Bamboo History

What you hear normally are only the good bits, the bad bits are edited out.   Well, today you will get a sneak peek at the mess ups I have made.   Enjoy!   This content may be confrontational to some listeners, you have been warned.   ALSO, I'm proud to say I've been featured in an article written by The China Boss as a top Chinese history podcast. The article link is here: https://thechinaboss.co...

According to medical websites online, stress can cause your hair to lose colour and go white. But it is scientifically impossible for all your hair to go white in a single day.   Well, ancient Chinese military strategist Wu Zixu would prove science wrong.   Tune in to a fascinating story about loyalty, vengeance, and a head of white hair.   **********   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast!   C...

King Gwanghaegun of Joseon Korea had a dilemma… ally with their closest friend the Ming Chinese and risk getting destroyed by the Manchus, or ally with the enemy Manchus and risk being dishonoured for being traitorous by the Chinese.   What did he do? Tune in to a Korean history special on one of the most controversial Korean kings in history.   **********   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast...

Has the dentist ever told you that having black teeth is a good thing? Probably not, but that’s not what the ancient Japanese thought when they dyed their teeth black.   Tune in to today’s episode as I uncover an ancient Japanese tradition of teeth blackening, Ohaguro.   Btw, this is my first ever Japanese history special, courtesy of my Instagram followers who recommended me do an episode about J...

Have you ever heard of a Jewish community that has lived in China for almost 1000 years?   Join me in today’s episode, where I speak with Anson Laytner - the president of the Sino-Judaic Institute and a retired programs manager at Seattle University -  about the history of Kaifeng Jews, a Jewish community that has resided in the city of Kaifeng since the 12th century.   Anson is also a rabbi and a...

What is one thing that a king, salty seaweed and Mongolians have in common? Tofu! Today, we will be bringing a wonderful (if not slightly smelly) history of an Asian delicacy and a banger vegetarian/vegan dish, tofu. Tune in to hear more about the history of tofu.   ********** Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast!   CONNECT WITH US!   Email: enquiries@bamboohistorypodcast.com Instagram: @bamboo...

Today I will be interviewing and chatting with my good mate Davo about the development of Malaysian Chinese identity through history. Peranakans, clan houses, discrimination and a bit of cake on top, tune in to discover more about the history of Malaysian Chinese! We have a website now - check it out! Link below. ********** Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast!   CONNECT WITH US! Email: enquiri...

Ancient China was not the most liberal place in the world, which meant it blew my mind that there was an ancient Chinese emperor that pursued a romantic relationship with another man! Tune in to hear more about this story.   ********** Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! We also have a website now! Where you can find our blog that will feature extra Chinese and East Asian history (link below)...

We are in our final part of our 3 part series, focusing on 3 decisive military campaigns won by the Chinese Communists over the Nationalist Kuomintang government in the Chinese Civil War, resulting in the Chinese Communists’ control of mainland China.   Today’s episode will focus on the final of the 3 military campaigns, the Pingjin Campaign, fought between 29 November 1948 to 31 January 1949.   W...

We are in part 2 of our 3 part series, focusing on 3 decisive military campaigns won by the Chinese Communists over the Nationalist Kuomintang government in the Chinese Civil War, resulting in the Chinese Communists’ control of mainland China. Today’s episode will focus on the second of the 3 military campaigns, the Huaihai Campaign, fought between the 6 November 1948 to 10 January 1949. Want to f...

The podcast is back with a 3 part series on China’s modern history! The 3 part series will focus on 3 decisive military campaigns won by the Chinese Communists over the Nationalist Kuomintang government in the Chinese Civil War, resulting in the Chinese Communists’ control of mainland China. Today’s episode will focus on the first of the 3 military campaigns, the Liaoshen Campaign, fought between...

The Bamboo History Podcast will be taking a short break for Easter. That means we won’t be posting for a few weeks but no sweat, we will back with more exciting content from 2 May. Have a Happy Easter everyone!   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! And FOLLOW my Instagram @bamboohistorypodcast. Please DM me on Insta for any feedback, topic suggestions and/or general comments. You can also ema...

When the first king of the Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Shang Dynasty king in 1046 BCE, he needed to legitimise his claim to the throne. He had to tell the people why he had taken the throne from someone else. Enter ancient China’s everlasting ideology, the Mandate of Heaven. TUNE IN to find out more!   I will be going on Easter break after today’s episode and will be back posting episodes from 2 Ma...

Imagine seeing a white guy in China walking on the street wearing Chinese robes, speaking Chinese and reciting Chinese poems…in the 16th century. Yep, that was Matteo Ricci, the famous (not Marco Polo) Italian man and Jesuit priest who made his home in China for over 20 years as he tried to convert Chinese people to Catholicism. Did he succeed? TUNE IN to find out!   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to m...

The peace and quiet of the city of Huzhou was disturbed when something was discovered floating in the nearby lake, which turned out to be a rotting human corpse… What happened? Who did it? TUNE IN to find out. I’m dabbling in ancient Chinese true crime now, I will definitely find more interesting cases like this for future episodes.   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! And FOLLOW my Instagra...

A story that features: a river that gets you pregnant, a country with only women and no men, and a man that gets sexually assaulted by a scorpion! Set in the famous Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’ (or Xi You Ji in Chinese), this story is a cracker! So what are you waiting for, TUNE IN to hear this story!   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! And FOLLOW my Instagram @bamboohistorypodcast....

At first glance, it is hard to distinguish an ethnic Hui Chinese person with an ethnic Han Chinese person (the majority ethnic group in China). Hui Chinese physically look like Han Chinese and speak the same language as Han Chinese (Mandarin). But unlike Han Chinese people, the Hui Chinese are mostly Muslims with ancestors from the Middle East. How did this happen? TUNE IN to discover the history...

Korean barbeque is one of Korea’s most famous exports, and it is eaten commonly in the Korean peninsula and around the world. Today we will dive into the history of Korean barbeque, and how a craving for meat on a grilled turned into a world famous cuisine!   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! And FOLLOW my Instagram @bamboohistorypodcast. Please DM me on Insta for any feedback, topic sugges...

In the second part of our 2 part series on the Kangxi Emperor (1654 – 1722), we unravel more on his reign outside of his military exploits, and explore his peacetime rule over China. We will also delve into the succession crisis that marred his later years. It was hard to put his 61 year reign all into 1 episode, but that means you all get to enjoy a more detailed description of this great emperor...

The Kangxi Emperor (1654 – 1722) reigned China for 61 years, and is China’s longest reigning emperor ever. Today’s first part of a 2 part series will focus on Kangxi’s early reign, with a focus on his military achievements.   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! And FOLLOW my Instagram @bamboohistorypodcast. Please DM me on Insta for any feedback, topic suggestions and/or general comments. You...

There have been claims on the internet that Chinese maritime explorer Wang Dayuan visited Australia in the 1300s, 300 years before the first European set their sights on the continent. Today we will dive into Wang Dayuan’s life and travels, and explore this claim: did Wang Dayuan visit Australia? Or is this purely fictional?   The Bamboo History Podcast is officially back to take on 2023! Would li...

Last week's episode 40 was our last episode for the year. The Bamboo History Podcast will be taking a break over the Christmas and New Year holidays and will be back with more exciting content from February 2023. Stay on the lookout for extra history content that will be posted on Instagram during the break. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!   Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to my po...

Korean history special for episode 40! When King Suro of the Gaya Kingdom was 6 years old, his people told him that it was time to find a wife. He was picky, and instead of choosing a Korean girl to be his wife, decided to find someone far far away, as far as the Indian subcontinent… Tune in to find out more about this Indian girl who became a Korean queen!   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcas...

Money has always been a big part of a Chinese person's life, both in modern and ancient times. Such a big part, that when the coins started to pile up, they needed to find somewhere to store it... What did they come up with? Tune in to discover ancient Chinese money storage and banking methods! (Spoiler, it involves a Buddhist temple... hehe)   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! And FOLLOW m...

Ancient stories have portrayed Daji, a concubine of King Zhou of Shang, as one of, if not the most evil female figure in ancient Chinese history. Just how evil was Daji? Tune in to find out!   Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my podcast! And FOLLOW my Instagram @bamboohistorypodcast. Please DM me on Insta for any feedback, topic suggestions and/or general comments. You can also email me on: enquiries@...