The China History Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The History of Taiwan (Part 4) Nov 13, 2022

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The history of Taiwan continues during the difficult decades of the Qing Dynasty. With Shi Lang's defeat of the Dongning Kingdom in 1683, Taiwan finally became part of China. But times were anything but peaceful on the island. The outcome of the Opium Wars had opened up treaty ports on Taiwan. Foreign trade ramped up quickly bringing with it all the positive and negative influences it had on the host country. The Manchu Qing authorities tried like crazy to establish control over the island. But with the indigenous people and the inaccessible mountainous parts of the island, they were never able to assert their authority beyond the west coast cities. A number of bloody incidents go down when foreign ships find themselves shipwrecked off the Taiwan coast. Finally, a hero arises who is able to begin to institute reforms. Liu Mingchuan first fought the French in the Sino-French War and then became the first governor of Taiwan...but not for long. We'll close with the Treaty of Shimonoseki which leads to a sharp turn of events on the Ilha Formosa.

The History of Taiwan (Part 3) Oct 30, 2022

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In this Part 3 episode, we look at Shi Lang and his victory over Zheng Jing, Liu Guoxian, and the Dongning Kingdom. When it was all over in 1683, for the first time in history, Taiwan fell under China rule. Now the Manchus needed to figure out what to do with this prize. Corrupt officials and heavy-handed governing methods contributed to the endless uprisings and rebellions witnessed on the island throughout the 18th century. The Qianlong Emperor will have his hands full trying to keep things peaceful in Taiwan. We close with the ultra-violence meted out during the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion of 1787-1788.

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Anna May Wong Honored Oct 19, 2022

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The new Anna May Wong quarters are here, issued by The US Mint as part of a set honoring five women achievers and trailblazers: writer and civil right activist Maya Angelou, Astronaut Sally Ride, Native American activist, and former Cherokee Nation Chief Wilma Mankiller, suffragist, educator, and politician Nina Otero-Warren. And for the fifth coin, the US Mint selected none other than movie star, entertainer, activist, and fashion icon Anna May Wong, one of the women featured in this CHP-159 episode that looks at Chinese American Stars and Entertainers of Old Hollywood.

CHP-159 remains one of my personal all-time favorite CHP episodes. I put that one out back in 2015, complete with much less than optimal audio. I cleaned it up a little and added an intro. And today, in recognition of the release of this new coin, I'm bringing back this episode for anyone who missed it.

The History of Taiwan (Part 2) Oct 16, 2022

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In this Part 2 episode, we will look at Dutch and Spanish Formosa and the history of these two would-be colonizers of Taiwan. The Dutch were the first to try and make a serious go at colonizing Taiwan. Zheng Zhilong and his famous son Zheng Chenggong will also be covered in this episode. Zheng Chenggong, better known in the West as Koxinga, is probably the most well-known person in Taiwan's history. He was responsible for removing the Dutch from Taiwan and opening the floodgates to the migration of thousands upon thousands of settlers from the Mainland. He also established the Dongning Kingdom on the island. Taiwan is still not yet part of China. But after Shi Lang is introduced in the next episode, that all changes.

Discussing the Silk Road and Central Asia With William Han Oct 04, 2022

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Several years ago William Han set out from Xinjiang, following in the footsteps of Gan Ying who was tasked, in 97 AD, to seek out and establish relations with Da Qin (Rome). All the sights and experiences are detailed in William's new book, "From the Wall to the Water". It was quite an eye-opening journey from the end of the Great Wall to the Persian Gulf. Laszlo also discusses William's The Master of Demon Gorge Podcast (MODG) and the joys of China history podcasting.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B7GVCH9T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

https://open.spotify.com/show/7MOqCZgmT3JONI5JLxWnGW

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-master-of-demon-gorge-a-chinese-history-podcast/id1569122446

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The History of Taiwan (Part 1) Oct 02, 2022

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No topic gets requested more than the history of Taiwan. In this first of a multi-part series, Laszlo looks at the geologic formation of the island and Taiwan's prehistoric past. How the indigenous Austronesian people of Taiwan migrated throughout the South Pacific, the South China Sea, and beyond is also introduced. Several encounters between native people living in Taiwan and visitors from Fujian took place during the Three Kingdoms era and in subsequent dynasties. This will also be looked at. Part 1 will take the story up to the Ming Dynasty.

Drs. Ida Kahn and Mary Stone Sep 18, 2022

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Don't let their names fool you. Ida Kahn was born Kang Aide and Mary Stone, Shi Meiyu. Born into a Methodist Episcopal community in the Treaty Port city of Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province, these two women became pioneers in introducing Western medicine to the women of Jiangxi Province. And as role models for other women across China in the early 20th century, they inspired generations of women to become doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals.

Cats in Chinese History and Literature with Dr. Lee Moore Sep 10, 2022

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For any and all cat lovers worldwide, here's a special episode for you. Fellow cat lover (ailurophile) Lee Moore of the Chinese Literature Podcast joins Laszlo for this CHP Special Episode where they chat about cats in Chinese history and offer up a few interesting anecdotes and stories. They both recite a selection of cat poems from the Song and Ming dynasties and go all out to discuss their favorite animal.

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The History of Guangzhou (Part 6) Sep 04, 2022

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In this final sixth episode of the History of Guangzhou series, the events of the Nanjing Decade and the city's role as a bastion of anti-Chiang Kai-shek factions will be discussed. Then we'll wind things down with a rush to the finish, reviewing the Japanese occupation, the fall of Guangzhou to the Communists, and finally take a quick look at the Special Economic Zones that helped to transform Guangzhou and the entire Pear River Delta Region.

Qing Dynasty Era Snuff Bottles With Andrew Singer Aug 22, 2022

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Most of us have never tried old-fashioned snuff as they did back in the 17th to 19th centuries. But we've all heard of it. I invited Mr. Andrew Singer onto the CHP to satiate the curiosity of anyone wishing to know more about it and these gorgeous little bottles. Snuff bottles were extremely popular with the nobles and aristocrats of the Qing Dynasty. And a number of emperors too engaged in this pastime. Though snuff itself is not so popular today, the snuff bottles that came out of this period became an obsession of passionate collectors the world over. Join Andrew Singer and me in a discussion about the snuff and snuff bottle culture during the Qing Dynasty.

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