The China History Podcast

Here we begin the turbulent, bloody and historically humiliating 19th century in China. The first half century sees two emperors, Jiaqing and Daoguang stand by helplessly as China is torn apart by uprisings, anti-Manchu discontent, a financial crisis, opium addiction on a massive scale, foreign invasion and the usual deadly floods and other natural disasters.  continue reading >> Learn more about...

In this episode we look at the bittersweet reign of the Qianlong emperor. The longest reigning emperor in Chinese imperial history, the Qianlong era saw the most splendid three decades for the Manchu's of the Qing Dynasty. China reached its greatest territorial extent and was still the marvel of the world. But during the second continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

In this episode we examine the Yongzheng emperor, the second of the three great Qing emperors who reigned during the most golden of times for the Manchu dynasty. A tireless emperor who was a wizard at managing the machine of state, he reigned for only thirteen years before his son later brought the Qing dynasty continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this first episode covering the Qing Dynasty, we look at the Shunzhi emperor and his son, the Kangxi emperor. The 61-year reign of the Kangxi emperor was the longest in imperial Chinese history. The Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong eras saw the Qing dynasty reach its greatest heights and China was economically the wealthiest continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

We finish off our overview of the Ming Dynasty in this episode and also trace the rise of the Manchu's. The period from the Jiajing emperor to the tragic suicide of the Chongzhen emperor saw a slow and steady decline in the fortunes of the Ming dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we look at Ming Dynasty China from the reigns of Xuande to Jiajing. This period in Chinese history was witnessing momentous changes. The dynasty suffers a terrible debacle in 1449. Portugal was becoming a regular visitor and sets up down in Macao. This was also a time when evil self-serving eunuchs spread continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

In this week's episode we examine the second great emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the Yongle [Yong - Leh] emperor who reigned 1402-1424. This tireless emperor waged campaigns against the Mongols in the north, the Vietnamese in the south and sent sailing expeditions throughout Asia, the subcontinent and the east coast of Africa to engage continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

Laszlo is back, finally, after a longer layoff than expected. This week we look at the end of the Yuan dynasty and the founding of the Ming Dynasty. We look at the first emperor Ming Taizu, a.k.a. The Hongwu Emperor. With the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, once again Chinese are in control of the continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we take a break from the history to look at the background and the traditions surrounding Chinese New Year. Laszlo will be back next time to pick up where we left off after the fall of the Song Dynasty. On behalf of everyone here at the China History Podcast, we wish everyone a continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode Laszlo finishes off the Song Dynasty after the Jin Empire captures the royal family and sacks the capital in Kaifeng. The Song dynasty continues on with the new capital in the south of China, below the Yangzi River. Despite perilous times with hostile neighbors to the north, the dynasty enjoys continued continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

This week's episode runs a little longer than usual. In it we examine the Northern Song Dynasty from 960 to 1127. This was a precarious time for China. Despite three potentially menacing non-Han empires surrounding them to the north and west, China once again had another magnificent great leap forward of brilliance and innovation. 

In today's final installment covering the history of the great Tang Dynasty, we look at its agonizing decline until 907 when it is pushed aside and another period of disunity sets in. Five Dynasties reign in the north, all short lived and not spectacular by any means. In the south, after the Tang falls you continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laszlo is back after a holiday illness to continue where we left off in 705 with the passing of Wu Zetian. After an initial golden age during the Taizong emperor, the Tang will reach new heights of glory under Tang Minghuang a.k.a. the Xuanzong emperor. The magnificent city of Chang'an is once again the center continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Sui peters out, Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, seizes power and establishes the Tang Dynasty in 618. Along with the Song, the Tang Dynasty is considered the pinnacle of China's long history. In culture, art, poetry, painting, ceramics, science, navigation, diplomacy this was a golden age. Buddhism made even greater inroads into continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

The demise of the Southern & Northern Dynasties brought us a China unified under the Sui emperors Wen and Yang. This ephemeral dynasty laid the groundwork for the splendor of the Tang dynasty. Lasting only 37 years, the Sui Dynasty doesn't get the limelight enjoyed by the great dynasties of Han, Tang, Song, Ming and continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Southern & Northern Dynasties were a collection of dynasties that lasted 170 years and preceded the time of unification under the Sui Dynasty. North of the Yangzi River you had the Northern Wei, the Northern Qi and the Northern Zhou. South of the great river reigned the Liu Song, Southern Qi, the Liang and continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are back with more Chinese history. We will look at a very confusing but exciting time when there was mostly a period of disunity and China was broken up into contending kingdoms. However this period of chaos brought us some of the richest tales of ancient China filled with amazing battles, events continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final installment of the Han Dynasty overview, we look at the reign of Wang Mang during the short-lived Xin Dynasty and the Eastern (or Later) Han Dynasty that followed. The Eastern Han was a period of endless skullduggery at the imperial court where the palace eunuchs rose to power and meddled endlessly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we present the second part of the Western Han Dynasty overview where we will look at the great Han emperors Wendi, Jingdi and perhaps the greatest of them all, Han Wudi. It was a golden age in Chinese history and saw the first indirect contact between the Roman Empire in the west and Han continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode we look at only the first few decades of the Western Han Dynasty. The Western Han lasted from 202BC to 8AD. We'll focus in on the fall of the Qin and the rise of Liu Bang who went on to found the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang would reign as Emperor Gaozu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we look at the second phase of the Zhou Dynasty. This period was known as the Eastern Zhou. The Eastern Zhou was broken down between the Spring & Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It lasted from 770 to 221BC. From this chaotic period sprang the great works that defined Chinese continue reading >> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we take a 走马看花 look at the 790 year Zhou Dynasty, the longest dynasty in Chinese history. In this episode we will particularly focus on the Western Zhou Period which lasted for 275 years. Next week we will finish the Zhou Dynasty by examining the Eastern Zhou Period. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time in our briefest of dynasty overviews, we examine the Shang Dynasty 1600 to 1046 BC. Chinese characters make their appearance for the first time. Artisans cast the most beautiful bronzes. Because of the discovery of archaeological evidence, many consider this China's first real dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we commence our Chinese imperial dynasty overview by looking at the stories of Pangu, The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and the Xia Dynasty. These are all tales mostly culled from Sima Qian's "Record of the Grand Historian". These were mythical times but many of the figures discussed in today's episode reappear constantly throughout Chinese history. These founding myths of C...

Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong billionaire tycoon who has played a great role in not only Hong Kong's prosperity but in China's as well. He is respected not only for his achievements in business and industry but also for his rise from humble beginnings in Chaozhou, China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices