The Chinese Sayings Podcast

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S4E03 | Waiting in Vain Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

Another classic from the long list of great Chinese Sayings. 守株待兔 Shǒu Zhū Dài Tù. Thank Han Feizi for this one. He teaches us not to sit around and wait for good luck to find us. Just because you got lucky once doesn't mean lightning will strike twice. In this quick story about the farmer in Song State, we learn sometimes it's better to go out and seek what you want rather than waiting for it to fall in your lap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E02 | They Smilin' in Your Face Aug 27, 2021

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Remember that O'Jay's tune from 1972, "Backstabbers"? They must have had Tang Dynasty chancellor Li Linfu in mind. The story behind our Chinese Saying for this time 口蜜腹剑 tells the story of this 8th-century politician/official who served the great Emperor Xuanxong (玄宗). All the time, they want to take your place, the backstabbers (backstabbers). Beware of those with a honey mouth and a dagger in their belly. Kǒu Mì Fù Jiàn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S4E01 | The Four-Legged Snake Aug 16, 2021

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Welcome back to the fourth season of the Chinese Sayings Podcast. After three years and seven months, we continue where we left off with another story behind one of the great Chinese Sayings, or chengyu. This time around, we harken back to the "Strategies of the Warring States" to look at the tale of drawing legs on a snake. Don't forget, all the characters and Chinese terms from all the CSP episodes are all listed for you at the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S3E10 | Always Expect the Unexpected Jan 20, 2018

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For the final episode of Season 3 Laszlo closes with one of the classics from the Three Kingdoms era. Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang star in this drama played against the backdrop of the Battle of Red Cliff. Who hasn't fallen victim to something big or small that resulted when your best-laid plans didn't quite work out as you expected. For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the website at teacup.media Want to support the CSP? Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/ChinaHistoryPodcast Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/chinahistorypodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S3E09 | I Gotta Get to the Gym! Jan 12, 2018

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Another classic from the Eastern Han which features the future King of Shu, the great Liu Bei of Three Kingdoms period renown. In this episode we find Liu Bei catching a breather after suffering a defeat in the service of Yuan Shao at the hands of Cao Cao's forces. During his period of laying low, Liu Bei starts to regret the situation he finds himself in. For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the website at https://teacup.media/chinesesayingspodcastepisodes/s3e10-always-expect-the-unexpected Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S3E08 | Create Your Destiny Jan 04, 2018

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Laszlo introduces another nobody from Chinese history named Zong Que who had his own great aspirations. He swore he would make something of himself one day. Furthermore, if he did, he was determined to do it as a soldier. Although Zong Que's achievements on the battlefield weren't written about in most history books, the old Book of Song included his story and how we got this episode's featured Chinese Saying. For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the website at teacup.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S3E07 | There's Always a Way Dec 28, 2017

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This week's Chinese Saying comes from a story direct from the Eastern Han Dynasty. It features the Guangwu Emperor who gave us this useful idiom when he praised the star of our episode. For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the website at teacup.media Want to support the CSP? Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/ChinaHistoryPodcast Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/chinahistorypodcast Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-chinese-sayings-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S3E06 | Seeing is Believing! Dec 19, 2017

Show notes

When the Han Emperor Xuan had a headache out in west China he called on Old Reliable, General Zhao Chongguo, to deal with it. From this, we get one of the most useful Chinese Sayings ever! For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the website at teacup.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S3E05 | He Sure Had a Lot of Gall Dec 13, 2017

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We're midway through the halfway point in Season 3. China History Podcast fans will all know this story from which our Chengyu was derived. These is the early years of the Warring States period. Kings Goujian of Yue State and Fuchai of Wu were slugging it out down in Central China. From this epic struggle between these two neighboring rivals came one of the great stories from ancient Chinese history that has been told and re-told throughout the centuries. Let's hear it one more time in this episode and learn what's up with "lying on brushwood and tasting bile." For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the website at teacup.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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S3E04 | A Man of Great Ambition Nov 29, 2017

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We're in the dying days of the Qin Dynasty with this week's Chinese Saying. The Dazexiang Uprising marked a turning point in the fortunes of the Qin empire. In this episode we meet Chen Sheng, a.k.a. Chen She, whose origins couldn't have been more humble. Hear his story and how he aspired to be to become the Hong Hu Zhi Zhi concealed away in his heart. For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the website at teacup.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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