The Context

Latest Episodes:

Pearl S. Buck: A Bridge Between East and West Jul 21, 2026

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Today, we’ll tell the bittersweet story of Pearl S. Buck, the American Nobel laureate who lived in China for the first half of her life at the turn of the last century and how the complications of a war-torn world made it impossible to return to the home she loved and vociferously advocated.

Li Jingxun: The Most Spoiled Child in Chinese History Jul 14, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about a new exhibition at the National Museum of China that tells the story of history’s ‘most spoiled child’, a girl whose tomb was sealed with her grandmother’s curse. And curiously, it seems that curse still held power after a thousand years.

She Wrote of Love, Then Watched a Dynasty Fall Jul 07, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about Li Qingzhao, China’s greatest female poet, whose extraordinary life of love, loss, and resilience inspired some of the most beautiful verses in Chinese literature.

Anne Swann Goodrich: The American Who Saved Beijing’s Paper Gods Jun 30, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about an American woman who devoted nearly a century building bridges between cultures and preserving the paper gods, folk beliefs, and everyday spiritual life of old Beijing before they disappeared from memory.

The Dutch Diplomat Who Made a Chinese Detective Famous Jun 23, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about how a Dutch diplomat who first reached China during WWII transformed ancient Chinese courtroom tales into globally popular detective fiction, bridging cultures and reshaping the image of Di Renjie for modern audiences.

Manila Galleon: From Silk to Silver Jun 16, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about a new museum in the Philippines that brings to life the golden age of trans-Pacific sailing ships and the link to a Chinese port at the heart of this far-reaching maritime network, creating the first true global economy.

Zhang Boling and the Dream of a Chinese University Jun 09, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about the pioneering educator Zhang Boling and how he built a private education system in modern China while navigating war, politics, and shifting ideologies, leaving behind a complex yet enduring legacy as a patriotic educator.

Sanniangzi: The Mongolian Lady of Peace Jun 02, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about an extraordinary stateswoman from the Ming Dynasty whose wisdom and courage ended nearly 200 years of border warfare, and how this remarkable female leader reveals Chinese values about peace and harmony among various ethnic groups.

A Shang Dynasty Zoo: What Animal Bones at Yinxu Reveal About Ancient China May 26, 2026

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Today, we’ll talk about a surprising discovery at Yinxu that suggests Shang dynasty kings may have raised tigers, elephants, and other wild animals in a kind of royal “zoo” more than 3,000 years ago.

Beyond the Legend: The Untold Story of the Epang Palace Ruins May 19, 2026

Show notes

Today, we’ll talk about the legendary Epang Palace Ruins and how modern archaeology has revealed that this iconic symbol of imperial excess was likely never completed or burned, thus reshaping our understanding of the rise and fall of the Qin dynasty.

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