The History of China

Latest Episodes:

The History Of China Podcast/POA Crossover!| Puttin on Airs w/ Trae Crowder & Corey Ryan Forrester Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

I'm on with Trae Crowder & Cory Ryan Forrester to talk wild & crazy stories about China.
Please forgive the tech difficulties!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKVpUmzGr8o

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#290 - Qing 25: The End of a (Kangxi) Era Apr 17, 2025

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Beginning in Beijing, and then expanding out all the way to the "New Frontier" of Dzungaria, we take a survey-altitude view of the final decade-ish of the Kangxi Emperor's life & reign over the Qing Empire

Time Period Covered:

~1700-1722 CE

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Special: Barbarians At the Gates - A Conversation with Jeremiah Jenne Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Original publication: 03/21/2025

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#289 - Qing 24: Kangxi's Five Stelae of Victory Mar 30, 2025

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In the wake of the Kangxi Emperor's flawless victory + fatality of Galdan Khan, he erects his own definitive version of "The Way Things Happened" - five stone stelae monuments as an everlasting tribute to his greatness, and his side of the story literally written in stone.

But even one so mighty as the Lord of Great Qing is not above the twist of fate's knife. For he has been receiving highly disturbing reports about his son and heir, Crown Prince Yinreng...

Time Period Covered:

1697-1707 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Great Qing:

The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuande) [r. 1654-1722]

Crown Prince Yunreng [1674-1725]

Prince Yinxu

Minister Songgotu [1636-1703]

Minister Maci [1652-1739]

Jesuits/Catholic Church:

Pope Clement XI [r. 1700-1721]

Bishop Charles-Thomas Maillard De Tournon [1668-1710]

Fr. Joachim Bouvet [1656-1730]

Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary

Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary

Kingdom of France:

King Louis XIV, "The Sun King" [r. 1643-1715]

Major Works Cited:

Perdue, Denis. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.

Shelly, Percy Bysshe. "Ozymandias."

Spence, Jonathan D. Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-hsi.

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HANZ X-Over: The Sino-Burmese War (1755-1759) Mar 22, 2025

Show notes

The History of Aotearoa/New Zealand asked for a little boost in the "what going on elsewhere in the world?" category ca. 1759. Well, we were inclined to be accommodating...

It also just so happened that the Qing Empire under the Qianlong Emperor happened to be engaged in a tremendous border clash far to its south...

Presenting: The Sino-Burmese War

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#288 - Special: Hail The The King, Baby Mar 08, 2025

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We end our trio of insider views into the Forbidden City by looking at the life - and strictures - of the Big Man himself: the emperor.

Turn out it's not all banquets and parades.

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#287 - Special: Caged Birds Sing Feb 28, 2025

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A look into the inner heart of the mysterious Forbidden City of Beijing, and at its most protected - and confined - denizens: the women of the Imperial palace. From Empress, to concubine, to lowly maid - women hold up half of Heaven.

Please support the show!:

patreon.com/thehistoryofchina

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#286 - Special: Everything Eunuchs All At Once Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Everything you ever wanted to know (and probably some you didn't) about Court Eunuchs in Imperial China

(warning: contains description of castration & its effects)

Mary M. Anderson, Hidden Power: The Palace Eunuchs of Imperial China.

Duhalde, Marcelo. "How an army of eunuchs ran the Forbidden City" in The South China Morning Post.

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#285 - Mongol 11: The Khan Is Dead; Long Live The Khan! (Ögedei Full) Jan 31, 2025

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Genghis Khan is dead, and his 3rd son Ögedei has ben selected to lead the Mongol Empire into an uncertain future. Once he is confirmed on the throne, he'll strike on in every direction against every foe at once. On the way, there will be virgin sacrifices, talking wolves, free money, mass enslavement, Persian princes, Assassins, poison, angry water spirits, battle-mages, cannibalism... and that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Time Period Covered:

1227-1234 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Ogedeids:

Ogedei Khaghan

Subotai the Valiant

General Chormakhan

General Dokholkhu Cherbi

Minister Yelu Chu Cai

Toluids:

Tolui Khan

Sorkhakhtani Beki Khatun

Chagatids:

Chagatai Khan

Khwarazmia:

Jalal al-Din

Kingdom of Georgia:

Queen Rusudan

Jin Dynasty:

Emperor Aizong

General Wanyan Yi

General Cui Li

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#284 - Qing 23: Frozen Ashes Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Galdan is dead. Kangxi's victory is total. It's all over but the crying.

... and the executions via slow-slicing... and the crushing of his bones... and the punishment of his family... and the writing him out of history...

Please support the show!:

patreon.com/thehistoryofchina

Time Period Covered:

1697-8 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Qing Dynasty:

The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1654-1722]

Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary

Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary

Gen. Fiyanggu

Gen. Sunsike

Dzungar Mongols:

Galdan, the Boshugtu Khan [r. 1679-1697]

Lamist Tibetans:

The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso [1683- after 1706]

sDe-pa Desi Sangye Gyampo [1653-1705]

Major Sources Cited:

Perdue, Denis. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.

Spence, Jonathan D. Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-hsi.

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