The History of China

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**The History of China**

A journey through the 5000 years of history documented by one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations. For all the episodes for free, as well as additional content, please subscribe and/or visit http://thehistoryofchina.wordpress.com.

Latest Episodes:

#151 - Special: Strange Tales 3 Oct 15, 2018

Show notes

Our third entry of Seasonal Spookiness for your unsettling aural pleasure.

From Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (聊齋志異) by: Pu Songling

1:25 - "The Girl in Green"

8:30 - "A Very Sharp Sword"

10:45 - "He Came Back"

18:25 - "A Transformation"

22:45 - "Mr. Miao"

34:05 - "A Prank"

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#150 - N. Song 17: Smoke On the Water Margin Oct 05, 2018

Show notes

Emperor Huizong’s Song Dynasty’s luck runs dry with a series of epic screw up that throw the whole system in disarray. War with the Tangut Xi Xia goes badly awry – and his generals won’t even tell him about it. And then rebellions start breaking out in the south – on by a millennialist death-cult led by a 12th century Jim Jones: Fang La… and another breaking out in the swamps and marshes of Liangshan, and led by Chinese Robin Hood of literary fame: Song Jiang. All of this will throw the Song military's carefully laid plans against the crumbling Khitan Liao into disarray, and make their would-be allies the Jurchen Jin wary of how reliable a partner the Chinese might actually be.

Time Period Covered: 1103-1123 CE

Major Historical Figures:

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

Chancellor Cai Jing [1047-1126]

General Tong Guan, Commander of the Imperial Armies, eunuch [1054-1126]

Fang La, lacquer farmer-cum-millenialist death-cult leader and rebel commander, mad as hell and not going to take it anymore [d. 1121]

Song Jiang, Liangshan rebel commander, Leader Star of Destiny, “Timely Rain,” Haohan Hero [d. ca. 1123]

"Chapter/Poetry Music" "Spring River Flower Moon Night" 古筝 - 春江花月夜 - played on guzheng

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#149 - N. Song 16: Empire of Black & Gold Sep 23, 2018

Show notes

To the north of Song China, sandwiched between Goryeo Korea and the invincible Liao Empire, a new force arises on the banks of the Black and Gold Rivers, that will shake the very foundations of All Under Heaven...

Time Period Covered:

1099-1123 CE

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#148 - N. Song 15: A Campaign of Dunces Sep 02, 2018

Show notes

With Wang Anshi out of the picture, Emperor Shenzong's ministers find to their horror that theg uy they thought was radicalizing the monarch... had actually be holding him back this whole time. Now there's nothing to stop Shenzong from fulfilling his lifelong ambition to conquer Western Xia... nothing, that is... except the idiocy of the commanders he'll put in charge of the operation.

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#147 - N. Song 14: The New Policies, Pt. 3 Aug 15, 2018

Show notes

Wang Anshi's heady, glorious dream at last comes crashing into the cold, mechanical reality of imperial bureaucracy, to everyone's chagrin.

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#146 - N. Song 13: The New Policies, Pt. 2 Jul 25, 2018

Show notes

Wang Anshi weilds his newfound power to implement, through his hand-picked Finance Planning Commission, a sweeping series of reforms aids at revitalizing that dynasty's sagging economy. They'll include a government loan program, new tax policies to pay for laborers, a rethink of the state's very relationship with commerce and traders, and a re-formatting of the empire's volunteer self-defense forces.

Time Period Covered:

1069-1073 CE

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#145 - N. Song 12: The New Policies, Pt. 1 Jul 20, 2018

Show notes

In this first part of a mini-arc, southern provincial nobody Wang Anshi rises above his station and attracts both the curiosity and the attention of Emperor Shanzong and his court by laying out a bold new vision to lead the Song Dynasty out of its economic malaise before disaster inevitably strikes. But when neither Wang nor his critics are willing to give an inch on their principles, sparks fly...

Time Period Covered:

1021-1070 CE

Relevant Historical Figures:

Emperor Shenzong of Song (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067 - 1085]

Wang Anshi, Economic Maverick [1021-1086]

Sima Guang, Conservative Historian [1019-1086]

Ouyang Xiu, "Old Drunkard" [1007-1072]

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#144 - N. Song 11: Only A Northern Song Jun 30, 2018

Show notes

"Like milk on a hot day in San Diego, it turned out that Emperor Yingzong was a bad choice."

Time Period Covered: 1063-1067 CE

Important Historial Figures:

Song:

Emperor Renzong (Zhao Zhen)[r. 1022-1063]

Emperor Yingzong (Zhao Shu)[r. 1063-1067]

Emperor Shenzong (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067-1085]

Empress Cao [1016-1079]

Chancellor Han Qi（韩琦）[1008-1075]

Prime Minister Fu Bi

Chief Censor Sima Guang [1019-1086]

Minister Ouyang Xiu [1007-1072]

Western Xia:

Li Liangzuo (Weiming Liangzuo)[b. 1046, r. 1048-1067]

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#143 - N. Song 10: Inertia, Inaction, Insurrection Jun 15, 2018

Show notes

Emperor Renzong of Song continues to twiddle his thumbs. Confucianism get a much-needed adrenaline shot to the arm via Daoism. Zhuang superpatriot Nong Zhigao declares simultaneous war on China and Vietnam in the name of his people's liberation.

Time Period Covered:

1043-1054 CE

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#142 - N. Song 9: Dithering the War Away May 20, 2018

Show notes

Emperor Renzong of Song isn't exactly... into the whole "rule" thing. He'd much rather wile away his days talking about Confucian philosophy, writing calligraphy, and making love to his concubines. But he'll be forced to uneasily embody the might of Song China when the Tangut state of Western Xia declares its independence, triggering a massive conflict on the borderlands.

Time Period Covered:

1033-1044 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Song:

Emperor Renzong

Chancellor Li Yijian

Fan Zhongyan, Commander of Yanan Circuit

Xi Xia:

Li Yuanhao (Weiming Nangxiao), Emperor of Xia

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