The History of China

Latest Episodes:

#283 - Qing 22: Crimson Snow Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

The Kangxi Emperor ruthlessly tracks down Galdan Khan, leaving him and his followers with nowhere to turn and nowhere to hide. The end draws close...

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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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#282 - Mongol 10: The Succession & The Last Battle Dec 29, 2024

Show notes

Even the invincible Genghis Khan must face the inevitability of death. It holds no fear for him personally, but before he surrenders at last to oblivion, he needs to see two tasks through to the end: who will succeed him as Emperor of the World, and making sure an old enemy gets what has long been coming to them...

Time Period Covered:

1220-1227 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Mongol Empire:

Genghis Khan [Temüjin] (1162-1227)

Börte Khatun (c.1161-c.1130)

Yesui Khatun (d. ?)

Jochi (1181-1226)

Chagatai Khan (1183-1242)

Ögedei Khan (c.1186-1241)

Tolui (c.1191-1232)

Xi Xia:

Emperor Shenzong [Li Zuxun] (r. 1211-1223)

Emperor Xianzong [Li Dewang] (r. 1223-1226)

Emperor Mo [Li Xian] (r. 1226-1227)

Empress Kurbelzhin (d. 1227)

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#281 - Qing 21: Kangxi & Galdan At Jao Modo, Their Eyes Red Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

The jaws of the Kangxi Emperor close in around Galdan Khan, as his own dream of "The Great Mongol Enterprise" crash down around him at a fateful stand of 100 trees abutting a tiny stream somewhere in the vastness of the steppes. To the victor go the draft histories...

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Time Period Covered

1696 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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#280 Qing 20: Kangxi & Galdan At Jao Modo, Their Faces Black Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

Galdan Khan has slipped The Kangxi Emperor’s trap, but only by the skin of his teeth. Now having retreated deep into the heart of Central Asia, he’ll think himself safe. But the Dread Lord of Great Qing is not one to let a vendetta go so easily…

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Time Period Covered

1691-1696 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Qing Dynasty:

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

Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary

Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary

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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#279 - Qing 19: The Treaty of Nerchinsk Nov 09, 2024

Show notes

In an epic handshake of history, the Qing and Russian Empires hammer out the first major treaty between East and West. It's good for Great Qing, it's maybe good for Russia... but it's definitely not good for the Mongols who got iced out of the negotiations by a couple of Puritan hustlers, like Galdan Khan and his harried host of Dzungars. Not good news at all...

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patreon.com/thehistoryofchina

Time Period Covered:

1690-91 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Qing Dynasty:

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

Jean-Francois Gerbillon, Puritan Missionary

Tómas Pereira, Puritan Missionary

Russian Empire:

Count Fedor Alekseevich Golovin [1650-1706]

Mongols/Tibetans:

Lamist Tibetans:

The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso [1617–1682]

Dzungar Mongols:

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

Khalkha Mongols:

Jebzongdanba Khutukhtu

Tusiyetu Khan

Chechen Khan

Tsewang Rabdan

Major Sources Cited:

Liu, Cixin. Death's End.

Munkh-Erdene, Lamsuren. The Taiji Government and the Rise of the Warrior State.

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

Thokmay, Darig. “Game Changers of the Tibetan Buddhist Political Order in Central Asia in the Early Eighteenth Century” in The Tibet Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1.

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Extra: Interview with Vince & Cassie of the Autocrat Podcast Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

A chat with Vince and Cassie of the Autocrat Podcast comparing and contrasting the Roman and Chinese origins and genesis legends, folktales, & mythos.

Find Autocrat Podcast at: autocratpodcast.wordpress.com

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#278 - Strange Tales IX.2: To Mortal Strife Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

A hefty second helping of weird, whimsical, wondrous, and wicked tales of the supernatural from the Zhou, Han, Liu Song, Yuan, and Qing Dynasties, for evenings when leaves quake from branches & the walls between the worlds grows thin.

0:00:00 - "Finishing Jiao's Poem" By: The One Within the Mound (Tr. Larry Hammer & Chris Stewart).

0:02:51 - "The Taoist Monk" Liaozhai Zhiyi, vol. 3.

0:09:57 - "A Report From the Qin Imperial Envoy At Xicheng, Gan Zong" Baopuzi.

0:11:33 - "The Ghoul" Shuyiji.

0:14:23 - "The Devil's Advocate" Liaozhai zhiyi, vol. 3.

0:21:57 - "REPORT: Flock of Bears Goes Rogue" Xu Yijian zhi.

0:23:13 - "The Face-Stealer" Shuyiji.

0:26:39 - "Manfox/Foxman" Liaozhai zhiyi, vol. 10.

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Special: The Raven Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

By Edgar Allen Poe [1809-1849]

Published: 1845

Happy Halloween 2024!

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#277 - Strange Tales IX: Fox Tails Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

A trio of seasonal tales about the Korean version of the classic fox spirit, the kumiho (huli jing [CN]/kitsune [JP]) as well as their implications bout the societies they stemmed from.

"The Maiden's Grave" - 02:21

"The Bone The Was a Fox" - 03:39

"The Fox Sister" - 06:22

From:

Fenkl, Heinz Inzu. "Fox Wives & Other Dangerous Women."

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#276 - Qing 18: Kangxi Gets Personal Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

The Kangxi Emperor of Great Qing squares off again Galdan Khan of the Dzungar Khanate in the sociopolitical-religio-military showdown of the late 17th century! Kangxi wants to flex his imperial muscle - in person! - up to and including enacting a "Final Solution" against the un-subdued Mongol peoples under Galdan, but the wily khan will amply demonstrate that all the imperial planning from Beijing in the world means nothing once your army is out in the wilds of the steppe.

Please support the show!:

patreon.com/thehistoryofchina

Time Period Covered:

ca. 1690 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Great Qing:

The Kangxi Emperor (Aisin Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]

The Lifan Yuan (Office of Barbarian Control)

Dzungar Khannate:

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

Other Mongols:

Erdeni Qosuuci

Morgen Alana Dorji

Lobzang Gunbu Labdan

Batur Erke Jinong [d. 1709]

Prince Gandu

Lamist Tibet:

The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso [1617–1682]

Russian Empire:

Count Fedor Alekseevich Golovin [1650-1706]

Major Works Cited:

Munkh-Erdene, Lamsuren. The Taiji Government and the Rise of the Warrior State.

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

Thokmay, Darig. “Game Changers of the Tibetan Buddhist Political Order in Central Asia in the Early Eighteenth Century” in The Tibet Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1.

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