The China History Podcast

We looked at Lu Yu last time and all that he did to popularize the merits of tea in the Tang Dynasty. This time, we give a once-over to his masterpiece, The Cha Jing 茶经 or Classic of Tea . The national popularity of tea in China really catches fire after Lu Yu shows everyone how to enjoy it and enjoy life at the same time. As far as the popularity and necessity of tea in the life of people acqua...

Thank you for your patience. In this fourth installment of the history of tea, we finally make it to the immortal Tea Saint. Lu Yu 陆羽. What Elvis was to rock n' roll, Lu Yu was to the popularity of tea in Chinese society. Here we'll look at his interesting life and his work, "The Classic of Tea" 茶经. From here on out, tea 茶 is no longer tú 荼 , and neither is it bitter. Learn more about your a...

After centuries of trial and error, tea starts to transform from a bitter medicinal brew into something worthy of presenting to the emperor as tribute. Tea's development during the 326 years of the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907 AD) is introduced this time. Not only do the people of China embrace tea. Those people who surrounded China to the north and to the west also took a quick liking to this...

Tea might not have tasted so great in Shen Nong's time and for a thousand years thereafter. But progress was being made and tea's evolution starts to make some headway in China's Bronze Age that began around 2000 BC. But tea remained one bitter brew during these earliest centuries. It remained a work in progress but showed tremendous promise (as we'll see in future episodes) Learn more about your...

In this first episode, we'll explore tea's humble beginnings in the Ba 巴国 and Shu 蜀国 States in today's Sichuan province. We'll also look at the mythical story of the discovery of tea by the Divine Farmer, Shen Nong. We have a long way to go as far as tea's history is concerned. The teas we love and enjoy today, a few millennia ago in Shen Nong's time, also, still had a long way to go. Over the...

In this episode, we will conclude our CHP overview of the life of Sir Edmund Backhouse, 2nd Baronet. In this 3rd part of the series, we'll look at the last couple of decades of Backhouse's life. Backhouse remains in Beijing amidst all the turmoil going on during the Japanese invasion and the lead-up to WWII. In his final years, Backhouse will write a memoir that will engrave his name forever in th...

Fast on the heels of Part 1 of this CHP overview of the life of the Sinologist Sir Edmund Backhouse, we present Part 2 in this episode. We'll look at the years 1911 to 1924, the years that Backhouse committed a litany of frauds and established himself in London and Beijing as someone not to be trusted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we will begin a 3-part series covering the life of Sir Edmund Trelawny Backhouse, 2nd Baronet. He lived from 1873 to 1944, spending more than half his life in Beijing. Backhouse is best known for the various frauds he committed over the period of his life. In his last year of life, he was urged by Dr. Reinhard Hoeppli to commit the fantastical stories of his life to paper. Learn m...

I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea in 2021 to resurrect this old episode from mid-2014 that tells the story of Wong Chin Foo (王清福). His spirit is alive and well in many of today's Chinese-Americans who are standing up to anti-Asian sentiment across the country. Like Wing Chin Foo did in the 1870s and 80's, Chinese-American community leaders and citizens are not standing idly by and are fightin...

In this final installment of the history of the life and times of the emperor Huizong, we look at the series of events that followed the Jürchens' Seige of Kaifeng in 1126-1127. What followed was the Jingkang Incident, which for centuries made the Chinese bow their heads in shame. The entire Song imperial family was captured and sent north to live out the rest of their lives in the harsh lands far...

We continue in this episode examining the second decade of Huizong's reign. The good times lasted about twenty years but all good things can't go on forever. By 1120 Huizong is going to begin to see the handwriting on the wall. The years we look at today will the years Huizong later on most regrets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time in Part 2 of our series we look at Huizong as he attempts to assemble his team and deal with bitter factional strife that was rampant since the Wang Anshi New Reforms. We also look at Huizong the great patron of the arts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going to begin a new series that will look at political, social, and cultural life in the late Northern Song. The second the last emperor Huizong will serve as our vehicle to examine this period in the late 11th and early 12th century China. University of Washington professor Dr. Patricia Buckley Ebrey has recently published a book entitled Emperor Huizong. I'm going to use this as one of th...

We're going to finish off the last 45 years of Morris Two-Gun Cohen's life in this extra-long episode. With Sun Yat-sen now gone, Morris Cohen worked hard to reinvent himself and remain relevant in the world of Chinese business and politics. Morris will hit some highs and lows in this episode as he tried to leverage his past association with Sun and his obvious loyalty to the KMT into an ongoing a...

Today I wanted to introduce a sort of lovable rogue who haunted the hotel lobbies of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, London, and Edmonton. Today's subject was by no means a historic figure. In fact, I don't think you can even call him a bit player. Nonetheless, Morris Abraham Cohen had a China story that deserves a telling. Today's episode will look at his early life, how he ended up in Canada, an...

In this episode, we revisit the founding of the Tang Dynasty and focus on the events leading up to, during, and right after the Incident at Xuanwu Gate. This slice of historic theater took place on July 2, 626. It resulted in the victory of Li Shimin over his two brothers. Not long afterward Li Shimin was promoted by his father to the emperorship and reigned as Tang Taizong. Learn more about your...

After a record-breaking pause in the action, Laszlo is back with one last episode to finish 2013. This time we look at the interesting and amusing history of Chinese cuisine in America, an oft-requested topic here at the China History Podcast. This is a history that goes hand-in-hand with the earliest Chinese immigration to the US. If you're interested to learn more on the subject, I strongly reco...

In this episode, we take a look at the circumstances and times when the brand spanking new nation of the USA came to a calling to China for the very first time. The so-called "Most Important Relationship in the World" had very humble origins indeed. When representatives of the United States first arrived in Canton in August 1783 they really had a lot of explaining to do about who they were and whe...

This week we look at the Khitan people of the steppes. These people came from the lands between Manchuria and Mongolia. Their most famous son was Yelü Abaoji who took his people to great heights in the early 10th century. His Liao Dynasty in the north of present-day China ran concurrently with the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (as well as the Song Dynasty) that resulted after the breakup...

In this episode, we explore the life and times of Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD). He's a very good example of a well-known name from Chinese history that many have heard of but aren't quite sure why. Zhuge Liang is mostly remembered for his cleverness and many consider him right up there with Sunzi (Sun Tzu) as far as the works of strategy and military science he left behind. Learn more about your ad ch...

Today after a month-long break the China History Podcast is back with another episode. This time we look at the life and times of Sir Y.K. Pao. In telling the story of Sir Yue-kong Pao (Bao Yugang in Mandarin) we can also relive the periods in China and Hong Kong during the 1960s, 70's and into the '80s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of the Chinese Mexicans is typical in some respects. They came to Mexico either because they wanted to and saw it as a land of opportunity or they came because it was the next best thing to emigrating to the United States. Many stayed in Mexico despite great hardships and the usual racism directed against them. But most either moved on to try their luck in the US or they were forced out...

In this part 4 episode, we conclude our overview of the Chinese Civil War. After the Pingjin Campaign ended in January of 1949 it was time for the Communists to finish off what they started. The victory was imminent but by no means would it be easy and simple. The PLA forces dramatically crossed the Yangzi River in May and their great generals led their forces to a smashing victory, finishing off...

Welcome back to Part 3 of our overview of the Chinese Civil War. The focus this time will be on the Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin Campaigns that not only grabbed all of north China and Manchuria for the Communists but the heartland and everything north of the Yangzi River as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode focuses mainly on the year 1947. The Americans have now left and the NRA and PLA attack each other with all they got. The years start out well for the Nationalists as they pummel the PLA in Manchuria and in the north. But once the summer offensive begins, it's a steady stream of bad news for Chiang. Ultimately with the conclusion of the bloody Siping Campaign that ended in Marc...