The China History Podcast

Latest Episodes:

S9E04 | Be like Kong Rong Apr 07, 2024

Show notes

This Chinese Saying, or at least the story, is rather well-known. The story of young Kong Rong and the bowl of pears. Kǒng Róng Ràng Lí 孔融让梨. This perennial children's favorite has a nice moral lesson to teach. When you see young children exhibiting generosity and kindness, many might recall these kids were just like Kong Rong back in the late 2nd Century.

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

The History of Chinese Philosophy (Part 6) Apr 07, 2024

Show notes

This time around we will explore the other major Ru philosophers who established rival schools of thought, including Mozi 墨子. Then we'll explore the early life of Mengzi 孟子 (a.k.a. Mencius) and what he meant to Confucianism.

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

The History of Chinese Philosophy (Part 5) Mar 31, 2024

Show notes

This time we move beyond Confucius to look at some of the other schools of thought that contended with each other during the Spring and Autumn Period of the Zhou Dynasty. This included the School of Names and the Sophists, featuring an amusing story about Deng Xi. We also see how the Confucian classics became a pathway to a career in the government.

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

The History of Chinese Philosophy (Part 4) Mar 24, 2024

Show notes

The story of Confucius and what he taught continues with an introduction to his disciples. We also look at Confucian core beliefs as well as selected quotes from the Analects.

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

S9E03 | Please allow me to introduce myself Mar 24, 2024

Show notes

Sima Qian strikes again. This time around we look at the well-known saying, Máo Suì Zì Jiàn 毛遂自荐. I tend to favor those 成语's from the Warring States Period. This one concerns the particularly volatile time in the Warring States during the reign of the aggressive and pugnacious Qin King Zhaoxiang. After a disastrous defeat at Changping in 260 BC, the State of Zhao had to seek urgent assistance from Chu. In this familiar story, we see how Mao Sui, at the time, no one of consequence, steps up to offer his help during a dark hour for Zhao. His value is doubted but Mao Sui proved them wrong.

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

The History of Chinese Philosophy (Part 3) Mar 17, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we'll take a look at the early life of Confucius and his service to the State of Lu. We'll also look at a few stories from his life, including the legend of when Confucius met Laozi. The Great Sage's reflections on the ideal ruler will also be examined, and the values he stood for that comprised the core of Confucian ideology.

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

S9E02 | R-E-S-P-E-C-T Mar 10, 2024

Show notes

This week's Chinese Saying is another good and respectable one that comes to us compliments of the Book of Song. It concerns the Northern Song official and literatus Yang Shi. His two main teachers were the famous Cheng Brothers, Cheng Hao 程颢 and Cheng Yi 程颐. Those two were giants in Neo-Confucian philosophy which flourished during the Song. This episode features Chéng Mén Lì Xuě 程门立雪. It's a story of respect and reverence for those teachers who had a profound effect on the direction of our lives. "Standing in the snow in front of the Cheng's gate." This is another in a very long line of stories that would feel right at home in the "Made Me Smile" subreddit. For anyone who has one or more teachers who made a positive difference in their life, this is a good 成语 to describe your feelings.

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

The History of Chinese Philosophy (Part 2) Mar 10, 2024

Show notes

This time we will look at some pre-Confucian philosophy during the Zhou Dynasty. Philosophers such as the little-known Yuzi 鬻子 will be introduced. Then we will look at Guan Zhong 管仲 and the concept of the Chinese Gentleman, or Junzi 君子. The rise of the Knights Errant 武侠 and their association with the Ru School 儒家 will also be presented. Then we will look at Duke Huan of Qi and his role as the first great benefactor to scholars and his sponsorship of the Jixia Academy.

Transcripts to all eighteen episodes are available on Amazon, Barnes-Noble, and Earnshaw Books. Below are links if you're interested.

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/ahw3oWq

Earnshaw Books Link: https://earnshawbooks.com/product/the-history-of-chinese-philosophy-book-1/

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

Laszlo Chats with Kaiser Kuo Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Just in time for Kaiser's birthday today, March 7th, here's a recording of a chat we had a couple of days ago. Nothing too heavy. Laszlo invited Kaiser on to the CHP for a friendly, light-hearted, and respectful conversation about the many merits of Chinese history. Happy Birthday Kaiser, 寿比南山!

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

The History of Chinese Philosophy (Part 1) Mar 03, 2024

Show notes

Back in 2017, I produced a nine-part series on the history of Chinese philosophy. These were once episodes CHP-184 to 192. In 2021, I removed this series from the CHP lineup of shows and published it as an online course. Since last year the History of Chinese Philosophy series has only been available on my Patreon and CHP Premium. What you're listening to here is an updated and new recording from what first came out seven years ago.

In the first of 18 episodes that will be covered in this series, we look at Chinese Philosophy's Ancient Beginnings and early Western understanding of Chinese Philosophy. The lives of the ancient Chinese sage kings will also be explored and why some philosophers held them up as role models for society. We will also look at Karl Jaspers's Theory of the Axial Age. For these first ten episodes, the focus will be on pre-Confucian and Confucian philosophers, Legalism, and how Confucianism developed up to the Tang Dynasty.

Transcripts to all eighteen episodes are available on Amazon, Barnes Noble, and at Earnshaw Books. Below are links if you're interested.

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/ahw3oWq

Earnshaw Books Link: https://earnshawbooks.com/product/the-history-of-chinese-philosophy-book-1/

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected