The China History Podcast

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The Cultural Revolution (Part 7) Jun 25, 2012

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In this week's episode, we get all the way up to the end of 1975. With Zhou Enlai ailing and Mao Zedong also not long for the world, there is a sudden urgency to find a successor to the chairman. Now more than ever the two opposing camps take every measure to defeat the other. To the victor will go the leadership of the Chinese nation. To the loser, there is a certain loss of power and perhaps of freedom. Everything is building up to the fateful year of 1976.

The Cultural Revolution (Part 6) Jun 19, 2012

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In this episode we finish off 1969, a year that not only saw internal revolt and anarchy but also saw armed border confrontation with the Soviet Union in the freezing northeast. Chairman Mao Zedong pulls out all the stops to quell the violence and rebellion that he himself called for at the outset of the Cultural Revolution. Mao's chosen successor, Lin Biao loses favor with The Great Helmsman. As China enters the 1970's the Cultural Revolution, though tarnished, still has plenty of life left in it.

The Cultural Revolution (Part 5) Jun 13, 2012

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In the fifth installment of our China History Podcast overview of the Cultural Revolution we look at the milestone events of 1967: The February Countercurrent, 8 Point Program, 10 Point Program and the Wuhan Incident. Lots of blood and violence during this difficult year in China. Added to this was no small amount of political, military and social upheavel.

The Cultural Revolution (Part 4) Jun 04, 2012

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The second half of 1966 and into 1967 saw some of the worst excesses of the Cultural Revolution. In this episode the violence spreads throughout China and anyone with something to hide about their class background is tracked down and forced to endure the most horrible of fates. Mao is liking what he sees and keeps fanning the flames using all the tools at his disposal.

The Cultural Revolution (Part 3) May 28, 2012

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In this third episode of Laszlo's Cultural Revolution Overview, we only advance 18 days in August of 1966. Momentous and shocking events happen one after another, day after day. With the announcement of the 16 Points, now the Cultural Revolution has a purpose and guidelines to follow. Today's episode will show that Mao had anything except an orderly execution of this plan to transform China. He was going to shake up the whole nation, like a snow globe.

The Cultural Revolution (Part 2) May 21, 2012

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This week Laszlo takes us up to August 1966 with this Cultural Revolution overview. After a nine-month hiatus down in Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Wuhan, Mao is now back in Beijing and ready to mount his attack on the party leadership and unleash the Cultural Revolution on the entire country.

The Cultural Revolution (Part 1) May 13, 2012

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By popular demand, Laszlo begins to trace the history of the Cultural Revolution. This week's episode looks at the events leading up to the moment in 1966 when Mao called for the people to Bombard the Headquarters and to tear down the government.

The Great Leap Forward Apr 30, 2012

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The Great Leap Forward 大跃进 ran from 1958-1960. It caused death and suffering to dozens of millions of people. It sounded like a workable idea, but it didn't turn out as Chairman Mao hoped. When looking back on the life of Mao Zedong, the Great Leap Forward is always viewed as a black mark against his legacy. I welcome you to listen to the podcast and learn all about what happens when central planning goes awry.

Guan Yu Apr 23, 2012

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Known by many names, Guan Yu, Guan Gong, Guan Di, this great man of loyalty, integrity, and justice lived during the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His oath of brotherhood with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei is the stuff of legends and remembered to this very day. Guan Yu was a historical person whose life was so admired, today he is considered a god. In today's episode, we look at his life and his legend.

Bo Yibo Apr 14, 2012

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This week we look at a committed Communist Party leader who played an important role in steering China's economy and financial system from 1949 to 1966 and during the Deng era. Like many other leaders of his generation, Shanxi-born Bo Yibo suffered terribly during the Cultural Revolution. Today he is best remembered as one of the Eight Immortals or Party Elders who made up Deng Xiaoping's "kitchen cabinet" during China's go-go 80's and 90's.

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