The History of China

Latest Episodes:

Bonus - Mongol 5: The Shaman May 28, 2023

Show notes

We're releasing one from the paid vaults to share with everyone! (Don't worry, there's still plenty more exclusive Mongol content)... consider heading on over to Patreon.com/thehistoryofchina to support the show and catch up with all things steppe-rider!

Genghis Khan rules the steppe. Yet before he'll be able to expand beyond its vast, rolling expanse, he'll have to deal with several in-house issues, particularly the ambitions of a powerful shaman named Teb Tengri, who may have designed on Genghis' power and position...

Time Period Covered: 1206-1209CE

Major Historical Figures:

Borjigin:

Genghis Khan (Temujin)

Börte, Temujin's First Wife

Ho'elun, Temujin's Mother

Khasar, Temujin's Second Brother

Temuge Otchigin, Prince of the Hearth, Temujin's Youngest Brother

Chaga, Temujin's 11th Wife

Mongol:

Kokhchu Teb Tengri, Shaman

Monglik

Jurchen Jin:

Emperor Zhangzong of Jin

Wanyan Yongji, Prince Shao of Wei

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

#254 - Qing 1: Build Me An Army Worthy of Manchu May 21, 2023

Show notes

As the newly enthroned Khan of the Manchus, Hong Taiji has a lot of plates to keep spinning. Conquest of Joseon Korea to the east, conquest of the Chahar Mongols to the west, and continuing to pound against the ever-weakening Ming Dynasty to the south. But he still has time for aesthetic considerations, such as the fact that names like "Jurchen" and "Jin" are so passé, while names like "Manchu" and "Qing" are the new hotness.

Time Period Covered:

1626-1643 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Qing:

Hong Taiji (Emperor Taizong of Qing) [r. 1626-1643]

Prince Amin [1585-1640]

Prince Haoge [1609-1648]

Prince Dorgon [1612-1650]

Prince Fulin (The Shunzi Emperor) [r. 1643-1661]

Ming:

Gen. Mao Wenlong [1576-1629]

Gen. Yuan Chonghuan [1584-1630]

Gen. Zu Dashou [d. 1656]

Gen. Hong Chenchou [1593-1665]

Gen. Wu Sangui [1612-1678]

Joseon:

King Injo [r. 1623-1649]

Northern Yuan:

Ligdan Khan [r. 1603-1634]

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

#253 - Ming 38: Manchus, and Pirates, and Rebels, Oh My! Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

The Chongzhen Emperor takes command of the Ming, but things are not going well... and they're not going to get any better. After purging his government of partisan elements, he find he's now condemned it to hopeless deadlock. Along the southern coasts, pirate fleets and Dutch privateers prowl the water, making trade all but impossible. Economic and currency woes lead, combined with repeated natural catastrophes lead to widespread banditry and rebel factions doing what they must to survive... and through it all, the Manchu threat to the north continue to press its advantage, breaking through the Great Wall, and going so far as to raid around Beijing itself!

Time Period Covered:

1628-1636

Major Historical Figures:

Ming Empire:

The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Yujian) [r. 1628-1644]

General Yuan Conghuan [1584-1630]

Zheng Zhilong, Admiral of the South Seas [1604-1661]

Grand Secretary Wen Tiren [1584-1639]

Qing Dynasty:

Hong Taiji (Emperor Taizong of Qing) [r. 1626-1643]

Amin [1585-1640]

Commander Kong Youde [d. 1562]

Geng Zhongming [1604-1649]

Rebels:

Li Zicheng [1606-1649]

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

#252 - Ming 37: The Donglin Debacle Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

Great Ming's 15th emperor steps up to bat at the tender age of 15, but he's not terribly interested in tackling the challenges facing the empire. He'd rather sit in his room and... build models. As if that weren't enough, things go from already-bad to even-worse when a certain eunuch with a mountain of a chip on his shoulder manages to wrangle the reins of power from the teenage monarch.

Time Period Covered:

1620-1627 CE

Major Historical Figures:

The Tianqi Emperor (Zhu Youjiao) [r. 1620-1627]

Exalted Duke Wei Zhongxian [1568-1627]

Madame Ke [1605-1627]

Minister of War Cui Chengxiu [1571-1627]

Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao [1559-1627]

Minister Liu Zongzhou [1578-1645]

Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Lian [1572-1625]

Xu Hengru, White Lotus rebel leader [d. 1623]

The Chongzhen Emperor (Zhu Yujian) [r. 1627-1644]

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

Special: History Daily - The Storm That Saved Japan Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

WE today join the host of The History Daily Podcast, Lindsay Graham, as he recounts the harrowing 1281 invasion of Japan by the fearsome combined force of Mongols, Chinese, and Koreans. All seems lost for the archipelagic kingdom... until a most unusual wind begins to blow...

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

#251 - Ming 36: The Final Showdown Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

Please take a few minutes to help out the show by taking the Airwave listener survey! Thank you in advance!

www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave

We revisit the pivotal Battle of Sarhu of 1619/20, but this time from the Ming perspective. Then we'll finally send the Wanli Emperor into his tomb and take stock of his reign and legacy, before getting into our final few emperors Great Ming has left in the tank.

Time Period Covered:

1619-1621 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Ming:

The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yujin) [r. 1572-1620]

The Taichang Emperor (Zhu Changluo) [r. 1620-1620]

The Tianqi Emperor (Zhu Youjiao) [r. 1620-1627]

Consort Li

Supreme Commander Yang Hao [d. 1629]

General Du Song, "The Madman" [d. 1619]

General Ma Lin [d. 1619]

General Li Rubo [d. 1621]

General Liu Ting [d. 1619]

Manchu/Later Jin:

Nurhachi [r. 1616-1626]

Amba Beile Daisan [1583-1648]

Hong Taiji [1592-1643]

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

#250 - Ming 35: Nurhachi, Part 2 Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

With Manchuria all but tapped out, Nurhachi and his Manchus seek to expand in the only direction that makes any sense - south into Ming territory. It's time for the Airing of Grievances! He's got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it!!

Time Period Covered:

~1618-1626 CE

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

#249 - Ming 34: Nurhachi, Part 1 Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Please help support the show by taking this quick survey! Thanks very much!

www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave.

In the frigid wilds beyond the Great Wall, a young warrior will begin a grand campaign to establish himself as the sovereign of All Under Heaven, and overthrow an ancient rival.

Time Period Covered:

1559-1619 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Ming:

The Wanli Emperor

General Li Chengliang

Aisin-Gioro/Later Jin/Manchu:

Nurhachi, Heavenly Mandated Khan of Jin [1559-1626]

Giocangga [d. 1582]

Surhaci [d. 1611]

Cuyen [d. 1615]

Hong Taiji

Nikan Wilan

Dragon-Tiger General Meggebulu

Check out the French History Podcast by Dr. Gary Girod:

http://thefrenchhistorypodcast.com

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

#248 - Ming 33: Dragon Head, Snake Tail Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Ming China gets down and dirty with a Miao Rebellion the the Southwest, a Mongol(-ish) urprising in the Northwest, and a newly re-unified Japan gettin just a little too big for their britches in Korea.

Time Period Covered: 1587-1600 CE

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

#247 - Ming 32: State On the Wane Jan 08, 2023

Show notes

As Ming China enters the 16th century, the Wanli Emperor, his ministers, a new canal, Portuguese & Spanish explorers, the usual gaggle of Chinese neighbors, the Philippines, the Christian Church, The White Lotus, and - of course - the Jesuits all start becoming one another problems...

Time Period Covered:

~1600-1617 CE

Major Historical Figures:

MING:

The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yizhun) [r. 1572-1620]

Li Zhi, persecuted Neo-Confucian philosopher [1527–1602]

Li Rusong, Ming Commander in Chief [d. 1598]

Wang Yangming, Master of the "School of the Mind" [1472–1529]

Wang Zhicai, politician & assaultee [d. 16??]

Zhang Zha, the "Attack With the Club" Intruder [d. 1617]

OTHERS:

Limahong (Lin Feng), Pirate Leader out of Manila [1499-1574]