The History of China

Latest Episodes:

Bonus 4.1 - Mongol 8.1: Subotai & Jebe's Excellent Adventure Jul 04, 2019

Show notes

In the course of their pursuit of the fleeing Khwarazmian Amir, Genghis Khan's two top commanders have reached the shores of the Caspian Sea, and heard some of the strangest tales about what - and who - lay beyond. When the Great Khan gives his go-ahead to scout it out, they'll launch a three-year trek that will remake the world in their bloody image.

Time Period Covered:

1220-1221 CE

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#168 - S. Song 11: Twilight of the Golds Jun 29, 2019

Show notes

The Jin Dynasty is surrounded on all sides. It cannot get out. Soon enough, the Mongol stranglehold around Kaifeng will signal the Empire of Black & Gold's death-knell.

Time Period Covered:

1224-1234 CE

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#167 - S. Song 10: ...Is My Enemy's Enemy, No More, No Less Jun 02, 2019

Show notes

With enemies on all sides, and the Mongol sledgehammer poised to strike its crushing blow against them, the Jin Dynasty seeks an out by plunging southward, only to find that the Song defenses have become the anvil on which they rest. Exhausted, they’ll seek peace at any cost… but will it be enough to save the tatters of their empire?

Time Period Covered:

1217-1225 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Song:

Emperor Ningzong (Zhao Kuo) [r. 1194-1224]

Emperor Lizong (Zhao Yun) [r. 1224-1264]

Empress Yang [1162-1232]

Chancellor Shi Miyuan [1164-1233]

Crown Prince Zhao Xun [1194-1220]

Prince Zhao Hong [1207-1225]

General Zhao Fang

An Bing, Commandant of Sichuan

Jin:

Emperor Xuanzong (Wudubu/Wanyan Xun) [r. 1213-1224]

Emperor Aizong (Ningjiasu/ Wanyan Shouxu) [r.1224-1234]

Mongol:

Genghis Khan (Temüjin) [r. 1206-1227]

General Mukhali [1170-1223]

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6/4: UK Cable on Tiananmen Square Massacre Jun 02, 2019

Show notes

Even after 30 years...

When you're ordered to forget, to remember becomes an act of defiance.

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#166 - S. Song 9: The Enemy of My Enemy... May 19, 2019

Show notes

The Jin Empire is all at once ripped apart from 4 different directions all at once: Shandong rebels from the east, Khitan from the northeast, Mongols from the northwest, and Tanguts from the West. So they decide to go the only direction left… and invade Southern Song.

Time Period Covered:

1208-1217 CE

Relevant Historical Figures:

Song:

Emperor Ningzong

Chancellor Shi Miyuan

Minister Zhen Dexiu

Jin:

Prince Wei

Emperor Xuanzong

Commander Hesheli Zhizhong

Councilor Zhuhele Guoleqi

Mongol:

Genghis Khan

Red Jacket Rebels:

Yang the Saddler

Khitan:

Yelu Liuge, puppet-Emperor of Liao

Dazhen Kingdom:

Heavenly King Puxian Wannu

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#165 - S. Song 8: The Kaixi War May 04, 2019

Show notes

Chancellor Han Tuozhou is down-but-not-yet-out following his ill-fated attempting to bring down the Neo-Confucians. Thus, in an attempt to salvage his career and reputation, he'll launch the Song Empire into full-scale war against the Jin Dynasty... with unexpected results.

Time Period Covered:

ca. 1200-1207 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Emperor Ningzong of Song

Empress Yang

Chancellor Han Tuozhou

Minister Shi Miyuan

General Wu Xi

Commissioner Cheng Song

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#164 - S. Song 7: Out With the New, In With the Old Apr 21, 2019

Show notes

Neo-Confucianism has made a strong comeback through the synthesis of its various doctrines under the philosophical guidance of Zhu Xi of the Southern Song court. He and his likeminded ministers seek to bring back the perfection of eras gone by by being perfectly morally upright, and expecting everyone else to do the same. But when it turns out that certain other loose-living party-boys like Chancellor Han Tuozhou and Emperor Ningzong aren’t so thrilled about their buzzkilling ways, it will set up a massive conflict at court.

Time Period Covered:

1194-1202 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Emperor Ningzong

Chancellor Han Tuohzou

Minister Zhu Xi

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#163 - S. Song 6: Filial Impiety Mar 31, 2019

Show notes

Back in Song China, we have a tale of two emperors: one who is devoted utterly to his father, and the other who's...well... not.

Time Period Covered:

1165-1194 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Retired Emperor Gaozong [r. 1127-1162, as retired emperor 1162-1187]

Emperor Xiaozong [r. 1162-1189, as retired emperor 1189-1194]

Emperor Guangzong [r. 1189-1194]

Empress Dowager Wu [1115-1197]

Empress Li [1144-1200]

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Announcement: Bonus Mongol Content! Mar 31, 2019

Show notes

You know you want to...

www.patreon.com/thehistoryofchina

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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#162 - Mongol 4: The Great Khan Mar 16, 2019

Show notes

Temujin Khan crushes his enemies, sees them driven before him, and hears the lamentations of their women!!!

Time Period Covered:

ca. 1202-1206 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Borjigin/Mongol:

Temujin (Genghis Khan)

Khasar, Temujin's Brother

Börte - Temujin's 1st Wife

Yesugen - Temujin's 2nd Wife

Yesui - Temujin's 3rd Wife

Jochi, Temujin's first son(?)

Jirkho’adai (Jebe the Arrow)

Khubilai

Jelme

Subedei

Jadaran:

Jamukha (Gurkhan) - Temujin's anda/nemesis

Kereyid:

To'oril (Ong Khan)

Senggum, Ong's son

Cha'ur Beki, Ong's daughter

Naiman:

Tayang Khan

Queen Gürbesu, Tayang's Wife/Stepmother

Works Cited:

Allsen, Thomas (1994). “The Rise of the Mongolian Empire and Mongolian Rule in North China” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 6: Alien Regimes and Border States.

Kahn, Paul (tr.) (2005). The Secret History of the Mongols: The Origin of Chingis Khan.

Onon, Urgunge (2001). The Secret History of the Mongols: The Life and Times of Chingghis Khan.

Ostrowski, Donald (2002). Muscovy and the Mongols: Cross-Cultural Influences on the Steppe Frontier, 1304-1589.

Pelliot, Paul (1959). Notes on Marco Polo, Vol. 1.

Weatherford, Jack (2005). Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.

Weatherford, Jack (2017). Genghis Khan and the Quest for God.

Weatherford, Jack (2011). The Secret History of the Mongol Queens.

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