The China History Podcast

In this seventh installment of the history of Tang poetry we move on to the Middle Tang period. While the poetry might not be as celebrated as that produced during the High Tang, there were still many figures beloved in their own time and all through the centuries. We'll look at three of them in this episode: Bai Juyi, Yuan Zhen and Xue Tao. Next episode we'll finish off the series with the Late T...

Laszlo finishes up the High Tang period of Chinese poetry. Wang Wei and Meng Haoran are showcased in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the Du Fu episode. Along with Li Bai, discussed last episode, he's considered the greatest poet in Chinese history. That's of course a matter of opinion. We'll take a brief look at the rough road Du Fu had to walk most of his years. In addition to looking at his life we'll hear a few of his regulated verse poems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Li Bai is showcased in this fourth installment of Laszlo's not very deep dive into the history of Tang poetry. We're still in the High Tang period of Chinese poetry. This episode will focus more on Li Bai's story (and legend) rather than an in-depth analysis of his poetry. He, along with several other poets from this time are cultural icons and treasures of the Chinese people. Check the links and...

Finally in this part 3 episode Laszlo gets to the Tang poetry part of the series. After finishing up some of the good stuff that came out of the Six Dynasties, we'll get a first look at the Early and High Tang periods. More poets and more great poetry compilations will also be introduced. A lot of names and titles of works this episode. Feel free to check the terms from the episode and read up on...

In Part 2 Laszlo will finish up an overview of pre-Tang poetry and show where everything went from the Classic of Poetry and Songs of Chu. Fu rhapsodies, Yue Fu poetry and the works from the Jian'an era will be introduced. Tang poetry didn't arise out of nothing. It was the collective genius and creativity of all these pre and post-Qin Chinese literati who built the foundation that the Tang master...

In this first of a series introducing the history of the development of Chinese poetry, Laszlo focuses on the two most important works from Pre-Qin China. These were the Classic of Poetry and the Songs of Chu. Though we will not get to the Tang Dynasty in this episode, we'll look at what came prior and how each new style impacted newer emerging styles of poetry. The life of Qu Yuan and Chu Kingdom...

Laszlo continues his shallow dive into the Hokkien people with a focus on the history of the Hokkien diaspora who populated many cities and towns throughout Southeast Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back in ancient times once again, this time looking at the homeland of the Hokkien people. As we've done with other groups of Southern Chinese (Teochew, Toi San, Hakka) this time Laszlo provides a broad overview of the people from the south of Fujian Province, the Hokkien or Hoklo people. Before we get into the Qing era diaspora, Laszlo focuses on how Fujian developed from a land populated b...

In this longer than expected Part 2 episode, we look at Wellington Koo's role in the Paris Peace Conference and all the drama that surrounded this historic event from one hundred years ago. Then we'll look at the rest of Koo's career as a statesman, diplomat, and later as a judge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the centenary of the Paris Peace Conference now upon us this month, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to commemorate the event by introducing the life of Wellington Koo. In this first of a two-part series, we will look at the historical events that shaped his early life and career. In this Part 1 episode, we will look at the backstory and set up for the Conference. Learn more ab...

In this final episode of the series, Laszlo introduces the Shanghai Ghetto, the final years of WWII and the aftermath. Please check the show notes at the web site for all kinds of books and videos from this period. Thanks to everyone who made it through all six episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The drama continues with the final arrivals of European Jewish refugees into Shanghai, 1941-42. Afterward, the China option, that had previously served as a safety net for Jews seeking refuge far from the Nazi's, was no longer available. Sugihara Chiune, Tadeusz Romer, Laura Margolis and others are also introduced in this episode. The series will conclude in the next episode. Learn more about your...

Laszlo looks at Japanese attitudes towards the Jews and how it affected their treatment in Shanghai. The focus will be on the year 1939 when the greatest wave of Jewish refugees arrived in Shanghai. Then we will look at a little-known tidbit from history concerning a plan championed by Sun Ke (son of Sun Yat-sen) to rescue Europe's Jews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

This third episode in a series examining the history of the Jewish refugees who found sanctuary on the east coast of China focuses on escalating events in Europe around 1938-1939. With the consolidation of Hitler's rise, it didn't bode well for many Jews. As the countdown to Kristallnacht gets closer the situation becomes more urgent and Shanghai as a destination becomes more popular. The great hu...

With the story of the Harbin Jews mostly out of the way, Laszlo moves on to the smaller and less known Jewish community of Tianjin. Then as the 1930s unfolded and after Hitler came to power, our story shifts to the European Jews. In this episode, we'll look at the events leading up to Kristallnacht in November 1938. In Part 3, we'll focus on 1938 and 1939.  

Laszlo is back with a new series that looks at the history of the Jewish refugees who came to China during the first part of the twentieth century. In this episode, after a long drawn-out intro that examines a bit of background on Jewish history, Laszlo explains how many Jews made their way to China to escape hard times back home. In the next episode, the story will continue with more from Harbin,...

In commemoration of the American Labor Day Holiday, Laszlo brings you a rather forgotten tale from the annals of Chinese modern history. As discussed in previous CHP episodes, the Chinese Labour Corps played a thankless but critical role in the allied victory over Germany in WWI. Who could have predicted the series of events that would happen as a result of the story of these men and the subsequen...

In this episode, Laszlo introduced the great Nederlander Robert van Gulik. In his relatively short life, van Gulik made a name for himself as a scholar, diplomat, and writer. Judge Dee was based on the historical person Di Renjie, an important official and minister of state during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian. Van Gulik was fascinated with the Chinese "gong'an" detective novel genre of literatur...

Laszlo presents another story from the annals of Chinese-American history. This one takes place during the Exclusion years and spotlights the Chinese colony of Eastern Oregon. This is the story of Ing "Doc" Hay and his lifelong friend and business partner Long On, two Toi Son immigrants who built their American dream on the frontier. Ing Hay was a trained Chinese herbal doctor and pulsologist, and...

We continue on from the last episode's overview of the Chinese martial arts history timeline. Today we zero in on the history and (mostly) legends behind the Wing Chun style of king fu. Thanks to Detroit's attorney and unofficial Wing Chun ambassador Michael Benkstein for all the support and input that went into this series. And thanks also to Peter Söderbaum for his kind comments == Learn more ab...

Don't be fooled by the title. Wing Chin and Ip Man will be covered next episode. Today's the first in a two-part series that offers up a survey of the development of martial arts in China from the mythical times of the Yellow Emperor to the present day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Zhao Tuo to the present day, the history of the relations of these two great countries and frenemies is a great story. In this episode we enter the 20th century and explore the end of French domination in Indochina, Vietnam's fight to unify the country and the most recent Sino-Viet history. Although this six-part series was only a simple 走马看花 overview of the subject, I hope anyone not sch...

The series picks up in the early part of the Later Lê and finishes off in the 19th century with the arrival of La France and the beginnings of Indochine. Many heroes from Vietnam history will make appearances in this episode. Be sure to come back next time for the exciting conclusion of this overview of China-Vietnam Relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this landmark 200th episode Laszlo carries the story of China-Vietnam forward, beginning with the three Mongol invasions of Đại Việt during the Trần Dynasty. We'll get as far as the great (Later) Lê Dynasty founding emperor and resistance hero Lê Lợi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices