
Ngo Quyen [r. 939-]
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We sweep over 4 of the southern kingdoms along the southeastern coast.
WuYüe: which remains rich and prosperous owing to its favorable trade and geographic positions at the mouth of the Yangtze.
Wu: which starts off strong only to be subsumed from within, giving way to Southern Tang.
Min: whose coastal location is fatally undermined by it own geographic atomization, unto civil war, breakup, and destruction.
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With the rise of the last of the 5 Dynasties, Later Zhou, the North China Plains is able to go onto the offensive for the first time in decades; not against the endless expanses of the northern steppes, but a new strategy to reinvigorate the north by seizing the fertile and as of yet untouched reaches of the southern kingdoms, who are ripe for the plucking. Through it all, a brilliant military commander by the name of Zhao Kuangyin will prove his valor and skill, and is ultimately rewarded with a fateful governorship to the city of Song.
Time Period Covered:
954-959 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Later Zhou:
Chai/Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong) [r. 954-959]
Chancellor Wang Pu [d. 957]
General Zhao Kuangyin
Southern Tang:
Li Jing (Emperor Yuanzong) [r. 943-961]
Northern Han:
Liu Chong (Emperor Shizu) [r. 951-954/5]
Liu Jun (Emperor Ruizong) [r. 955-968]
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Emperor Deguang of Liao has conquered the North China Plain with ease and packed the Later Jin emperor off to eternal exile. But he doesn’t plan to stick around… instead, he’ll pack up everything – and everyone – he deems valuable to take back home. But when illness strikes him dead, new challengers will arise to do battle over the fate of northern China.
Time Period Covered:
947-954CE
Major Historical Figures:
Liao:
Yelü Deguang (Emperor Taizong) [r. 927-947]
Yelü Ruan (Wuyu, Emperor Shizong) [r. 947-951]
Yelü Jing (Emperor Muzong) [r. 951-969]
General Xiao Han [d. 949]
General Zhang Yanze [d. 947]
Later Han:
Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu) [r. 947-948]
Liu Chengyou (Emperor Yin) [r. 948-951]
Northern Han:
Liu Chong (Emperor Shizu) [r. 951-954]
Later Zhou:
Guo Wei (Emperor Taizu) [r. 951-954]
Chai/Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong) [r. 954-959]
Sources Utilized:
Sima Guang, et al. 1084. Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance).
Standen, Naomi. 2009. “The Five Dynasties” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 5, pt. 1: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors 907-1279 (Denis Twitchett and Paul Jakov Smith, ed.)
Standen, Naomi. 2005. “What Nomads Want: Raids, Invasions and the Liao Conquest of 947” in Mongols, Turks, and Others: Eurasian Nomads and the Sedentary World (Reuven Amitai and Michal Biran, ed.)
Toqto’a (Tuotuo), et al. 1344. Liao Shi (History of the Liao).
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Later Jin seems to have its bed made within its steadfast alliance with Liao - in spite of the humiliating stipulations such a relationship imposes onto a proud Son of Heaven. Yet when Later Jin's first emperor dies, his replacement will do his level-best to unmake all the gains his nation has made... at his own peril.
Time Period Covered:
937-947 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Later Jin:
Shi Jingtang (Emperor Gaozu of Later Jin) [r. 936-942 CE]
Shi Chonggui (Emperor Chu of Later Jin) [r. 942-947 CE]
Governor-General An Chongrong [d. 942]
Chancellor Feng Dao [882-954 CE]
General Jing Yanguang [892-947 CE]
Liao:
Yelü Deguang (Emperor Taizong of Liao) [r. 927-947 CE]
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In the state of Later Tang, things go from bad to worse as a revolving door of emperors combines with a suddenly-mercenary imperial guard corps... all to bring the state itself to an untimely, but fiery, demise.
Time Period Covered:
926-937 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang (Li Siyuan)[r. 926-933]
Prince Li Congrong [d. 933]
Emperor Li Conghou of Later Tang [r. 933-934]
Chancellor Zhu Hongjiao [d. 934]
Chancellor Feng Yun [d. 934]
Emperor Li Congke of Later Tang [r. 934-936]
Shi Jingtang, Emperor of Later Jin [r. 936-942]
Meng Zhixiang, Emperor of Later Shu [r. 933-934]
Emperor Taizong of Liao (Yelü Guangde) [r. 927-947]
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We track the Khitan people of Mongolia/Manchuria from their origins in the mythological mists of pre-history, all the way through their reformation under Abaoji Kaghan into a Chinese-style state, known as the Liao Dynasty.
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The Later Liang Dynasty is forced back onto the defense following the murder if its first two emperors by its third, coupled with the rise of the latest Prince of Jin, Li Cunxu, who is waging a war to restore the Tang regime. But he’ll be forced to decide whether a restoration premised on putting himself on the throne rather than the old imperial clan can really be called a “restoration” at all.
Time Period Covered:
915-926 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Later Liang Dynasty:
Zhu Wen (Emperor Taizu) [d. 915]
Zhu Youzhen (Emperor Mo) [r. 916-923]
Later Tang Dynasty:
Li Cunxu, Prince of Jin (Emperor Zhuangzong) [r. 923-926]
Li Siyuan (Emperor Minzong) [r. 926-933]
Crown Prince Li Zhizhi [d. 926]
Former Shu Dynasty:
Wang Yen (Emperor Houzhu) [r. 918-925]
Liao Dynasty:
Yelü Abaoji Kaghan (Emperor Taizu of Liao) [r. 907-926]
Works Cited:
Standen, Naomi. "The Five Dynasties" in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 5, Part 1: The Sung Dynasty and its Precursors, 907-1279.
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Zhu Wen has proclaimed the dissolution of the Tang and the formation of Later Liang, with him as its Emperor Taizu... but there are more than a few people ready, willing, and able to object rather strongly to that claim...
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We take a sweeping look back at all 289 years of the Tang one more time before pressing into the 5 Dynasties and beyond, and also take a look at some of the aspects of 9th centuryChinese society that are more frequently overlooked... like women's fashion, regional cuisine, playing cards, and toilet paper.
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We've made it to the end of the Tang and questions abound! From portrayals of Han Emperors, to my favorite Emperor, and the best Dynasty EVER, to battle tactics and armor, to grat Chinese kung fu movies and how much a protsitute would have been worth... we've had a whole host of excellent questions that I do my very best to answer!
Cheers!
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Take the army, go to the capital, kill the imperial clan, exterminate the eunuchs, usurp the throne, have a nice cold pint and wait for all this to blow over. How’s that for a slice of fried gold?
Time period covered:
888-907 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang [r. 887-905]
Prince Li Yu [d. 905]
Prince Li Zuo (Emperor Ai) [r. 905-908]
Han Jian, Governor of Hezhong
Li “the One-Eyed Dragon” Keyong, Commander of the Shatuo Turks
Li Maozhen, Governor of Fengxiang
Wang Xingyu, Governor of Pinning
Zhu Wen/Quanzhong/Huang, Governor of Hedong (Emperor Taizu of Later Liang)
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The rebel-general and usurper-emperor Huang Chao will wear out his welcome in Chang’an, and meet his doom in the Valley of Tigers and Wolves… but his reign of terror over the capital will only be the first act of its terrible, drawn out fate – a fate that will mirror the Tang Dynasty’s as a whole. Emperor Xizong, already put to flight once, will return to the capital – only to swiftly find himself on the run yet again as China’s general and governors alike realize that they are no longer servants of the dynasty, but masters of their own domains… if they can hold them.
Time Period Covered:
882-888 CE (“The Era of Radiant Beginnings”)
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Xizong of Tang (Li Yan) [r. 873-888]
Prince Li Jie (Emperor Zhaozong)
Chief Eunuch Tian Lingzi [d. 893]
Chen Jingxuan, Governor of Sichuan
General Zheng Tian, Commander of the Northwest
General Li Keyong, “The One-Eyed Dragon”, Khan of the Shatuo Turks
Huang Chao, Rebel Usurper [d. 884]
Governor-General Zhu Mei, Rebel Warlord, would-be-usurper [d. 887]
Li Yun, Prince of Xiang, would-be-puppet-monarch [d. 887]
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The poison seeds that have been planted across China for the last century and longer will all begin to sprout, as the rebel commander Huang Chao takes command of the latest and greatest of internal threats to imperial stability. Yet it won't be the rebels themselves that will prove the decisive factor in the chaos to come... but instead the Empire's own supposedly "loyal" generals and soldiers... already looking ahead to their own places in the post-Tang world.
Time Period Covered:
878-882 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Dynasty:
Emperor Xizong of Tang (Li Yan/Xuan) [r. 874-888]
General Zhang Zimian
Governor-General Li Tiao of Guangdong [d. 879]
General Gao Pian, "The General Who Lost the North"
Xi Dynasty:
Huang Chao, "The Heaven-Storming General" [d. 884]
Sources Referenced:
Levy, Howard S. (1955). Biography of Huang Ch'ao
Somers, Robert M. (2008). "The end of the T'ang" in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3: Sui and T'ang China, 589–906 AD, Part One(ed. Denis C. Twitchett)
Wei, Chuang(881). "Lament of the Lady of Qin"(tr. Lionel Giles)
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Dear empire, we’re having a very mild case of severe rebellion, um, everywhere. But don’t worry, it’s totally under control. Everything’s fine, we’ve got this. Don’t panic. PS, rebel leaders if you’re reading this we’ll give you more than you’ve ever dreamed of if you’ll just stop attacking us, pretty please. But no it’s fine, we’re totally going to win, for sure. PPS, Imperial Army please stop refusing to fight. We’re totally serious about this. Joke’s over, it’s not funny anymore. Fight the rebels or we’re going to be, like, super angry with you. Victory is assured. No problem whatsoever. PPS, local magistrates, please recruit your peasants to fight the rebels – promise them whatever you have to. Seriously, anything. Long live the victorious Tang. No, the plane engines only look like they’re on fire. They’re supposed to look like that. That’s completely normal.
Love, Emperor Xizong.
Time Period Covered:
873-878 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Dynasty:
Emperor Yizong of Tang [d. 873]
Emperor Xizong of Tang (Li Wen) [r. 873-888]
Tian Lingzi, court eunuch-official
General Song Wei
General Zhang Zimian
Rebel Commanders:
Wang Xianzhi, Supreme Rebel General [d. 877]
Huang Chao, Heaven-Storming General [d. 884]
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The Tang Empire enters its death spiral. The cumulative effects of more than a century of economic mismanagement intersects with the peasantry and military's respective gripes with the government to disastrous effects south of the Yangtze River. Rebellions beget further rebellions as the whole enterprise spirals down toward the drainpipe.
Time Period Covered:
859-873 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Yizong of Tang (Li Wen/Cui) [r. 859-873]
Princess Tongcheng [d. 870]
General Wang Shi
General Zhuye Chixin (later Li Guochang)
Governor-General Linghu Tao
Qiu Fu, rebel leader, "Grand Generalissimo of the Empire" [d. 860]
Pang Xun, rebel leader [d. 869]
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Li Yi was never trained to be emperor. Not only was he the thirteenth son of Xianzong, but he'd been ruthlessly mocked and belittled his whole life by his entire family for being an idiot, an invalid, and a mute. But when his hated nephew dies in 846, he's going to shock the world by revealing he was faking it the whole time, and go on to become the last good emperor of the Tang before its final bow.
Time Period Covered:
846-859 CE
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The new Emperor Wuzong will have a lot on his plate right from the get-go. Foreign threats and domestic squabbles will frame his early reign, but it's his own fanatical devotion to Daoism and antipathy to Buddhism that will define his reign.
Period Covered:
840-846 CE
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Behind the throne of Tang is where the true power lies in the mid-9th century, among squabbling bureaucrats, shadowy factions, and conniving eunuchs. But this game of shadows is difficult to follow. Nevertheless, when events reach a head in 835 we’ll need to know how all the pieces on the imperial chessboard got where they are, and so we take a look at the real movers and shakers of the late Tang court.
Time Period Covered:
808-836 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Emperors:
Emperor Xianzong of Tang (Li Chun) [r. 805-820]
Emperor Muzong of Tang (Li Heng/You) [r. 820-824]
Emperor Jingzong of Tang (Li Zhan) [r. 824-827]
Emperor Wenzong of Tang (Li Han/Ang) [r. 827-840]
Crowned Prince Li Yong [d. 838]
Emperor Wuzong (Li Chan) [r. 840-846]
Niu Faction Officials:
Niu Sengru, Duke of Qizhang
Li Zhongmin
Li Xun [d. 835]
Li Faction Officials:
Li Jifu, Duke of Wei [d. 814]
Li Deyu, Duke of Wei
Nonaligned Officials:
Zheng Zhu [d. 835]
Eunuch Officials:
Wang Shucheng [d. 835]
Qiu Shiliang, Duke of Chu
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In the wake of Emperor Xianzong’s unexpected death in 820, his work remains unfinished… and now left in the hands of his incapable, incompetent successors. The eunuchs are hard at work securing ultimate authority for themselves, and have no time for a strong central leader, and the Governor-generals of the northeast are eager to get out from under the imperial thumb once again. Into all this madness, a dock-worker, a fortuneteller, and an army of vagabonds will make a quixotic bid for the throne.
Time Period Covered:
February, 820- January, 827 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Muzong of Tang (Li Heng) [r. 820-824]
Emperor Jingzong of Tang (Li Zhan) [r. 824-827]
Emperor Wenzong of Tang (Li Ang) [r. 827-840]
Prince Li Han of Jiang [d. 827]
Eunuch-Official Liang Shoujian
Eunuch Official Liu Keming [d. 827]
Chief Minister Xiao Mian
Su Xuanming, Fortuneteller Extraordinaire [d. 824]
Zhang Shao, Unlikely Sitter of Thrones [d. 824]
Sources:
Dalby, Michael T. (1979). “Court politics in late T’ang times: Mid-Ninth Century Court (820-59)” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
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Young Emperor Xianzong has a plan to restore China's supremacy in the 9th century world... and - surprisingly enough - it involves precisely zero walls being built.
Time Period Covered:
805-820 CE
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Today, we veer off our main narrative and into several seasonal tales which celebrate the spooky season in Chinese fashion. We feature a ghostly gathering, a bewitched battle, injurious jests, and lethal looks.
Author: Pu Songling [1640-1715 CE]Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
Featuring:
The Golden Goblets (begins: 2:15)
The Necromancer (begins: 13:30)
The Killing Joke (begins: 21:15)
The Painted Skin (begins:
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We take a look at the final years of Emperor Dezong's reign, his political successes and failures, and the strange, mysterious,short-lived Wang Party that would seize control over government for about 5 minutes before being kicked out by Dezong's grandson Xianzong. Also, we have a paralyzed, mute emperor, so there's that, too!
Time Period Covered:
ca. 790-806 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Dynasty:
Li Kuo, Emperor Dezong of Tang [r. 780-805]
Li Song, Emperor Shunzong of Tang [r. 805]
Li Chun, Emperor Xianzong of Tang [r. 805-820]
Dou Wenchang, Eunuch Protector of the Army
Huo Xianming, Eunuch Protector of the Army
Wang Shuwen, Wang Party Founder
Wang Pi, Wang Party Member
Tibetan Empire:
Prime Minister Shang Jiecan (Shan-rgyal-btsan)
Uyghur Khannate:
Tun-Baga-Tar Khan
Major Sources Cited:
Dalby, Richard. "Court Politics in Late Tang Times" in The Cambridge History of China vol. 3
Zizhi Tongjian
Jiu Tangshu
Wang, Yunsheng (1963). "Second Treatise on the Historic Significance of that Bastard Sima's Political Innovations" in Lishi Yanjiu.
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Dezong has had it up to here with his mumbling, bumbling, stumbling courtiers and their inability to solve the empire’s problems. So he’s going to give them 3 last shots to prove the worth of the bureaucracy, and when they strike out, he’ll turn toward his private inner count to make the Tang Empire great again.
Time Period:
786-795 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Dezong of Tang [r. 779-805]
Chancellor Cui Zao (term of office: 785-787, exiled and d. 787)
Chancellor Li Mi [term: 787-789, d. 789]
Chancellor Dou Can [term: 789-792, d. 793 by forced suicide]
Chancellor Lu Zhi [term: 792-794, exiled]
Director of Finances Pei Yanling [792-796, d. 796]
Major Works Cited:
Dalby, Michael T. "Court Politics in Late Tang Times" in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 234, 235
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The echoes of the An Lushan Rebellion still reverberate destructively through Tang China even three decades after its conclusion. As the new emperor, Dezong, attempts to revitalize the glory days of old, he’ll kick off an new round of wars with the governor-warlords of Hebei who don’t want to have to listen to him anymore.
Time Period Covered:
781-785 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Dezong of Tang (Li Kuo) [r. 779-805]
Li Zhengji, Governor-General of Pinglu [d. 781]
Zhu Tao, King of Ji
Zhu Ci, Governor-General of Huaixi, Emperor of Qin/Han [d. 785]
Duan Xiushi, Tang double-agent [d. 783]
General Li Huaiguang
General Li Sheng
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Today we explore the insanely difficult, stressful, byzantine... and sometimes fatal... world of the would-be imperial official as they attempt to climb their way through the labyrinth of tests explicitly designed to fail them out. One unlikely success of this system is Yuan Zai, who will going from impoverished nobody to Chancellor of the Empire... all before getting his head lopped off. We then finish out Emperor Daizong's time on the throne before the reign of his son Emperor Dezong.
Time Period Covered:
762-781 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Daizong of Tang (Li Yu) [r. 762-779]
Emperor Dezong of Tang (Li Kuo) [r. 779- 805]
Chancellor Yuan Zai [d. 777]
General Guo Ziyi [d. 781]
Major Works Cited:
Dalby, Michael T. "Court Politics in Late Tang Times" in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
Miyazaki, Ichisada. China's Examination Hell.
Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 225.
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You would think that finally quelling the largest rebellion on Earth would by the realm back into peaceful harmony. Unfortunately for the Tang, you’d be wrong. While China was forced to spend every waking moment in the Northeast desperately trying to drive back An Lushan for the past 7 years, the Tibetans went ahead and moved in from the West, cutting off Chinese access to the Far West Protectorate, and by 763 poised to deliver a devastating broadside to the already-devastated Tang Empire. And as if that’s not enough, in the middle of all this, a loyal military commander has false accusations of treason leveled against him by a paranoid regional official, but then through a series of zany happenstances is forced to actually rebel against the government for fear of being convicted and killed for the initial false charges. This is why we can’t have nice things…
Time Period Covered:
763~770 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Empire:
Emperor Daizong of Tang (Li Yu) [r. 762-779]
Crowned Prince Li Kuo
General Guo Ziyi, Guard Commander of Chang’an
General Pugu Huai’en [d. 765]
Luo Fengxian, Imperial Eunuch Official
Xin Yunjing, Governor of Hedong
Yu Chao’en, Commander of the Army of Divine Strategy [d. 770]
Tibetan Empire:
Tsenpo Trisong Detsen
Uyghur Khaganate:
Tengri Bögü Khagan (Qutlugh Tarqan Sengün)
Major Works Cited:
Chamney, Lee (2012). “The An Shi Rebellion and Rejection of the Other in Tang China, 618-763.” University of Alberta.
Dalby, Michael T. (1979). “Court Politics in Late Tang Times” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
Liu, Xu. (945). Jiu Tang Shu.
Ouyang, Xiu (1060), (tr. Colin Mackerras, 2004) “The History of the Uyghurs” in Xin Tang Shu.
Sima, Guang. (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
Wang, Bing-Wen (2012). “A Tragedy of Marriage and Politics: the Puku Huai’-en Rebellion” in New History Journal (新史學雜誌).
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Before getting into the latter half of the Tang Dynasty, we take a look back at the 175 years we’ve covered since the Sui first reunified China at the conclusion of the Period of Disunion. Join us on this high-altitude, rapid journey charting the highs and lows the the 2 & a half dynasties we’ve looked at since Episode 76.
Time Period Covered:
581-764 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Sui Dynasty:
Emperor Wen (Yang Jian) [r. 581-604]
Emperor Yang (Yang Guang) [r. 604-617]
Tang Dynasty:
Emperor Gaozu (Li Yuan) [r. 618-626]
Princess Pingyang [d. 623]
Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) [r. 627-649]
Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) [r. 650-683]
Emperor Zhongzong (Li Xian) [r. 684-684]
Emperor Ruizong (Li Dan) [r. 684-690]
Zhou Dynasty:
Empress Regnant Wu Zetian (Wu Meiniang) [r. 690-705]
Tang Dynasty (restored):
Emperor Zhongzong (Li Xian) [r. 705-710]
Emperor Ruizong (Li Dan) [r. 710-712]
Princess Taiping [d. 712]
Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) [r. 712-756]
Emperor Suzong (Li Heng) [r. 756-762]
Emperor Daizong (Li Yu) [r. 762-779]
Northeastern Protectorate/ Yan Dynasty:
Emperor An Lushan [r. 756-757]
Emperor An Qingxu [r. 757-759]
Emperor Shi Siming [r. 759-761]
Emperor Shi Chaoyi [r. 761-763]
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The AnShi Rebellion grinds on to its bitter conclusion, claiming lives at a rate unprecedented in human history. Crowns and throne will be cast to the wind by fathers and sons alike, and in the end China will before force to decide between national cohesion and national sovereignty… a true devil’s choice, if ever there was one.
Time period covered:
756 – 764 CE
Major Historical Actors:
Tang Dynasty:
Retired Emperor Xuanzong [d. 762]
Emperor Suzong (Li Heng) [r. 756-762]
Emperor Daizong (Li Yu) [r. 762-779]
Yan Dynasty:
An Lushan [d. 757]
Emperor An Qingxu [r. 757-759]
Emperor Shi Siming [r. 759-761]
Emperor Shi Chaoyi [r. 761-763]
Uyghur Khaganate:
Tengri Bügü Khagan [r. 759-779]
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Reeling from the loss of both capital cities to the rebel army, Emperor Xuanzong and his heir Li Heng split up. Three days later from the northern garrison at Lingwu, the Crowned Prince declares himself the new emperor, Suzong – surprise, Dad! Newly enthroned, Suzong will be forced to cobble together an unlikely coalition of China’s neighbors in order to have any hope of turning the tide of the civil war that threatens to drown the Tang Dynasty in blood. Arabs, Transoxianans, Ferghanans, and even Uyghur Stepperiders will join forces with a corps of Han Chinese soldiers willing to die to the last man if it means stopping An Lushan and his Yan rebel army in its tracks.
Time Period Covered:
July 756 – December 757 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Dynasty:
(Retired) Emperor Xuanzong [Li Longji] (r. 712-756, as retired emperor 756-762)
Emperor Suzong of Tang [Crowned Prince Li Heng ] (r. 756-762)
Crowned Prince Li Yu [b. 727]
General Guo Ziyi
Yan Dynasty Rebels:
An Lushan [d. 757]
An Qingxu [r. 757-759]
General Yan Zhuang
Uyghur Khaghanate:
Bayanchur Khan [r. 747-759]“The Viceroy” (Yagbu), Field Commander of the Uyghur Cavalry
Major Works Cited:
Chamney, Lee (2012). “The An Shi Rebellion and Rejection of the Other in Tang China, 618-763.” University of Alberta.
Dalby, Michael T. (1979). “Court Politics in Late Tang Times” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
Inaba, Minoru. (2010). “Arab Soldiers in China at the Time of the An-Shi Rebellion” in The Memoirs of the Toyo Bunko, 68.
Liu, Xu. (945). Jiu Tang Shu.
Pulleyblank, Edwin G. (1976). “The An Lu-Shan Rebellion and the Origins of Chronic Militarism in Late T’ang China” in Essays on Tʻang Society: The Interplay of Social, Political and Economic Forces.
Ouyang, Xiu (1060), (tr. Colin Mackerras, 2004) “The History of the Uyghurs” in Xin Tang Shu.
Twitchett, Denis. (1979). “End of the Reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
Sima, Guang. (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
Wang, Qinruo, et al. (1013). Cefu Yuangui.
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An Lushan marches south, occupying Louyang with blinding speed and leaving the Tang Dynasty reeling. Still, ultimately the tide seems ready to turn against the rebel general and self-styled-Emperor of Yan, until Chancellor Yang Guozhong's bungling ruins absolutely everything.
Time Period Covered:
Jan-July, 756
Major Historical Actors:
Tang Dynasty:
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Chancellor Yang Guozhong (d. 756)
Consort Yang Guifei (d. 756)
Crowned Prince Li Heng
General Feng Chengqian (d. 756)
General Gao Xianzhi (d. 756)
General Geshu Han
Dongan Protectorate/Yang Dynasty:
An Lushan
An Qingzong (d. 756)
Major Works Cited:
Abramson, Marc S. (2008). Ethnic Identity in Tang China.
Chamney, Lee (2012). “The An Shi Rebellion and Rejection of the Other in Tang China, 618-763.” University of Alberta.
Pulleyblank, Edwin G. (1976). “The An Lu-Shan Rebellion and the Origins of Chronic Militarism in Late T’ang China” in Essays on Tʻang Society: The Interplay of Social, Political and Economic Forces.
Twitchett, Denis. “End of the Reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.De la Vaissière, Étienne, (tr.)
James Ward (2002). Sogdian Traders: A History.
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The aged Emperor Xuanzong of Tang rest uneasily on his throne as 751 brings not just the sting of defeat at Talas, but also to the far south and northeast. He and his chancellor will become increasingly reliant on the Governor-General of Dongan Protectorate, the Sogdian-Turk An Lushan. But at a time when loyalty, ethnicity, and what it means to be Chinese is increasingly strained, how much pressure can the system take before it snaps?
Time Period Covered:
751-755 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang)
Chancellor Li Linfu (d. 753)
Chancellor Yang Guozhong
Consort Yang Huiyuan
Crowned Prince Li Heng
An Lushan, Governor-General of the Andong Protectorate
Geshu Han, Governor-General of the Anbei Protectorate
An Qingzong (Gen. An’s eldest son and heir)
Sources Cited:
Abramson, Marc S. (2008). Ethnic Identity in Tang China.
Chamney, Lee (2012). “The An Shi Rebellion and Rejection of the Other in Tang China, 618-763.” University of Alberta.
Pulleyblank, Edwin G. (1976). “The An Lu-Shan Rebellion and the Origins of Chronic Militarism in Late T’ang China” in Essays on Tʻang Society: The Interplay of Social, Political and Economic Forces.
Twitchett, Denis. “End of the Reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
De la Vaissière, Étienne, (tr.) James Ward (2002). Sogdian Traders: A History.
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Title Meaning: “Hundredth!” It’s a Q&A between you listeners and myself on topics far and wide! They range from yet further exploration of Empress Wu, to the nature of Chinese alcohol, my favorite Chinese movies, Chinese classes and slavery within the Empire and even today, China’s relations with Southeast Asia and why it seems to be a particularly difficult place to conquer across time, the end of the Ming Dynasty, the surprisingly contentious history of silk, and finally a question likely to land me in hot water: a question on how China might change in the century to come (bring it on, Fifty Cent Party!)
Enjoy!
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The armies of the Far West Anxi Protectorate of the Tang face down a force commanded by the ascendant Abbasid Islamic Caliphate, fresh off its victorious insurgency over the Umayyad Caliphate. But in this one and only clash between Chinese and Arab might, the ramifications for both will be felt long after the blood dries on the battlefield along the Talas River.
Time Period Covered:
May- September, 751
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Dynasty –
Protectorate of Western Pacification
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (Li Longji)
Governor-General Fumeng Lingcha
Governor-General Gao Xianzhi (Go Seonji)
Bian Lingchen, Court Eunuch on Assignment to Anxi
Lieutenant Li Siye
Officer Duan Xiushi
Transoxiana:
Lesser Bolü Kingdom (Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan)
Shi Kingdom (Tashkent, Uzbekistan)
Turgesh Khannate
Karluk (Qarluq) Turks
Tibetan Empire
Abbasid Islamic Caliphate:
Governor Ziyad ibn Salih
Major Works Cited:
Bartold, Vasily (1928). Turkestan Down to the Mongol Invasion (Trans. T. Minorsky & C.E. Bosworth).
Chen, Sanping (2012). Multicultural China in the Early Middle Ages.
Golden, Peter B. (1990). “The Kharakhanids and early Islam” in The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia, vol. 1 (ed. Denis Sinor).
Hoberman, Barry (Sept/Oct. 1982). “The Battle of Talas” in Aramco World, vol. 33 no. 5.
Ibn al-Athir, Ali (ca. 1231) The Complete History.
Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
Soucek, Svak (2000). A History of Inner Asia.
Starr, S. Frederick (2004). Xinjiang: China’s Muslim Borderland.
Szczepanski, Susan (2015). “Battle of Talas River” in About.com: http://asianhistory.about.com/od/centralasia/a/BattleofTalas.htm
Tsien Tsuen-hsuin (1985). “Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 1: Paper and Printing.” In Science and Civilization in China: Vol. 5.
Twitchett, Denis (ed.) (1979).“Hsuang-Tsüng: Li-Lin Fu’s Regime” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
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We leave the capital behind to take a tour of the Tang Empire’s neighbors, both old and new. A tenuous peace with Tibet leads to a westward push putting the Chinese into contact – and eventual conflict – with the Islamic Abbasid Caliphate. Meanwhile, to the north and east rebellious Khitan tribesmen will spark a huge military buildup in the region under the control of one man, while the former Goguryeo reorganizes itself into the powerful state of Balhae, forcing the Tang Court to re-assess its diplomatic options.
Time Period Covered:
730-750 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang Dynasty:
Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) [r. 712-756]
Gen. Zhang Shougui, Military Governor of Fanyang
Gen. An Lushan, Military Governor of Pinglu, Prince of Dongping
Tibetan Kingdom:
Turgesh Kaghanate:
Sulu Kaghan [d. 738]
Abbasid Islamic Caliphate:
Second Turkic Kaghanate:
Bilgé Kaghan [r. 716-734]
Kul Tigin [d. 731]
Khitan and Xi Tribes:
Ketuyu [d. 733]
Balhae Kingdom:
King Go [r. 698-719]
King Mu [r. 719-737]
King Mun [r. 737-793]
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In the Justice System of the Tang Imperial Court, the throne’s interests are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the Confucians, who argue for traditional ethics, and the Legalists, who argue for the unbending application of the letter of the law. These are their stories…
Time Period Covered:
731-740 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Chief Minister Zhang Jiuling
Chief Minister Li Linfu
Eunuch Commander Gao Lishi
General Wang Maozhong
Major Sources Cited:
Herbert, Penelope A. "A Debate in T'ang Chinaon the State Monopoly on Casting Coin" in T'oung Pao LXII.
Twitchett, Denis. "Hsuang-Tsüng: The Middle Reign" in The Cambridge history of China, vol. 3.
Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian.
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Military reforms mark our entrance into Xuanzong’s early-middle reign, which is more or less a basket of unicorn foals: external peace, internal stability… now if only that darned economy would fix itself! But the emperor will turn a fateful corner in the 724, when his official Zhang Yue convinces him to conduct the Feng and Shan Sacrifices: the highest ritual a Chinese ruler could conduct – a sacrifice to Heaven and Earth atop holy Mount Tai.
Time Period Covered:
714 – 726 CE
Important Historical Figures:
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (Li Longji) [r. 714- ]
Empress Wang [d. 724]
Lady Wu
Chief Minister Zhang Yue
Minister Yuwen Rong
Minister Cui Yinfu
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Wu Zetian’s grandson Li Longji (aka Xuanzong of Tang) is left to pick up the pieces of 50+ years’ worth of overindulgence, royal excess, and the rampant deconstruction of the entire imperial bureaucratic apparatus. Thanks, grandma. Fortunately, he’ll prove uniquely suited to the role of maintenance-man, and under his unexpectedly capable leadership, he’ll reign in his family members, do away with the thousands of excess positions, reform the government, and stabilize the regime. He’s building up to a second Golden Age for the Tang Dynasty… all he has to do is get his obnoxious Aunt Taiping out of the way first…
Major Historical Figures:
Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) [r. 712-756]
Princess Taiping [d. 713]
Li Dan (Retired Emperor Ruizong) [r. 710-712, d. 716]
Yao Chong [650- ]
Song Jing [663 - ]
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The Tang Dynasty has been restored following Empress Wu's eldest son's coup d'etat. But dynastic restoration does not equate to societal reformation, and many of the problems Wu inherited or exacerbated remain. Throw into that mix a decade long period of palatial infighting between princes and princesses, and we have a period so chalk full of intrigue, espionage, and assassination... that classical historians have preferred to steer around this decade rather than even deign to acknowledge it.
Time Period Covered:
705-712 CE
Notable Historical Figures:
Deposed Empress Wu Zetian [d. 705]
Li Xian (Emperor Zhongzong of Tang) [2nd r. 705-710]
Li Dan (Emperor Ruizong of Tang) [2nd r. 710-712]
Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) [r. 712- ]
Princess Taiping
Empress Wei [d. 710]
Princess Anlou [d. 710]
Wu Sansi [d. 707]
Crowned Prince Li Chongjun [d. 707]
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Wu Zhao sits on the Throne of Heaven as divine sovereign in her own right. But challenges from expansionistic neighbors such as the Tibetans, the Turks, and the Khitan will throw her regime’s stability into question, an ongoing economic crisis will spiral out of control, and her scandalous affair with two pretty-boy half-brothers will throw the entire imperial court into turmoil, potentially spelling an end to her singular era of rule.
Time Period Covered:
690-705 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang/Zhou Dynasty:
Wu Zhao [The Holy Empress Regnant Zetian] (r. 690-705)
Prince Li Xian [former Emperor Zhongzong] (re-confirmed as heir in 698)
Prince Li Dan [former Emperor Ruizong]
Princess Taiping
Minister Wei Yuancheng
Xue Huaiyi, head of White Horse Temple (d. 695)
High Inquisitor Lai Junchen (d. 698)
Zhang Yizhi (d. 705)
Zhang Changzong (d. 705)
Turkic Khannate:
Qapaghan Khan [Mouchou] (d. 716)
Tibetan Empire:
Tridu Tsongsan Tsampo [King of Tibet]
the mGar Clan (d. 698)
Khitan Tribe:
Chieftain Li Qincheng (d. 697)
Chieftain Sun Wanzheng (d. 697)
Major Works Cited:
Clements, Johnathan. Wu: the Chinese Empress Who Schemed, Seduced and Murdered Her Way to Become A Living God.
Dash, Mike. “The Demonization of Empress Wu” in The Smithsonian found at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-demonization-of-empress-wu-20743091/?no-ist
Fitzgerald, C.P. The Empress Wu.
Guisso, Richard W. L. “The Reigns of the empress Wu, Chung-tsung and Jui-tsung (684-712)” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
Guisso, Richard W.L. Wu Tse-T’ien and the Politics of Legitimation in T’ang China.
Liu, Xiu. Jiu Tangshu.
Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian.
Woo, X.L. Empress Wu the Great.
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A white stone bearing a prophecy tells of an era of eternal prosperity, a disastrous rebellion spells the doom of the majority of the imperial Li Clan, an obscure sutra tells of the reincarnation of a goddess to rule over the world, the written word itself is altered to fit the times… all of these are will fit together today to explain how and why the 66-year-old Empress Dowager of Tang will manage to become the first and only woman Emperor of China in the year 690.
Time Period Covered:
689-693
Major Historical Figures:
Empress-Regnant Wu Zhao of Zhou, Sage Mother, Divine Sovereign, Maitreya the Peerless [r. 690-705]
Li Dan (Emperor Ruizong of Tang) [r. 689-690]
Chancellor Li Zhaode
Chancellor Ji Xu
Heir-Expectant Wu Chengsi
Prince Li Chuan of Dengzhou [d. 689]
Prince Li Cheng [d. 689]
Prince Li Chen [d. 689]
High Inquisitor Lai Junchen
An Jingcan (he has guts)
Major Works Cited:
Guisso, Richard W. L. “The Reigns of the empress Wu, Chung-tsung and Jui-tsung (684-712)” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3.
Chen, Jinhua. “Sarira and Scepter. Empress Wu’s Political Use of Buddhist Relics” in the Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 25 No. 1-2 (2002).
Kory, Stephen N. “The Remarkably Resonant and Resilient Tang Dynasty Augural Stone” in Tang Studies, 26 (2008).
Liu, Xiu. Jiu Tangshu.Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 206.
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With her husband dead, Empress Wu is unrivaled in Chang'an, but that situation is tenuous as she has no legal basis for that power. Her eldest (surviving) son will take up the throne as Emperor Zhongzong for... all of two months before she decides he's got to go. Her timid, youngest son will fit her style much better as Ruizong, but when the high lords of the realm are exposed as conspiring against her, she will unleash her full fury on their ranks, employing tactics and methods that will decimate the literati class.
Time Period Covered:
683-686 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Empress Dowager Wu Zhao
Li Xian (Emperor Zhongzong) [r. 684]
Li Dan (Emperor Ruizong) [r. 684-689]
Empress Wei
Wei Xuanzhen
Li Jingye [d. 684]
Chancellor Pei Yan [d. 684]
General Cheng Wuding, "Terror of the Turks" [d. 684]
High Inquisitor Lai Junchen [d. 697]
High Inquisitor Zhou Xing [d. 691]
Monk Xue Huaiyi
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In celebration of the Year of the Monkey, this week we take a look at China's most famous demonic simian, Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, and his Journey to the West guarding the Buddhist monk Xuanzang. Then we'll look at the historical 15 year long westward journey of Xuanzang as he seeks sutras from India to bring enlightenment to China.
Time Period Covered:
602-664 CE
Major Historical Figures:
San Zang Master Xuanzang (Chen Hui) [602-664]
Major Fictional Figures:
Sun Wukong (The Handsome Monkey King, Mei Hou Wang)
Zhu Bajie (Pig of the Eight Commandments)
Sha Wujing (The Sandy Friar)
Bodhisattva Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy and Compassion)
Major Works Cited:
Wu, Chang'en, The Journey to the West (1592).
Xuanzang, Da Tang Xiyu Ji (Great Tang Records of the Western Regions) (646).
"The History of Xuan Zang." http://www.vbtutor.net/Xiyouji/history.htmInternet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. "Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang) (602—664 C.E.)" https://web.archive.org/web/20130116083307/http://www.iep.utm.edu/xuanzang/#H1
Cao, Shibang. "Fact vs. Fiction" in Dust in the Wind: Retracing Dharma Master Xuanzang's Western Pilgrimage
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Tang China goes to town on its neighbors over the course of the mid-7th century. First, the Western Regions of central Asia will feel the full force of a reunited Middle Kingdom, culminating in the collapse and Chinese annexation of the whole Western Turkic Khannate, putting Chinese borders (briefly) right up against Persia. Then, Emperor Gaozong will commit himself to completing what his father begun: the final destruction of Goguryeo. but this time he'll enlist the aid of South Korean Silla to carve out a toehold on the peninsula to give himself a better shot at success. But when a Japanese war-fleet responds to North Korean pleas for aid, it will be a showdown on the high seas for which Asian power will control the Korean Peninsula.
Time Period Covered:
649-673 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Tang:
Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi)
Empress Wu Zhao
General Su Dingfang "The Turk Destroyer"
General Li Shiji
Western Türkic Kaghanate (Onoq):
Dielishi Kaghan Shabulou Khan (Ashina Holu)
Grousset, René. Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia
Karam Skaff. Jonathan. Sui-Tang China and Its Turko-Mongol Relations
Ō no Yasumaro, Prince Toneri. Nihon Shoki.
Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian
Twitchett, Denis (ed.), Weschler, Howard. The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3
Unger, J.M. "The Role of Contact in the Origins of the Japanese and Korean Languages."
Yi, Pae-yong. Women in Korean History
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The more than two-decade period following Wu Zhao’s ascension as Emperor Gaozong’s empress-consort will serve to point out three things: how weak the emperor is, how powerful Empress Wu has become, and how there is absolutely nothing she won’t do to keep it that way. By the middle of the episode, she’ll be considered even at the time the co-equal ruler of her husband, on of the so-called “Two Holy Ones.” But power is a slippery fish to hang on to… especially when you have no legal means of maintaining it, and several sons just waiting in the wing to snatch it all away.Time Period Covered:656-683 CEMajor Historical Figures:Emperor Gaozong of Tang (Li Zhi) [r. 649-683]Empress Consort Wu Zhao Crowned Prince Li Hong (Emperor Xiaojing [posthumous title]) [652-675]Crowned Prince Li Xián [653-684]Crowned Prince Li Xiǎn (Emperor Zhongzong) [b. 656- , r. 684]Li Zhong, Prince of Liang [d.665]Chancellor Zhangsun Wuji [d. 665]Chancellor Shangguan Yi [d. 665]Chancellor Xu Jingzong [retired 670, d. 673]Major Sources:Dash, Mike. “The Demonization of Empress Wu” in The Smithsonian. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-demonization-of-empress-wu-20743091/?no-istJiang, Chen An. Empress of China: Wu Ze Tian.Karem Skaff, Jonathan. Sui-Tang China and Its Turko-Mongol Neighbors: Culture, Power, and Connections, 580-800.Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian.Weschler, Howard. The Cambridge History of China. “Kao-Tsung (Reign 649-83) and the Empress Wu: The Inheritor and the Usurper.”Old Book of Tang.New Book of Tang.
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With Taizong of Tang's death, his ninth son Li Zhi will ascend to the throne as Emperor Gaozong. But his weak will will ensure that his reign will be dominated by those around him. First by his ministerial backers, but more and more by a seductive young concubine who will do anything to win the game of intrigue at the imperial court, and will ruthlessly dispose of anyone who gets in her way.
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Our third and final episode in our suite on Emperor Taizong of Tang, this time focuses on the family crisis that would grip the latter half of his reign, as the ill-fated conquest of Goguryeo raged on in the periphery. His eldest son and heir will prove himself too… well, strange… for anyone to feel comfortable with on the throne. Meanwhile his favorite son will go to any means to secure the top job for himself. In the ensuing brotherly scuffle assassinations will be plotted, banishments pronounced, and the royal family’s trust shattered forever. But who will emerge on top is anyone’s guess…Time Period Covered: 626-649 CENotable Figures:Tang:Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong) [r. -649]Empress Wende [née Zhangsun] [d. 636]Crowned Prince Li Chengqian [618-645]Li Tai, Prince of Wei [618-652]Li Zhi, Prince of Jin [b. 628]Chancellor Wei ChengChancellor Zhangsun Wuji“Chengxin,” Li Chengqian’s singing boyGegan Chengji, Royal BodyguardMajor Sources UsedChen, Jack Wei. Poetics of Sovereignty: On Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.Weschler, Howard. The Cambridge History of China. “Taizong: The Consolidator”.Wu, Jing. Zhenguan Zheng Yao, “Essentials on Governance from the Zhenguan Era”.Li, Shimin. Difan, “Plan for the Emperor”.
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1,000,000 show downloads!Emperor Taizong turns outward seeking to re-conquer the lost territories of the late, great Han at its height. But it’s easier said than done: to the west he’ll find that there’s a whole new cast of regional powers ready to stake their own territorial claims… meanwhile to the northeast, his rising ambitions about taking the Goguryeo Kingdom at any cost may lead him to follow in the ruinous footsteps of the Sui instead.And since it’s that time of the year, we’ll finish out with a look at China’s very first encounter with a strange monotheistic religion from the Roman Empire, calling itself Nestorian Christianity.Time Period Covered:634-649 CEMajor Historical Figures:Tang China:Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) [r. 626-649]Retired Emperor Gaozu [d. 635]Empress Zhangsun [d. 636]Bod Chen Po (Tibetan Empire):Songtsen Gampo (King of Tibet)Tuyuhun Kingdom:Murong Fuyun KhaganMurong Shun KhanGoguryeo Kingdom:King Yeongyang [d. 618]King Yeongnyu [r. 618-642]King BojangDae Mangniji Yeon Gaesomun (Military Dictator)Others:Yazdegerd III (Shah-an-Shah of Sassanid Persia)Constans II (Emperor of Eastern Roman Empire)Monk Aluoban/Alopan/Abraham (Nestorian Christian Evangelist)Major Works Cited:East Asian History Sourcebook: Ch'ing-Tsing: Nestorian Tablet: Eulogizing the Propagation of the Illustrious Religion in China, with a Preface, composed by a priest of the Syriac Church, 781 A.D.Jenkins, Peter. The Lost History of Christianity: the Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia - and How It DiedSørensen, Per and Harrassowitz Verlog, Otto (trans.). The Mirror Illuminating the Royal Genealogies: Tibetan Buddhist Historiography : an Annotated Translation of the XIVth Century Tibetan Chronicle : RGyal-rabs Gsal- Baʼi Me-long.Weschler, Howard. The Cambridge History of China. “Taizong: The Consolidator”.Zhang, Guangda. Collected Drafts on the Historical Geography of the Western Regions.
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Li Shimin assassinated his two brothers and put his father out to pasture in order to snag the top job as Emperor Taizong. But a mere three weeks into his reign, this “rock star” monarch will face an existential challenge to his reign and the future of the Tang Dynasty as a whole: the wrath of the Göktürk Khaganate. It will prove to be a wild ride to determine whether Tang China will be doomed to remain a vassal of the Turks, or whether Taizong’s “true vision” will prove enough to rise to the challenge.Time Period Covered:626-630 CEMajor Historical Figures:Tang:Prince Li Shimin [Emperor Taizong]Retired Emperor GaozuGöktürk Khaganate:Illig KhaganTölis KhanLiang Dynasty (Turkic Vassal):Emperor Liang Shidu (d. 628)Xueyantuo Tribe (alt. Se-Yento, Syr-Tardush)Uyghur Tribe (alt. Huige, Hui-ho)Khitan TribeWorks Cited:Drompp, Michael. Tang China And The Collapse Of The Uighur Empire: A Documentary HistoryGrousset, René. The Rise and Splendor of the Chinese Empire.Weschler, Howard. The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3
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The Tang will achieve hegemony over the entirety of China’s heartlands, both North and South. But with external foes subdued, simmering tensions within the royal household will begin bubbling to the surface, culminating in a showdown that will decide the future of the Dynasty.Time Period Covered:618-626 CEMajor Historical Figures:Tang Dynasty:Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu) Crowned Prince Li JianchengPrince Li YuanjiPrince Li ShiminLi Xiaogong, Prince of ZhaoGuard Captain Yang Wen’ganGeneral Yuchi JingdeLiang Dynasty:Xiao Xian (Emperor of Liang)Gokturk Khannate:Shibi Khan [d. 619]Illig Khan (alt. Xieli)Sources Cited:Weschler, Howard. The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3 (1979).Zhao, Ying and Liu, Shu. Jiu Tangshu (The Old Book of Tang). (945)
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The Duke of Tang had taken control of China’s primary capital at Chang’an, and is now in position to seize the throne for himself. But even that momentous shift will only mark the beginning of the struggle to reclaim imperial authority and unite China under his single banner. For there are other claimants to the throne, and powerful warlords who have their own designs for China. But it will be in the cauldron of chaos that is the North Plains of the Yellow River that the new Tang Dynasty will truly be put to the test – will it remain a mere regional player in a multi-polar struggle, or does it have what it takes to reforge the nation into its united whole?Period Covered:617-621 CEMajor Historical Figures:Tang:Li Yuan, Duke of Tang (Emperor Gaozu) [566-635CE]Prince Li ShiminSui:Emperor Yang [d. 617]Emperor Gong [r. 617-619]General Yuwen Huaji [d.]Gansu/Qin:Xue Zhu (Emperor/Warlord of Qin) [d. 618]Xue Rengao [d. 618]Zheng:General Wang Shichong (Emperor/Commandant of Luoyang) [d. 621]Xia:Dou Jiande (Prince of Xia) [d. 621]Li Mi Rebel Faction:Commander Li Mi [d. 619]
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With its push against Goguryeo rather catastrophically stalled out, the whole enterprise begins to unravel with spectacular speed for the Sui Dynasty. All the while, its Emperor Yang will maintain a disturbingly unaffected demeanor for the suffering his edicts are creating across the countryside - in large part because his lackeys have created a "reality-distortion filter" around him they'll literally kill to maintain.But elsewhere, agents of insurrection will rise to challenge the waning star that is Sui China, especially in the form of one Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang and his family.Time Period Covered:614-618 CEMajor Historical Figures:SuiEmperor Yang of SuiEmpress Xiao Prince Yang You (Emperor Gong)Prince Yang Hao, Prince of QinGeneral Yuwen HuajiRebel Tang ForcesLi Yuan, Duke of TangLi ShiminLady Li/ Pingyang, Commander of the Woman's ArmyGokturk KhannateShibi KhanWorks CitedSima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian.Wright, Arthur F. The Cambridge History of China, vol. 3Bennett Peterson, Barbara. Notable Women of China: From the Shang to the Early 20th CenturyWen, Daya. The Diary of the Founding of the Great Tang
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Emperor Yang of Sui has ventured forth to the far northeastern border of China in an attempt to rescue his honor from the clutches of the impudent King of Goguryeo, Yeongyang. Little does King Yeongyang know that the Sui Empire has secretly begun construction on a new waterway even more navigable that the first dreaded Grand Canal. When completed, this ultimate weapon will spell certain doom for the small kingdom of Koreans struggling to resist a renewed Chinese domination of East Asia…
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The second emperor of the Sui Dynasty gets bad rap - his postmortem regnal name means "the Slothful" and he's commonly lumped together with the rest of the "bad-last emperors" as being hedonistic, wasteful, and just generally monstrous. But is this really the case, or was Emperor Yang the victim of a historical hatchet job?Today we look at the upbringing and early life of Prince Yang Guang, his unlikely rise to power, and then the early period of his reign over China as Emperor Yang, and how he picked up where his father had left off in trying to reignite the glory of the ancient Han.Time Period Covered:605-609 CEImportant Figures:SuiYang Jian (Emperor Wen of Sui) [d. 605]Empress Dugu [d. 602]Yang Guang (Emperor Yang of Sui) [r. 605-618]Empress XiaoGeneral Yang "Axe Man" SuIntelligence Chief Pei JuJapanPrince Shotoku [Sovereign of Nihon]Gökturk KhannateQimin Khan [alt. Yami Khan]Goguryeo Kingdom (North Korea and Manchuria)King YeongyangWorks CitedSima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian (Reflections of Governance) (1084 CE)Vout, Caroline. The Hills of Rome: Signature of an Eternal CityWei, Zheng, et al. Sui Shu (The Book of Sui). (636 CE)Wright, Arthur F., Chaffee and Twitchett (ed.) The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 3 (1979)
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Today we finish out out look into the reign of the Sui Dynasty’s founding emperor, Wen. We begin first with the military roferms he imposed on his newly reunited state, mirroring those he made to the civil government. Once completed, Sui China will find itself on a footing it hasn’t reliably been for centuries: outward-facing and expansionist. The repercussions of this epochal change in circumstance for Chine will be felt across the globe.Time Period Covered:581-605 CEMajor Historical Figures:Sui DynastyYang Jian (Emperor Wen of Sui) [r. 581-605 CE]Crowned Prince Yang GuangPrince Yang YongGeneral Yang SuGeneral Liu FangChampa KingdomKing ÇambhuvarmanMajor Works Cited:Hirth, Friedrich (1913). “The Mystery of Fu-Lin” in The Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 33. Pp. 133-208. URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/592825Arthur F. Wright, Chaffee and Twitchett (ed.) The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 3 (1979)
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Emperor Wen of Sui is potentially the most important monarch you've never heard of. For him, militarily reuniting China wasn't his legacy - it was his prelude. Both pre- and post-reunification, we explore the internal facets of his truly impressive reign today: his origins, personality, outlook, confidantes, the existential problems he inherited from the Period of Disunion, and the novel, world-changing solutions he'd craft to ensure China's reunification would be factual, rather than just rhetorical.Time Period Covered:581-600 CEMajor FiguresYang Jing (Emperor Wen of Sui)[r. 581-604]Empress Dugu QieluoGao JiangYang SuSu WeiLi DelinArthur F. Wright, Chaffee and Twitchett (ed.) The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 3 (1979)
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So what does it all mean? Before stepping boldly into the Sui Dynasty, we take this episode to pan out to low-Earth orbit and watch the macro-developments of the past 300-plus years of Disunity, reviewing the dramatic sweep of a period of time often left out of many Western historical understandings of Chinese history due to is sheer complexity and confusing nature.Time Period Covered:220-589 CE
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Northern Zhou seems to have plotted a course for ultimate victory in the contest between the Northern and Southern Dynasties, having already annexed Northern Qi and turned its sights on Chen to the south. But it’s amazing how quickly dynastic fortunes can reverse themselves, and the Yuwen Clan’s line of emperors find itself stopped short, destroyed not by external threat but from an enemy within: the Duke of Sui, the man who would be Emperor of all China.Time Period Covered:577-589 CEMajor Figures:Northern Zhou:Yuwen Yan (Emperor Xuan; “The Responsible”) [r. 577-578, as Retired Emperor Tianyuan; “The Heavenly and Fundamental” r. 578-580]Yuwen Chan (Emperor Jing; “The Silent”) [r. 578-581]Gen. Yuchi Jiong [d. 580]Gen. Yin ShouSui:Duke Yang Jiang of Sui (Emperor Wen; “The Cultured”) [regent of Northern Zhou 580-581, Emperor of Sui r. 581-604]Chen:Chen Xu (Emperor Xuan; “The Responsible”) [r. 569-582]Chen Shubao (Houzhu; “Final Ruler”) [r. 582-589]Western Liang (vassal of Northern Zhou/Sui):Xiao Cong (Emperor Jing; “The Meek”) [r. 585-587]
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In the Northeast of China, Northern Qi just can’t catch a break. First it was Emperor Wenxuan’s murderous paranoia, and now it will be subjected to Wucheng’s indolent hedonism, “immoral games,” and general excesses… and then the penultimate Qi emperor, Houzhi, will decide that the state treasury is his own personal piggy-bank and startin singing “Hakuna Matata” while the state burns.Meanwhile to the West, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou will finally break out of his uncle Yuwen Hu’s shadow – by shattering his skull – and then begin eying the swiftly foundering Northern Qi debacle hungrily, eager to reunite the North after almost a half-century of seperation. By episode’s end, it will be a climactic showdown between the two powerful states: one waxing, one waning… which will emerge victorious?Time Period Covered:561-578 CENotable Figures:Northern Qi:Emperor/Retired Emperor Wucheng (Gao Dan) [r. 561-565, d. 569]Empress Hu [565-572]Prime Minister He Shikai [524-571]Zu Ting [550-577]Emperor Houzhu (Gao Wei) [r. 565-578]Gao Heng (Youzhu) [570-577]Northern Zhou:Emperor Wu (Yuwen Yong) [r. 560-578]Emperor Xuan (Yuwen Yun) [r. 579-582]Yang Lihua (Crowned Princess/Empress of Zhou) [r. 579-582]Prime Minister Yuwen Hu [513-572]Yang Jian, Duke of Sui [541- ]Göturk Khannate:Muqan Khagan (Ashina Yando) [554-572]Empress Ashina [551-582]
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Today’s episode takes us through the turmoil within northern China and beyond over the 550s. We begin looking outside of China proper as the rulers of the Rouran Steppe Confederacy are overthrown and replaced by the vassal-turned-enemy the Göktürks, and briefly touch on the Khitan Tribe of Manchuria. We then go through the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi, who will initially lead his newfound dynasty to power and prominence before his mounting madness will plunge it into chaos and terror.Time Period Covered550-561 CENotable FiguresAshina Bumin/Tumen (Illig Khagan of Göktürk) [r. 550]Issik Khagan of East GokturkIstemi Khagan of West GokturkGeneral Gao Huan (Warlord of Eastern Wei) (d. 550)Gao Yang (Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi) [r. 551-560]Crowned Prince Gao Yin (Emperor Fei of Northern Qi) [r. 560]Gao Yan, Prince of Chanshan (Emperor Xiaozhao of Northern Qi) [r. 560-561]Prime Minister Yang Yin [d. 560]Works CitedThe History of the Northern Dynasties (Bei Shi) – Li Dashi and Li YanshouThe Zizhi Tongjian – Sima GuangEarly Chinese Religion: The Period of Division (220-589 AD) Pt. 1 & 2 – John Lagerway and Lü Pengzhi
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In the post-557 world, the three new major powers of China must confront the wide ranges of changes and struggles they must each face now that the political order of the entire empire has been turned on its head. This time, we look at the situation in the south as Northern Zhou and Chen vie for control over the central reaches of the Yangtze River.Dates Covered: 557-568Important Figures:Northern QiWarlord Yuwen Tai [d. 556]Yuwen Jue (Emperor/Heavenly Prince Xiaomin) [r. 556-557]Yuwen Yu (Emperor Ming) [r. 557-560]Yuwen Yong (Emperor Wu) [r. 560-578]Duke Yuwen Hu of Jin (Regent of Northern Zhou) [r. 557-572]ChenGeneral Chen Baxian (Emperor Wu) [r. 557-559]Chen Qian (Emperor Wen) [r. 559-566]General Wang Lin (Liang Loyalist Rebel Leader) [555-560]Crowned Prince Chen Chang [d. 559]Prime Minister Hou Andu [d. 563]Warlord Zhou Di (Rebel Leader) [r. 563-565]Chen Bozong (Emperor Fei) [r. 566-568]Chen Xu (Emperor Xuan) [r. 569-582]
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This short episode covers the life of one of the great mathematicians, astronomers, and engineers of ancient China: Zu Chongzhi. In his life from 429-500 CE, he will re-create an ancient precursor to the compass that had been lost for centuries, calculate the motions of the celestial objects with a degree of accuracy in excess of 99.9%, design a comprehensive new calendar system, and derive the value of π to a degree of accuracy that would not be surpassed the world over for another millennium.
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“There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades take place.”It’s an out and out brawl as everything comes to a head at once in the 550s, all across China. In the south, the Liang princes struggle against both the rebel general Hou Jing who holds the capital and the emperor, but also among themselves. In the north, Eastern and Western Wei similarly are undergoing their own internal struggles, which will see the overthrow of all the dynasties we’ve come to know with a whole new batch of contenders.Time Period Covered:549-557 CEMajor Figures:Liang/Han/ChenWarlord/Emperor Hou JingEmperor JianwenPrince Xiao Yi of Xiangdong (Emperor Yuan of Liang)Prince Xiao Ji of Wuling (Emperor of Western Liang) [posthumously renamed Taotie]Prince Xiao HuanPrince Xiao YuPrince Xiao Cha (Emperor Xuan of Western Liang)General Chen Baxian (Emperor Wu of Chen)Western Wei/Northern ZhouWarlord Yuwen TaiYuwen Jue (Emperor Xiaomin of Zhou)Eastern Wei/Northern QiWarlord Gao ChengEmperor Xiaojing of Eastern WeiGeneral Murong ShaozongGao Yang (Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi)Lan Qin
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The end of Emperor Wu’s 5-decade-long rule over the Liang Empire is jam-packed with action. Following the split between Eastern and Western Wei in the North, it seems like there’s might be peace and quiet in the South for once. But this will prove short-lived, indeed. First, Vietnam will rise up in it first major rebellion in centuries against Chinese hegemony, and then a general from the far north will go rogue, defect from his warlord, and offer up his territories to Liang. It seems like an offer too good to be true… and as Emperor Wu will learn the hard way, what seems too good, usually is…Time-Frame Covered:535-557 CEMajor Historical Figures:LiangEmperor Wu of Liang (née Xiao Yan) [r. 502-549]Acting Prime Minister Zhu YiMarquis Xiao Zi, Governor of Jiao PrivinceMarquis Xiao YuanmingXiao Yong, Governor of Kuang ProvinceGeneral Chen BaxianEastern WeiWarlord Gao HuanPrince Gao ChengEmperor XiaowenGeneral Murong ShaozongGeneral Hou JingWestern WeiWarlord Yuwen TaiEmperor XiaojingRouran KhaganateChiliantoubingdoufa KhanVietnam (Jiao Province/Van Xuan Empire)Ly Bon (Ly Nam De/ Emperor Ly of the South)Trieu Tuc, Chieftain of Chu-dien CityTrieu Quang Phuc (Trieu Viet Vong/King Trieu of Viet)
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Buddhism has taken Southern China by storm, but few more than its emperor, Wu of Liang. He’ll try to talk a monk out of setting himself on fire, have an awkward chat with the founder of Zen Buddhism, and even enter a monastery and refuse to leave, prompting his whole court to “ransom” him back by bribing the monks to kick him out. All of this while civil war ripples through Northern Wei.Time Period Covered:517-535 CENotable Figures:Emperor Wu of Liang (née Xiao Yan)Consort Ding LingguangCrowned Prince Xiao TongCrowned Prince Xiao GangMarquis Xiao ZhengdeMonk DaoduMonk BoddhidharmaSources Used:Burning for the Buddha by James A. BennZizhi Tongjian by Sima GuangBlue Cliff Record (BiYan Lu) by Yuanwu Keqin Textual History of the Mahāyāna-mahāparinirvāna-sūtra by Stephen Hodge
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Going back about 50 years to the beginning of the 6th century, we move South once more to visit the new Dynasty that has destroyed the Qi: Liang, and it’s founding Emperor Wu. In this first half of Wu of Liang’s reign, wars will be fought, religions will be adopted, and a massive dam will be constructed as a siege weapon.Time Period Covered: 464-517Major Figures:Emperor Wu of Liang (née Xiao Yan) [r. 502-549]Prince Xiao HongXiao Baojuan, Emperor of Southern Qi [483-501]Xiao Baorong (Emperor He of Southern Qi) [r. 501-502]Chief Engineer Chen ChengboGeneral Kang XuanGeneral Zhang BaozhiEmpress Dowager Hu of Northern Wei
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Though Northern Wei has been a beacon of steadiness amid the ephemeral Southern Dynasties, its time has come to an end. Wracked by ineptitude and betrayal, weighed down by jealous Empress dowagers, ambitious generals, and infant emperors, and with a society split between traditional customs and the new normal, it will devolve into civil war, mass purges, and – ultimately – a permanent split between East and West.Time Period Covered:515-535 CEMajor Characters:Grand/Empress/Dowager Hu (r. 515 - 528)Emperor Xiaoming (510 - 528)Prince Yuan Cha (d. 525)Erzhu Rong (492 - 530)Emperor Xiaowu’s Daughter (528 - ?)Yuan Zhao [Emperor Youzhu] (526 – 528)Emperor Xiaozhuang (r. 528 – 530)Gao Huan (496 - 547)Emperor Xiaowu (510 - 535)
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We continue our look at Northern Wei at the dawn of the 6th century. The imperial bookends will be Xiaowen - the chief proponent of sinicization among the Tuoba Xianbei - and his son Xuanwu, a placeholder in just about every sense of the term. The real drama will unfold around two of Xuanwu's wives... and whether or not one killed the other in a murder mystery 1500 years old.Period Covered:499-515 CEMajor Figures:Yuan Hong [Emperor Xiaowen] (r. 467-499)Yuan Ke [Emperor Xuanwu] (r. 499-515)Empress Yu (~488-507)Prince Yuan Chang (506-506)Consort/Empress Gao (d. 518)Gao Zhong, Prime Minister (d. 515)Empress Dowager Hu (d. 528)Crowned Prince Yuan Xu [Emperor Xiaoming] (r. 515-528)
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While the South of China self-destructs time and again, the North is undergoing its own revolutionary shift - not of dynastic head, but something even more fundamental: total social re-organization - from Asian Steppe Society, to one trying to out-play the Chinese at their own game by switching social structure, language, dress, and even taking the ancient Chinese capital as their own in the latter half of the 5th century.Time Period Covered: 465-499 CENotable figures:Tuoba Hong (Emperor Xianwen) r. 465-471, d. 476Grand/Empress/Dowager Feng (442-490)Yifu Hun (d. 466)Tuoba Hong (r. 471- 499)Crowned Prince Tuoba/Yuan Xun (483-496)Crowned Prince Tuoba/Yuan Ke (Emperor Xuanwu) r. 499-815Empress Feng Run (Empress You) d. 499
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The successor state to Liu Song will start off strong, but it will soon hit the rocks of instability, rebellion, and overthrow all in just a little more than 2 decades. At the dawn of the 6th century, its end will largely parallel its beginning.Time Frame: 479-502 CEMajor Participants:Xiao Daocheng (Emperor Gao of Southern Qi) r. 479-482Xiao Ze (Emperor Wu of Southern Qi) r. 482-493Xiao Zhaoye (Emperor/Marquis of Donghun) r. 493-494Xiao Luan (Emperor Ming of Southern Qi) r. 494-498Xiao Baojuan (Emperor of Southern Qi) r. 498-502Xiao Baorong (Emperor of Southern Qi) r. 501-502Xiao Yan (Duke/Prince/Emperor Wu of Liang) r. 502-549
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The fates have not been kind to the Liu Song Dynasty. It keeps rolling the monarchy dice, and they keep coming up crazy-eyes. Emperor Ming will start strong, but descend into cruelty and paranoia. His successor seems to have just been born bad, and the final monarch of the dynasty won’t have enough time fall one direction or the other before a rising star will unseat him, and Liu Song altogether, as the true power of Southern China.Period Covered: 465 – 479 CEMajor Figures:Emperor Ming of Liu Song (née Liu Yu, r. 465-472)Emperor Houfei (née Liu Yu, r. 472-477)Emperor Shun (née Liu Zhun, r. 477-479)General Xiao Daocheng General Shen YouzhiYang Yufu, Imperial Attendant
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In the mid-5th century, Southern China is at a boiling point. Between the decade reign of Emperor Xiaowu, and the 1-year abomination of his son Liu Ziye, there will be rebellion, murder, torture, and incest... so, so much incest. All of leading toward a terminal decline for the Liu Song Dynasty.Period Covered: 453-465 CEImportant Figures:Emperor Xiaowu (Liu Jun)r. 453-464Prince Liu YigongPrince Liu Yixuan of NanjiaoPrince Liu Dan of JinglingCrowned Prince Liu Ziye (Emperor Qianfei) r. 464-465Prince Liu ZiluanDai FaxingHe MaiPrincess Shanyin (Liu Chuyu)Prince Liu Yu of Xiangdong (Emperor Ming) r. 465-472
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Emperor Taiwu has been described as "Northern Wei's Teddy Roosevelt", and overshadows many of the Tuoba emperors to follow his reign of conquest and war. But the most forgotten of those successors, his grandson Emperor Wencheng, may have actually been far more responsible for the longterm success and stability of Wei than most realize. Though Taiwu gets all the glory for conquering the North, poor, unsung Wencheng would be the one responsible for keeping and governing it.[Show Notes]Timeframe: 452-465Major Figures:Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei (née Tuoba Jun)Empress Dowager ChangConsort LiConsort/Empress FengCrowned Prince Tuoba HongBuliugu Li (Li the Bulgar)Yuan HeRouran Khaganate Gaoche Turkic TribesMajor Locations:Pingcheng (N. Wei capital)Yungang GrottoesHexi CorridorMajor sources:Scott PearceA King’s Two Bodieshttp://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.3868/s020-001-012-0006-6?crawler=true#
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The decade long détente between the South and North will be shattered in 449 by a series of tit-for-tat campaigns by both sides, resulting in the destruction of much of the lands south of the Yellow River. But it will be assassins, not soldiers, who will most drastically shape the fates of both Northern Wei and Liu Song, one right after the other.[WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]Dates: 446-453Cast - Northern Wei: Emperor Taiwu (Tuoba Tao) Crowned Prince Tuoba Huang Prince Tuoba Han Prince Tuoba Yu (briefly emperor) Tuoba Jun (Emperor Wenzheng)Zang Ai (Eunuch, Duke of Qing) Liu Song: Emperor Wen (Liu Yilong)Crowned Prince Liu Shao (briefly Emperor Yuanxiong)Prince Liu Jun of ShixingPrince Liu Jun of Wuling (Emperor Xiaowu)General Wang XuanboGeneral Zang ZhiGeneral Lu XiuYan Daoyu (witch) Locations: Shengle, Jiankang (Nanjing), Pengcheng, Xuanhu, Xiancheng, Qian’ao, Liu’an, Huatai, Xunyang,
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Over the course of the 5th century, Buddhism had become the rising star within China, in spite of its foreign origins. That would run into direct conflict with China's own home-grown religion: Daoism. As the two co-mingled, some would accept both... but others, especially in Northern Wei, would use all the might to eradicate what they deemed to be a heretical foreign influence on their Chinese culture.
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Northern Wei uses Liu Song's hesitation to move north of the Yellow River as an opportunity to reintegrate the last of the 16 Kingdoms into its hegemony. Koreans, Huns, and Mongols all get caught up in the fray.
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What had been sixteen kingdoms in the North and an uneasy Dynasty in the South has calcified into a seemingly permanent polar split. After some shenanigans, both halves of China will - surprisingly - find themselves with capable leaders. The coming showdown will be one for the history... um... podcasts...
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We track back down south to discover what's been going on with the Jin Dynasty. An imbecile emperor will precipitate multiple governmental crises, ultimately resulting in overthrow, restoration, and then second overthrow the the dynasty.
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The Xianbei Tuoba Clan from the northwest fills the power-vacuum left by the collapse of Former QIn, and will soon add much of Later Yan to its conquests. But its rulers will be sorely tempted by the trappings of power, and as we all know in this tumultuous period, indulgence is a swift path to downfall.
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Fratricide, regicide, and genocide are hallmarks of this period in the north. Though the tumult, Former Qin shall emerge triumphant to reunite both the North and Sichuan under its banner... only to watch it all crumble in the span of two years.
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The second half of Shi Hu's reign over Later Zhao, his scheming heirs, and the short, unhappy reigns of his eventual successors... all leading the the once-supreme kingdom being pulled apart like so much carrion by its neighbors.
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Following the death of Emperor Shi Le, Later Zhao will swiftly succumb to the bloody revenge of Shi Hu. But it's his heir, Shi Sui, who is the true terror of this episode...
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South of the Huai River, The Eastern Jin discover that a house divided against itself cannot long stand. Meanwhile in the north, the barbarian kings have turned on each other with the Xiongnu emperor of Han Zhao squaring off against the Jie Prince of Later Zhao.
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The Jin Dynasty has lost the north, and now hides on the southern banks of the Yangtze River, trying to pull themselves together. Meanwhile the Xiongnu-led tribal coalition calling itself Northern Han will discover that defeating Jin was the easy part, and it's the stresses of governing that will either make or break with tenuous coalition.
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Following the bloody struggle between the eight princes, the Jin Dynasty lies in tatters. Into the void will step five non-Chinese tribes, initially led by the ancient enemy of China, the Xiongnu.
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Emperor Wu goes on an 8-year, goat-powered orgy through 5000 concubines, leaving the empire in the hands of his mentally disabled son, and the Imperial princes and empress will fight it out over who gets to control him.
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As promised, here we take a short break before launching into the Jin Dynasty of the late 3rd century to celebrate our first anniversary and of course answer those pressing questions you guy have sent in.
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The transition from the Spring and Autumn to the Warring States Period is, all in all, an eight decade process. But the major event that would shape the conflict to come is the civil war that would destroy the pre-eminent power of the 6th century BCE Zhou Empire, and result in the total breakup of the State of Jin into three of the seven soon-to-be warring states: Han, Wei, and Zhao.
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This episode we chronicle the life of Master Kong A.K.A. Confucius, as well as detail his socio-political philosophies which would shape the future of China, as well as those of much of the rest of East Asia.Less fighting, more thinking, in the first of two interim episodes before plunging headlong into the chaos of the Warring States...
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Spheres of domination, intrafamiliar betrayal, and tangled alliances are the markers of the second portion of the Spring and Autumn period, called the Age of Encroachments. All of this leading to the major powers of the Zhou Empire to engage in decades-long draw out proxy-wars along their borders... all leading toward war outright and the near-destruction of Chu by a new player from the southeast, Wu.
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King You of Zhou lays headless, the capital a smouldering ruin, and royal authority utterly destroyed. Regional lords exploit the chaos at hand to expand their own domains - and at times declare their own kingdoms - while the new, toothless Eastern Zhou kings struggle to stabilize the situation. After a holiday break, we're right back into the action with the beginnings of the Spring and Autumn Period.
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This Episode, we take a time-out from the historical flow to take advantage of the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities. We explore the history, legends, customs, and meaning behind this ancient and storied period of celebration. Happy Year of the Yang Wood Horse!
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This episode, we start at the mid-point of the Western Zhou period, and follow it all the way down to its conclusion with the shattering of Royal authority, the sacking of the capital, and the vengeance of the White Wolf Clans on the Zhou. By the end of the episode, though a Zhou king will remain on the throne, we've seen the end (for now) of a unified state in anything but name...
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The self-proclaimed Kung Wu of Zhou stands triumphant amid the smoking ruins of the Shang Dynasty... but though the war is over, victory is far from assured. With his premature death, his unready heir will prompt rebellion against the fledgling Zhou Dynasty - not only by the Shang remnant, but also his own uncles! To cement their hold on power, the Zhou will be forced to construct a new standard of legitimacy: The Mandate of Heaven.
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This episode we chronicle the decline and eventual fall of the once-glorious Shang Dynasty to the same vices and evils that spelled doom for the Xia centuries ago. In the West, a powerful new clan calling itself the Zhou has risen to power, eventually with an eye to make right what the final Shang Kings have twisted so horribly wrong. Along the way, we'll colonize the Japanese islands and raise a minor Chinese prince to the King of Korea.
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In this first of two parts, we look at the first half of the Shang Dynasty beginning with the victory and reign of Tang "The Perfect" and leaving off 21 emperors, five capitals, and 400 years later with the amazing reign of Wu Ding and his warrior-priestess wife Lady Fu Hao. Along the way, there are warlike redheaded Xirong, Demonic Mongols, and Blue Barbarians.
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We take a "time out" from our forward-marching chronology to examine the evidence we have of the Shang state, and how we came to know what we know about his period. Mostly, it's about what we can learn from reading divine messages off of dragon bones.
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This episode we cover our source materials, and then delve into the latter half of the Xia Dynasty post Shao Kang's restoration. It all ends with the corrupt and cruel Emperor Jie coming face to face with the Army of Shang bearing down on him, intent on ending his reign of terror once and for all.
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This time, we take an in depth look into Shao Kang, the prince born in hiding who would rise from his dynasty's ashes to seek revenge against the Usurper-General Han Zhuo who had ruthlessly pursued him. Through a combination of skill, luck, and patience, Shao Kang will cobble together a force able to meet Han Zhuo's armies in battle.
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This week we move into the beginnings of China’s dynastic period where rulers began favoring birthright over merit – and the consequences will be almost immediately apparent. Beginning with the triumphant reign of the heroic Yu the Great, the Xia’s semi-accidental trip into dynastic succession will swiftly spiral downward, eventually leaving a usurping general in power, and the House of Xia all but exterminated after decades in exile. Rebooted as of 09/06/2016
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This episode, we enter the second half of our gaze into the Chinese origins mythos. Focusing on the Five Emperors descended from the Yellow Emperor, this period marks the beginning of the transformation of the Huaxia People from settled tribe, to dynastic feudal kingdom. There will be betrayal, cataclysmic flooding, bird kingdoms, the Vietnamese, magical earth, and – of course – dragons.
UPDATE: as of 08/28/2016, this episode has been fully rebooted from the ground up. Enjoy!
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In episode 1, we begin with an introduction to this podcast, followed by a brief overview of what we’ve come to know about early human migration and settlement in the region that will eventually become China. Finally, we’ll delve into the mythological origin story that purports to tell of the three divine Sovereigns who would create and then rule over the Han people. I’m very excited to be getting this journey underway! Once again welcome, and thank you for listening. UPDATE: As of 08/28/2016, this episode has been completely rebooted from the ground-up. Enjoy!
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.