The Context

Latest Episodes:

Quanzhou: The Rise and Fall of China’s Maritime Trade Center (II) Mar 26, 2024

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In part 2 of our deep dive into the history of Quanzhou, we’ll talk about the infamous official Pu Shougeng and explore the controversial role he played in shaping the history of Quanzhou as a maritime trade center.

Quanzhou: The Rise and Fall of China’s Maritime Trade Center (I) Mar 19, 2024

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In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we’ll talk about how an innovatively designed bridge laid the groundwork for a small port on the southeast coast of China to emerge as the center of the country’s maritime trade during the Song and Yuan dynasties.

The Warrior Queen: The Legendary Life of Fu Hao Mar 12, 2024

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Today, we’ll talk about the life of China’s first female general in recorded Chinese history as well as her relationship with her husband King Wu Ding in the Shang Dynasty during the second millennium BCE.

White Stupa Temple: Friendship Across the Himalayas Mar 05, 2024

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Today, we’ll talk about a renowned Buddhist-style temple located in downtown Beijing as well as the Nepalese architect who played a significant role in cultural exchanges between China and Nepal during the Yuan Dynasty.

Saint John’s University: Echoing Through the Ages Feb 27, 2024

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Today, we’re going to delve deeper into the story of Saint John’s University and its unwavering commitment to knowledge and enlightenment, which continues to reverberate among universities both in the East and the West to this day.

Setting a Course: How Saint John’s University Became the ‘Harvard of the East’ Feb 20, 2024

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In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we’re going to talk about a the Christian University in Shanghai that granted China’s inaugural bachelor’s degrees and nurtured numerous exceptional people who played pivotal roles in shaping modern China.

Li Gonglin: The Best Painter of the Song Dynasty Feb 13, 2024

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Today, we’re going to introduce a man known as “the best painter of the Song Dynasty”. Living in a period of cultural refinement, this 11th-century painter outshined his contemporaries with his seminal style in both figure and horse painting.

Su Shi: The Incorrigibly Optimistic Proto-Renaissance Man Feb 06, 2024

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Today, we’ll look at the life and times of one of the most revered and prodigious figures in Chinese culture. He was so prolific in so many different fields that he is often considered as a proto-Renaissance man, though he was born four centuries before Leonardo da Vinci.

Along the River During the Qingming Festival: The Original and the Best Jan 30, 2024

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Today, we will continue to talk about how the renowned painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival stands as a testament to artistic excellence, exemplifying unparalleled and unsurpassed value in the world of art.

Along the River During the Qingming Festival: Stand the Test of Time Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Today, we’ll talk about a timeless Chinese painting that vividly portrays the dynamic scenes of urban life during the Song Dynasty, making it a cherished symbol of traditional Chinese culture and history.

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