The History of China

It's finally time to give holiday thanks and - of course - submit myself before the high inquisitors pelting me with questions day and night! Topics this year ranged far and wide: 1. How wide-ranging was Genghis Khan's last command in Western Xia? 2. How do I keep my loud mouth out of trouble with the PRC? 3. How "good" were the good times of dynasties for the normies? 4. Which Khan has got it goi...

While his armies have been keeping busy in every direction on both offense and defense, Emperor Khubilai had been hard at work re-organizing the mess his family made in China and reformatting it into a stable, lawful Yuan Dynasty. And Grandpa Genghis was right: it's was a *lot* more work to run an empire, than to conquer one... Period Covered: ca. 1261-1290 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Khubilai must face off against his most potent threat - his own traditionalist cousin, Khaidu. Meanwhile, Khaidu frets over his daughter Khutulun - a girl as desirable as she is formidable, and will brook no husband who cannot best her at wrestling. Time Period Covered: ca. 1265-1306 CE Notable Historical Figures: Yuan Dynasty: Khubilai Khan Prince Zhenjin Prince Nomukhan Prince Kokochu Prime Mini...

The armies of Great Yuan sweep across the east, destroying and conquering all who would stand against them. Goryeo Korea eventually sees the writing on the wall and cuts a deal with the Great Khan. Khubilai will then turn his sights out over the waters of the Pacific, to the Land of the Rising Sun... and send its monarch a friend request. Time Period Covered: ca. 1257-1275 CE Major Historical Figu...

With the untimely death of Möngke Khaghan outside the walls of Chongqing, the Mongol Empire will be fore to choose for a new emperor for the 5th time in just three decades. Unlike the first four conclaves, however, this will result in not one, but two khuriltais, and two who would be Great Khan. Möngke’s brothers, Khubilai and Ariq Böke, will duel it out across Central Asia to determine who will r...

Confucius talked about a *lot* ... but there were certain things about which even the Master dare not speak. Today we break that ancient taboo with 4 stories of spooky strangeness... 2:01 - "A Karmic Meal" 5:30 - "The Concubine's Revenge" 20:22 - "Too Poor to Be Haunted" 24:26 - "A Hell of a Trial" Adapted from: Zibuyu "What the Master Would Not Discuss" by Yuan Mei Learn more about your ad choice...

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...

The people throughout China have been plunged into bitter suffering and tribulations since the Chiang Kai-shek Kuomintang reactionary government betrayed the fatherland, colluded with imperialists, and launched the counter-revolutionary war. Fortunately our People's Liberation Army, backed by the whole nation, has been fighting heroically and selflessly to defend the territorial sovereignty of our...

You know it’s hard out there for a prince. The fourth sons of a fourth son, Khubilai of the Borjigin will grow up little recognized, and bound for a life of little more than comfortable obscurity. But between his mother’s machinations, his wife’s guidance, his own skills… and a healthy smattering of good fortune, he’ll find himself suddenly thrust into the spotlight and tasked with overseeing the...

Kubla Khan BY SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE Or, a vision in a dream. A Fragment. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man    Down to a sunless sea. So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round; And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tre...

Hangzhou is surrounded by the Mongol Yuan army, and is soon to fall. When the child-emperor and the Empress Dowager are taken captive, it will fall to the last two princes of House Zhao to flee to the islands and archipelagos of the Deep South, if they’re to stand any chance at all of keeping the flame of the Song from guttering out forever. Time Period Covered: 1275-1279 CE Southern Song: Grand E...

Mongolia is gripped in a civil war of its own, meaning the Song Empire has a chance to breathe. But with the immediate threat allayed for now, other problems become apparent. And when the new Great Khan, Khubilai, returns his attention to the land south of the Yangtze, China will find out whether it was a decade well spent in preparation for the coming assault, on one utterly squandered. Time Peri...

Genghis Khan is old, wracked by pain in his body and heart, and in spite of his best efforts, has come to accept there is one foe he cannot defeat: mortality itself. Thus, even before setting out on his campaign against the Khwarazmian Empire, he will assemble his four sons and together reach a fateful decision - who among them will rule when Genghis is gone? Note: This is part 1 of the 2-part con...

The Mongol Khanate is on the warpath against all who would stand against it... until several unexpected system errors for the whole system to reboot. How will Song China deal with these unexpected years of preparatory time? Time Period Covered: 1241-1260 CE Major Historical Figures: Song Dynasty: Emperor Lizong Chancellor Jia Sidao Mongol Empire: Ögedei Khan Toregene Khatun Guyuk Khan Oghul Khaimi...

Just off of the heady victory over the Jin Dynasty with their new BFFs, the Mongols, a first-in-a-century visit to the Imperial Tombs gives the Song court a brilliant idea - what if we just took them back without asking? What's the worst that could happen? Time Period Covered: 1234-1241 CE Major Historical Figures: Song Dynasty: Emperor Lizong Chancellor Zheng Qingzhi Chancellor Shi Miyuan [d. 123...

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. Time Period Covered: 1220-1221 CE Learn more a...

The Jin Dynasty is surrounded on all sides. It cannot get out. Soon enough, the Mongol stranglehold around Kaifeng will signal the Empire of Black & Gold's death-knell. Time Period Covered: 1224-1234 CE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With enemies on all sides, and the Mongol sledgehammer poised to strike its crushing blow against them, the Jin Dynasty seeks an out by plunging southward, only to find that the Song defenses have become the anvil on which they rest. Exhausted, they’ll seek peace at any cost… but will it be enough to save the tatters of their empire? Time Period Covered: 1217-1225 CE Major Historical Figures: Song...

Even after 30 years... When you're ordered to forget, to remember becomes an act of defiance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jin Empire is all at once ripped apart from 4 different directions all at once: Shandong rebels from the east, Khitan from the northeast, Mongols from the northwest, and Tanguts from the West. So they decide to go the only direction left… and invade Southern Song. Time Period Covered: 1208-1217 CE Relevant Historical Figures: Song: Emperor Ningzong Chancellor Shi Miyuan Minister Zhen Dexiu Jin...

Chancellor Han Tuozhou is down-but-not-yet-out following his ill-fated attempting to bring down the Neo-Confucians. Thus, in an attempt to salvage his career and reputation, he'll launch the Song Empire into full-scale war against the Jin Dynasty... with unexpected results. Time Period Covered: ca. 1200-1207 CE Major Historical Figures: Emperor Ningzong of Song Empress Yang Chancellor Han Tuozhou...

Neo-Confucianism has made a strong comeback through the synthesis of its various doctrines under the philosophical guidance of Zhu Xi of the Southern Song court. He and his likeminded ministers seek to bring back the perfection of eras gone by by being perfectly morally upright, and expecting everyone else to do the same. But when it turns out that certain other loose-living party-boys like Chance...

Back in Song China, we have a tale of two emperors: one who is devoted utterly to his father, and the other who's...well... not. Time Period Covered: 1165-1194 CE Major Historical Figures: Retired Emperor Gaozong [r. 1127-1162, as retired emperor 1162-1187] Emperor Xiaozong [r. 1162-1189, as retired emperor 1189-1194] Emperor Guangzong [r. 1189-1194] Empress Dowager Wu [1115-1197] Empress Li [1144...

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Temujin Khan crushes his enemies, sees them driven before him, and hears the lamentations of their women!!! Time Period Covered: ca. 1202-1206 CE Major Historical Figures: Borjigin/Mongol: Temujin (Genghis Khan) Khasar, Temujin's Brother Börte - Temujin's 1st Wife Yesugen - Temujin's 2nd Wife Yesui - Temujin's 3rd Wife Jochi, Temujin's first son(?) Jirkho’adai (Jebe the Arrow) Khubilai Jelme Subed...