The History of China

Latest Episodes:

#161 - Mongol 3: The Anda, The Arrow, & The Airag Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

Temujin will enlist the aid of his recently-sworn father, To'oril AKA Ong Khan of the Kereyid to rescue his stolen wife, Börte. But his successful rescue of his beloved will only mark the beginning of his remarkable journey from isolated herder, to powerful khan of the steppes. Unfortunately, one of the sacrifices he'll be forced to make along the path to power will be that most-sacred: his sworn brotherhood with Jamukha, who will transform from Anda to Nemesis for Temujin.

Time Period Covered:

ca. 1178-1201 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Borjigin:

Temujin, Khan of the Borjigin

Börte, wife of Temujin

Ho'elun, mother of Temujin

Khasar, Brother of Temujin

Belgutei, Half-Brother of Temujin

Jelme, Companion of Temujin

Bo'orchu, Companion of Temujin

Jochi, Temujin's first-born son(?)

Kereyid:

To'oril, Khan of the Kereyid (Ong Khan)

Jadaran:

Jamukha (Gurkhan)

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#160 - Mongol 2: The Black Sable Feb 25, 2019

Show notes

In spite of difficulties, Ho'elun and her family endeavor to persevere. Temüjin discovers the power of friendship, and the clarity of purpose that comes with true love <3.

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#159 - Mongol 1: The Blood Clot Feb 17, 2019

Show notes

High in the wildlands of the Khentii Mountains, a tribe of hunters and scavengers comes into possession of a young and captured bride. Ripped out of her old life, she and the family her new husband create at the edge of the world will have to find a way to survive.

Time Period Covered:

ca. 1158~1170 CE

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#158 - S. Song 5: A Changing of the Guard Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

Both Song and Jin have a new set of emperors at the helm... it will mean war... and peace... but the riptides of history will ensure that, whatever the outcome of this conflict, very little will remain the same for much longer.

Time Period Covered: ~1140-1162 CE

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#157 - S. Song 4: Peace at What Cost? Jan 23, 2019

Show notes

Emperor Gaozong really, *really* wants his dad's coffin.

Qin Hui really, *really* wants to give the Jurchen whatever they ask for.

The Jurchen really, *really* want the Mongol khan to stop tweaking their emperor's beard.

Time Period Covered: 1135-1160 CE

Major Works Cited:

Allsen, Thomas. “Chapter 4: The rise of the Mongolian empire and Mongolian rule in north China” in Vol. 6, Alien Regimes and Border States.

Franke, Herbert. “Chapter 3: The Chin Dynasty” in Vol. 6, Alien Regimes and Border States.

Tao, Jing-Shen. “The Move to the South and the Reign of Kao-Tsung” in Vol. 5, the Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors.

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#156 - S. Song 3: Yue Fei, Pt. 2 - The Long-Legged Treachery Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

General Yue Fei will reach career highs as he strikes back against Jurchen aggression with remarkable success. He'll drive his enemies so fast and hard, that he'll drive the Jin Dynasty close to its breaking point. But on the precipice of victory, ministerial machinations back in Hangzhou will spell the undoing of him and his life's work...

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#155 - S. Song: Yue Fei, Pt. 1-The Flying Fury Dec 08, 2018

Show notes

In this first of a two-part look into the life and legend of this epic Chinese hero, we chronicle Yue Fei's early life and education, his induction into the military to serve his nation with utmost loyalty, his meteoric rise through the ranks, and his stalwart resolve in facing the greatest crisis his country his known in centuries, all while garnering a cult-like following of soldiers, and the panicked attention of the imperial court.

Time Period Covered:

1103-1137 CE

Major Works Cited:

Foster, Robert W. The Human Condition in Premodern China.

Jenne, Jeremiah. “The Execution of Yue Fei: 875 Years of Patriotic Myth” from radiichina.com

Li, Xiaobi. China at War.

Lorge, Peter. War, Politics and Society in Early Modern China, 900-1795.

Mote, Fredrick W. “Ch. 13: The Southern Song and Chinese Survival” in

Imperial China 900-1800.

Tao, Jing-shen. “The Move to the South and the Reign of Kao-tsung” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 05: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, 907-1279.

Wills, Jr., John E. E. Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History.

Zhou, Zuoren, trans. Tim Cronen. “A View of the Hero Yue Fei and the Traitor Qin Hui” in The China Heritage Quarterly No. 28, December 2011.

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#154 - S. Song 1: Song of the South Nov 19, 2018

Show notes

The JURCHEN JIN reigns. Having decimated the Song Dynasty, Emperor Jin Taizong now deploys his merciless legions to seize military control of the Yellow River Valley.

Only Prince Zhao Gou and his band of LOYALIST ministers stand against the rising tyranny, certain that the last scion of Zhao can yet restore a spark of hope to the fight.

But the Loyalists have been exposed. As the Jin cavalry speeds toward Yintian Fu, the brave heroes mount a desperate escape....

Historical Period Covered:

1127-1130 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Song Dynasty:

Prince Zhao Gou, Prince of Kang (Emperor Gaozong of Song) [r. 1129-1162]

Chancellor Li Gang [1083-1140]

Yue Fei, LEGENDARY CHINESE HERO [1103-1142]

General Zong Ze, He Tried [d. 1129]

General Du Cheng, Brave Sir Du Cheng Ran Away... Bravely Ran Away, Away!

General Han Shizheng, He Means Business

Jin Dynasty:

Emperor Taizong of Jin (Wuqimai) [r. 1123-1135]

Prince Wanyan Wuzhu, Commander of Jin Strikeforce [d. 1148]

Zhang Bangchang, Puppet Emperor of Great Chu [r. 1129-1129]

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#153 - N. Song 18: Requiem for Jingkang Nov 06, 2018

Show notes

The Song Dynasty manages to epically pull defeat from the jaws of victory when it manages to twice goad its nominal ally, the Jurchen Jin, into a border war. The first time, it’s beaten so badly that it has to give up almost half of its northern holdings. But when even that’s not enough to quench Emperor Qinzong’s delusions of grandeur, he and his regime will pay with everything they have…

Time Period Covered:

1125-1127 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Northern Song:

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) [r. 1100-1126, ret. Emperor 1126-1127]

Emperor Qinzong of Song (Zhao Huan) [r. 1126-1127]

General Tong Guan [1054–1126]

General Wang Bing [d. 1126]

Jurchen Jin:

Emperor Taizong of Jin (Wuqimai) [r. 1123-1135]

Prince Wanyan Zonghan (Nianhan) [1080-1136]

Prince Wanyan Zongwang (Wolibu) [c. 1073-1133?]

Zhang Bangchang, Puppet Emperor of Chu [1081–1127]

Major Works Cited:

Levine, Ari Daniel. “The Reigns of Hui-Tsung and Ch-in-Tsung” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol.05: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, 907–1279. Part 1.

Lorge, Peter Allen. War, Politics, and Society in Early Modern China, 900-1795

Tao, Jing-shen. “The Move to the South and the Reign of Kao-Tsung (1127–1162)” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol.05: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, 907–1279. Part 1.

Various. the Accounts of Jingkang

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#152 - Special: Strange Tales 3.5 [NSFW] Oct 28, 2018

Show notes

A very sexy Halloween edition...

Stir Fry - 1:45

Steel Skin - 4:15

Silkworm - 5:35

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