The History of China

Please take a few minutes to help out the show by taking the Airwave listener survey! Thank you in advance! www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave  We revisit the pivotal Battle of Sarhu of 1619/20, but this time from the Ming perspective. Then we'll finally send the Wanli Emperor into his tomb and take stock of his reign and legacy, before getting into our final few emperors Great Ming has left in the tank. Time Period Covered: 1619-1621 CE Major Historical Figures: Ming: The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yujin) [r. 1572-1620] The Taichang Emperor (Zhu Changluo) [r. 1620-1620] The Tianqi Emperor (Zhu Youjiao) [r. 1620-1627] Consort Li Supreme Commander Yang Hao [d. 1629] General Du Song, "The Madman" [d. 1619] General Ma Lin [d. 1619] General Li Rubo [d. 1621] General Liu Ting [d. 1619] Manchu/Later Jin: Nurhachi [r. 1616-1626] Amba Beile Daisan [1583-1648] Hong Taiji [1592-1643] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Manchuria all but tapped out, Nurhachi and his Manchus seek to expand in the only direction that makes any sense - south into Ming territory. It's time for the Airing of Grievances! He's got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it!! Time Period Covered: ~1618-1626 CE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please help support the show by taking this quick survey! Thanks very much! www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave. In the frigid wilds beyond the Great Wall, a young warrior will begin a grand campaign to establish himself as the sovereign of All Under Heaven, and overthrow an ancient rival. Time Period Covered: 1559-1619 CE Major Historical Figures: Ming: The Wanli Emperor General Li Chengliang Aisin-Gioro/Later Jin/Manchu: Nurhachi, Heavenly Mandated Khan of Jin [1559-1626] Giocangga [d. 1582] Surhaci [d. 1611] Cuyen [d. 1615] Hong Taiji Nikan Wilan Dragon-Tiger General Meggebulu Check out the French History Podcast by Dr. Gary Girod: http://thefrenchhistorypodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ming China gets down and dirty with a Miao Rebellion the the Southwest, a Mongol(-ish) urprising in the Northwest, and a newly re-unified Japan gettin just a little too big for their britches in Korea. Time Period Covered: 1587-1600 CE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Ming China enters the 16th century, the Wanli Emperor, his ministers, a new canal, Portuguese & Spanish explorers, the usual gaggle of Chinese neighbors, the Philippines, the Christian Church, The White Lotus, and - of course - the Jesuits all start becoming one another problems... Time Period Covered: ~1600-1617 CE Major Historical Figures: MING: The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yizhun) [r. 1572-1620] Li Zhi, persecuted Neo-Confucian philosopher [1527–1602] Li Rusong, Ming Commander in Chief [d. 1598] Wang Yangming, Master of the "School of the Mind" [1472–1529] Wang Zhicai, politician & assaultee [d. 16??] Zhang Zha, the "Attack With the Club" Intruder [d. 1617] OTHERS: Limahong (Lin Feng), Pirate Leader out of Manila [1499-1574] Wang Wang Gao, Ming Captian/Spanish Liason [15??] Fr. Martin de Rada [1533-1578] Nurhaci, Mysterious Aisin Gyoro Leader [1559- 1626] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First a brief lookback on the crazy, nutso year that was 2022, as our intrepid host deals with an unfortunate year-end bout of COVID... Then, a reach deep into the archives for an oldie, but goodie from a few centuries ago... This short episode covers the life of one of the great mathematicians, astronomers, and engineers of ancient China: Zu Chongzhi. In his life from 429-500 CE, he will re-create an ancient precursor to the compass that had been lost for centuries, calculate the motions of the celestial objects with a degree of accuracy in excess of 99.9%, design a comprehensive new calendar system, and derive the value of π to a degree of accuracy that would not be surpassed the world over for another millennium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being the most powerful person in the empire must be nothing but the good life, right? Well... not so much. And especially with the truly dysfunctional Ming system facing the newly-adult Wanli Emperor, it's a system that promises all the perks, but delivers only drudgery, frustration, and disappointment. Not even 5,000 concubines can make up for that... Time Period Covered: 1582-1600 CE Major Historical Figures: The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yizhun) [r. 1572-1620] Empress Xiaoduan (Wang Xijie) [1564-1620] Noble Consort Wang [1565-1611] Prince Zhu Changluo, "First Imperial Son" [1582-1620] Noble Consort Zheng [1565-1630] Prince Zhu Changxun, "Third Imperial Son" [1586-1641] Grand Secretary Zhang Zhuzheng [d. 1582] Major Sources Cited: Duhalde, Marcelo. “Life inside the Forbidden City: how women were selected for service” in South China Morning Post (July 12, 2018). Huang, Ray. 1587, A Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty in Decline. Huang, Ray. “The L'ung-ch'ing and Wan'li Reigns, 1567-1620” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I. Toshima, Yoriko [Su Chung]. Court Dishes in China.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Protests erupt across Chinese cities in perhaps the largest demonstration of public outcry in more than 30 years. Today, we look at some of the major reasons why. [WARNING: Disturbing Content - audio clips of deadly fire, protests, clashes with police] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 29, the weak and ineffectual Longqing Emperor take the Dragon Throne in 1567. But it won't be long before the curse of the House of Zhu strikes him down, leaving Great Ming to his 9-year-old son, Wanli. That means - of course - the government is in the hands of the court ministers and its all-powerful Grand Secretary, the ruthlessly conniving Zhang Juzheng. Time Period Covered: 1567-1582 CE Major Historical Figures: The Longqing Emperor (Zhu Zaihou) [r. 1567-1572] The Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yijun) [r. 1567-1620] Grand Secretary Xu Jie [1503-1583] Grand Secretary Gao Gong [1513-1578] Senior Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng [1525-1582] Sources Cited: Huang, Ray. 1587, A Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty In Decline. Huang, Ray. “Lung-ch'ing and Wan-li Reigns” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part 1. Melvin, Shelia. “China's Reluctant Emperor” in The New York Times (11/07/2011). Miller, H. State Versus Gentry In Late Ming Dynasty China, 1572-1644. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Ming has a pirate problem on its hands. Unable to effectively suppress it militarily, the officials in charge turn to wheeling and dealing to get the seabooters to give up their outlaw ways. But when the Jiajing Emperor starts sticking his nose in to such affairs from way up in Beijing, suddenly all bets are off... Time Period Covered: 1549-1567 CE Major Historical Figures: Ming: The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567] Grand Chancellor Yan Song [1480-1567] Nanjing Minister of War Zhang Jing [d. 1555] Censor Zhao Wenhua [d. 1557] Censor Hu Zongxian [1512-1565] Commander Yu Dayou [1512-1579] Commander Qi Zhiguang [1528-1588] Pirates: Wang Zhi, CEO of the High Seas [d. 1559] Captain Xu Hai [d. 1556] Lord Shimazi of Osumi Province Works Cited: Andrade, Tonio and Xing Hang. “Introduction: The East Asian Maritime Realm in Global History: 1500-1700” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700. Chin, James K. “Merchants, Smugglers, and Pirates: Multinational Clandestine Trade on the South China Coast, 1520-50” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas. Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I. Laver, Michael. “Neither Here nor There: Trade, Piracy, and the ‘Space Between' in Early Modern East Asia” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700. Petrucci, Maria Grazia. “Pirates, Gunpowder, and Christianity in Late Sixteenth-Century Japan” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas. Wills, John E. “Maritime China from Wang Chih to Shih Lang: Themes In Peripheral History” in From Ming to Ch'ing: Conquest, Region, and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A man of science and his subject conduct one final experiment in an attempt to stave off death itself... by. Edgar Allen Poe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As I am once again locked in at home, things are getting rather touchy on a bridge in Beijing, as well as online, threatening to spoil the Party's Big Party... All due credit to Samuel Wade for excellent episode name idea

Not all ghosts are scary! Some just want to be loved... some just want to write poems... 1:10 - Twenty Years a Dream 20:33 - A Fox Spirit Takes Off the Mask 25:32 - The Fire That Burst Into Flames Far From Where It was Set 29:08 - Yellow Leaf

 The Cremation of Sam McGee By: Robert W. Service (1907) There are strange things done in the Midnight Sun By the men who moil for gold. The Arctic trails have their secret tales That would make your blood run cold...

Someone has to be there to switch the projectors at the exact moment that one reel ends and the next one begins. If you look for it, you can see these little dots come into the upper right-hand corner of the screen. In the industry, we call 'em "cigarette burns." That's the cure for a changeover. He flips the projector, the movie keeps right on going, and nobody in the audience has any idea. In which THoC begins a glorious partnership with Airwave Media.

We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves.We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads,Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,Stand up me hearties, yo ho!Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!Time Period Covered:ca. 1521-1550 CE Sources Cited:Andrade, Tonio and Xing Hang. “Introduction: The East Asian Maritime Realm in Global History: 1500-1700” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.Chin, James K. “Merchants, Smugglers, and Pirates: Multinational Clandestine Trade on the South China Coast, 1520-50” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.Laver, Michael. “Neither Here nor There: Trade, Piracy, and the ‘Space Between' in Early Modern East Asia” in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai: Maritime East Asia in Global History, 1500-1700.Petrucci, Maria Grazia. “Pirates, Gunpowder, and Christianity in Late Sixteenth-Century Japan” in Elusive pirates, pervasive smugglers: violence and clandestine trade in the Greater China Seas.Wills, John E. “Maritime China from Wang Chih to Shih Lang: Themes In Peripheral History” in From Ming to Ch'ing: Conquest, Region, and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century China. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A brief history of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the tale of Hou Yi the Archer & the Ten Suns, and Chang'e & the MoonIn other words, please be trueIn other words, I love you.Sources:Barlett, Scarlett. The Mythology Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Tales.Masaka, Mori. “Restoring the ‘Epic of Hou Yi'” in Asian Folklore Studies, vol. 52, no. 5.Yang, Lihui, Demin An, and Jessica Anderson Turner. Handbook of Chinese Mythology. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Jiajing Emperor rounds out the back-half of his interminably long reign by hiding away in his personal palace, and only occasionally coming out to tell everyone what a terrible job they're all doing. The Mongols seize on Ming weakness to basically do whatever they want, and the Ming respond by turtling even harder and building more walls. Without a imperial guiding hand, the ministers are left to their own devices... with predictably selfish and myopic results.Time Period Covered:1550-1567 CEMajor Historical Figures:Ming Empire:The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567]Gen. Qiu Ruan [d. 1552]Grand Secretary Xia Yan [1482-1548]Grand Secretary Yan Song [1480-1567]Grand Secretary Xu Jie [1512-1578]Mongolia:Altan Khan [1507-1582]Prince ToghtoMajor Works Cited:Bacon, Francis. “Of empire” in The essays of Francis Bacon (1908).Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let the state be small and the people few:So that the people…fearing death, will be reluctant to move great distancesand, even if they have boats and carts, will not use them.So that the people…Will find their food sweet and their clothes beautiful,will be content with where they live and happy in their customs.Though adjoining states be within sight of one anotherand cocks crowing and dogs barking in one can be heard in the next,yet the people of one state will grow old and die without having had any dealings with those of another. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Jianwen Emperor plays shell-games with his dad's spirit tablet, decides Confucius has had it too good for too long, gets gross in his pursuit for immortality, and tries breath-play with his concubines... oh yes, and fire. So, so much fire.Time Period Covered:ca. 1524-1547 CEMajor Historical Figures:The Jiajing Emperor (Zhu Houcong) [r. 1521-1567]Empress Dowager Zhang [r. 1505-1541]Empress Chen [r. 1522-1528]Empress Zhang [r. 1529-1534]Empress Fang [r. 1534-1547]Confucius [551-479 BCE]Minister Xia YanMinister Huo TaoMajor Sources Cited:Works Cited:Geiss, James. “The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.Huang, Weibo. “The palace rebellion of ‘Renyin' and the Jiajing Emperor's belief in alchemy” in Xiang Chao.McMahon, Keith. Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing.Zhang, Tingyu. History of Ming, Vol. 114, Historical Biography 2, Empresses and Concubines 2.Zhang, Yongchang. “The ‘Renyin' palace rebellion: palace women sacrifice themselves” in Quanzhou Wenxue. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

ca. 1470-1480 CEUnder the tutelage of his queen Mandukhai, Dayan Khan grows from helpless boy to leader of men, learning along the way that vengeance is a dish best served cold.Part 1 of 2 (whole version available at https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofchina): See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The widow-queen of the Mongols, Mandukhai, seizes the reins of her own fate, entreating the spirits of sky and earth to help her in her quest to reunite her broken people and return sovereignty and glory to Mongolia. Oh, and she also marries a 7-year-old, which is a little strange, but makes sense in context.Time Period Covered:1470~1480 CEMajor Historical Figures:Mandukhai Khatun [ca. 1449-1510]Dayan Khan (Batu Mongke) [1462-1543?]Gen. Une-Bolod [?-?]Ismayil Taishi [d. 1486] See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the chaos that grips the steppes in the mid 15th century, anarchy reins. Though there are though who call themselves khans, they were merely figureheads controlled by their own prime ministers, the taishis. The once mighty Borjigin Clan has been bled nearly dry, and usurpers are over every hill crest.Into this world of destruction and disarray, two children are born on opposite sides of the vast Gobi. The first is one of the last members of the House of Borjigin, a boy called Bayan Möngke, who will in time become the heir to the office of Great Khan of the Mongols. The other a girl of seemingly little significance, Mandukhai, who will be given to the sitting Khan in marriage as his second queen.Time Period Covered:ca. 1448~1478 CEMajor Historical Figures:Northern Yuan:Beg-Arslan TaishiIsmayil TaishiManduul Khan, "The Old Khan" [ca. 1438-1478]Bayan Möngke Jinong, "The Golden Prince" [ca. 145?-147?]Yeke Qabar-tu Khatun, "Big Nose" [14??-14??]Mandukhai Khatun [ca. 1448-1510]General Une-Bolod [14??-14??]Siker [144?-14??]Boroghchin [ca. 14??-147?] See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Aziz, Ashaya, Sean, and myself have a ball discussing all the things GRRM took - and didn't - from Chinese history when he "created" the mysterious empire of Yi-Ti!I had an absolute ball, and I hope you will, too!! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It isn't over, not really See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Great Ming is having some problems with its border troops who think orders are actually "suggestions." The Jiajing Emperor is having some problems with his ministers being self-serving twits. Meanwhile, there's some strange happenings going on beyond the wild frontiers...Time Period Covered:~1510-1540 CE See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

05/13/2022"Relax," said the night man,"We are programmed to receive." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With the Zhengde Emperor dead without an heir, the succession is in question and rebellion brewing. Fortunately, Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe has planned for this and calls in his backup - the 13-year-old Prince of Xing, Zhengde's younger cousin. He'll come to power as the Jiajing Emperor... but Secretary Yang will very quickly find out that, though young, Jiajing is a spitfire who's here to play the game, not be played.Time Period Covered:1519-1524 CEMajor Historical Figures:Zhu Houcong (The Jiajing Emperor) [r. 1521-1567]Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe [1459-1529]Empress Dowager Zhang [1471-1541]Lady/Empress Dowager JiangMajor Works Cited:Geiss, James. “The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.”Legge, James. The Chinese Classics, Vol. III. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Day 15 of 4: An overview of individual accounts of the unfolding Covid lockdown situation in Shanghai, the siege-mentality that has set in, and the struggles of day to day existence both on- and offline in a city cut off from the rest of the world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There's trouble brewing in the south. A minor prince with delusions of grandeur gets a bit too big for his britches. Portuguese Pirates plunder peninsular ports before coming to call on Canton. This sounds like a job for the great General Zhu Shou, Heroic Defender of the Realm and Ultimate Party-Boat Enjoyer.Time Period Covered:~1514-1521 CEMajor Historical Figures:The Zhengde Emperor (Zhu Houzhao) [r. 1505-1521]The Prince of Ning (Zhu Chenhao) [1477-1520]Jiang BinQian Ning [d. 1520]Grand Secretary Fei HengSun Sui, Governor of Jiangxi [d. 1519]General Wang Yangming [1472-1529]General Zhu Shou, Heroic Defender of the Realm, Duke of Zhenguo [?? -??]Tomé Pires, Portuguese explorer and ambassador [c. 1465-1524? or 40?]Major Works Cited:Brook, Timothy. The Troubled Empire: China in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.Geiss, James. “The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.”Keevak, Michael. Becoming Yellow: A Short History of Racial Thinking.Pires, Tomé, Armando Cortesão & Francisco Rodrigues. The Suma oriental of Tome Pires; and account of the East, from the Red Sea to China, written in Malacca and India in 1512-1515; and, The book of Franciso Rodrigues: Pilot-Major of the armada that discovered Banda and the Moluccas: rutter of a voyage in the red sea, nautical rules, almanack, vol. 1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A new update with all the new craziness 2 years on before we once again step into Ye Olde Chinese Medicine Shoppe for the tour...Traditional Chinese Medicine – as its name duly implies – has been a part of China for at least 2,500 years. But what does it mean? Where does it come from? How does it work? And does it have a place it modern society? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Zhengde Emperor decides that being the divine sovereign is *boring* and that being a cool war-hero would be way cooler... and... it goes weirdly better than expected. Also, he gives himself a cool nickname, and makes everyone call him that.Time Period Covered:1510-1518 CEMajor Historical Figures:The Zhengde Emperor (Zhu Houzhao) [r. 1505-1521]Jiang BinQian NingLiu Yun, Eunuch CommanderGeneral Zhu Shou, Heroic Defender of the Realm [?? -??]TibetThe Prince of Rin-Sprungs [r. 1512-1544]Mongols:Dayan Khan (Batu Möngke) [r. 1479-1517] See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The adolescent Zhengde Emperor sits the throne, but everyone in the know knows that it is the eunuch-lord Liu Jin who truly controls Great Ming. Not everyone's exactly thrilled with this situation, and they're gonna get Liu Jin got... or die trying.Time Period Covered:1506-1510 CEMajor Historical Figures:The Zhengde Emperor (Zhu Houzhao) [r. 1506-1521]Liu Jin, Director of the Ceremonial [1451-1510]The Prince of Anhua (Zhu Zhifan) [d. 1510]Commander Qiu YueGeneral Yan YiqingInspector-in-Chief Zhang YongMajor Works Cited:Bourgon, Jérôme, Muriel Detrie, & Regis Poulet."Execution in Canton" in Chinese Torture – Supplices Chinois.Brook, Timothy. The Troubled Empire: China in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.Geiss, James. “The Cheng-te reign, 1506-1521” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.”Meadows, Thomas Taylor. The Chinese and Their Rebellions See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy Year of the Tiger!Great Ming decides that it's going to (re-)(re-)Build a Great, Great, Great Wall...and MAKE THE MONGOLS PAY FOR IT!*(*claim disputed by Mongolia)Major Work Cited:Fairbanks, John King. China: A New History, 2nd Edition.Mote, Frederick W. “The Ch'eng-hua and Hung-chih Reigns, 1465-1505” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, Part I.Waldron, Arthur. The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a very rocky start in life, the Chenghua Emperor takes the throne, only to be endlessly shoved around by overbearing mother, manipulative and murderous consorts, and conniving, terrorizing eunuchs. What else would one really expect for a guy with the personality of a west dishrag?Time Period Covered:1464-1487 CEMajor Historical Figures:The Chenghua Emperor (Zhu Jianshen) [r. 1464-1487]The Hongzhi Emperor (Zhu Youcheng) [1470-1505]Noble Consort Wan Zheng'er [1430-1487]Empress WangEmpress WuEmpress Dowager ZhouEmpress Dowager QianGrand Secretary Li XianLady Zhi TangmeiEunuch Zhang MinSpymaster Wang ZhiNotable Works Cited:Mote, Frederick W. “The Ch'eng-hua and Hung-chih Reigns, 1465-1505” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, Part I.Li Shizhen. Bencao Ganmu (The Compendium of Materia Medica)Tsai, Shi-shan Henry. The Eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What the only thing better than 8 years on the podwaves? 8 years & 10,000,000 downloads, THAT'S WHAT!!In this episode we talk about what the definition of "is" is, Zen masters, *yet more farming history!,* when I plan to shut up, me reading poetry in Mandarin... & then the same poem in *reconstructed Old Chinese from 2k+ yrs ago*, and divination, which includes Nazis, Princess Mononoke, pigs & fish, and fictions within fictions with fictions at the heart of the truth! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emperor Yingzong is back on his throne thanks to the conspirators loyal to him. Only they turn out to be not so much loyal to "him," as they are to the idea that they should have more and more power. It all culminates with yet another coup d'etat..真讨厌...Time Period Covered:1457-1464 CEMajor Historical Figures:Emperor Yingzong (Zhu Qizhen) [r. 1435-1449, 1457-1464]Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen [b. 1448]Yu Qian, Minister of War [d. 1457]Xu Yuzhen, Earl of Wugong [?]Shi Heng, Duke of Zhongguo [d. 1459]Cao Zhixiang, Director of Ceremonies [d. 1461]Grand Secretary Li XianImperial Guard Commander Lu Gao [d. 1461]General Cao Qin [d. 1461]General Shi Biao [?]General Sun TangGeneral Ma AngGeneral Wu JinGeneral Wu CongCommander Ma LiangCommissioner Wanzhe TuliangVice Commissioner-in-Chief Esen TemurWorks Cited:Qi, Dongfang. “Funerary Perception and Ritual Institution of Imperial Tang” in Kaogu Xuebao (tr. Lee Yun-kuen).Robinson, David M. “Politics, Force and Ethnicity in Ming China: Mongols and the Abortive Coup of 1461” in The Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 59, No. 1.Stutton, Donald S. “Death Rites and Chinese Culture: Standardization and Variation in Ming and Qing Times” in Modern China, Vol. 33, No. 1.Twitchett, Denis & Tilemann Grimm. "The Cheng-t'ung, Ching-t'ai, and T'ien-shun reigns, 1436-1464" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Part I.Waldron, Arthur. The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following the events at the Tumu Fort, Emperor Yingzong takes an unscheduled sabbatical in Mongolia, the Mongol warlord Esen Taishi attempts to return something lost for a price, Beijing battens down the hatches in preparation for Genghis Khan come anew, and brotherly love reaches its breaking point.Time Period Covered:1449-1457 CEMajor Historical Figures:Ming Dynasty:Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong) [r. Zhengtong Era: 1435-1449, Tianshun Era: 1457-1464]Zhu Qiyu (the Jingtai Emperor) [r. 1449-1457]Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen [b. 1447]Crown Prince Zhu Jianzhi [1448-1453]Minister Xu YuzhenXing An, Head Imperial EunuchYu Qian, Minister of War [1398-1457]Northern Yuan/Oirat Mongols:Esen Taishi [1407-1455, (r. as Khaghan of N. Yuan, 1453-1455)]Toghto Bukha (Taisun Khaghan) [r. 1433-1453]Xi Ning, turncoat eunuch [d. 1450] See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our annual creepy charcuterie of 4 strange stories from all across Qing China, collected by Ji Yun from Beijing all the way to Urumqi.Today, we have 4 tales to send shivers down your spine:1) "Professional Notes on the Jiangshi & Other Revenants" (begins @ 2:50)2) "Checkpoints" (begins @ 19:44)3) "Yeti Stones" (begins @ 28:43)4) "Visitors From Beyond" (begins @ 34:37) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"There are black zones of shadow close to our daily paths, and now and then some evil soul breaks a passage through. When that happens, the man who knows must strike before reckoning the consequences."By: H.P. LovecraftRead By: Chris Stewart See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nyarlathotep . . . the crawling chaos . . . I am the last . . . I will tell the audient void. . . .Written By: H.P. LovecraftRead By: Chris Stewart See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A child sits the throne of Great Ming, which goes surprisingly alright… at least for a while. But when the old guard of the imperial regency starts dying off, a combination of naive youthful exuberance and pure political ambition from the power behind the throne will throw everything into chaos on the plains north of Beijing.Time Period Covered:1435-1449 CEMajor Historical Figures:Great Ming:Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong, the Zhengtong/Tianshun Emperor) [r. 1335-1449, 1457-1464]Grand Empress Dowager Chen [d. 1442]Wang Zhen, Eunuch Lord [d. 1449]Mongol Tribes:Esen, Taishi of the Oirat [d. 1455] See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While dying emperors, shifting policies, and vindictive princes keep the capital busy, Admiral Zheng He will manage to sneak in on last joy-ride into the sunset aboard his beloved Treasure Fleet...Time Period Covered:1424-1435 CEMajor Historical Figures:The Hongxi Emperor (Zhu Gaochi) [r. 1424-1425]The Xuande Emperor (Zhu Zhanji) [r. 1425-1435]Zhu Gaoxu, the Prince of Han [1380-1426]Zhu Gaosui, the Prince of Zhao [1383-1431]Grand Admiral Zheng He [1371-1433] See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zheng He's Treasure Fleet finally arrives on the African coast, and the Yongle Emperor celebrates the apex of his reign with the grand opening of Beijing and the Forbidden City. But dark clouds continue to build, but in the emperor's aged, troubled mind, and literally on the horizon... a storm is coming...Time Period Covered:1416-1424 CEMajor Historical Figures:The Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424]The Noble Consort Zhaoxian, née Wang [d. ca. 1420]Grand Admiral Zheng He [1371-1435]Mirza Sharukh, Sultan of the Timurid Dynasty [r. 1405-1447]Major Works Cited:Chan, Hok-lam. “The Yung-lo reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Pt. I.Dreyer, Edward L. Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405-1433.Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Having laid waste to the once glorious city of Baghdad, Hulegu Ilkhan now sets his sights east of the Euphrates, to the fertile lands of Syria and Egypt beyond. But what's to follow will set of a momentous clash in Galilee, at a spring called Ain Jalut, that will shake the very fundaments of history...Time Period Covered:1258-1260 CEMajor Historical Figures:Mongol Empire:Mongke KhaghanKhubilai IlkhanAriq BokeIlkhanate:Hulegu IlkhanGeneral BaijuGeneral Kitbuqa Ayyubid Dynasty:al-Muzzam Turanshahal-Malik al-Nasir Yusufal-Azizal-Zayn al-HafiziMamluks:Saif ad-Din QutuzBaybars al Bunduqdari, "The Great Lord Panther"European Christendom:King Louis IX of FranceBohemond V of AntiochBohemond VI of AntiochKing Hethum I of CiliciaMajor Sources Cited:Amitai, Reuven. Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk Ilkhanate War, 1260-1281.Amitai, Reuven. “An Exchange of Letters in Arabic Between Abakha Ilkhan and Sultan Baybars (A.H. 667/A.D. 1268-69)” in Central Asiatic Journal, Vol. 38, No. 1.Gillespie, Alexander. Causes of War, Volume II: 1000 CE to 1400 CE.Grousset, René. Empire of the Steppes: A history of Central Asia.Subani, Hamad. The Secret History of Iran.Richard, Jean. The Crusades, C.1071-1291.Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades, Volume 3, The Kingdom of Acre and the Later Crusades.Tschanz, David W. “History's Hinge: ‘Ain Jalut” in Saudi Aramco World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Having laid waste to the once glorious city of Baghdad, Hulegu Ilkhan now sets his sights east of the Euphrates, to the fertile lands of Syria and Egypt beyond. But what's to follow will set of a momentous clash in Galilee, at a spring called Ain Jalut, that will shake the very fundaments of history... Time Period Covered: 1258-1260 CE Major Historical Figures: Mongol Empire: Mongke Khaghan Khubilai Ilkhan Ariq Boke Ilkhanate: Hulegu Ilkhan General Baiju General Kitbuqa [d. 1260] Ayyubid Dynasty: al-Muzzam Turanshah al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf al-Aziz al-Zayn al-Hafizi Mamluks: Saif ad-Din Qutuz Baybars al Bunduqdari, "The Great Lord Panther" European Christendom: King Louis IX of France Bohemond V of Antioch Bohemond VI of Antioch King Hethum I of Cilicia Major Sources Cited: Amitai, Reuven. Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk Ilkhanate War, 1260-1281. Amitai, Reuven. “An Exchange of Letters in Arabic Between Abakha Ilkhan and Sultan Baybars (A.H. 667/A.D. 1268-69)” in Central Asiatic Journal, Vol. 38, No. 1. Gillespie, Alexander. Causes of War, Volume II: 1000 CE to 1400 CE. Grousset, René. Empire of the Steppes: A history of Central Asia. Subani, Hamad. The Secret History of Iran. Richard, Jean. The Crusades, C.1071-1291. Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades, Volume 3, The Kingdom of Acre and the Later Crusades. Tschanz, David W. “History's Hinge: ‘Ain Jalut” in Saudi Aramco World.

The treasure Fleet goes on missions 2-4, resulting in increasingly strange, valuable, and even divine gifts being presented to Great Ming.Time Period Covered:1407-1415 CEMajor Historical FiguresMing:Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424]Admiral Zheng He [1371-1435]Commodore Yang Min Ma Huan, translator & chronicler [1380-1460]Kingdom of Malacca:King Parameswara [r. 1402-1414]Major Works Cited:Chan, Hok-lam. “The Yung-lo reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Pt. I.Dreyer, Edward L. Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405-1433.Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433.Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “Kéramos” in Keramos and Other Poems: A Book of Sonnets, Part II.U.N. Museum. “Nanjing pagoda – Seven wonders of the medieval world.” www.unmuseum.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The treasure Fleet goes on missions 2-4, resulting in increasingly strange, valuable, and even divine gifts being presented to Great Ming. Time Period Covered: 1407-1415 CE Major Historical Figures Ming: Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di) [r. 1402-1424] Admiral Zheng He [1371-1435] Commodore Yang Min Ma Huan, translator & chronicler [1380-1460] Kingdom of Malacca: King Parameswara [r. 1402-1414] Major Works Cited: Chan, Hok-lam. “The Yung-lo reign” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644, Pt. I. Dreyer, Edward L. Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405-1433. Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433. Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “Kéramos” in Keramos and Other Poems: A Book of Sonnets, Part II. U.N. Museum. “Nanjing pagoda – Seven wonders of the medieval world.” www.unmuseum.org

A live retelling (wart & all) of Genghis Khan's invasion of Khwarazmia ca. 1221, and the doomed flight of all who stood against his wrath... followed by a Q&A. From the 2021 Intelligent Speech Conference!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A live retelling (wart & all) of Genghis Khan's invasion of Khwarazmia ca. 1221, and the doomed flight of all who stood against his wrath... followed by a Q&A. From the 2021 Intelligent Speech Conference!

There once was a fleet that put to seaAll in name of the Imperial MingWith phoenix sterns, & dragon prowsOh go, my baochuan, go!Soon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goCommanded by an admiralSo tall he seem unnaturalHis voice rang out like temple bellTo get those treasures stowedSoon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goThey sailed the southern seas so vastThey'd catch the wind with all nine mastsAstrologers would watch the skiesFrom Champa to GuangzhouSoon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goBut on wave-crest a Pirate LordHe spied the fleet and greedily roared“Make ready all your cannon shot,We'll take all their cargo!”Soon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goThrough flame and smoke they battled onTil in a flash a month was goneThe Pirate Lord would taste defeatHis ships sunk deep belowSoon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goAt last they came to Indian shoresIn search of spice and jewels and moreThe deal was struck, with solemn vowTo pay all that was owedSoon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goBut homeward bound the skies grew dimThe winds did howl, their fate seemed grimThe sailors prayed, “Help us, Tianfei!”The masts began to glowSoon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goThe Goddess heard their earnest pleasShe stilled the waves & calmed the breezeThe sailors gave their sober thanksShe's spared them from their woeSoon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & goSoon may the Treasure Fleet moorTo bring ceramics & silk galoreOne day, when the trading is doneThey'll take our spice & go  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.