The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast

The 6th century B.C. statesman of the State of Zheng promulgated the first published criminal code in Chinese history. Moreover, it is through him that we know how the ancient Chinese understood the nature of the soul. Support the show

The hedonist tradition in Chinese philosophy. Support the show

The economic conference of 81 B.C. and the book that resulted from it. Support the show

On the late-5th and early-6th century work of literary criticism and its author. Support the show

Regarding the man who made Confucianism the dominant ideology of China. Support the show

On Chai Rong, the second emperor of the Latter Zhou, and how it became the last of the Five Dynasties. Support the show

Our only source for many of the stories about the life of Genghis Khan, The Secret History of the Mongols is a crucial document for understanding the Mongol Empire. Support the show

On the German scholar of Chinese architecture. Support the show

In 627 A.D., an elderly shepherd chanced upon ten stone drums bearing ancient inscriptions. Since then, they have gone on a topsy-turvy adventure through the tumultuous course of Chinese history, down to the present day. Support the show

Only six emperors in Chinese history are documented to have performed Fengshan, the worship of heaven at earth at the holy Mt. Tai. Support the show

Continuing the series on the Five Dynasties, the story of Guo Wei, founder of the Latter Zhou. Support the show

The life of the great 20th century historian Qian Mu. Support the show

On the 2nd century B.C. courtier, jester, and man of letters Dongfang Shuo, who came to be regarded as the patron saint of "xiangsheng," a traditional form of stand-up comedy. Support the show

The story of an imperial cousin and regent of the Southern Ming Dynasty. Support the show

The next emperor in our series on the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Support the show

Regarding Zhuanxu, the second of the so-called "Five Emperors" of China's deep past. Support the show

Continuing our series on the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: the founder of the Latter Jin Dynasty, Shi Jingtang. Support the show

On "The Troubled Empire: China in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties," by Professor Timothy Brook, of the imperial China series by Harvard University Press. Support the show

On the great Ming Dynasty fantasy-historical novel, "Investiture of the Gods." Support the show

In 281 A.D., a tomb raider discovered a lost ancient text, which came to be known as the "Bamboo Annals." It had an explosive effect on the understanding of the Chinese of their own history... Support the show

Continuing with the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: the story of Li Siyuan, emperor of the Latter Tang. Support the show

The story of General Hao Bocun. Support the show

Li Keyong and Li Cunxu, father and son, were responsible for building the second of the Five Dynasties. Support the show

The story of Zhu Wen, the man who formally ended the Tang Dynasty and began the period in Chinese history known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Support the show

About the Song Dynasty official, scholar, and philosopher Zhou Dunyi. Support the show