The History of China

Latest Episodes:

#141 - N. Song 8: Childless Mother of the World May 02, 2018

Show notes

When Emperor Renzong of Song takes the throne, he's just a boy of 12 and surely in need of his mother's guidance... but how long until Mom becomes more of a hinderance than a help? ... And what if she's not really his mother?

Time Period Covered:

1022-1033 CE

Important Historical Figures:

Emperor Renzong of Song [Zhao] (r. 1022-

Empress Dowager Liu (-1033)

Lady Li (-1032)

Chancellor Ding Wei

Chancellor Wang Zeng

Assistant Minister of the Palace Library, Lu "Fish-Head" Zongdao (-1029)

Sun Shi, Director of Education

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#140 - Special: Turn Of The Millennium Q&A Apr 24, 2018

Show notes

A Q&A like this only comes around once in a thousand years!

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#139- N. Song 7: The Heavenly Text Affair Apr 01, 2018

Show notes

After feeling forced to sign the costly and humiliating Treaty of Chanyuan with the Liao Dynasty to end the Liao-Song War, Emperor Zhenzong needs a pick-me-up to make himself feel better. He thinks that a ritual that hasn't been performed in 3 centuries might be the way... and that's when the text messages from Heaven start popping up in his inbox...

Time Period:

1004-1022 CE

Major Historical Figures

Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng)[r. 997 - 1022]

Wang Qinruo, Minister of Grand Ritual [c. 962 – 1025]

Chancellor Kou Zhun [c. 961 – 1023]

Du Hao, Imperial Antiquarian.

Minister Sun Shi, Grand Imperial Buzzkill.

Major Works Cited:

Cahill, Suzanne E. "Taoism at the Sung Court: The Heavenly Text Affair of 1008" in Bulletin of Sung and Yüan Studies, No. 16.

Choi, Mihwa. Death Rituals and Politics in Northern Song China.

Lau Nap-Yin and Huang K'uang-Chung. "Founding and Consolidation of the Sung Dynasty" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 5: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, Part 1.

Li, Tao. Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian ("The Extended Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Government")

Sima, Guang. Sushui Jiwen ("Records of Rumors from Sushui").

Toqto'a and Alutu. Songshi ("The History of the Song").

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#138 - N. Song 6: Peace In Our Time Mar 11, 2018

Show notes

The new Song Emperor, Zhenzong, sits uneasily on the Chinese throne after his father’s untimely death in 997. But court intrigues and attempted coups will only be the tip of the iceberg for this untested and unlikely sovereign, because the Liao Dynasty to the north has its eyes and hearts set on revenge for Chinese slights, and will send a massive force bent on crushing Song resistance to their will.

Time Period Covered:

997-1005 CE

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#137 - N. Song 5: A Song of Rice and Flour Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

"Rice is great if you're really hungry and want eat 2,000 of something." - Mitch Hedberg

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#136 - N. Song 4: E Pluribus Xia Feb 01, 2018

Show notes

To the Northwest of the Song Empire, a group of non-Chinese known as the Tanguts have long been subject to the whims and subjugations of their greater neighbors. But with the Chinese focused on their struggle against the Khitan Liao, and the Tibetans and Uighur states having collapsed to the far west, the Tanguts need to unite - in spite of their often fractious nature - if they're to seize the moment and carve out their place in history.

Time Period Covered: ~735-1001 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Song Dynasty:

Emperor Taizong of Song (Zhao Jiong) [r. 976-997]

Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng) [r. 997-1022]

Western Xia:

Governor-General Tuoba Sigong (Li Sigong)of Dingnan, Duke of Xia [d. 886?]

Li Yiyin/Yixin, Prince of Xia (posthumous) [d. 967]

Li Kerui, Governor-General of Xia [r.967-978]

Li Jiqian, rebel leader against Song Dynasty[963–1004]

Li Deming (post. Emperor Taizong of Western Xia), founder of Xi Xia Dynasty [981–1032]

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#135 - N. Song 3: A Lesser Empire Jan 03, 2018

Show notes

Song's second emperor, Taizong, wants to achieve the heights of Chinese glory, power, and territory just like the Tang and Han before him. But aspirations are easier than results, and he's going to have to contend with neighbor states on all sides far more powerful than his predecessors - and with his own position far weaker. Still it's either that or the utterly unthinkable: acknowledge that China is no longer the preeminent superpower of the East, but now just one state among equals.

Time Period Covered:

976-986 CE

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#134 - N. Song 2: Golden Cupboard, Flickering Shadows Dec 14, 2017

Show notes

Zhao Kuangyin has seized the north and now aims to reunify China under his new Song Dynasty by smashing the south. And it’s super effective! But when a strange order of succession leaves question mark surrounding his legacy, it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen next.

Time period covered:

960-976 CE

Major Historical Figures

Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin) [r. 960-976]

Emperor Taizong of Song (Zhao Guangyi) [r. 976-997]

Prince Zhao Dezhao [951-979]

Chancellor Zhao Pu [922-992]

Liu Chang, Emperor of Southern Han [r. 958-972]

War Elephants!!!

Li Yu, King of Southern Tang [r. 961-976]

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#133 - N. Song 1: The Coup at Chen Bridge Nov 19, 2017

Show notes

The Duke of Song Circuit and Grand Marshal of the armies of Later Zhou is dispatched by the 6-year-old emperor and his mom to the northeast to investigate and drive out a reported incursion by the Khitan Liao and their Northern Han allies. But he won’t make it very far at all before the nature of his mission changes dramatically…

Time Period Covered:

960-962 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Emperor Gong of Later Zhou (Guo Zongxun) [r. 959-960, d. 973]

Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu of Song) [r. 960-976]

Zhao Kuangyi (Guangyi) [939-997]

Zhao Pu (922-992)

Governor Li Yün of Luzhou [d. 960]

Governor Li Chengjin of Yanzgzhou [d. 960]

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#132 - 5D10K 9: The Southern Kingdoms Nov 06, 2017

Show notes

We round out our overview of the 10 Kingdoms of the south by looking at the trials and tribulations of Chu, Former & Later Shu, Jingnan, and Southern Han’s travails against Annam… but little do they know, they’re one and all riding for a fall…

Time Period Covered:

870-960 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Huang Chao

Chu:

Governor Liu Jianfei,

King Ma Yin,

Minister Gao Yu,

King Ma Xifan,

Prince Ma Xi’ou,

King Ma Xiguang

Former/Later Shu:

King Wang Jian (“Bandit Wang Eight”) [r. 903-918],

Minister Feng Juan,

Minister Wei Zhuang,

King Wang Yan [r. 918-925]

King Meng Zhixiang [r. 933-965]

Governor Dong Chang [d. 930]

Jingnan:

King Gao Zhichang [r. 907-]

King Gao Congmei

Southern Han:

Governor Liu Qian, of the Man People [d. 896]

Prince Liu Yin of Nanhai [r. 896-911]

Emperor Liu Yan, “The Heavenly Dragon” [r. 911-942]

Emperor Liu Hongdu [r. 942-960]

Annam (N. Vietnam):

Governor Duong Dinh Nghe [d. 938]

Ngo Quyen [r. 939-]

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