Chris Stewart

The History of China

History EN ↓ 405 episodes

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.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: thehistoryofchina.wordpress.com

Author

Chris Stewart

Category

History

Latest episode

Oct 12, 2026

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Episodes

HANZ X-Over: The Sino-Burmese War (1755-1759) 22.03.2025

The History of Aotearoa/New Zealand asked for a little boost in the "what going on elsewhere in the world?" category ca. 1759. Well, we were inclined to be accommodating... It also just so happened that the Qing Empire under the Qianlong Emperor happened to be engaged in a tremendous border clash far to its south... Presenting: The Sino-Burmese War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

#288 - Special: Hail The The King, Baby 08.03.2025

We end our trio of insider views into the Forbidden City by looking at the life - and strictures - of the Big Man himself: the emperor. Turn out it's not all banquets and parades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#287 - Special: Caged Birds Sing 28.02.2025

A look into the inner heart of the mysterious Forbidden City of Beijing, and at its most protected - and confined - denizens: the women of the Imperial palace. From Empress, to concubine, to lowly maid - women hold up half of Heaven. Please support the show!: patreon.com/thehistoryofchina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#286 - Special: Everything Eunuchs All At Once 21.02.2025

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#285 - Mongol 11: The Khan Is Dead; Long Live The Khan! (Ögedei Full) 31.01.2025

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...

#284 - Qing 23: Frozen Ashes 17.01.2025

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... Please support the show!: patreon.com/thehistoryofchina Time Period Covered: 1697-8 CE Major Historical Figures: Qing Dynasty: The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1654-1...

#283 - Qing 22: Crimson Snow 10.01.2025

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... Please support the show!: patreon.com/thehistoryofchina 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 M...

#282 - Mongol 10: The Succession & The Last Battle 29.12.2024

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...

#281 - Qing 21: Kangxi & Galdan At Jao Modo, Their Eyes Red 04.12.2024

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... Please support the show!: patreon.com/thehistoryofchina Time Period Covered 1696 CE Major Historical Figures: Qing Dynasty: The Kan...

#280 Qing 20: Kangxi & Galdan At Jao Modo, Their Faces Black 28.11.2024

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… Please support the show!: patreon.com/thehistoryofchina Time Period Covered 1691-1696 CE Major Historical Figures: Qing Dynasty: The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin...

#279 - Qing 19: The Treaty of Nerchinsk 09.11.2024

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... Please support the show!: patreon.c...

Extra: Interview with Vince & Cassie of the Autocrat Podcast 29.10.2024

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#278 - Strange Tales IX.2: To Mortal Strife 25.10.2024

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 R...

Special: The Raven 22.10.2024

By Edgar Allen Poe [1809-1849] Published: 1845 Happy Halloween 2024! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#277 - Strange Tales IX: Fox Tails 09.10.2024

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." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#276 - Qing 18: Kangxi Gets Personal 30.09.2024

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...

Special - Mid-Autumn: Fly Me to the Moon 22.09.2024

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 Turn...

#275 - Qing 17: Office of Barbarian Control 13.09.2024

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 innar...

#274 - Qing 16: A Whole New Frontier 15.08.2024

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 betwee...

#273 - Qing 15: Something Rotten In the Heir 13.07.2024

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?? T...

#272 - Special: A Midsummer Night's Dreams 28.06.2024

A set of short fever dreams from Chinese folklore to beat the summer heat... 1:25 - A Pipa Competition, by: Li Zhi 4:45 - The "Magical" Pear Tree, by: Pu Songling 8:15 - Real Life In the Capital, by: Ji Yun 13:55 - The Realness of Paintings & Demons, by: Pu Songling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special - Tiananmen Square: The Declassified History - 06/01/1999 w/ postscript 2024 03.06.2024

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....

#271 - Mongol 9: The Immortal 01.06.2024

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 i...

#270 - Qing 14: From Russia, Rome, and Ningxia With Love 18.05.2024

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?! Tim...

#269 - Mongol 8 - Subotai & Jebe's "Wyld Stallyns" Duology 30.04.2024

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: Re...

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