The History of China

Latest Episodes:

#228 - Special: 8th Anniversary Q&A Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

What the only thing better than 8 years on the podwaves? 8 years & 10,000,000 downloads, THAT'S WHAT!!

In this episode we talk about what the definition of "is" is, Zen masters, *yet more farming history!,* when I plan to shut up, me reading poetry in Mandarin... & then the same poem in *reconstructed Old Chinese from 2k+ yrs ago*, and divination, which includes Nazis, Princess Mononoke, pigs & fish, and fictions within fictions with fictions at the heart of the truth!

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#227 - Ming 17: The Cao Qin Rebellion Nov 28, 2021

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Emperor Yingzong is back on his throne thanks to the conspirators loyal to him. Only they turn out to be not so much loyal to "him," as they are to the idea that they should have more and more power. It all culminates with yet another coup d'etat..真讨厌...

Time Period Covered:

1457-1464 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Emperor Yingzong (Zhu Qizhen) [r. 1435-1449, 1457-1464]

Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen [b. 1448]

Yu Qian, Minister of War [d. 1457]

Xu Yuzhen, Earl of Wugong [?]

Shi Heng, Duke of Zhongguo [d. 1459]

Cao Zhixiang, Director of Ceremonies [d. 1461]

Grand Secretary Li Xian

Imperial Guard Commander Lu Gao [d. 1461]

General Cao Qin [d. 1461]

General Shi Biao [?]

General Sun Tang

General Ma Ang

General Wu Jin

General Wu Cong

Commander Ma Liang

Commissioner Wanzhe Tuliang

Vice Commissioner-in-Chief Esen Temur

Works Cited:

Qi, Dongfang. “Funerary Perception and Ritual Institution of Imperial Tang” in Kaogu Xuebao (tr. Lee Yun-kuen).

Robinson, David M. “Politics, Force and Ethnicity in Ming China: Mongols and the Abortive Coup of 1461” in The Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 59, No. 1.

Stutton, Donald S. “Death Rites and Chinese Culture: Standardization and Variation in Ming and Qing Times” in Modern China, Vol. 33, No. 1.

Twitchett, Denis & Tilemann Grimm. "The Cheng-t'ung, Ching-t'ai, and T'ien-shun reigns, 1436-1464" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.

Waldron, Arthur. The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth.

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#226 – Ming 16: Forcing the Palace Gate Nov 06, 2021

Show notes

Following the events at the Tumu Fort, Emperor Yingzong takes an unscheduled sabbatical in Mongolia, the Mongol warlord Esen Taishi attempts to return something lost for a price, Beijing battens down the hatches in preparation for Genghis Khan come anew, and brotherly love reaches its breaking point.

Time Period Covered:

1449-1457 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Ming Dynasty:

Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong) [r. Zhengtong Era: 1435-1449, Tianshun Era: 1457-1464]

Zhu Qiyu (the Jingtai Emperor) [r. 1449-1457]

Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen [b. 1447]

Crown Prince Zhu Jianzhi [1448-1453]

Minister Xu Yuzhen

Xing An, Head Imperial Eunuch

Yu Qian, Minister of War [1398-1457]

Northern Yuan/Oirat Mongols:

Esen Taishi [1407-1455, (r. as Khaghan of N. Yuan, 1453-1455)]

Toghto Bukha (Taisun Khaghan) [r. 1433-1453]

Xi Ning, turncoat eunuch [d. 1450]

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#225 - Special - Strange Tales VI: Notes From the Shadow Book Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

Our annual creepy charcuterie of 4 strange stories from all across Qing China, collected by Ji Yun from Beijing all the way to Urumqi.

Today, we have 4 tales to send shivers down your spine:

1) "Professional Notes on the Jiangshi & Other Revenants" (begins @ 2:50)

2) "Checkpoints" (begins @ 19:44)

3) "Yeti Stones" (begins @ 28:43)

4) "Visitors From Beyond" (begins @ 34:37)

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# 225.2 - Special - Strange Tales VI.2: The Thing On the Doorstep Oct 10, 2021

Show notes

"There are black zones of shadow close to our daily paths, and now and then some evil soul breaks a passage through. When that happens, the man who knows must strike before reckoning the consequences."

By: H.P. Lovecraft

Read By: Chris Stewart

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#225.1 - Special - Strange Tales VI.1: Nyarlathotep Oct 05, 2021

Show notes

Nyarlathotep . . . the crawling chaos . . . I am the last . . . I will tell the audient void. . . .

Written By: H.P. Lovecraft

Read By: Chris Stewart

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#224 - Ming 15: The Tumu Fiasco Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

A child sits the throne of Great Ming, which goes surprisingly alright… at least for a while. But when the old guard of the imperial regency starts dying off, a combination of naive youthful exuberance and pure political ambition from the power behind the throne will throw everything into chaos on the plains north of Beijing.

Time Period Covered:

1435-1449 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Great Ming:

Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong, the Zhengtong/Tianshun Emperor) [r. 1335-1449, 1457-1464]

Grand Empress Dowager Chen [d. 1442]

Wang Zhen, Eunuch Lord [d. 1449]

Mongol Tribes:

Esen, Taishi of the Oirat [d. 1455]

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#223 - Ming 14: Maybe The Real Treasure Was The Friends We Made Along The Way Sep 05, 2021

Show notes

While dying emperors, shifting policies, and vindictive princes keep the capital busy, Admiral Zheng He will manage to sneak in on last joy-ride into the sunset aboard his beloved Treasure Fleet...

Time Period Covered:

1424-1435 CE

Major Historical Figures:

The Hongxi Emperor (Zhu Gaochi) [r. 1424-1425]

The Xuande Emperor (Zhu Zhanji) [r. 1425-1435]

Zhu Gaoxu, the Prince of Han [1380-1426]

Zhu Gaosui, the Prince of Zhao [1383-1431]

Grand Admiral Zheng He [1371-1433]

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#222 - Ming 13: Trouble In Paradise Aug 21, 2021

Show notes

Zheng He's Treasure Fleet finally arrives on the African coast, and the Yongle Emperor celebrates the apex of his reign with the grand opening of Beijing and the Forbidden City. But dark clouds continue to build, but in the emperor's aged, troubled mind, and literally on the horizon... a storm is coming...

Time Period Covered:

1416-1424 CE

Major Historical Figures:

The Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424]

The Noble Consort Zhaoxian, née Wang [d. ca. 1420]

Grand Admiral Zheng He [1371-1435]

Mirza Sharukh, Sultan of the Timurid Dynasty [r. 1405-1447]

Major Works Cited:

Chan, Hok-lam. “The Yung-lo reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Pt. I.

Dreyer, Edward L. Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405-1433.

Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433.

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#221 - Mongol 18: Goliath's Fall Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

Having laid waste to the once glorious city of Baghdad, Hulegu Ilkhan now sets his sights east of the Euphrates, to the fertile lands of Syria and Egypt beyond. But what's to follow will set of a momentous clash in Galilee, at a spring called Ain Jalut, that will shake the very fundaments of history...

Time Period Covered:

1258-1260 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Mongol Empire:

Mongke Khaghan

Khubilai Ilkhan

Ariq Boke

Ilkhanate:

Hulegu Ilkhan

General Baiju

General Kitbuqa

Ayyubid Dynasty:

al-Muzzam Turanshah

al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf

al-Aziz

al-Zayn al-Hafizi

Mamluks:

Saif ad-Din Qutuz

Baybars al Bunduqdari, "The Great Lord Panther"

European Christendom:

King Louis IX of France

Bohemond V of Antioch

Bohemond VI of Antioch

King Hethum I of Cilicia

Major Sources Cited:

Amitai, Reuven. Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk Ilkhanate War, 1260-1281.

Amitai, Reuven. “An Exchange of Letters in Arabic Between Abakha Ilkhan and Sultan Baybars (A.H. 667/A.D. 1268-69)” in Central Asiatic Journal, Vol. 38, No. 1.

Gillespie, Alexander. Causes of War, Volume II: 1000 CE to 1400 CE.

Grousset, René. Empire of the Steppes: A history of Central Asia.

Subani, Hamad. The Secret History of Iran.

Richard, Jean. The Crusades, C.1071-1291.

Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades, Volume 3, The Kingdom of Acre and the Later Crusades.

Tschanz, David W. “History’s Hinge: ‘Ain Jalut” in Saudi Aramco World.

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