Podcasts about chinese japanese

Welcome to 2025! This is our special New Year's episode and, as such, we'll be discussing several aspects surrounding this time of year – especially from the perspective of the traditional Chinese / Japanese way of looking at it, and what it means within the dual realms of warriorship and Life! During this episode, you'll […]

Coach Mac brings a drink, and Mr. Nasty himself, D Wade, graces us with his presence!

Last time we spoke about the battle of Beijing. General Gaselee and the 8 nation alliance began a grand march upon Beijing. They fought numerous battles at places like Beicang and Yangcun utterly routing the Qing and Boxer forces. The road to Beijing was laid bare open to them, lest it not be for the extreme summer heat which took the lives of many. The Russians attempted to outrace everyone else to Beijing, but quickly bit off more than they could chew. Ultimately the British were the first ones to enter the foreign legations. The besieged foreigners in the legations had been met with a last ditch effort by the Qing to overrun them, but they held on for dear life. Now Beijing was being occupied by the 8 nation alliance. What was to become of the Qing officials, of Empress Dowager Cixi? How would justice be served?   #67 The Boxer Rebellion part 7: The Boxer Protocol   Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Usually you would assume the story was won and done. The 8 national alliance was flooding into Beijing, as they say “the cavalry had arrived”, but it was not over. The next day of August 15th saw more violence. The French deployed 4 artillery pieces onto the Tartar wall and began bombarding the pink walls of the Imperial City. Meanwhile General Chaffee was mounting an assault upon the Imperial city alongside the American forces who were battering their way through a series of courtyards trying to get to the Imperial Cities southern gate. Their ultimate objective was the Forbidden City. When it seemed they were within reach of the Forbidden City, suddenly General Chaffee commanded a withdrawal. The commanders had been arguing at a conference and they all agreed that the 8 nation alliance should take a more conciliatory approach towards the Qing government. Everyone was wondering whether the Emperor and Empress Dowager remained within the Forbidden city. If there was to be a conciliation at all, they would be needed. Rumors began to emerge stating if the Empress Dowager were still in the city, she would most likely commit suicide rather than be taken prisoner. Lenox Simpson was trying to investigate the situation, riding up to the Imperial City where he discovered a terrified Eunuch huddled in a Qing guardhouse in the outer wall. He asked the eunuch how many forces guarded the Forbidden city and the whereabouts of the Emperor and Empress Dowager. The Eunuch blurted out “The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and indeed, the whole Court, had disappeared—had fled, was gone.” There are countless tales of how it occurred, the dramatic flight of the Qing court. It is most likely the decision to flee Beijing came about in the early hours of August 15th. One account given by magistrate Wu Yung claimed he helped the Empress Dowager flee. Cixi was disguised in dark blue clothes of a Chinese peasant woman, they even clipped her nails, go google a picture of Cixi, imagine clipping those things haha. Allegedly Cixi told Wu Yung as she was hastily grabbing some personal belongs “Who would have thought it would come to this?” Of the things she hastily grabbed, one was a precious bloodstone that she believed protect her through all dangers. She boarded one of three wooden carts, and Cixi forcefully grabbed the emperor not allowing him to be taken as a hostage, alongside her niece and the heir apparent. The Imperial concubines were forbidden to accompany them and made tearful farewell. It is said Emperor Guangxu's favorite concubine begged to take her with him, prompting Cixi who hated the girl to demand she be tossed down a well. Apparently the Eunuchs rolled the poor girl up in a carpet and literally tossed her down a well in front of Emperor Guangxu, which is hardcore? Another account has it that Cixi tricked the girl by telling her “We will all stay where we are, but we cannot allow ourselves to be taken alive by Western barbarians. There is only one way out for you and me—we must both die. It is easy. You go first—I promise to follow you.” Then the Eunuch tossed her in the well, one other account has the Eunuchs simply tossing the girl down the well after the imperial party departed because they didn't like her. Can't help but picture Varies from GOT leading eunuchs to get revenge on a royal family haha.  Empress Dowager Cixi had fled the Imperial city once before, in fact 40 years prior during the 2nd opium war. Was a symbolic moment. Back then she had apparently told the Emperor to stay in the city lest the British and French raze Beijing to the ground, this time she did the opposite. On August 10th, Cixi had made an imperial decree ordering General Jung Lu and some other Qing officials to remain in Beijing and maintain the government in exile. The royal party fled through roads filled with others fleeing the city. Their eunuch planners assumed they would buy provisions along the way, but when they entered the countryside they found it completely devastated. On August 17th the royal party made it to the small town of Huailai, north of Beijing. The Boxers and disaffected troops had devastated the town so much, there was only a bowl of millet and green bean porridge to serve the Empress Dowager. Apparently to this she said to her host “In time of distress this is enough. Can I at this time say what is good and what is not good?” From Huailai they traveled to Kalgan and Tatung, near the Mongolian plateau, before they turned towards Taiyuan. Now being so far from Beijing they felt safer and thus instead of conducting themselves under the guise as peasants they now openly showed themselves and told people they were performing an official tour of inspection. It is said by Wu Yung the empress dowager enjoyed talking to him and told him “talk as you please”, and she herself took a large interest in talking to locals and visiting temples and attractions. Wu Yung theorized she had been cooped up for so long in the imperial city, the outside world fascinated her. The mule litters were replaced with sedan chairs, Cixi began wearing luxurious Manchu garb and regrew her fingernails.  Soon the royal party were issuing edicts and receiving reports on the situation of the court in Beijing. Countless governors, viceroys and other Qing officials flocked to pay respects and tribute to the royal party. They stayed in Taiyuan for 3 weeks at the home of Yuxiang where he boasted to Cixi of how many foreigners he executed. However the Taiyuan massacre meant the foreigners might come to the city for revenge, so the royal party continued southwest towards Sian, the old capital of the Tang dynasty. This was territory held by General Dong Fuxiang whose troops were the primary ones escorting the royal party. It was under Dong Fuxiang's protection the royal party now hunkered down for winter. It is said Guangxu's nephew began drawing pictures of demons and would often sketch a large tortoise with the name Yuan Shikai on its back. You see the tortoise was a symbol of homosexuality, thus it was to insult Yuan Shikai who was seen as an enemy who betrayed Guangxu. It is also said Guangxu took the pictures, hung them up on walls and fired crossbows at them. Personally this story to me sounds like an author giving a bit of foreshadowing flavor, for Yuan Shikai would perform even greater betrayals later on. Indeed Yuan Shikai is kind of a meme on my personal channel, over there I have to the point of me writing this script, covered 1830-1932 thus far for Chinese-Japanese history. Yuan Shikai is a behemoth when it comes to the formation of modern day China and honestly his story is interesting to say the least. If you ever want to jump into the future, just check out my content at the Pacific War channel on the Xinhai revolution and China's warlord era episodes, or better yet the full China warlord documentary that encompasses pretty much all of it. Anyways. Back over in Beijing, news of the flight of the Qing court was not met with surprise by the foreigners. Now the foreigners were uncertain what to do next. For some it was a bit reminiscent of Napoleon's arrival to a deserted Moscow, without the highest ranking Qing officials, what could they do? Meanwhile, one place that was still under threat was Peitang. Over at the Peitang Cathedral the foreigners had been fighting for their lives the entire time. When news emerged that the foreign legations had been rescued, everyone in the Cathedral at Peitang rejoiced awaiting their own rescue. The Cathedral was the only Christian building within the Imperial city that was able to hold on and defend itself. It was a miracle they managed to do so. The commander of 30 French marines sent by Pichon on June 1st to help out at Peitang was Lt Paul Henry. At the age of just 23, Bishop Favier had to say of his conduct “he was as pious as he is brave— a true Breton.” Henry had been given an impossible task, to defend an area with around 1400 yards of wall 12-15 feet high with a tiny amount of troops. Henry had the men dig trenches, erect parapets, and used the Cathedral as a last stronghold if they were overrun. The first week of June saw fires erupt throughout the capital and gunfire could be heard everywhere. Bishop Favier looked out from the top of the cathedral to see on the 13th and 14th churches and cathedrals in Beijing being razed to the ground. Refugees poured into Peitang Cathedral more and more, and on the 15th a group of Catholic sisters and children were running from Boxers to the cathedral with Favier giving this account of the scene “Their leader, on horse, is a lama or bonze [priest]; he precedes an immense red flag, surrounded by young Boxers who have undergone the incantations and are likewise dressed in red. They burned perfumed sticks, prostrated themselves on entering our street to the south, and then advanced in compact bands”. The French marines allowed them to reach 200 yards from the barricades before unleashing a volley wounded 50 and sending them fleeing. By June 18th, Henry worried about enemy artillery and tried to fortify the defenses more so. On the 20th, news of von Kettelers death came, Pichon sent a message to Favier, there was no hope of fleeing Beijing. 3420 people, two thirds of which were women and children were trapped in Peitang. Their defenses were comically small, 30 French and a dozen Italian marines, whose commander was Lt Olivieri aged 25. The able bodied Chinese christians volunteered to bolster the forces, making spears, brandishing some knives and a few were given rifles by the marines. June 22nd saw Krupp guns firing upon Peitang shattering windows and sending bricks flying. The main gate to Peitang was being battered by shells. Lt Henry led a sortie of 4 marines and 30 Chinese christians to seize the artillery piece hitting the main gate. They managed to seize it, losing 2 Chinese in the process. The next day simply saw more artillery bombardment. By the 26th, all the buildings near Peitang were ablaze and Boxers were seen erecting ladders and scaffoldings against the walls. The defenders were being pot shotted at every day. On the 27th Henrys second in command Jouannic was shot in the shoulder and would die 3 days later. By July 1st the defenders of Peitang began to eat mule and horse as they ran out of vegetables. Smallpox broke out amongst the children, by July 3rd 15 were dying per day.  The french marines began making scarecrows to help against snipers. It turned out the watchmakers amongst their Chinese christians were capable of creating cartridges for Mausers and other guns. The defenders were able to manufacture powder for cannons with things they seized from the surrounding enemy during sorties. The men fired only 100 rounds per day, Henry noted on July 5th 13 rounds were only fired, on the 14th 74. Famine was more threatening than lack of ammunition. On July 6th Henry checked rations and estimated they could hold out for 20 days. The Boxers began manufacturing exploding missiles that they lobbed at the cathedral. These were a sort of fire pot, a container carrying around three pounds of gunpowder with long fuses. On a single day the Boxers tossed more than 250 of these, but the defenders ingeniously put buckets, casks and even bathtubs full of water everywhere to fight the emerging fires.  The Qing artillery smashed the cathedrals clock tower and walls without mercy. On July 18th, the defenders were countermining when a mine exploded killing 25 and injuring 28. One French marine described the carnage “where bits of waste meat were being dragged out, fragments of flesh and severed limbs were spattered about and part of someone's chest was smashed against a wall”. Qing troops atop the Imperial City walls fired down upon the defenders at all times. By July 28th rations were a meager 8 ounces of food per day. On July 30th the Qing assaulted the north wall, setting the cathedral roof on fire. Henry tried rallying the men and took a bullet in the neck and another into his side. Henry died in the arms of a priest 20 minutes later and was buried beneath a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Cathedral garden. Olivieri took command after his death. The Qing and Boxers seemed emboldened and began firing arrows with messages to the Christian Chinese urging them to abandon the foreigners and return to the old ways. “You, Christians, shut up in the Pei-tang, reduced to the greatest misery, eating leaves of trees, why do you resist? We have leveled cannon and set mines against you, and you will be destroyed in a short time. You have been deceived by the devils of Europe; return to the ancient religion . . . deliver up Bishop Favier and the others, and you will have saved your lives, and we will give you to eat. If you do not do so, you, your wives and children, will all be cut into pieces.” It is said the Boxers believed Bishop Favier was a demon who was using an invulnerability spell by smearing menstrual blood over his faced and nailing naked women and dead fetuses to the Cathedral walls. They also believed the foreigners posed a weapon called “the ten thousand woman flag” woven from female pubic hair which stole power from the Boxer gods. Gotta hand it to their imagination. Despite the messages, the Chinese Christians stayed put. By August 2nd the besieged were starving and began trying to capture stray dogs to eat. On August 5th, Favier wrote this “we can resist balls, bullets, and bombs, but there is no defense against famine.” On August 10th, 400 pounds of rice and a mule were all that remained. Favier was forced to send Christian Chinese out in desperation to try and reach the foreign legation for help. Many were flayed, beheaded and put in spikes near Peitang. On August 12th a violent explosion shook Peitang a giant mine had gone off causing a crater 7 yards deep and 40 yards wide. It buried 5 Italian marines with Olivieri and 80 Chinese. Olivieri recounted being saved with the burial “They succeeded in uncovering one of my hands, and finding it still warm, redoubled their efforts until my whole body was free”. However his men were mutilated and dying. The mine had caused a large breach in the wall and the enemy could easily have stormed Peitang, but they didn't. Another mine went off the following day, but the enemy did not storm Peitang. Just when it seemed they were all going to die on August 14th the defender heard Boxers scream out “The devils from Europe are approaching!” The Boxers were also screaming at the defenders of Peitang that they would all be massacred before their rescuers got to them. But Oliveiri and the defenders watch as Qing banners were lowered from walls, Qing soldiers and Boxers were beginning to flee.  By 5pm they saw europeans on the walls waving an american flag.  The defenders waited for their rescue on August 15th, but no one was coming. Olivieri worried the relief force had been repelled. Then suddenly Japanese troops climbed over the walls and stormed into Peitang. Olivieri rushed over shouting “we are saved!”. The other members of the 8 nation alliance were rather shocked by the actions of the Japanese, Peitang was a French responsibility. The French force that entered Beijing however was too small to fight their way to Peitang. As General Frey noted “What was our surprise to see ahead of us between 250 and 300 Japanese whose presence nobody could explain.” The Japanese without any fuss simply did the deed on their own merit.  Peitang saw 400 people including 166 children die during the siege, unlike the fight for the legations Peitang never had a single day of rest. There was no truce for Peitang, the defenders fought every single day. As Favier assessed the damage in Beijing he had this to say “In Pekin, three churches, seven large chapels, the colleges, hospitals—all are destroyed. . . . The Peitang . . . damaged by shells, is the only building undestroyed. . . . In short, the ruin is almost entire, the work of forty years is nearly annihilated; the courage of missionaries, nevertheless, is not on the wane; we shall begin over again.” As Bishop Favier wandered Beijing, he estimated perhaps 30,000 catholics had been killed. News emerged that 200 foreign nuns, priests, missionaries and their family members had been murdered. Half the population of Beijing fled in terror as the foreign armies flooded in. Many Qing officials committed suicide, many Chinese women with bound feet likewise did so. The special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, Dr. E.J Dillon wrote “Chinese women honestly believed that no more terrible fate could overtake them than to fall alive into the hands of Europeans and Christians. It is to be feared that they were right.” Dillon personally saw the corpses of women who had been raped and bayoneted to death. Luella Miner within the foreign legation had this to say of the matter “The conduct of the Russian soldiers is atrocious, the French are not much better, and the Japanese are looting and burning without mercy.... Women and girls by hundreds have committed suicide to escape a worse fate at the hands of Russian and Japanese brutes. Our American soldiers saw them jumping into the river and into wells, in Tungchow. Twelve girls in one well, and one mother was drowning two of her little children in a large water jar.” Roger Keyes added his own account “Every Chinaman . . . was treated as a Boxer by the Russian and French troops, and the slaughter of men, women, and children in retaliation was revolting.” A British officer, Major Luke, told Keyes that “he had never seen anything more horrible, and some of his young Marines were literally sick”. Lenox Simpson stated he say British Indian forces molesting female Chinese christians until they were flogged by some foreign women. It is said the Japanese had planned ahead of time for the situation. According to Roger Keyes “their Government had wisely taken the precaution of sending their ‘regimental wives' [prostitutes] with them, and they were established in houses at Tientsin and Peking directly the troops settled down”. The first days of the occupation saw indiscriminate looting and rape by all nationalities. The allied commander in chief von Waldersee who only arrived in late september wrote “Every nationality accords the palm to some other in respect to the art of plundering, but it remains the fact that each and all of them went in hot and strong for plunder.” On August 18th all the diplomats and military commanders met at the Russian legation to discuss how to go about reprisals against the Qing. The Germans argued for severe punishment because of Von Kettelers murder, they wanted a punitive expedition and to raze the Imperial city. The Russians favored a more conciliatory line in northern China, but of course something I have not talked about was going on, the Russians had basically invaded Manchuria. One thing they all agreed upon was an enormous victory parade through the Imperial City, a grand humiliation. Each nation scrambled to be the first in the parade, the Russians argued they had the largest force, which was a lie, it was the Japanese. There are countless photographs of the foreign armies in the city and of the parade, but to give a brief description on August 28th George Morrison stated “the appearance of the French troops, complaining that there was every excuse for their uniforms to be dirty but that the faces of many of the men should be so too was quite inexcusable. The French looked singularly decadent in blue dungaree and that their commander, General Frey, was small and pot-bellied. He thought the Cossacks were “heavy” and “rough” but that the Germans looked “splendid” and the Japanese officers “very smart.” The British, by contrast, looked ather “rag tag and bobtail.” The dignity of the occasion was further undermined by the ineptitude of the Russian band, which could not keep pace with eight successive national anthems and found itself blasting out the “Marseillaise” as the Italians marched past the saluting base”. An army of eunuchs escorted by Qing officials brought the foreigners into the Forbidden city which saw looting. Indeed the looting of the capital of China by the 8 nation alliance is probably one of the largest looting accounts in human history, one of the sources I am using has an entire chapter dedicated to only story accounts of what was stolen and by whom, but its simply too much to delve into. Many museums today hold stolen items from this event. Within 24 hours of taking the city not a race of Boxers existed. There was a wild Boxer hunt that saw much horror. Daily executions occurred as described to us by George Morrison “The execution and the long drawn out neck. The butcher with his apron. The executioner tearing open his long coat—the grunt as he brought down the knife—the dogs lapping up the blood—the closeness of the head to the ground, the face nearly touching.” Apparently the Germans got their prisoners to dig their own trench before being shot in the back of the head. During september the allies were awaiting the arrival of von Waldersee, but a number of military operations were mounted against Boxer strongholds in the Beijing region.  Von Waldersee arrived to Beijing in October assuming command and established his HQ in Cixi's palace in the forbidden city. Von Waldersee decided punitive expeditions needed to be increased and Germany began taking the lead in several dozen. The countryside was butchered in a wild hunt for Boxers. Civilians, Qing soldiers, Qing officials, just about anyone faced numerous foreign troops who killed or abused them. Von Waldersee faced a more daunting task however, peace negotiations. There was a mutual distrust amongst the nations and conflicts broke out often. Li Hongzhang, poor old Li Hongzhang and Prince Qing were appointed the imperial plenipotentiary powers and only arrived in Beijing in October. The first meeting was held on Christmas Eve between them and the foreign ministers. Li Hongzhang was not present due to illness. The foreign ministers questioned whether the Qing plenipotentiaries were even real agents of the Emperor or Qing government in exile. Prince Qing managed to convince them he held authority. The allies pondered if the dynasty should change, but it was quickly apparent the Manchu would never allow for such a thing. All the ministers agreed the Manchu dynasty should remain on the throne. Then they pondered punishment of the guilty and a large indemnity on behalf of the Qing dynasty. The indemnity fee first brought up was 67,500,000 roughly 4.3 or so billion dollars by todays figures. The Americans argued it was far too high and would bankrupt China. American secretary of state John Hay sent a telegram to the great powers stating “America's policy was to bring permanent safety and peace to China and to preserve China's territorial integrity”. Von Waldersee would go on the record to say  “the United States it seems to desire that nobody shall get anything out of China.” However on May 26th an imperial edict announced that the indemnity payment would be 67,500,000$ to be paid in full over 39 years. The sum was to be distributed as follows: Russia 28.97%, Germany 20.02%, France 15.75%, Britain 11.25%, Japan 7.73%, United States 7.32%, Italy 7.32%, Belgium 1.89%, Austria-Hungary 0.89%, Netherlands 0.17%, Spain 0.03%, Portugal 0.021%, Sweden and Norway 0.014%. The payment by the way would only be amortized on December 31st of 1940.  Now the negotiations for punishments were a lot more complicated. The allies first wanted to see the executions of prominent pro-Boxer officials, which Empress Dowager Cixi wanted to avoid. Cixi made many counter proposals, but eventually was forced to hand over some officials. Yuxiang, the mastermind behind the Taiyuan massacre was reportedly executed, though notably there is a myth he simply went into exile. Qing official Ying Nien straggled himself, some other officials apparently were killed by having their mouths and nostrils stuffed with rice paper by eunuchs, which is a pretty weird one I must say, many were poisoned. Prince Duan and his brother escaped the death penalty and were exiled to Turkestan. Dong Fuxiang was too powerful to kill much to the dismay of the foreigners. Indeed his Muslim army in the northwest was the bulwark at the time, all he suffered was a demotion, but in reality he was now a major leading figure. Over 100 Qing officials were executed or exiled in the end.  A peace treaty containing 12 articles was signed in the Spanish legation on September 7th of 1901 known as the Boxer Protocol. The Qing were prohibited from importing arms and ammunition for 2 years; the Taku forts were ordered to be destroyed; the legation quarters would receive special status; Boxers and Qing officials who had supported them would face justice; the Zongli Yamen was replaced with a foreign office; the Qing government was to prohibit under the pain of death, any membership for anti-foreign societies; civil examinations were suspended for 5 years in any area that saw violence against foreigners; the Emperor Guangxu was to apologize to Kaiser Wilhelm for the murder of Baron von Ketteler; Emperor Guangxu was to appoint Na't'ung to be a special envoy to be sent to apologize the Emperor Meiji for the murder of Mr. Sugiyama; the Qing government was to erect a commemorative arch over the spot Baron von Ketteler was killed; and at last the great powers would be allowed to occupy numerous important cities so as to make sure their legations were protected. Empress Dowager Cixi was surprised by the terms of the treaty and that she was not punished personally. Hell China was not required to surrender any more territory. Some members of her court argued China should continue the war and that the 8 nation alliance could not hope to face the interior of China. Some argued if Dong Fuxiang were to be allowed to raise his force to 50,000 he could dislodge the foreign encroachment. Cixi however was as much a pragmatist as she was conservative in her ways. If the allied nations would allow Emperor Guangxu and her to return to Beijing retaining their honor, she believed she had little to lose. She also was not a moron and understood exactly why the Boxer Protocol was made in the way it was, the great powers wanted to received payments and in order to do so, needed the Manchu to sit on the throne. She ordered Li Hongzhang to do all he could to re-establish relations with the foreign governments. She also ordered any decrees she made praising the Boxers to be expunged from the official records and secretly ordered all blame to be placed on Guangxu. She gave posthumous honors to all the progressive Qing officials she had beheaded during the siege and disinherited the heir apparent son of Prince Duan, whom apparently she did not like much. An imperial decree in the name of Emperor Guangxu announced “Our Sacred Mother's advanced age renders it necessary that we should take the greatest care of her health, so that she may attain to peaceful longevity; a long journey in the heat being evidently undesirable, we have fixed on the 19th day of the 7th Moon [1 September] to commence our return journey and are now preparing to escort Her Majesty.” The return to Beijing should be held as one of the greatest feats of public relations exercises in history, second only to Robert Downey Jr. The 700 mile journey began in October of 1901 seeing the imperial family carried in yellow sedan chairs, sparing no expense. George Morrison details it quite well  “Along the frost-bound uneven tracks which serve for roads in northern China, an unending stream of laden wagons croaked and groaned through the short winter's day and on, guided by soldier torch-bearers through bitter nights to the appointed stopping places. But for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor there was easy journeying and a way literally made smooth. Throughout its entire distance the road over which the Imperial palanquins were carried had been converted into a smooth, even surface of shining clay, soft and noiseless under foot; not only had every stone been removed but as the procession approached gangs of men were employed in brushing the surface with feather brooms. At intervals of about ten miles, well-appointed rest-houses had been built.The cost of this King's highway, quite useless of course for the ordinary traffic of the country, was stated by a native contractor to amount to fifty Mexican dollars for every eight yards—say, £1,000 per mile—the clay having to be carried in some places from a great distance. As an example of the lavish expenditure of the Court and its officials in a land where squalor is a pervading feature, this is typical.” The Empress Dowager crossed the yellow river in a gilded, lacquered, dragon shaped barge after offering wine and incense to the river god. Believe it or not, the last part of the journey was done by train and Empress Dowager Cixi looked excited to be in what she called an “iron centipede”. Everyone in Beijing was given an imperial decree to graciously permit them to watch the royal family return to the Imperial Court. We are told “As Cixi got out of her chair, the Empress glanced up at the smoke-blackened walls and saw us: a row of foreigners . . . and, looking up at us, lifted her closed hands under her chin, and made a series of little bows.” Cixi was a lover of theatricals and made sure it was a hell of a show.  Within days foreign ministers were summoned to present themselves to the Emperor and for the first time officially enter the forbidden city. On February the 1st Cixi invited the ladies of diplomats to her. The foreign community nor Cixi could know it, but the Boxer rebellion was to be one of the last nails in a coffin made for the Qing dynasty.  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. And so the Boxer rebellion excluding some events in Manchuria was ended. The Boxer protocol ushered in a brand new Qing dynasty that surely would survive the test of time and not succumb to an agonizing death as the people of China could take it no longer.   

We present 9 Hours of the best collection of emotional Chinese and Japanese bamboo flute music, curated specially for those seeking a Zen state of mind. Prepare to embark on a soul-stirring journey as we immerse ourselves in the captivating melodies of these ancient instruments. In this episode, we have carefully selected a compilation of bamboo flute music that carries deep emotional resonance. The hauntingly beautiful notes of the flute will transport you to serene landscapes and awaken a sense of tranquility within. Allow the enchanting melodies to resonate with your soul, guiding you on a path of introspection and inner peace. Each tune is delicately crafted to evoke a range of emotions, from contemplation to serenity, and from melancholy to joy. This collection embraces the rich cultural heritage of both Chinese and Japanese musical traditions, fusing them together to create a harmonious blend of sounds that will captivate your senses and transport you to a state of Zen-like bliss. Whether you are an avid practitioner of meditation or simply seeking solace in the midst of a busy day, this episode offers a serene sanctuary where you can find solace and reconnect with your inner self. Join us on this captivating journey as we present the best emotional Chinese and Japanese bamboo flute music collection for Zen. Tune in, let the music guide you, and experience the profound tranquility that awaits. As the soft notes of the flute wash over you, allow yourself to sink into a state of deep relaxation. Let go of the stress and tension that may be weighing you down and allow the calming music to soothe your mind and body. We hope this episode helps you find the inner peace and tranquility you need to face the day ahead. Remember, taking time to slow down and find stillness is crucial for your mental and emotional well-being. So take a deep breath and let the Zen flute carry you away to a place of calm and serenity. DISCLAIMER: These sounds are for educational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor for serious health issues. Tags:  Soundsky podcast, RWS podcast, Relaxing White Soothing Sounds, RWS, sound sky, relaxing music, soothing music, sleeping sounds, study sounds, nature sounds, deep sleep sounds, Soothing music, sleep music, study music, meditation music, relaxing music,, relaxing white noise, yellow brick sounds, yellow brick cinema, Tmsoft's White Noise Sleep Sounds, the relaxed guys, Asian zen music, relax music,relax,Music Therapy,Soothing,calm,background music,Instrumental music,Long music,Relaxing music, Music,Meditation music,Soothing Relaxations,Relaxing sleep music,Relaxing songs,Piano,sleep,,meditation music, Zen music, flute sounds, chinese zen sounds, Japanese zen sounds, bamboo flute, Japanese flute, asian flute relaxing sounds, water sounds #zen #flute #music #relaxation #meditation #wellness #mentalhealth #selfcare #calming #peaceful #meditation #mindfulness #rest #serenity #tranquility #healing #nature #instrumental #ambiance #peace

Indulge in the mesmerizing beauty of Chinese and Japanese music with this captivating podcast episode. Immerse yourself in the enchanting melodies of the bamboo flute and guzheng, accompanied by the soothing sounds of raindrops. Let the serene rhythms and soothing tones transport you to a state of deep relaxation, perfect for sleep and relaxation. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day, practice mindfulness, or simply enjoy the soul-stirring melodies of Chinese and Japanese music, this episode is your ultimate musical escape. Tune in now and let the harmonious blend of bamboo flute, guzheng, and rain serenade your senses, bringing a sense of peace and inspiration to your mind and body. ✅ Want to listen to our podcast without any Ad or interruptions? Subscribe today and enjoy ad-free episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundsky-soothing-rws/subscribe Please rate our podcast 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ at the top of your screen if you like this sound. As the soft notes of the flute wash over you, allow yourself to sink into a state of deep relaxation. Let go of the stress and tension that may be weighing you down and allow the calming music to soothe your mind and body. We hope this episode helps you find the inner peace and tranquility you need to face the day ahead. Remember, taking time to slow down and find stillness is crucial for your mental and emotional well-being. So take a deep breath and let the Zen flute carry you away to a place of calm and serenity. DISCLAIMER: These sounds are for educational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor for serious health issues. Tags:  Soundsky podcast, RWS podcast, Relaxing White Soothing Sounds, RWS, sound sky, relaxing music, soothing music, sleeping sounds, study sounds, nature sounds, deep sleep sounds, Soothing music, sleep music, study music, meditation music, relaxing music,, relaxing white noise, yellow brick sounds, yellow brick cinema, Tmsoft's White Noise Sleep Sounds, the relaxed guys, Asian zen music, relax music,relax,Music Therapy,Soothing,calm,background music,Instrumental music,Long music,Relaxing music, Music,Meditation music,Soothing Relaxations,Relaxing sleep music,Relaxing songs,Piano,sleep,,meditation music, Zen music, flute sounds, chinese zen sounds, Japanese zen sounds, bamboo flute, Japanese flute, asian flute relaxing sounds, water sounds #zen #flute #music #relaxation #meditation #wellness #mentalhealth #selfcare #calming #peaceful #meditation #mindfulness #rest #serenity #tranquility #healing #nature #instrumental #ambiance #peace

Warning! This music is designed to take away all your worries. This 9 Hours Bamboo Flute Music is what you need! Find a calm spot, sit down, close your eyes, meditate or focus with this Most Inspiring Instrumental Chinese & Japanese Music - Bamboo Flute and Guzheng!!  ✅ Want to listen to our podcast without any Ad or interruptions? Become a paid subscriber and enjoy ALL our episodes ad-free : ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundsky-soothing-rws/subscribe⁠⁠ This music is created in a special partnership with ⁠Epidemic Sound⁠. The Japanese flute is the shakuhachi. The sound of shakuhachi purifies the human soul.   The sound of shakuhachi has power with awe in becoming the strict feeling.   "This melody makes me feel safe and in home. I listen to it when stressed or just need some motivation to keep up working." - Teodora Fact or not: The Chinese temples are where people go to worship the gods and offer sacrifices. The temples are also where people go to pray for good fortune, health, and happiness. They believe that by praying in a temple they will be closer to the gods. Chinese temples have many different roles in society. They are places of worship and prayer, but they also provide a place for community gatherings such as festivals and weddings. ✅ Become a paid subscriber and listen to ALL episodes without any Ads or interruptions. Click here : ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundsky-soothing-rws/subscribe⁠ With our sounds, you can Study, Cry, Sleep, Meditate, work, focus, chill, reduce stress, depression, ADHD and more. By creating a mental state of relaxation, peace, and considerate focus, nature sounds can be deeply relaxing. Sound therapy can help retrain the brain to listen more efficiently and help focus attention on tasks. DISCLAIMER: These sounds are for educational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor for serious health issues. Tags:  Soundsky podcast, RWS podcast, Relaxing White Soothing Sounds, RWS, sound sky, relaxing music, soothing music, sleeping sounds, study sounds. nature sounds, deep sleep sounds, Soothing music, chinese instrumental music,flute,bamboo flute,chinese music,sad chinese instrumental music,best chinese music for relaxing,instrumental music,beautiful chinese music,sad flute,best chinese music,chinese instruments,chinese relaxing music,traditional chinese music,meditation music,relaxing music,chinese song,classical music,best chinese music, Japanese flute, japan relaxing music

In a discussion on transcendence, Raghu Markus and Zen Priest Hozan Alan Senauke describe embodying zen practices and having a stable mind."What really impressed me about the Chinese/Japanese poetry was that there was a sense of the ordinary. There was something marvelous and transcendent in ordinary perceptions." – Hozan Alan SenaukeIn this episode Raghu Markus and Hozan Alan Senauke explore:The practice of ZenMagic within the ordinary Meeting spiritual teachers and guidesSeeing both sides of everything and finding balanceEmbodiment and putting our practice into the worldBeing Happy and being in the moment Hozan Alan Senauke:Hozan Alan Senauke is a Soto Zen priest, folk musician, poet and the Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center in California. As a socially engaged Buddhist activist, Hozan has worked closely with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists and Buddhist Peace Fellowship since 1991. In 2007, he founded Clear View Project, developing Buddhist-based resources for relief and social change in Asia and the U.S. He is author of The Bodhisattva's Embrace: Dispatches from Engaged Buddhism's Front Lines. In another realm, Hozan has been a student and performer of American traditional music for more than fifty years.For Alan Senauke dharma talks, click hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All languages borrow words from other languages. These “loanwords” often come with fascinating historical backstories, their adoption the result of encounters by traders, scholars, and adventurers; and the result of colonialization, as was the case with Taiwan, 1895 to 1945, when many Japanese words came into the Taiwanese language. And because the Japanese are themselves such prodigious borrowers, many of these words were originally from other languages. Find out why English owes such a debt to Cantonese, why John loves “tea,” and why Eryk doesn't want to “kowtow.” Whether you're an “obasan” or a “joss-pidgin-man,” we think you'll enjoy our look at lovely linguistic loanwords.

If you'd like to support the show and get 4 TNG episodes per month, please head to our Patreon pageSome comments from our Patreon supporters:Ruth Dunmire - It's not, strictly, a metaphor, but "Beam me up, Scotty" is a phrase that tells a story that everyone understands--at least in Western culture. Even my 98-year-old mum knew what that means.Peter Larsen - An author I follow has a son with autism who communicates almost entirely via song lyrics and dialogue from TV. He can make his needs known, but only because his parents have spent his entire life learning the context of the quotes. So there are people out there who communicate like this, but it doesn't work very well for a society where people might assign different meanings to the same phrase.Jake Wilson - It's impossible for us to infer the complexity of their language, just as it is for someone reading the Chinese/Japanese 'alphabet' to infer the meaning of the character for sun/light/masculinity/etc by looking at the brush strokes and figuring out what they depict. And impossible, without education, to know that placing it next to the character that represents the concept of harmonious natural balance creates a name that sounds nothing like the characters individually.

Sit down somewhere quietly in a lotus position, put some headphones and listen to this Zen Temple Chinese & Japanese Music with Nature Sounds (wind, leaves falling, water, birds, etc) - Peaceful Inuyama Gardens. Let your imagination fly as you calm your mind.. Let time stop and create! Relaxing With Chinese Bamboo Flute, Guzheng, Erhu | Instrumental Music Collection 有一天，我们只想放下一切，这句话帮助我始终更加努力 你若不想做，会找到一个借口；你若想做，会找到一个方法。 ---------------------------------- Share with family & friends to help them feel better too. If you want to donate to help the podcast grow:

John Gill Commentary Judges 3:12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord,.... Fell into idolatry again, which was a great evil in the sight of God, and what they were prone to fall into: and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel; put it into his heart to invade them, and encouraged him to it, and gave him success; what kings reigned over Moab between Balak and this king we know not: it is a commonly received notion of the Jews, that Ruth was the daughter of Eglon; see Rth_1:4; and it was about this time that Elimelech with his two sons went into Moab, and when many of those things recorded in the book of Ruth were transacted: because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord; which had greatly provoked him to anger, and was the cause of stirring up the king of Moab against them.

Love my podcast? Buy me coffee & help me continue making FREE content for you: https://buy.stripe.com/dR67vtcTvbubefmcN2 http://www.eslbusinessenglishexperts.com Paste 1 of the 3 offers into your browser - for a chance to receive a FREE 40 min expert coaching session with Coach Mark In Manila - 3 FREE places available on each! CONFIDENCE / PUBLIC SPEAKING: https://kingsumo.com/g/bm53y7/enter-to-receive-a-place-on-my-40-minute-advanced-business-english-confidence-interview-public-speaking-masterclass-with-coach-mark-in-manila-ceo-of-wwweslbusinessenglishexpertscom IELTS / OET: https://kingsumo.com/g/nlwryf/enter-to-receive-a-place-on-my-40-minute-oet-ielts-english-confidence-masterclass-with-coach-mark-in-manila-ceo-of-wwweslbusinessenglishexpertscom Chat on Telegram: https://t.me/eslbusinessenglishexperts Join my FREE English Tips and Success Newsletter + Intonation Coaching App & Support: https://coachmarkinmanilanlpcoaching.company.site/Coach-Mark-In-Manila-Wealth-Health-ESL-English-&-Career-Success-Creation-Newsletter-PLUS-FREE-Instant-Money-Creation-Links-p495003506 Join My IELTS / OET / ESL Academy: https://coachmarkinmanila-esl-ielts-oet-academy.wildapricot.org ARABIC SPEAKERS: https://kingsumo.com/g/elxbel/enter-to-receive-a-place-on-my-40-minute-pronunciation-intonation-for-arabic-speakers-of-esl-english-confidence-masterclass-with-coach-mark-in-manila-ceo-of-wwweslbusinessenglishexpertscom Are you an Arabic Speaking woman? Would like coaching support to increase your confidence, Public Speaking skills, propel your career, guide your business start-up & enhance your ESL English? Please register for my soon to launch Arabic Speakers ESL Academy https://coachmarkinmanilanlpcoaching.company.site/Coach-Mark-In-Manila-2030-Academy-Arabic-Speakers-ESL-English-Confidence-Business-&-Career-Success-Academy-Pre-Registration-p504880048 Specifically designed to provide focused support to female as well as male Arabic speakers from Saudi Arabi, Dubai, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt. Expert in Coaching French, German, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Brazilian ESL speakers and business professionals from UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Iraq, Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul, Bejing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Madrid, Germany. Get a Cross-Cultural FREE 30 minute Zoom coaching session: http://www.eslbusinessenglishexperts.com/cross-cultural-training-coach-mark-in-manila.html Learn English on Preply: https://fxo.co/1261319/coachmarkinmanila 1-1 Zoom Advanced Business English ESL, Accent & Confidence Coaching with Coach Mark In Manila: https://coachmarkinmanilanlpcoaching.company.site/ESL-English-1-1-Advanced-Business-English-IELTS-or-OET-Coaching-Success-Sessions-Coach-Mark-In-Manila-p504825560 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/markinmanilacamblyesl/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/markinmanilacamblyesl/support

One Taiwan Visit, a goat, and monkey hit squad. It was lucky the Chef and Jboots even survived. Get in to listen to another "Why I'm Angry Podcast" cause it starts Now!!

Explore the temple of the Last Sensei Iroshima! With this video, Let's travel across the Japanese & Chinese lands to uncover the secrets of the calm, yet powerful Sensei Hiroshima! If you want to feel moved, cry, relax, or meditate, you need to listen to this unique sound. It is the Most Soul-Touching Chinese & Japanese Inspirational bamboo Flute, Guzheng + Wind & Leaves!

Do you want to relax, meditate or sleep better? Put on this wonderful video (on Spotify) of the The Zen Okun Temple - Chinese & Japanese Meditation Music - Guzheng Erhu!

Find a calm spot, sit down, close your eyes, meditate or focus with this Most Inspiring Instrumental Chinese & Japanese Music - Bamboo Flute and Guzheng!!

Have you ever heard the Chinese Japanese Bamboo Flute Erhu with Beach Waves Sounds to Relax & Eliminate all Negativity? It will blow your mind. You deserve a break. Enjoy our 2-hour audio experience that's designed to soothe you and help you get your best rest. Calm your mind with meditation music and the sound of the sea, meditative Native American flute, and the sound of the waters for your inner peace with a sound of a beautiful beach on a sunny day with an Asian Bamboo flute. How to Practice Japanese Meditation in 4 Easy Steps 1. Find a quiet place. 2. Sit with your back straight and eyes closed. 3. Try to focus on your breathing. Observe the sensations of your breath going in and out through your nostrils. 4. When your focus starts to drift, bring it back and refocus on the task at hand. how to meditate in Japanese style Sit on your knees or in a lotus or half-lotus position, straighten your spine, tuck in the chin, and extend the neck by looking up. Let the breath flow naturally without trying to control it. It can also be used to increase mindfulness and self-awareness. Here is the Best recommended Collection of Musical Instruments to explore or buy: ✅ ALL musical instruments to choose from: https://amzn.to/3KKL6c8 ✅ Guitars: explore all Guitars to learn more: https://amzn.to/3rpwZkU ✅ Pianos: here is the best collection of pianos: https://amzn.to/3JE5xpR ✅ Bamboo Flutes: https://amzn.to/3xmZVOg ✅ Harp Instruments: https://amzn.to/3JGXCbj ✅Kalimba instruments: https://amzn.to/3xr4WVR ✅ The Best violins: https://amzn.to/3ve4oA1 ------------------------------------ ✅ Donate on CashApp: https://cash.app/$micropower To listen to 8 HOURS Ad-free episodes and exclusive videos, subscribe here: https://anchor.fm/soothing-soundx/subscribe It takes a lot of time to put these together for free. If you want to donate crypto, my Crypto wallet address is: 0x4E116d7b54043Eb8400e46680E140c6477E68356 Thank you for supporting the work. With our sounds, you can Study, Cry, Sleep, Meditate, work, focus, chill, reduce stress, and more. By creating a mental state of relaxation, peace, and considerate focus, nature sounds can be deeply relaxing. Sound therapy can help retrain the brain to listen more efficiently and help focus attention on tasks. DISCLAIMER: These sounds are for educational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor for serious health issues. Tags: Soundsky podcast, Relaxing White Sounds, RWS, sound sky, relaxing music, soothing music, sleeping sounds, study sounds. nature sounds, deep sleep sounds, Relaxing With Chinese Bamboo Flute,Bamboo Flute,Guzheng,Erhu,Instrumental Music,Instrumental Music Collection,Music Collection,chinese music,chinsese music relaxing,bamboo flute music,bamboo flute meditation music,guzheng music,chinese guzheng,erhu music,erhu music traditional,relaxing music,soft music,background music,china music,china bamboo flute,china guzheng,soul music,peace music,sleep music,meditation music,study music --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/soundsky-soothing-rws/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/soundsky-soothing-rws/support

Let's travel by train through most of China and Japan for 2 Hours with this unique Relaxing Train Sounds with Chinese + Japanese Guzheng, Erhu Soothing Collection. Listening to Chinese music is not only soothing, but it also makes you feel as if you are in nature. The sounds of the water and birds live within the music make it just that much more calming. Chinese music is a very unique and beautiful genre of music. In China, it is often played at low volumes as to not disturb people during sleep time. Because of this, the melodies are soft and the song titles are often long because more words need to be said in order for someone who does not understand Chinese to know what is being sung about. The erhu is a traditional two-stringed bowed musical instrument used in the performance of classical Chinese music. The instrument has a sound that is similar to a violin but with a much lower register and it is often used in pairs.. The bamboo flute, or dizi, is a transverse flute made from bamboo. It has been played since ancient times as an accompanying instrument for Chinese opera. ---------------------------------- Here are some great products to help you sleep or relax better: 1- ▶ Collection of the Best Mattresses, Premium Pillows and products for Perfect sleep: https://cutt.ly/premium-sleep-aid-collection 2- ▶ Tools to Relieve Stress and Anxiety: https://cutt.ly/best-relaxation-tools 3 - ▶ Best Collection of Study Aid Products: https://cutt.ly/best-study-aid-tools 4- ▶ Best Nature Custom Warm Blankets for Good sleep: https://cutt.ly/best-nature-warm-blankets ------------------------------------- ✅ Donate on CashApp: https://cash.app/$micropower DISCLAIMER: These sounds are for educational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor for serious health issues. Tags: Relaxing With Chinese Bamboo Flute,Bamboo Flute,Guzheng,Erhu,Instrumental Music,Instrumental Music Collection,Music Collection,chinese music,chinsese music relaxing,bamboo flute music,bamboo flute meditation music,guzheng music,chinese guzheng,erhu music,erhu music traditional,relaxing music,soft music,background music,china music,china bamboo flute,china guzheng,soul music,peace music,sleep music,meditation music,study music, chinese music,chinese,chinese music instrumental,ancient chinese music,chinese relaxing music,Tea Ceremony,asian music,beautiful chinese music,chinese guzheng,guzheng music,zen music,traditional chinese music,guzheng,chinese music traditional,zen garden,chinese music traditional instrumental,zen meditation music,instrumental zen music,chinese zen music,tea music,tea ceremony music,chinese tea music,japanese tea ceremony music,japanese music,tai chi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/soundsky-soothing-rws/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/soundsky-soothing-rws/support

Let's relax with this EPIC Japanese and Chinese Guzheng Erhu Epic Instrumental Bamboo Flute Collection - Ideal for all types of Perfect Relaxation.

In this episode, we sit down with a Chinese-Japanese couple and delve into the dynamics of their relationship. Specifically, we asked them the following questions to learn more. Their background How they met How they became a couple What influences their relationship What are their biggest challenges How their families feel about their relationship What they admire and appreciate about each other What advice would you give about multicultural relationships Please let us know what you think of International Immersion Email: internationalimmersionpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/International-Immersion-103548421825305 Instagram page and Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-immersion-podcast/?viewAsMember=true --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/international-immersion/message

Jeff Le has had a career at the highest levels of public policy and politics at the state, federal and international levels. A recognized thought leader in political advocacy and representation, his analysis and opinion-writing have been featured in The New York Times, POLITICO Magazine, USA Today, The Washington Post, FOX News, The Hill, Roll Call, Forbes, and local and regional newspapers in 30 states.=================Welcome back to another episode of create a new tomorrow. I am your host, Ari Gronich. And today I have with me, Jeff Le, and I've been looking forward to having this conversation for a long time. Jeff is a two-time tour guide in Afghanistan. He's an ultra-marathoner. He's in the political arena. And that's the thing that I really want to talk to him about. But this is a guy who's recognized as a thought leader, as in political advocacy. He's been featured on Politico magazine, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, I mean, Fox News, all kinds of stuff. But Jeff, I'm gonna let you tell a little bit more about yourself. And where it is that, you know, you feel like your history has met your present, and is like pushing your future forward. Jeff Le2:36Thanks for having me. Ari. Flattery will get you everywhere. So, thank you for that very warm introduction. You know, when I talk about my life, I really must take time to talk about my parents, first and foremost, not just because they love each other very much, and here I am. But also, because, you know, it's their bravery and passion that allows me to be an American today. Right. So, they were Vietnamese refugees after the fall of Saigon. 46 years ago. 3:25Yeah, they were refugees in, you know, Thailand and the Philippines and escaped Vietnam and communism on a 32-foot raft. So, you know, when they made it to the United States in 1981, after six years, a year later, I was born. And that came with great rights, but also responsibilities. And growing up in Southern California. My parents had a gardening company. And it's important to highlight because it was my first job. My first job at eight years old was being the gardener's kid, and mowing lawns in the weekends. I learned two things about this. Number one, manual labor sucks. And education is really important, two people treat you based on what they think of you based on what you do. And so, understanding that we're only equal in concept, but maybe not in reality is an important lesson learn at a young age. I say all that because a lot of my professional and personal life was driven on this understanding. And I would break my life chapter into three chapters, and we can talk about each of them. Yeah, the first was a chapter in the international affairs arena, right? I got to work and travel and 85 countries around the world. There was so much to see and do, including, you know, what you referenced was, you know, my time in Afghanistan, you know, working in the international development, economic space, but also working in the human rights and advocacy, is base. And obviously, recent events in Afghanistan, are quite tragic and horrible. We'll talk about that. After that experience, it made me ask for mentally, what was I doing for the country back home? And so, the second chapter of my life was in politics, but you know, really with a stronger emphasis in state and local politics. I got to work for the governor of California specifically for five years. Jerry, yes, great way for Jerry Brown, Jerry Brown, the governor of California, so that the current governor of California, the previous governor of California, and which, for me was fascinating, because when Jerry Brown was governor, California, in the 70s, and early 80s, my parents arrived here. So it was so fascinating that their son could be advising the governor of California, the same governor, who was governor when they landed. So, think about that, from that, you know, the world is an interesting circle. And I was really proud of the work that I got to do in California, as you know, I mean, California, you know, covers some really interesting issues and technology and innovation. Ari Gronich5:53California is crazy state. Jeff Le5:55There's a lot of stuff to talk about, right? Fires, floods, you know, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, I mean, your amens, I mean, there's so much stuff that comes from there. And also what's not talked about the largest veteran community in the country, and 30 military installations that are sort of the backbone for our efforts in the Pacific, not talked about, but it's very important. Think about not just from a national security perspective, but also from a local economy perspective, having those installations there, those work I really got to work in really proud of. And now in this phase, I work in technology. And I'm really focused right now on housing, and really focused on reducing barriers for people to get to affordable safe housing, at a time where you have potentially millions of people being evicted, through no fault of their own. So, you know, for me, my goals have really been focused on trying to support empower the most marginalized at a time where the haves and have nots grow, what can we be doing to be smart and thoughtful about this, and not throw the baby with the bath wash. Ari Gronich7:09Absolutely. So let's start to unpack some of this stuff a little bit. We're gonna go back, I actually I had a girlfriend. Long time ago, she had a tattoo on her butt that looked like a shipping label. It's said made in Vietnam. She had been a refugee who had escaped on a boat, like a rowboat, almost to Thailand. And so I find that interesting, because I know what it's like what it was like for her parents, who did the escaping, you know, and all of that what they faced and possibilities that they faced in order to escape a place. And where I'm going to draw the parallel in a minute is not necessarily to the Vietnam, but it's to Afghanistan, and all the refugees that are being forced, you know, to leave their home. And so, we'll draw that parallel as well. But what I want to get to at the first is, is that eight-year-old boy, who is being aware of the fact that your equality is not necessarily equal in the eyes of the people. So, I want to just kind of unpack this this one little bit for a second, let's talk about equality. And if there should even be anything called equality, and if so, what would it look like to you? So, let's just.  Jeff Le8:49Yeah, it's funny. So, under the law, there is supposed to be equality, right? In society, that's certainly not necessarily the case. There is something very important which is equity. Equity is important. Yes. Equanimity too. Those two concepts are very important. And so, I believe in equality of, there's an equality of opportunity and potential. Outcomes are different. Outcomes or outcomes. But we also must acknowledge that, there are some folks that are born on third base. There are some folks that are born on first base, and there are some folks that are selling hotdogs in the stands. It's it is different. And so, where you start does affect how you play the game. Right? Like if you're playing Monopoly and you got Boardwalk and Park Place to Start, it probably affects the way you probably can maneuverer. And I can tell you that my you know, my parents coming to the United States with nothing, I can't say we had Boardwalk and Park Place. I think we were just happy to have it. Have a token on the board. Right, we're happy to be here. And very much at least in an Asian American Pacific Islander angle, particularly Vietnamese American one, there's one very much filled with gratitude, a gratitude that we get to be here and that we get to chase, the thing that you and I have talked about, which is the American dream. The American Dream, though, isn't the dream for your parents, the American Dream is the possibilities for your children. That's what that is. Because, you know, very few, you know, these refugees you cited and Afghanistan, they're here are like being resettled. They are not going to be the direct beneficiaries of the American experience and the opportunities here; their kids will be. That is the American dream. The parents will have to live with the trauma of what they lost and what they'll never get back. And I know we discussed like, oh, how lucky these Afghans are to make it. The survivor's guilt. That's real. And they're separated from their family, their friends, their loved ones, everything they've ever known. So, they're always going to be knothole. So, I think there's this notion when we talk in society about like, oh, these refugees are taking advantage of things. Oh, they're just trying to find a way to, you know, further themselves. No, it's a last resort. It is a last resort. I mean, you think about what makes you happy? It's your community. It's the people around you. It's the sense that you're living in your skin. Ari Gronich11:27You know, it's funny to me, as you're talking, I had a thought, right? How many people do I know that I grew up with? Who have never left? The place that we grew up. Quite a few. And how difficult it is for somebody, just to willingly choose to go move somewhere, even just out of city. Not just out of state but out of city. You know, how many people do I know that have lived on the same block. You know, as their parents lived, and their grandparents lived the same block the same neighbourhoods. And when I hear somebody say, you know, these people are, they're being forced. What I want to see happen, right. When I hear you say, they'll never be whole, what I want to see happen is block parties. I want us to be, you know, the 50s, again, when we welcomed the world, right, onto our blocks into block parties, and we actually understand and listen and question like, What was that experience that you went through so that people can become whole? Jeff Le12:52Yeah, I mean, you're totally right. I think this first off, I mean, if you look at the founding of America, America is a nation of immigrants and refugees, by the way, seeking refuge. In the only scenario of options last, right, if you look at the history, right? We focus so much on the Mayflower. There are many other May flowers for many other generations that we never talked about. It's not as luxurious, right? But the reality is that you, we have a culture that has a connection to cultures of many. And part of our strength, if you talk about from innovation, what makes America so powerful, is that we have these viewpoints, perspective skills and abilities from all around the world that come here, the best of the best. And then they use those talents and skills to create things that change the world. That creates that new tomorrow. Right? If you look at, you know, for example, let's just talk about, let's say the vaccine, for example, one of the things that people don't talk about who worked on the science of these vaccines, right? The research and development are on the backs of immigrants, doing the lab and bench science. So, you know, America benefits from those talents. And to your point, we have to recognize, it takes a whole of society to put people in the best position to succeed. They deserve to have an at bats, whether they strike out whether they get a single, I couldn't tell you.Ari Gronich14:23So, hold on a second. Let's again, I'm I like to unpack some of this. I don't agree. With the premise that all people should have an equal starting ground. Right. And say that because I'm going to have a different brain than you have different set of skills than you. I'm going to have abilities that you will never have. You will have abilities that I will never have. And I disagree with the philosophy of any possibility of starting from an even ground. Now, here's, here's to say, if I had $100 million, okay, my brain would know who I need to put that with. So that I could get things moving forward, somebody else's brain that's given $100 million is going to spend it on junk that's not going to move anybody forward or anything forward, another person is going to spend that 100 million totally different, right? They're going to actually like maybe go to classes and learn and gain a skill and do good in the world. So, money, or resources or family, like, you might have a much larger family of resources than I have, my family might have more money. So, I don't believe that there's ever going to be a time possible in which we have an equal starting point or equanimity in relationships, it have equanimity and other things. Jeff Le16:09Well, I think historically, that's right. I mean, again, like we talked about my family's history in the United States is 39 years. Right. So, the starting point is different versus, you know, someone that's been here since their family has been here since 1840s. Whether we can agree that's different, and totally agree that there's different skills and abilities. I think it's the case of how do we best put people in positions, you know, to fulfil their talents and potential? I agree with you. Not everyone is gonna be a starting pitcher. Not everyone is going to be even playing that sport. I totally agree. But I do think on the services part, like the thing you talked about for society, right? Having that openness to learn to understand that benefits everybody, and that benefits a stronger country as a whole. Ari Gronich17:01Yeah. But also. I guess what I want to get to is, can we agree on a solution, right? That starts us from a place of maybe not equanimity. But at least not fight or flight. Right. So having somebody not necessarily have to worry about survival skills, survival instincts, surviving in general. And that's where I believe that if we could get away from the nervous system being triggered into this fight or flight response constantly, right? Meaning, we give people a way to have shelter, have clothes, have food, have the things that are necessary to sustain a life. That starting point, at least, is a starting point that will allow people to move in a quicker fashion, right? But to your point, at eight years old, you started a job. At seven years old, I started a job. Right. Mine was paper boy, and we did lawn mowing for like five bucks a lawn. Five bucks a lawn, I think back then. It was like three bucks a lawn. Right. And so, here's the other part of that. So, I'm going to be my own devil's advocate on this. The struggle is what made you who you are, right? That having to work that early, the being forced into an a non-equal position, right. Whereas somebody who's wealthy, whose kids are wealthy, they don't have to do anything, they don't have to learn, they don't have to think they don't have to, and they'll lose anything that they're given pretty darn quickly. So, there's, the dichotomy in my in my head, and we give people an equal footing ground as far as like survival. And will that have an opposite effect of taking the struggle away that makes people really forged in strong?   Jeff Le19:32Yeah, so I think you know, if you think of that, you know that Maslow's hierarchy, right. So, if you reduce the existential crises, then it can allow people to forge and foster in the other ways. I think there's three factors I think about first is, you know, just personality, right. I think there's the things that are born innately like you were talking about earlier. Alright, that is a factor. The second one, I think, is really helpful is exposure to other people? So, I mean, if you think about, you know, everyone remembers their third-grade teacher, right? Like there are people that influenced your life in a unique way. Even if it doesn't seem like it's going to be changing your life, those people are really important that you can't really control for right is the quality of your teacher or the quality of, you know, important figures in your life? The third is luck. And that, I think, to the point you, I think you imply it, I think that's fair. We live in a society that tells us that if you work hard to do these things, and you're successful, and that, alternatively, if you don't work hard, you will fail, and that's on you. So, when we see people fail, we just assume they didn't work hard enough. That might not necessarily be true. So, it's like that. That's an interesting premise here on, you know, this path dependency of like this dichotomy of if you do this, you do this, if you do this, this happens. Ari Gronich20:56See, I don't I don't believe that hard work means anything. Right. I've seen housekeepers who, I mean, like, go 10 hours, 12 hours a day, they work their butts off, and they're making, you know, five bucks an hour, so to speak. 10 bucks, whatever the minimum nowadays. And I see CEOs who do absolutely nothing all day, right? Who make massive amounts of money. So, I don't believe that it's equal hard work for outcome, right? It's what you create as value. It's how much value you're providing to the world. Right? So, the value you provide to the world is gonna depend on your personality, as you said, it's going to depend on your skill set your, you know, your history, but all but mostly your mindset skill set, isn't that correct?  Jeff Le21:57It is and again, also, the degree of understanding systems. So, this is the other part like we were talking about, from, you know, the welcoming, I view, the welcoming is also an education on, how do you navigate? I think about my parents in the first two years, they were trying to figure out the DMV. I think everyone struggles, the DMV in some way. But imagine, you've come from this conflict, and you've been in transit. And now you're here and you have some sort of social network or you're working through, but then they're like, Oh, you have to get driver's license. Like, what is that? How does that work? So, there's also like, the quicker one can pick up the system. And as we talked about, I think really gifted creatives in this space, we'll learn the system, maximize what that looks like, and then break it. Right. I think that's where it gets really interesting. When you're starting in a position of the basics, you're not talking about breaking systems just yet, right? So, I think anything you can do to, again, expedite the ability to get people administratively in the points you talked about with this, you know, this hierarchy. That is helpful, because it will help for people's transition. to not feel like they don't belong here. Or at least you pretend you belong here.    Ari Gronich23:22So, belong here, an interesting phrase. So, I'm a firm believer that I should have the free ability to travel about the universe as I see fit. Right? I don't think I should have to have a passport. I don't think that there should be borders of any kind. I don't, you know, let me play. I'm gonna play this out. Like, yeah, well, your goal on here, I don't think there should be any limits. To me traveling around the globe. I look on a world view of Earth from space. And there aren't any of those, you know, barriers or lines that we've put onto the globe. Yes, you can see the Great Wall, but that still doesn't delineate the country, it only delineates one place. But the point is that this is earth, right? We all belong. If we live, if we exist, we belong on this earth. And so, stopping people from traveling, creating all these borders, what does that do psychologically? To somebody's mind, right? I have a friend in London right now. And he had to get permission from the government to fly out of London to come to the US because of COVID right otherwise There would be a $7,000. Fine. Okay, in order to travel around the country around the globe around whatever, you had to get permission. I think that that's wrong. You've been to 85 countries. Right? You've travelled the world. You have seen, I'm sure more amazing things than 99% of all people. Because you've been to more places that, you know, most people have, like, like we said before, never lost their block, never got off their block, let alone travelled 85 countries. So, what do you think of belonging to the universe belonging to Earth, right, belonging in general? And how this whole issue can get alleviated? If we stop the nationalism thought? Jeff Le25:56Yeah, yeah, um, I want to react really quickly about some insights. When you travel to different countries, I have two universal principles. And then we'll talk about the nationalism question that you raised. The first is in the travels, I got to experience and see with all the different people. Principle number one that I found is that regardless, where I went, who I met, how I met, what I saw, the people who had the least always gave the most, that's irrespective of nationality, irrespective of label, gender, you name it, I thought it was incredibly powerful. And from a humanist perspective, like just very inspiring, especially in places of the most hardship, I found people to be absolutely the most resilient, the most resistance to negativity, but also willing to sacrifice in a way that was in almost inhuman in some ways. Second principle, the more I travel, the more I miss home. And there's something about home that is important. And I struggled to understand what was it about home that it was, was it? Was it air conditioning? Was it my cereal in the morning? Was it the ease of driving on the right side of the road? What was it? And what I concluded was, it was a sense, where I didn't have to constantly translate in my head, a situation or scenario. And I think when you're what you're talking about, from a big picture perspective. When you talk about these barriers, or borders or labels, you're talking about haves and have nots. And you're talking about people that are deemed X and people that are deemed Y. And it's never done in a way that's done with rigor, right? It's just a label, right? It's based on what you talked about. It's based on nationality or passport, or it's based on a classification. It's not based on the individual, right, with rare exception, like your friend is a rare exception to get that exemption, for example, largely based by Guile in relationships.      Ari Gronich28:07But he's spoken in front of parliament in the United Nations. So, he's been a guest on this show. I mean, that will get him. Well, we'll get him anything, Jeff. Jeff Le28:18Besides a cosmic karma. But to your point, though, you know, I do think the nativism part is dangerous, because it irrationally puts people into intellectually lazy buckets. That is dangerous from not just from an everyday life perspective, but from a policymaking perspective. Right. And, you know, as you know, that the government, there might be well intended actions or options. But implementation is always the question. And then there's always exceptions to the rule. That is the question. And so, it can be really hard to right size solutions for the most people possible. Understanding that is far from perfect. But fundamentally, one of the issues that I see here is the policy makers that use rhetoric to score political points, mainly campaign dollars, to then advance their own personal interest without actually doing good for the others around them. That is, and maybe that's human nature. I don't know, we can debate that. I would argue it's not because I've seen the most giving people on planet Earth. So, it's hard. It's hard to see the difference. But unfortunately, in the system, we're in Ari. It's very much driven on. There's only so much pie, and I'm going to claim the pie for my people versus some of us believe that. Actually, you can go in the kitchen and make pie and we'd all be better off. So, it's an interesting debate. Ari Gronich29:55Yeah, there's plenty of pie. I always say to somebody who thinks that there's a lack of anything in the universe. Say count handful of sand grain, just a handful. Just count them. See if you can, if you can't, you probably don't have a lack in the world, right? How about counting the hairs on your head? Can you count how many hairs are on your head or pores or on your skin? Right? We don't have a lack of for anything. In fact, we have an abundance of so much. Part of what I feel is like going to a restaurant where there's a menu, that is five pages versus a one page menu, right? One causes anxiety. The other cause, you know, creates ease. I only have these choices. Yeah, this is all that I can do. Right. Whereas the universe right now, is the smorgasbord, we have this thing called the internet that allows you to have a buffet of all you can eat of your own topic, right? And so like, for me, I'm the kind of person who gets a little piece of everybody's, right. And I want a little I want to try a little bit of everybody. So, I don't get stuck in my own thoughts.  Jeff Le31:17Well, also you don't get stuffed either. Right. So, you get to enjoy the taste without having to deal with that coma after so that's a smart strategy. Ari Gronich31:25Right. But, that's how I like my people. You know, diverse. That's how I like my life is to have diversity to have levels.    Jeff Le31:41Go outside to see different and I would also say difference. Right. Because I think one of the killers that we were talking about with nativism, is people just all go in their corners, right? And that creates groupthink. And groupthink is a killer. That's the thing that we need to be breaking. And I'm really, I really admire the way you sort of look at life in that you want to be exposed to as many things as possible. Not as little.  Ari Gronich32:06Cancel Culture sucks. Let's just get it out. Like anybody who's cancelling anybody. You should be ashamed of yourself. Really, like down and dirty. You should be ashamed of yourself, cancelling people cancelling things that you have no idea about who they are, you never asked them a deep question, or found out why and you're cancelling them. I find it disgusting. It's actually like, I find that that whole concept, completely disgusting. Anybody who's an American like it's going against the Constitution, which is free speech, the idea of free speech, right? So, let's just like I'm just getting that out of my system. At the onset, right? Cancel culture sucks. So that being said, what's the solution? So, I like solutions. I'm all about solutions. These days, we've talked a lot about problems. Yeah. I want to get to some solutions with you. Okay. So, let's go to Afghanistan, for instance, and what's going on there. You had two tours. And you kind of have an insider's perspective. So, let's get perspective on that location. Jeff Le33:27Yeah. I mean, obviously, Afghanistan has been in the news. What's fascinating about Afghanistan, is it's one of the most complex histories on planet Earth. I mean, just where it's located in the world is one of the busier more complex neighbourhoods, you can you just take a look around the neighbourhoods, it's busy. And what I learned from the years I was there, that one, one really important lesson, which is super helpful for both empathy, but also humility, is the longer you're in a place, the less you understand. And I think that's the case in many countries in many parts of the world. Ari Gronich34:04Unpack that. Explain that. Jeff Le34:05So, there's layers of complexity. And let's say, you know, you want to understand the United States. So, you stay here for a semester, or you stay here for a couple weeks. All right, you have a good handle. You stay here five years, what did you really learn? Oh, my goodness, there is way more to unpack than one thought. That's very much the case in a foreign country that is in a conflict, an active conflict zone, and you're trying to figure out, how do we promote better relations? How do we, you know, ensure more prosperity and economic development? How do we build things? And also, more importantly, how do we get rid of the bad guys? Which by the way, there's that construct of good guys bad guys, which we can talk about that. The great part about that experience two things one, I got to be outside of the Capital for lots of parts of it. And that's helpful because the country isn't just The State Capital or the nation's capital, just like if you look at the United States right now, you know, there's Washington and there's everything else. Everything else is quite different than Washington very much as hasten Kabul and everywhere else and understanding that the local differences matter. But more importantly, the local sensitivities, the local people, local constructs are different. That helps you get a sense of what's possible. And the only way I could do anything Ari was with hiring local people who were invested in trying to promote a better Ari Gronich35:33Hold on one second, I'm gonna pause you.  Ari Gronich35:57Jeff, I'll be right back. I just got to do something real quick.  Jeff LeYeah, of course. Ari Gronich36:40Sorry about that, my ex is coming to pick up stuff for my son. Jeff Le36:52Understand, understand. That's complexity. Ari Gronich36:56Yes. All right. So where were we? Jeff Le37:01We were talking about FSM. Yeah. I guess, to say, if you want to be successful, in a country, like that, you need to have local buy in. And you need to have local staff who are committed to building a very different country. That's not an easy sell. But when you do have folks who are interested in stronger prosperity or having closer Western alignments of the world, when they're all in, you're all in, here's the thing. They make a choice. That choice isn't just a job decision. That's a life and death decision. That's the difference Ari. So, the choose to support the Americans, like just how my parents supported the Americans. If you don't win, you lose. And that's what unfortunately, has been the case here in the last six weeks following the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. And I think we can agree 20 years is a very long time. And we can agree that 20 years, what did that give us? Those are fair, valid, thoughtful, important questions that we should and absolutely need to learn from. But speaking at a human level, knowing that the vast majority of my local staff, people that made sure I was okay, made sure our troops were okay. That they're not going to be okay, now. That is crushing to me. Because they're the unlucky ones, the ones that won't make it to United States, and 46 years ago, my parents were the Afghans. And so, I feel a tremendous sense of both heartbreak, guilt, and shame, knowing that we couldn't do everything we really could do. You'll hear Ari, people say that, oh, we did the best we could. It could have been way worse, you know, right. And listen, I would love to go down the multiverse to determine the other scenarios I'd love to. But the reality is in the universe you and I live in today. There are family members of my former staff that have already been killed, or people are hiding in a hole in the ground or deciding which land border are they going to cross over? That's the questions right now. And that's a difficult thing to accept for me. Putting aside the strategic questions, which we can talk about, of course, that's that that is well deserving, but just on a human level. It's something I haven't been able to shake. I don't sleep very well, to be honest with you. I tried to do the best I could and continue to try to support visa applications, whatever the case might be through our process, which is a 14-step process. And it's hard to know that even the greatest most powerful country in the history of the world, still can't get the stuff, right. Ari Gronich0:02So, I'm gonna unpack a little bit because the humanity part, right, so let's just kind of talk about that in a way, that is more of a strategic thing. Right? So, we're in a country 20 years.What were we doing there? And what should we have been doing there? Right? Those are the two questions that I asked like, what were you doing now? And what could we have been doing differently? Or better or whatever? Because the way I see it, and I say it on the show all the time is we made this shit up, we could do better. So, there's not a single thing on the planet that we've created as humans, that can't be improved upon or optimized more. So, I try to take out the judgment. Just put in. Okay, what are the facts? No, what did we do? And what should we have been doing to be more optimized? And then the last question on that is, people who are extremists? Are they ever going to not be extremists? And if so, what are the things that we're doing? To cause them to not be extreme? Jeff Le1:16Hmm, yeah. The $64,000 question, among other things, actually, we'll call it $2 trillion, because that's how much it costs $2 trillion question. So, the first question of what were we doing there? I mean, the whole point of being there was to ensure that terrorists or extremism would not be able to attack the United States, homeland, and soil, that was the original cause and effect, right, 20th anniversary of 911 just happened, the whole idea is we were going to go to these places of safe harbour or against the bad guys, we're gonna kill all of them. And then they'll never mess with us again. That was the idea. So that's like phase one, right? Well, here's the thing. Phase two became, oh, well, okay, that's done now what? And you had two challenges. This, there was sort of a school of thought of, oh, we should build democratic institutions and shared economic values and alignments. In a place where you have no idea of understanding. That's a challenge. And then the second piece of that was, oh, by the way, we'll do this, we'll review it every year. So, it's not 20-year war, it's 21 year worse. That's how I viewed it. And guess what, when you have the handoff from one to another, it takes time to it's like Groundhog Day, right. And that's what unfortunately happened. And regardless of what the troop numbers were, or the casualties or the strategic value of x or y, it just did not change the fact that there was not a clear NorthStar of how we were going to do what we're going to do. And what was success. So, the second point, right, what can we've done better? What is success? Number one defining success, so you can meet success and move on, fundamentally did not happen. And that is shocking, because you would think the politicians would understand   Ari Gronich3:09So there was no end goal. Jeff Le3:12Not sighted with consensus. Ari Gronich3:16Okay, no analytic that we could measure that says that is success. Now it doesn't seem like military intelligence to me. Jeff Le3:26No, I mean, listen, if success have superiority in the air on the ground, we're going to do that. That's not the issue. The issue is after all the bombs and toys that is the issue. Listen no one's gonna doubt American military superiority? Ari Gronich3:42Oh, what I'm saying there was no target. There was no goal, you're shooting a gun at nothing. Jeff Le3:48How do you shoot and this is the challenge. How do you shoot a gun at ideas? How do you shoot a gun at better governance? Right. This is a fundamental challenge that we're talking about, about the Maslow's hierarchy earlier. You know, what people really wanted. They wanted things to function. And the Afghan government though, the United States and Western Allies were supporting, we're not doing the basics. Some of that is incompetence. Some of that is massive corruption. Some of that is a lack of capacity. Some of it was lack of will. All of those things are a recipe for people saying, you know, what, maybe these Taliban people aren't so bad. So, the point you brought up very thoughtfully. Extremism. So, is it extremism or just wanting the basics? What is it and there are some folks like, you know, the horrible people that murdered our troops in the evacuation. Those folks are definitely there's nothing you can give them or sell them. Right. That's, that's a that's a very different premise. That's, unfortunately something that usually ends with a bullet. But for the vast majority Have the locals and communities even to help most of Taliban forces are probably thinking, You know what, I just want to have a place where I can raise my family, I can have money come in, and I can do the basics. And that basis would be ensuring that my kids a better life than me, kind of sounds like, you know, what my parents were thinking about when they came here. So this inability to deliver was going to be the downfall. And in 20 years, they couldn't deliver, therefore, we couldn't deliver. And without any metric for success, we were destined for failure. That's what happened.       Ari Gronich5:37Okay. So, I don't know that I agree that people just want to survive and have the basics, like the Taliban, for instance. Right? If they were to do absolutely nothing right now. Not hurt anybody, not assume their control. They would probably have the basics. The thing people want control, and that control gives them a sense of safety. And that sense of safety, just like any gang on any block in South Central, or, you know, or anywhere else, Chicago doesn't matter. Any gang, any mob, any mafia, any family of people that choose a certain way of living to be a violent way of living. It's not just about survival. It's, it's about control. Jeff Le6:36Well, I will premise and say this, that it's really important to distinguish the Taliban is not a monolith. So, when you say the Taliban, I mean, that's like, it's a lot of different groups, right? It's more of a federation, that might be a better way to describe them. And the point you raised about power and control. Yeah, that's at the top. That's at the top. If you're talking rank and file, it's a little different. You know, you hear stories of Taliban folks asking about, you know, what it's like in Australia. You know, it's a very interesting dynamic, right? They've been fighting for 20 years. That's all they know. And they're talking about, hey, what, you know, do you didn't even go to Australia? is a fascinating question. But to your point, yes. It gets back to who's in power? And then the accumulation of power and resources? Yes. But if we're talking the everyday person who is, you know, just trying to figure things out, I think it's a little different. But. Ari Gronich7:40But so then we get to my big premise is silence is a bully's best friend. So, we got to get loud, right. So, what it sounds like, if I break it down to the smallest point, is it sounds like the bully in the in the school yard? Right? Whether the bully in the schoolyard wants control over the kids for lunch money? Or the Taliban or the Federation? One's control over its people? Yep. So, it creates a dialogue that incites its people, right. It still is a bully. So, the question that I have is, why do we let the bullies win? Jeff Le8:35We let the bullies win, because we are convinced that there's no other way or option? Right? To your point, to because if you're just looking at the numbers, the majority, it's the silent majority. Right. And these places, why don't they just overthrow them? Right. I think that's the question. Ari Gronich8:52That's, really the question is, why do we allow that to happen?       Jeff Le8:59Well, it's similar to I think, what I see with bystanders in general, right? So, you see something horrible happen, and the people just stand around, right? Let's say there's a car accident, not always, but I'll give you an example. Two weeks ago, I was walking back from a work meeting, and someone had a really bad car accident. And so, I call 911. You know, what's crazy? Is no one else thought to do that. There are about 20 people. And these are all folks have a variety of lobbyists in Washington DC, you have to assume people have phones and this sort of stuff, right? Why is that somebody doesn't do something? And so, it's a really interesting question of like, you know, from an actor or a decision maker perspective, like what compels people to go outside of their bubble, outside of their world to something much bigger, to potentially put themselves to exposure or risk right. And the game theory of it in theory is that if everybody does it, they're in a better position. Right, and in theory, in this case, we can get help for someone who was in a bad car accident. Ari Gronich10:07Yeah, you got 30 kids, or you got 30 kids in a class. One is a bully. So, 29 of them says, Hey, we're not going to be bullied by you. You can be our friend, but we're not going to be bullied by you. Defuse the situation, right? Jeff Le10:23Yeah, some of that, too, is a question of, you know, who's really the boss here. And if you have conditions where the teacher is not around, maybe that is more likely to happen. So, I mean, using your schoolyard analogy. Ari Gronich10:37Right, but in the schoolyard analogy, right, you got the principal and the teachers, right, that those are the bureaucracies. It's like to me, it's like Hamas, and the Palestinian government and the PLO, right. They're all different organizations, but it's like the superintendent, the district teacher, and. Jeff Le10:58and the school board or the school board, and Ari Gronich11:01All those people are the people who are fighting, and all these students are the people who are getting the grunt of the fighting, they're getting screwed because of these people. right. So that's where I go, like, how do we get and just in general in society. How do we get people? And you know, you're part of the Homeland Security, I'm sure been part of some peace talks of some sort. How do we get people to stop going against their own self-interest? And to rise up and say, Hey, we could do peace, there's enough of us to make it peaceful. You don't want to be peaceful? But   Jeff Le11:46Yeah, the first thing I would say is, so many of us need the validation to do so. It's really interesting. Like, if someone told you, hey, Ari, I need you to do this for all of us. I think you would do it. If you sort of sat and thought about and said, you know, what, it all over interest. But in these sorts of situations where there's not a natural leader, it's very hard. And so, it gets back to like this principle of how do you become a better bystander, which then allows you to act? How do you act? And I want to think that you and I in that situation, we will look around, say, Hey, we're gonna take the bull by the horns, we're gonna do this. But it's not always the case. And in the Afghanistan context, there's long standing history, long, long, thin history of previous conflicts, battles won and lost. But usually, a history that says, hey, the writings on the wall. Let's acquiesce now. So, we can all live to fight another day. That is a long-standing history as well. So, there are some of these like cultural historical forces that are at play here. So that's maybe something beyond the school yard because I guess it's based on where the school yard is. Ari Gronich12:57Right? I love having the discussion about you know, what human nature is? Because I don't think it changes between country to country or civilization to civilization as much as we think it does. I think cultural, Yeah, we have certain cultural differences on how much we've technologically grown in our civilization, right? So, US has the landmass, to create lots of web manufacturing, and, you know, things like that. So, we have a lot of technology that we've created, because our landmass has allowed that. A lot of other countries haven't built those. So, they're still living in a more tribal, you know, situation. Jeff Le13:45Well, I would say, too, I mean, if you're talking about geography, right, it helps to have two oceans, you have two oceans, you're probably thinking about things differently from a security perspective, right. So that's, that's fair. That's fair. Ari Gronich13:57So, we're gonna go into some other topics. But hold on one second. All right, so Asian hates, You and I talked about this a little bit. I'm gonna break it out into just hate in general, because I kind of feel like, doesn't matter if you're Irish, Jewish, Black, Latino, Asian, right. There's always somebody who's hating on somebody. And usually, it's a lot of people hating on one person or one group of people. But it doesn't really matter which group depends on where you live. It's everywhere. When I was in Greece, it was the Albanians, you know, Albanians are coming in and taking our jobs. Okay, so everybody's got their Mexicans, so to speak, the people that they consider to be entering and taking So let's talk about the hate and lack.         Jeff Le15:04Yeah, I mean, if we've talked about hate broadly, this is actually a great starting point. The FBI recently released their hate crime report. Last year was the highest year of reported hate crime in 12 years. And that's among all groups. But it was interesting because there's a significant outlier with Asian Americans. So, if you're talking about, like, who's the latest to get picked on Asian Americans, but it's not to say that other groups aren't being picked on, it's not to say that Asians have never been picked on and are suddenly being noticed. Right. But it was very starkly if you if you look at data and evidence, there was a stark outlier. And that was certainly in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout the country, even in a place and people will say, well, you know, maybe that's just, you know, places that aren't as sensitive to groups. Well, in California, which is a pretty diverse place, hate crime was up over 100%, year over year. So, this is a place where 40 million people from pretty much everywhere, this is majority minority, the longest place where you have Asian Americans, the longest history of Asian Americans in the US, right? Chinese Japanese came here in the 19th century, railroads, economy, that sort of thing. So really close, long-standing histories of different groups and they had it pretty bad during that time. So, I think big picture, something was happening. It certainly didn't help that there is rhetoric that said that viruses came from certain places that probably didn't help. And, you know, I'd like to think that words don't matter. But they, they do. Because words are the thing you can't kill, like we talked about, right? You can't like point a gun to an idea. If there's an idea that says this group is the reason for your detriment, or your discomfort, and that's why you have to wear a mask. I think it's very complex. And as we just talked about there, there's always underlying things. Long standing past, right. And those fissures, with enough pressure become chasms. And this was a trend we saw across country, it certainly happened to me. It's not, you know, when acts of hate happened to me in the last 18 months, it wasn't new. It was just more blatant, right? It used to be like, Hey, your English is really good. Or, Hey, can you like with your eyes with the shape? Can you see like, do you see better on the science? Or like, Hey, do you eat dog? It's that sort of stuff, where it's like, I can laugh it off, right? A recent story I'll give you that happened to me. Two guys went up to me and we're like, hey, a Buddha. You know, can we rub your belly for good luck? And the thing is, Ari this is not the first time I've been asked, so I haven't answer Ari Gronich17:57Budda is my nickname it has been since I was nine years old  Jeff Le18:01Well, you and I share that. Ari Gronich18:04I got these these big ear lobes. Jeff Le18:05Yeah, me too. Me too.   Ari Gronich18:08I've been told that there Budda ear lobes. Jeff Le18:11I think they're lovely. I love your ear lobes. So, but you know, I have a response to this answer. And that is, Listen, I'm not a genie. So, if you rub my belly, you don't get any wishes. And as an Asian American, you're taught your entire life to defuse tension to blend in quickly. Because the alternative is, the communist government will kill you. So, you know, you're you come from a position of gratitude, right? You're happy to be here, you're just happy to be here. You just want to live your life. But you live in your life, having to sort of know the cost of doing business and existing here is dealing with that stuff. Right. Having people ask you about strange things from time to time, right, including what does a dog taste like? So, you know, that's something as early as age nine, age 10.  Ari Gronich18:59Yeah, I had I had similar being Jewish, you know, all kinds of things. I was told that I killed I personally killed Jesus and I shouldn't be alive. Like, literally, my entire life was, you know, grew up being told, you're Jewish, you're your Jesus killer. You know, and then I started practicing Buddhism and now I'm a Jewish Buddhist that that was even worse. Jeff Le19:23Well, yeah, because they don't know how to box you then. Ari Gronich19:25Right? And then I started studying the Quran. I mean, I was 7,8,9 10 years old, 12 years old, and I'm studying these religions druidism, paganism and studying all this stuff. And I get labelled. So, I understand. Let's go back Asian American concentration camps, so to speak. We had those in our country tournament. Jeff Le19:45Yeah. Ari, when we had internment, in the US.  Ari Gronich19:49Right, we built you guys built the railway system in the early 1900s, late 1800s. That that allowed for us to build to travel the world, right? Around the country.  Jeff Le20:02And Ari to your point on the internment camps during World War II. Did you see any? Did you hear of any Italians or German Americans?    Ari Gronich20:10No. Jeff Le20:11Yeah. So, I mean, the difference does matter. Ari Gronich20:16Right. Difference absolutely matters. Jeff Le20:21No good. Ari Gronich20:24I'm like holding up the mic. This is how we do it Jeff Le20:28Hey, you're getting your reps in. Ari Gronich20:36Anyway, I'm just gonna hold this for the rest of the time because it's come apart. Jeff Le20:43Yeah, I know. Sounds like you need. It's time for new mic. Ari Gronich20:46So, hate in general. And, you know, but part of what I wanted to talk about with regards to Asian hate, specifically, and foreign hate specifically, is the concept of human trafficking. Okay, part of Homeland Security. So, you have a little bit more inside track down. Human trafficking. But this seems to be an issue of color, so to speak. I don't really hear too much, except for maybe Russian, Ukrainian. in whiter countries. But it also seems to be something that is perpetuated by the people who live there not necessarily the outsider, white ghost devil that is coming out and doing it. So, let's talk about that a little bit.  Jeff Le21:52Sure. I mean, if you're talking about so I would say illicit trade in general. Yes, is perpetrated by local economic interests. So, let's start with that. There's a marketplace for that, right. So, whether it's heroin and opium, or in trafficking in persons, there's a market for that. And that's part of the reason why it happens. It's so just acknowledging the global trends for vice is profitable, especially when it's banned, right. So, from a contraband perspective is even more lucrative for some of these groups. So, your point, it is a global phenomenon. It is not bound by borders and that way, you're right. It's mainly global, South driven. And in, you know, communities that are not of European descent, with the exception of Eastern Europe, there's some stuff you'll see, particularly in Moldova, Ukraine, I mean, I would say more underserved parts of those parts of the country, right. And so, there are elaborate efforts of logistics that happen, because everyone's incentivized to find the best conduits for this. And that's irregardless of regime. But one of the big things is, you know, that's used as a strong ploy is they talk about it as an employment opportunity for somebody. And then employment opportunity turns into force imprisonment. That's the scenario that you hear quite a bit, especially if it's someone that's like, 16,17, 18. And they're trying to provide for their family in a situation that there are very few avenues for them. Ari Gronich23:37Sorry, I'm listening, and I'm fixing at the same Jeff Le23:40Yeah, no, no of course, I'm sorry, you had this look like you want to ask me questions. I'm like, Okay, I'm ready for the question. Ari Gronich23:45Yes. So, let's talk about the so we have an economic reason, typically, in lower income areas that breed the idea of human trafficking. And so, who are the people who are doing the taking? Who are the people who are doing the trafficking? Jeff Le24:07Sure. So, if you're talking about the, if you're talking about the Syndicate, right, so it's, I wouldn't say these are pretty elaborate sophisticated organizations. Federation's, if you will, of people who have a hierarchy, bosses, turf incentives and bonuses. And the folks who are in the taking business are your sort of rank and file. And they're incentivized because of their own survival questions. And there's a triangle to the top, like we've actually talked about in some of the themes that we discussed, right? There's a power dynamic, and people are using that as a opportunity as a survival mechanism. And it doesn't have to be even in the traffic person that we're talking about it's also the trafficking of, of people to try to make it to other countries, right? Specifically, you know, the coyote types, right, and let's say in Latin America to get people, the United States, there's economic incentives. And I would say, these are not exactly people that you know, how to say, have strong lawyers, or, you know, you can trust a handshake deal. And it's usually an exorbitant amount of money that's then leveraged. So that the person then becomes not just imprisoned physically, but in prison, and in their mind that this is sort of, there's no way out. You've already gotten as far as you go. Ari Gronich25:40So the crux of the Asian hate started with the shooting in the massage parlour. Being that I'm a sports therapist, and I've been a massage therapist and all that stuff I had, I had a reaction to this. And because I know that the majority of these massage parlours are actually the home for home, for people who have been human trafficked from China from Asia, in some respects. It hit me a little harder, because I'm like, you know, these people are literally here, they're living typically inside of the places that they work. And like, you know, caught kind of beds or whatever. And, and so that kind of got my interest. Right. And so, I just want to talk about that part of what it is that people if we're you know, the citizenry, right, and we're looking for ways to help with Homeland Security with human trafficking with, you know, stopping this stuff, what are the things that people can look for? Jeff Le26:59Yeah. So first, so I would say in terms of, you know, some of the Asian hate, I would say, it goes further back, I think, to your point, you know, the shootings in Atlanta. I think it really shocked so many people, because of what you talked about this realization that these were very marginalized women in situations of likely objects hopelessness. And what does that say about our society that we sort of nonchalantly. Look away? Ari Gronich27:35Right. Oh, I mean, we literally were, we don't nonchalantly look away. We see a neon sign that says open. And it's a massage place. And we pretty much know that that is a happy ending place. You know, I mean, in the industry, at least, we kind of stay away from neon signs in the open. But we have the Homeland Security, we've got the government, we've got police, we've got all kinds of things. And in LA, I remember, when you go to get a massage license, there was one set of inspectors who are licensing the massage for everybody else. And then one set who was inspecting for the Asian American or Asian massage parlours that were basically turned into sex shops. And so, it's a systemized thing as well. Right? Jeff Le28:29Yeah. And into your point, right. There are some things that are folks are incentivized in some ways to look at other parts of it rather than the true nature. What's your IMO? So, you know, let's talk about from a regulatory perspective. Right. And I'll talk about it from a taxation issue. I'll talk about it from a health inspection. Question, right. One thing that well, two things first, and I know it sounds really, it seems so unlikely in the world we live in. But you'd be surprised. You'd be surprised just how important it is to raise the issue with your local person, your local elected official, because it's so rare that they will get an inquiry about this. I mean, think about the inquiries that your local politician's person gets usually about the trash, or about like a noise of a complaint or violation. But if you say something like that, the thing you're talking about with the neon sign, actually, it does stand out because that's not your normal complaint. So, to the point we talked about, it's a CSA. And it is surprising how little people are willing to do that, partly because they're scared of having to deal with more of a time suck or more paperwork that comes with that. Being a good citizen. That's, I mean, honestly, one part about it, and having a real discussion with people in your community about the subject. Again, it's something people would argue there's a million things to worry about. Right? The second thing and this is a group, I really admired a group called the Polaris Project, which works on Trafficking in Persons. They have pretty strong trafficking hotline and other services that they provide, especially for people that have recently got out of that situation. And that's really the heart issue. Right. The one issue is the root issues, the root issues are really tough. But if you're talking about the individual, the human level getting out, how do you put them in a situation where they can acclimate and integrate? Especially knowing that you're strong trauma, that might come from that exploitation? Ari Gronich30:37What are the incentives that come through Homeland Security for actually policing, you know, human trafficking? I mean, getting rid of the sweatshops that are in the US getting. What is it? What are the incentives for Homeland Security to actually go and do this stuff? Jeff Le30:57Well, I mean, there's first and foremost that the political incentives, the political incentives, and just being snarky about it, that the press release is really nice. They should be doing more of that they're not the big challenge, honestly. Ari, is scale. It's the question if you remove one, what happens, right? And it will most likely, because if economic incentives just become harder to get to. So, it's like, okay, you knock out one nest, and then five others happen, right? So, before you have an activity before the government says, Okay, we're gonna work on this issue is we're going to have a war against sex trafficking or war against trafficking persons issues. Fundamentally, you need to commit the resources, the time the investment, and, frankly, trust in a community. Because at the end of the day, it's the community folks who understand really the ins and outs and who's, who's a real barrier, who's a real player, because the government coming in? I mean, they don't know Adam, for me. Right? Right. And so, you do need the local buy in to have that disruption. Ari Gronich32:05sounds the same as Afghanistan and needing the local. Jeff Le32:10It's well, it's a human, it's a community, it's a universal community question, right? It's people coming from the outside coming in, it's gonna affect your life. Who's gonna? Who wants change to happen? How do you work together to do it? And how do you do it where everyone is safe? Right, very hard, especially if there's shadowy players involved, who have firepower and incentives to make sure you disappear. That is pretty scary. The government will say, we have other fish to fry, too. So that's the other thing, the government say, hey, we're focused on cybercrime. We're focused on, you know, insider trading, you know, things like this, which, I mean, from an economic perspective, I mean, those are pretty important things are taken from a human level. It's largely because at the end of the day, these are the most vulnerable people and they're not prioritized, Ari Gronich33:08Right? So, then we'll take it away from the government's rules and responsibilities, right? We put it on the people, what can the people do? Who might be passionate about these things? What can they do specifically, to end this when they see it, to recognize it when they see it, etc?      Jeff Le33:27Well, I think one thing is to have open conversations about it. So, like, from what I see there's very little active discussions in the public space on this topic. I don't know what you've seen. I haven't seen much of it. And maybe it's because we're just overwhelmed. Ari Gronich33:43I happen to have two friends who own two separate human trafficking non-profits. Jeff Le33:50Yeah, I think that's an exception,  Ari Gronich33:52I am. You know, it becomes on my mind, when I see Afghanistan and the refugees coming over, I think of human trafficking. To what they're going to be subjected to. Yeah. If they come over, and we don't say, Welcome to our neighbourhoods, let me get you a job. Let me help you. If we don't do that, what's going to happen is they're going to become traffic. Right? They're going to they're going to be exploited in some way. So, I'm looking at it like, Where can I see this as a solution that we can, you know, take on the run right now? You know, I'm tired of I'm tired of talking about problems. Really tired about talking about prompts because I don't see enough people actually doing the solving of them. They're talking a lot. They're making all kinds of plans in their heads. But there's nothing being done that's substantial, specific, targeted, that has a buy in of massive amounts of people, right? That's where I'm like, where do we go to get this? Whether it's our medical system, whether it's human trafficking, whether it's the environment, whether it's whatever it is, right? We have things that we know for a fact. Right? The chemicals that are in our food are causing cancer and killing us killing our health, yet we don't take it out of the food, we don't create the incentive, right? If the incentive was that the people needed to be healthy, that's the incentive, then everything has to happen in a way to make that happen. And otherwise, you don't get paid. Right? So, you only get paid when people get healthy in the medical system. When that caused all the fraud to disappear. Literally, the system would have to morph itself just to fit that one incentive. Same thing, I believe, with human trafficking. So, anything I believe with all these other things, there's one thing and it's the incentive that we give it. Jeff Le36:03Yeah, I would say I

Cody and Greg do a deep dive into the history of Chinese/Japanese relations by covering the lead up to and the horrific events of the Rape of Nanking (Nanjing). The boys cover what led to this awful moment in history, what occurred during the massacre, and the aftermath. Listener discretion is advised (as are headphones). Support our show by sharing it with your friends and family! Learn more at https://www.unfortunatehistory.com. Join our FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unfortunatehistory PeriTune (peritune.com) | Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Welcome to the Investing for Beginners podcast. In today's show, we discuss: Investing in Japan and China with Eric Schleien of Granite State Capital Management Details of the upcoming merger with Discovery and Time Warner Media The future of podcasting, plus investing in one of the leading podcasting platforms, Libsyn For more insight like this […] The post Chinese, Japanese, and Media Stocks with Eric Schleien appeared first on Investing for Beginners 101.

Doctor Cairo P Rocha is a modern-day practitioner of alternative medical treatment which has it’s roots in ancient Asian medicine, consisting mainly of Chinese Japanese, and Tibetan methods. Also included in his portfolio are the Japanese healing methods of acupressure and acupuncture. In his unique video series by way of public discourse, he takes you on a journey into the fascinating realm of the healing of human conditions and ailments which is as spiritual as it is practical. When visiting Dr. Cairo Rocha acupuncturist in Nassau Bahamas you learn of fascinating terms such as Mudras, Feng Sui, Toyo Igaku, and many more and the important role each plays in the process of natural healing. The energy of food, Longevity in Chinese Medicine, Empowerment, Cancer Care in Chinese Medicine, Vision and envision, healing your eyes, Memory and Cognitive Function in Chinese Medicine are just some of the topics that are presented in dynamic detail with Q&A sessions included. Health and wellness are paramount and Dr. Rocha demonstrates just that in his presentations. ​ Dr. Cairo P. Rocha currently has his acupuncture practice in the Bahamas, where he continues to study and grow his knowledge of alternative medical treatment and pain management therapies.

The guys talk about the Netflix original film Army of the Dead directed by Zack Snyder, a woman who might loose a fortune in lottery winnings because she accidentally washed the ticket while it was in her pants, whether we'd prefer to always have to scream or always have to whisper, a cult that mummified their dead leader, a tiger that got loose in Houston, and what kind of characters we're drawn to in the fiction that we consume.

Doctor Cairo P Rocha is a modern-day practitioner of alternative medical treatment which has it’s roots in ancient Asian medicine, consisting mainly of Chinese Japanese, and Tibetan methods. Also included in his portfolio are the Japanese healing methods of acupressure and acupuncture. In his unique video series by way of public discourse, he takes you on a journey into the fascinating realm of the healing of human conditions and ailments which is as spiritual as it is practical. When visiting Dr. Cairo Rocha acupuncturist in Nassau Bahamas you learn of fascinating terms such as Mudras, Feng Sui, Toyo Igaku, and many more and the important role each plays in the process of natural healing. The energy of food, Longevity in Chinese Medicine, Empowerment, Cancer Care in Chinese Medicine, Vision and envision, healing your eyes, Memory and Cognitive Function in Chinese Medicine are just some of the topics that are presented in dynamic detail with Q&A sessions included. Health and wellness are paramount and Dr. Rocha demonstrates just that in his presentations. ​ Dr. Cairo P. Rocha currently has his acupuncture practice in the Bahamas, where he continues to study and grow his knowledge of alternative medical treatment and pain management therapies. Visit Cairo's Site https://www.cairorochamed.com/​ Buddhist Biohacker Creating Conscious Content for 11:11​D Our Stand Against Violence: Violence manifests in many forms; the word, the weapon, the emotion, and the fear. We ask you to put your weapons down for the greater good of all mankind. United We Ascend. The Buddhist Biohacker platform has made the decision to turn off monetization on YouTube. We ask that you consider donating to keep this show alive and/or become a patron https://www.lisamgunshore.com/patron​ View upcoming LIVEstreams: https://www.lisamgunshore.com/podcast...​ Join our forum discussion: https://mewe.com/join/buddhistbiohack...​ Your Host is Lisa M Gunshore; Channel, Author, and Functional Ayurveda Practitioner. www.lisamgunshore.com Lisa’s Sacred Container for Channeled Transmissions: www.ajatakasa.com The Buddhist Biohacker podcast is partnered with some incredible companies. www.lisamgunshore.com/partners Music by Pulscension Productions www.ajatakasa.com/sound-experiences Link to LIVE https://www.youtube.com/c/BuddhistBio...​ IG: @buddhistbiohacker Twitter: @buddhabiohack mewe: Buddhist Biohacker Forum

Doctor Cairo P Rocha is a modern-day practitioner of alternative medical treatment which has it’s roots in ancient Asian medicine, consisting mainly of Chinese Japanese, and Tibetan methods. Also included in his portfolio are the Japanese healing methods of acupressure and acupuncture. In his unique video series by way of public discourse, he takes you on a journey into the fascinating realm of the healing of human conditions and ailments which is as spiritual as it is practical. When visiting Dr. Cairo Rocha acupuncturist in Nassau Bahamas you learn of fascinating terms such as Mudras, Feng Sui, Toyo Igaku, and many more and the important role each plays in the process of natural healing. The energy of food, Longevity in Chinese Medicine, Empowerment, Cancer Care in Chinese Medicine, Vision and envision, healing your eyes, Memory and Cognitive Function in Chinese Medicine are just some of the topics that are presented in dynamic detail with Q&A sessions included. Health and wellness are paramount and Dr. Rocha demonstrates just that in his presentations. ​ Dr. Cairo P. Rocha currently has his acupuncture practice in the Bahamas, where he continues to study and grow his knowledge of alternative medical treatment and pain management therapies. Visit Cairo's Site https://www.cairorochamed.com/ Buddhist Biohacker Creating Conscious Content for 11:11D Our Stand Against Violence: Violence manifests in many forms; the word, the weapon, the emotion, and the fear. We ask you to put your weapons down for the greater good of all mankind. United We Ascend. The Buddhist Biohacker platform has made the decision to turn off monetization on YouTube. We ask that you consider donating to keep this show alive and/or become a patron https://www.lisamgunshore.com/patron View upcoming LIVEstreams: https://www.lisamgunshore.com/podcast-schedule Join our forum discussion: https://mewe.com/join/buddhistbiohackerforum Your Host is Lisa M Gunshore; Channel, Author, and Functional Ayurveda Practitioner. www.lisamgunshore.com Lisa’s Sacred Container for Channeled Transmissions: www.ajatakasa.com The Buddhist Biohacker podcast is partnered with some incredible companies. www.lisamgunshore.com/partners Music by Pulscension Productions www.ajatakasa.com/sound-experiences Link to LIVE https://www.youtube.com/c/BuddhistBiohacker/live IG: @buddhistbiohacker Twitter: @buddhabiohack mewe: Buddhist Biohacker Forum

Doctor Cairo P Rocha is a modern-day practitioner of alternative medical treatment which has it’s roots in ancient Asian medicine, consisting mainly of Chinese Japanese, and Tibetan methods. Also included in his portfolio are the Japanese healing methods of acupressure and acupuncture. In his unique video series by way of public discourse, he takes you on a journey into the fascinating realm of the healing of human conditions and ailments which is as spiritual as it is practical. When visiting Dr. Cairo Rocha acupuncturist in Nassau Bahamas you learn of fascinating terms such as Mudras, Feng Sui, Toyo Igaku, and many more and the important role each plays in the process of natural healing. The energy of food, Longevity in Chinese Medicine, Empowerment, Cancer Care in Chinese Medicine, Vision and envision, healing your eyes, Memory and Cognitive Function in Chinese Medicine are just some of the topics that are presented in dynamic detail with Q&A sessions included. Health and wellness are paramount and Dr. Rocha demonstrates just that in his presentations.​Dr. Cairo P. Rocha currently has his acupuncture practice in the Bahamas, where he continues to study and grow his knowledge of alternative medical treatment and pain management therapies. Visit Cairo's Sitehttps://www.cairorochamed.com/ Buddhist BiohackerCreating Conscious Content for 11:11D Our Stand Against Violence:Violence manifests in many forms; the word, the weapon, the emotion, and the fear.  We ask you to put your weapons down for the greater good of all mankind.  United We Ascend. The Buddhist Biohacker platform has made the decision to turn off monetization on YouTube.  We ask that you consider donating to keep this show alive and/or become a patron https://www.lisamgunshore.com/patron View upcoming LIVEstreams:https://www.lisamgunshore.com/podcast... Join our forum discussion:https://mewe.com/join/buddhistbiohack... Your Host is Lisa M Gunshore; Channel, Author, and Functional Ayurveda Practitioner.www.lisamgunshore.com Lisa’s Sacred Container for Channeled Transmissions: www.ajatakasa.com The Buddhist Biohacker podcast is partnered with some incredible companies.www.lisamgunshore.com/partnersMusic by Pulscension Productionswww.ajatakasa.com/sound-experiencesLink to LIVEhttps://www.youtube.com/c/BuddhistBio... IG: @buddhistbiohackerTwitter: @buddhabiohackmewe: Buddhist Biohacker Forum

Welcome to the first episode of Queer As Fact season 6! Today’s episode is on Yoshiko Kawashima, a queer Chinese-Japanese spy and public figure. Join us for rituals to commemorate queer life milestones, smuggling an ex-Empress in the boot of a car, and no less than four pet monkeys. NOTE: This episode contains a brief discussion of sexual assault from 24:30 - 27:10. Check out our website, where you can find out everything there is to know about Queer as Fact. If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us on Patreon, checking out our merch, and following us on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook.

Listen to episode 8 of Ur Welcome America presents TOTALLY SCOTT-LEE! In this grand finale ep we go to a gay club in Glasgow, learn about Lisa’s Chinese (Japanese?) heritage, and witness countless nerve-wracking conversations through dressing room doors at MTV Camden. Watch the original episodes on YouTube & listen every week via the Ur Welcome America podcast feed. UR TOTALLY WELCOME!Get in touch with us;IG - @UrWelcomeAmeriaTwitter - @urwelcomeUSAEmail - urwelcomeamericapodcast@gmail.com

Doctor Cairo P Rocha is a modern-day practitioner of alternative medical treatment which has it’s roots in ancient Asian medicine, consisting mainly of Chinese Japanese, and Tibetan methods. Also included in his portfolio are the Japanese healing methods of acupressure and acupuncture. In his unique video series by way of public discourse, he takes you on a journey into the fascinating realm of the healing of human conditions and ailments which is as spiritual as it is practical. When visiting Dr. Cairo Rocha acupuncturist in Nassau Bahamas you learn of fascinating terms such as Mudras, Feng Sui, Toyo Igaku, and many more and the important role each plays in the process of natural healing. The energy of food, Longevity in Chinese Medicine, Empowerment, Cancer Care in Chinese Medicine, Vision and envision, healing your eyes, Memory and Cognitive Function in Chinese Medicine are just some of the topics that are presented in dynamic detail with Q&A sessions included. Health and wellness are paramount and Dr. Rocha demonstrates just that in his presentations.​Dr. Cairo P. Rocha currently has his acupuncture practice in the Bahamas, where he continues to study and grow his knowledge of alternative medical treatment and pain management therapies. Visit Cairo's Sitehttps://www.cairorochamed.com/ Buddhist BiohackerCreating Conscious Content for 11:11D Our Stand Against Violence:Violence manifests in many forms; the word, the weapon, the emotion, and the fear.  We ask you to put your weapons down for the greater good of all mankind.  United We Ascend. The Buddhist Biohacker platform has made the decision to turn off monetization on YouTube.  We ask that you consider donating to keep this show alive and/or become a patron https://www.lisamgunshore.com/patron View upcoming LIVEstreams:https://www.lisamgunshore.com/podcast... Join our forum discussion:https://mewe.com/join/buddhistbiohack... Your Host is Lisa M Gunshore; Channel, Author, and Functional Ayurveda Practitioner.www.lisamgunshore.com Lisa’s Sacred Container for Channeled Transmissions: www.ajatakasa.com The Buddhist Biohacker podcast is partnered with some incredible companies.www.lisamgunshore.com/partnersMusic by Pulscension Productionswww.ajatakasa.com/sound-experiencesLink to LIVEhttps://www.youtube.com/c/BuddhistBio... IG: @buddhistbiohackerTwitter: @buddhabiohackmewe: Buddhist Biohacker Forum

Dating experience from my buddy Jimmy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/echizen32k/support

Two legends, Jimmy Wang Yu and Shintaro Katsu cross swords in this 1971 Chinese Japanese co-production. Co-Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and Hsu Tseng Hung. While on a journey to a temple in Japan, Wang Kang, the One-Armed Swordsman, gets blamed for a massacre actually committed by Samurai. Zatoichi gets embroiled after a chance encounter the the lone survivor, an orphaned Chinese boy.

Karen Hawkins is a self-proclaimed "Chinese-Japanese goofball.” She is also a wife and a mom of two boys who has been fighting a battle with cancer for the past 7 years. She started A Warrior’s Fight on Facebook and Instagram to not only document her journey, but to provide a place to mentor, engage and speak into the lives of other people who might be going through similar struggles and to remind them that they are not alone.

For more detailed shownotes, go to our website at historian.live This episode is a co-production with the Journal of History of Ideas Blog’s podcast, In Theory. If you like this show’s format, you’ll love In Theory. Also be sure to check out the JHI Blog itself, which consistently produces some of the best academic writing for a general audience out there. If you dig through the archives, you might even find some of my essays! This episode I’m joined by Joshua Fogel, Professor at York University in Canada to talk about his new book, A Friend In Deed. A Friend In Deed talks about the unlikely friendship between on of 20th Century China’s most important writers, Lu Xun, and a Japanese bookstore maven in Shanghai during the interwar period, Uchiyama Kanzo. It’s a fantastic book that does what few history books can do—it really shows you a rich human relationship. In talking about the book, we discuss Chinese-Japanese relations in the interwar period, the cosmopolitain city of Shanghai, and the nature of friendship itself. It’s a really fantastic interview with a truly generous scholar.

Repasamos los tres discos favoritos de Mundofonías del mes de septiembre del 2019, que nos presentan el multifacético Collectif Medz Bazar, desde Francia, la propuesta chino-japonesa dirigida musicalmente por Mao Ya y las raíces musicales húngaras presentadas por Vaszi Levente y Vrencsán Anita. Dedicamos el resto del programa a evocar lo que vivimos durante el festival Globaltica en Polonia, en su edición del 15 aniversario, escuchando a un buen número de grupos de los que allí actuaron, tanto polacos como de otros países. We review the three Mundofonías' favorite albums for September 2019, presented by the multifaceted Collectif Medz Bazar, from France, the Chinese-Japanese experience musically directed by Mao Ya and the Hungarian musical roots cultivated by Vaszi Levente and Vrencsán Anita. We dedicate the rest of the show to review what we experienced at Globaltica festival in Poland, on its 15th anniversary edition, listening to a good number of bands, both Polish and from other countries, that have been playing there. Favoritos de septiembre / September favorites · Collectif Medz Bazar – Ousge gou kas – O · Mao Ya [et al.] – Sea of Spring – Moon over city ruins · Vaszi Levente & Vrencsán Anita – Lakadalmas – Gyimesvölgyi népzene Kostelekr?l Globaltica · WoWaKin – W nocy o pó?nocy – Kraj za miastem · Odpoczno – Kowboj w kalinie – Odpoczno · Sutari – Mówcie mu – Osty · Mehehe – Dziewi??si? – Ciemnienie · Trio Abozekrys – Wesh wash – Don't replace me by a machine · Bombino – Deran deran alkheir – Deran · Adama Dramé et Foliba – Zouloubou zalaba – Dakan · Blay Ambolley – Afrika yie – Ketan Imagens /Images: Adama Dramé (en / at Globaltica, por / by Juan Antonio Vázquez) + Mao Ya

This week on ChinaEconTalk, Jordan speaks with Dongwoo Kim, a postgraduate research fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada who specializes in AI. Dongwoo discusses his research on the progress of AI development in Japan, Korea, and China, including the challenges faced by Chinese AI researchers overseas, and the need for greater tech literacy in general. What to listen for on this week’s ChinaEconTalk: 4:49: Misconceptions abound when it comes to AI, as do references to “Skynet” from the Terminator movies. “Strictly speaking, that’s not what we’re talking about,” Dongwoo says. “People have such a misunderstanding about this, and also the way in which we’re using AI now, it’s kind of subtle, right? It’s used by Google, it’s used by Facebook. If you don’t have the tech literacy, you’re not always going to be aware of it. So I think there’s a potential that if we don’t educate people about what AI really is and why this matters, we might get to a situation where people don’t really have a clear conception of what this AI thing is when it will be affecting so many aspects of their lives.”   32:36: On Chinese AI researchers in Canada: “[Problems are] not as overt as in the U.S. I think, if anything, the concerns that have materialized are if there’s funding within a Canadian postsecondary institution that is tied to an American partner, that may compromise their ability to continue working on that research project for a researcher of Chinese ethnicity. But there has been no concrete move to do that in Canada.”  

This week on ChinaEconTalk, Jordan speaks with Dongwoo Kim, a postgraduate research fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada who specializes in AI. Dongwoo discusses his research on the progress of AI development in Japan, Korea, and China, including the challenges faced by Chinese AI researchers overseas, and the need for greater tech literacy in general. What to listen for on this week's ChinaEconTalk: 4:49: Misconceptions abound when it comes to AI, as do references to “Skynet” from the Terminator movies. “Strictly speaking, that's not what we're talking about,” Dongwoo says. “People have such a misunderstanding about this, and also the way in which we're using AI now, it's kind of subtle, right? It's used by Google, it's used by Facebook. If you don't have the tech literacy, you're not always going to be aware of it. So I think there's a potential that if we don't educate people about what AI really is and why this matters, we might get to a situation where people don't really have a clear conception of what this AI thing is when it will be affecting so many aspects of their lives.”   32:36: On Chinese AI researchers in Canada: “[Problems are] not as overt as in the U.S. I think, if anything, the concerns that have materialized are if there's funding within a Canadian postsecondary institution that is tied to an American partner, that may compromise their ability to continue working on that research project for a researcher of Chinese ethnicity. But there has been no concrete move to do that in Canada.” Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Acts 2:1-21, in Greek, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Portuguese, Yoruba, German, and Hebrew. Please note: This audio was captured on a cell phone, so there is a fair amount of background noise.

This week, we introduce you to the first installment of the Foreign Media Monitor (FMM) podcast series, based on the weekly service available to NK Pro subscribers. While North Korea coverage in Western media is typically quite comprehensive, there are plenty of unique, locally-sourced news and analysis available only in foreign language outlets that are often overlooked because of a language barrier. And every week, the Foreign Media Monitor collects those unnoticed unique stories from Chinese, Japanese, South Korean and Russian media, combined into a professionally-translated newsletter for NK Pro readers. This week, we invited the translators behind the FMM, John Petrushka (Chinese), Kosuke Takahashi (Japanese), and Fyodor Tertitskiy (Russian), to examine how foreign medias cover (or don't cover) North Korea, discuss how the countries responded to key developments in Pyongyang, and share some oddball reports on the DPRK. About the guests: John Petrushka is an NK News contributor based in Washington, D.C. He studied Asia and International Affairs at Georgetown University and George Washington University. His other research topics include transitional justice in North Korea. Kosuke Takahashi is a Tokyo-based journalist. His work has appeared in the Asahi Shimbun, Bloomberg, Asia Times, Jane's Defence Weekly and The Diplomat, among other publications. Fyodor Tertitskiy is a News Analyst at NK Pro. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Seoul National University. Interested in signing up for the Foreign Media Monitor? Check out the NK Pro service here and see if you or your institution qualifies for a trial: http://signup.nknews.org/nk-pro/ Also, the NK Shop is back in business! We have DPRK-inspired limited edition t-shirts, vintage posters and a 2019 calendar just in time for the holidays. As a thank you for your continued support, we'd like to offer listeners a special discount: just use code nkpodcast10 at checkout for an instant 10% off your total purchase. Check out the shop here: https://www.nkshop.org/ About the podcast: The “North Korea News Podcast” is a weekly podcast hosted exclusively by NK News, covering all things DPRK: from news to extended interview with leading experts and analysts in the field and insight from our very own journalists.

Japanese Rabbit (Part 2) - Interview Yudai Tanabe - White Rabbit - Shrines - Zodiac - Japanese Hares - Fox Glove - Sandwiches Feel free to visit the website: http://www.hareoftherabbit.com/ If you would like to support the podcast either visit the link for Amazon, then make your purchases as normal.  I cannot see who purchases what, but a small percentage of your purchase will benefit the podcast: https://www.amazon.com/?&tag=haroftherab-20&camp=228761&creative=536025&linkCode=ur1&adid=0Z1J5SZGFHE81DASKT78& Or you can donate to the podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4748024 This episode: Interview with Yudai Tanabe: The venerable legend of "The White Rabbit of Inaba" Kojiki version One version of the tale of the Hare of Inaba is found in the Kojiki, the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, which dates from early in the 8th century (711-712).  The legend appears in the first of the three sections of the Kojiki, the Kamitsumaki, also known as the Jindai no Maki, or "Volume of the Age of the Gods".  This section of the Kojiki outlines the myths concerning the foundation of Japan prior to the birth of the Emperor Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan. In the Kojiki version of the myth, a hare tricks some wanizame into being used as a land bridge in order to travel from the Island of Oki to Cape Keta.  Cape Keta is now identified with the Hakuto Coast in the present-day city of Tottori.  The hare challenges the sharks to see whose clan is larger—that of the sharks, or that of the hares.  The hare had the sharks lie in a row across the sea. The hare then hopped across them, counting them as he went. Nearing the end, the hare exclaims that he has deceived the sharks in order to use them as a bridge. The last shark attacks the hare, ripping his fur from him.  Ōkuninushi and his eighty brothers were traveling through the Inaba region to woo Princess Yakami of Inaba.  While the brothers were on their way to visit the princess, the flayed hare stopped them and asked them for help. Rather than helping the hare, they advised it to wash in the sea and dry itself in the wind, which naturally caused it great pain.  In contrast Ōkuninushi, unlike his quarreling elder brothers, told the hare to bathe in fresh water from the mouth of a river, and then roll in the pollen of cattails.  The body of the hare was restored to its original state, and after its recovery, revealed its true form as a god.  In gratitude, the hare told Ōkuninushi, the lowest born in the family, that he would marry Princess Yakami.  Hare of Inaba legend emphasizes the benevolence of Ōkuninushi, who was later enshrined at the Izumo-taisha.   Japanese scholars have traditionally interpreted the struggle between the kind Ōkuninushi and his wrathful eighty brothers as a symbolic representation of civilization and barbarism in the emergent Japanese state.  The version of the Hare of Inaba legend told in the Kojiki has been compared to similar myths from Java in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. Ise ga Naru version Long ago, when Japanese goddess Amaterasu and her entourage traveled around at the boundary of Yakami in Inaba, they were looking for a place for their temporary palace, suddenly a white hare appeared. The white hare bit Amaterasu's clothes and took her to an appropriate place for a temporary palace along Nakayama mountain and Reiseki mountain. About two hours' walk, accompanied by the white hare, Amaterasu reached a mountain top plain, which is now called Ise ga naru. Then, the white hare disappeared at Ise ga naru. The place of this legend is in Yazu town and Tottori city, in Tottori Prefecture (ancient Inaba and Houki), where the shrine Hakuto Jinja reveres the white hare. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_of_Inaba Rabbits, so cute and gentle, so furry, soft and warm are one of the animals which the Japanese are most familiar with.  Not only are they popular pets ( there was a veritable house-rabbit craze in the Meiji Period), but most schools and kindergartens keep them ( in a pen outdoors), to teach kids about resposibility and caring for living creatures. It is because of this connection with fertility and abundant offspring that the ancient Asians (Indians, Chinese, Japanese, etc) have long said that there is a rabbit (hare) on the moon ( in Japan it is actually pounding mochi rice cakes).  It seems perfectly logical to me since I have to know that THE MOON has also been considered to be deeply connected to pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, the MOON, a God of Conception and Childbirth, with a servant, the symbol of fertility- the HARE – are a natural combination. Since rabbits were associated with having children, there were various folk beliefs which existed throughout Japan linking rabbits with prayers for easy delivery.  Eating rabbit meat to ensure the mother and child`s safety was customary in certain parts of Japan, while in others ( interestingly) it was shunned- in the belief that doing so would lead to the chlid being born with a hare-lip ( mitsu-guchi, 三っ口). And though the practice of eating rabbit meat before delivery (or the belief that it should be avoided) have completely died out, there are still a few shrines around Japan which are dedicated to rabbits as  messengers of the God(s), that are popular places to pray for conception and then easy delivery. Another reason that hares have been have been worshipped at certain shrines, or in some places are believed to have the power of prophecy ( for example, predicting the weather) is because of a very famous story in Japan`s oldest text, the KOJIKI. Another interesting Hare related myth which has led to the animal`s deification.  At Uji Shrine  there is a story of the Emperor Nintoku`s son, while once fleeing  for his life, was guided to safety by a hare (what probably really happened is that he  followed the trails in the bush made by rabbits or other small animals). That is why a Hare-Deity is believed to protect the shrine.  Some even say that the place name UJI derives from Usagi- miCHI- Rabbit-Road!. On the volcanic island of Sakurajima (桜島) in Kagoshima Prefecture, there also seems to have been a belief in a rabbit/hare deity which was called O-Mimi-Naga-Sama (お耳長様)- Lord long-Ears! An Edo Period text contains thid story:  On Sakurajima Island there lived a large hare which was believed, by the local residents, to be the deity of the mountain ( the island is a volcano).  Because of that, no one there ever ate hare meat. In fact, even mentioning the word hare ( USAGI), was believed to bring on a stomachache. Thus, in conversation everyone would refer to this animal as Lord Long Ears ( O-Mimi-Naga-Sama). Once a member of the Satsuma Clan ( the rulers of that region) came to island for a hunting expedition, and killed an big, old hare. The Volcano erupted. Hunting was subsequently banned. http://blog.alientimes.org/2011/01/for-the-year-of-the-rabbit-some-musings-on-rabbits-and-hares-in-japanese-culture-and-history/ A place related to the legend of the white rabbit of Inaba, one of the most well-known myths in Japan. https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spot/natuscen/hakuto-beach.html Hakuto Coast is a beautiful beach of white sand. It is included as one of the 100 Selected Beaches in Japan, and is a popular spot for sea bathing in summer and surfing in winter. You can see the pretty pink Japanese rose flowers, for which this place is the southern limit for growing naturally.  It is a very famous place in Japan as the setting of the myth of the white rabbit of Inaba. Now it seems the Japanese love the rabbit, and have many Rabbit Shrines Nearby the coast, is Hakuto Shrine, enshrining the legendary white rabbit as well as, and Mitarashi-ike, a pond in which the white rabbit apparently washed its body.  There is a mysterious legend about Mitarashi-ike, which states that the water level remains the same in any kind of weather.  As a result, it is also known as “Fuzou Fugen No Ike” (a pond with unchanged water level).  There is an island offshore from which the white rabbit returned, so you can imagine what it was like in the mythological age.  It is also a place with a beautiful sunset view.  Supposidly you will have a romantic time if you visit this place with your partner. The oldest shrine of Japan https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spot/shritemp/o-miwa-shrine.html based on the old Shinto that worships mountains Omiwa Jinja in Yamato, current Sakurai City, of Nara is said to be the oldest shrine of Japan that date back to the age before emperors. The shrine is dedicated to Omononushi-no-mikoto who appears in myths.  Because his soul was comforted in Mt. Miwa just behind the shrine, the entire mountain is the subject of worship. Omononushi-no-mikoto is the god known for saving the white rabbit of Inaba, so “Nadeusagi (rabbit to stroke)” is placed at the entrance of the gathering hall.  It is said that stroking the rabbit will take away your pain.  Stroked by so many people the rabbit is now mirror-shiny. The "Rabbit Shrine" The Higashitenno-Okazaki Shrine in Kyoto, not far from the much larger famous Heian Shrine. This smaller shrine is usullay empty and you m ay be abe to roam around in solitude and appreciate the Kawaii (cute in Japanese) rabbit statues. Only in Japan could there be an entire shrine built with rabbit statues and miniature rabbit figurines lined up perfectly straight trusting that no one will remove them.  This is an “off the beaten track” shrine, and is worth checking out. Okazaki Shrine has served as a shrine for safe birth since 1178, and the Ujiko-sai festival is held every October in celebration.  The rabbit is considered a helper spirit of Okazaki Shrine. This is because many rabbits lived in the mountain behind the shrine. There are many sculptures of rabbits on the precincts (they are seen on pedestals of guardian dogs, in dedicatory lanterns, and above doorways). Notably, there is a black granite statue of a rabbit in the washbasin. This rabbit statue is for the believer who wishes to have a baby. Okazaki Shrine is also a shrine for marriage. This is because the famous heroic god Susano Ono Mikoto, who is enshrined at the shrine, slayed a demon to marry the goddess Kushi Inada Hime. For these reasons, many couples hold their wedding at Okazaki shrine. http://kyoto-weddings.jp/okazaki-shrine.html http://www.afar.com/places/higashitenno-okazaki-shrine-sakyo-ward What Is called the Bunny Shrine, is officially called Jyusozan-Mojyubosatsudo (鷲巣山文殊菩薩堂). This magical place is about a 15 minute walk away from the famous Hachiman Shrine. Just walk upstream of the Hirose River on the Sakunami Highway, then look for stairs that lead up into a cluster of towering cedar trees.   Go up and you will find a mix of Shinto, Buddha, and funny bunny images abound.  There is so much going on at this shrine that it is even hard to begin to explain.  In 1603, founder of Sendai feudal lord Date Masamune built Jyusozan-Mojyubosatsudo.  However, in fact, this place is neither shrine, nor temple. It is a place to worship, or at least give thanks and gratitude to, the spirit of the rabbit. Why?  The real reason would be because Date Masamune was born in the year of the rabbit, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.  As such, there are several rabbit images including pictures, wooden votive tablets, a statue at the second set of stairs, and the massive bunny ready to scare any unknowing visitor that walks through the front gate and glimpses to the right!  Look closely at the roof on the main shrine building and from the right angle you can see some rabbit decorations doing handstands!  Upon a little more research, I learned this is one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animal pilgrimage sites in Sendai.  The Bunny Shrine makes for a few fun photos, is not crowded, and is full of mystery.   http://en.japantravel.com/miyagi/bunny-shrine-in-sendai/26984 Since in days of old, the zodiac system used for designating years, months, days, time of day, and direction was adopted by the Japanese.  This happened officially during the reign of the Empress Suiko in the early 7th century.  Over the subsequent centuries, this system- called ETO, or JU-NISHI in Japanese, gained terrific popularity ( because of the fortune telling and decorative opportunities)- especially in the Edo Period (1600-1868).  Even after the Japanese abandoned their old calendar and started using the Western (Gregorian) system, they have still clung firmly to the Zodiac.  In fact now it might be more to be more popular than ever.  Included in the zodiac is the Rabbit/Hare The only problem with this current image of rabbits is that the animal adopted as the fourth sign in the Chinese/Japanese zodiac was not exactly the rabbit ( an animal which breeds in burrows underground and which was introduced from Europe probably just before the Edo Period) but THE HARE- an animal native to Japan (in several species) and which has played a major role in folklore and mythology. As oppossed to symbolizing cuteness, these animals were considered cunning tricksters.   Evidence of this belief can be found in various folk tales featuring very tricky and mischivious hares.  The most famous of these stories is probably KACHIKACHI YAMA-  a childrens story in which a rabbit cruelly tortures and finally kills a tanuki, which had killed an old woman (Yes, Japanese old children`s stories are just as violent and gruesome as European children`s stories!)  Importantly, hares were also considered symbols of  fertility (as they are in most of the rest of the world). for the reason that they breed like……. well, uhh,…. like….RABBITS (as the phrase goes). Besides being symbols of peace, docility and cuteness, they are also considered to be lucky. This is because the Chinese character usually used to write this animals name- 兎　(another character – 卯, is used to represent the rabbit as a zodiac sign) is very similar to the character 免 ( manukareru), which means to get rid of, or make vanish- in other words- rabbits some believe that rabbits will make BAD LUCK DISAPPEAR.  Just in the same way as when you spot a rabbit in the wild and- in the blink of an eye- ITS GONE! Now I am going to discuss the Lepus brachyurus or Japanese hare.  Most of the information I learned was from an article  By Jennifer Holmberg The Japanese hare is reddish-brown, with a body length that ranges from 45 to 54 centimetres (18 to 21 in), and a body weight of 1.3 to 2.5 kilograms (2.9 to 5.5 lb). Its tail will grow to lengths of 2 to 5 centimetres (0.79 to 1.97 in). Its front legs can be from 10 to 15 centimetres (3.9 to 5.9 in) long and the back legs from 12 to 15 centimetres (4.7 to 5.9 in) long. The ears grow to be 6 to 8 centimetres (2.4 to 3.1 in) long, and the tail 2 to 5 centimetres (0.79 to 1.97 in) long.  Adult Japan­ese hares are mid-size mam­mals with body masses rang­ing from 1.3 to 2.5 kg. There are vari­a­tions in color from a dark brown to a red brown with areas of white. All four sub­species are brown­ish in the sum­mer, but L. brachyu­rus an­gusti­dens and L.​b.​lyoni change their coat col­ors to white in the win­ter.  In areas of northern Japan, the west coast, and the island of Sado, where there is heavy snowfall, the Japanese hare loses its coloration in the autumn, remaining white until the spring, when the reddish-brown fur returns.   Like all mem­bers of the Order Lago­mor­pha, Japan­ese hares have a sec­ond set of in­cisors, or peg teeth, be­hind their first upper in­cisors. Japan­ese hares are en­demic to Japan. They are com­monly found on the main­land is­lands of Hon­shu, Shikoku and Kyushu and most of the sur­round­ing Japan­ese is­lands, ex­clud­ing Hokkaido. There are four sub­species of the Japan­ese hare found in dif­fer­ent ge­o­graph­i­cal re­gions. Lepus brachyu­rus an­gusti­dens is found in north­ern Hon­shu, L. b. lyoni is found on Sado Is­land, L. b. brachyu­rus is found in south­ern Hon­shu, and L. b. ok­ien­sis is found on the Oki Is­lands. There are vari­a­tions be­tween Japan­ese hare sub­species found on the main is­land and those found on sur­round­ing is­lands. The di­men­sions of a main­land fe­male Japan­ese hare de­scribed in 1905 were 505 mm head and body length, 40 mm tail length, 135 mm hind­foot length and 78 mm ear length. Mea­sure­ments from a fe­male Japan­ese hare from Oki Is­land were a 506 mm head and body length, a 54 mm tail, a 138 mm hind foot and a 78 mm ear. The sub­species found on the smaller is­lands ap­pear to have sex­ual di­mor­phism, with the vast ma­jor­ity of skull char­ac­ter­is­tics being smaller in males than in fe­males. On the main is­land, the only fea­ture that is not equal in size is the width of the palate. In gen­eral, the sub­species on the small is­lands are often larger in mass, length of head, and length of body. The sub­species on the main is­land have larger ears, hind feet length and skull size com­pared to those on the is­lands. It has been sug­gested that this vari­a­tion is not due to in­su­lar vari­a­tion, but that the is­land forms are ac­tu­ally closer to the an­ces­tral form and the main is­land sub­species has evolved and adapted to a chang­ing en­vi­ron­ment. Lepus brachyu­rus has been di­vided into two clades and four sub­species. The two clades are found in south­ern and north­ern Japan and ap­pear to be the re­sult of these groups evolv­ing dif­fer­ently in these dif­fer­ent re­gions ap­prox­i­mately 1.24 mil­lion years ago. and the TOHOKU NO-USAGI, Lepus brachyurus angustidens, which is quite similar in habit and appearance, except for one astounding characteristic: these hares turn pure white in winter! Another reason why the ancients might have considered them as sacred creatures. The KYUSHU type live mainly on the eastern side of the mountains which run down the center of Japan. The TOHOKU type live on the western, snowier side. Habitat Japan­ese hares can be found through­out Japan in urban, rural and for­est set­tings, but the vast ma­jor­ity are found in rural areas. They are typ­i­cally found in areas with dense shrub-like veg­e­ta­tion and a low tree canopy, often near the edge of forests. Japan­ese hares are pre­dom­i­nant in young, Japan­ese cedar plan­ta­tions where there is plenty of in­com­ing light and an abun­dance of veg­e­ta­tion. Japan­ese hares are also found near and around rivers or streams. They range from sea level to 2700 m. Japan­ese hares do not in­habit moun­tain­ous areas.  It is mostly found in mountains or hilly areas. It also inhabits forests or brushy areas.  Due to human encroachment, though, this hare has thrived in and around urban environments, so much so that it has become a nuisance in some places. Reproduction The litter size of the Japanese hare varies from 1 to 6. The age of maturity is uncertain, but females probably breed within a year of birth. Breeding continues year round. Several litters are born each year, each of which contain 2–4 individuals. Mating is promiscuous; males chase females, and box to repel rivals. Behavior The Japanese hare, like most hares and rabbits, is crepuscular (feeds mainly in the evening and early morning). It is silent except when it is in distress, and gives out a call for the distress. It can occupy burrows sometimes. Japan­ese hares are soli­tary and noc­tur­nal. When they are ac­tive at night, they can travel about 1000 m in a sin­gle night in forested areas and can cover ap­prox­i­mately 6 hectares.  While noth­ing is known about com­mu­ni­ca­tion be­tween Japan­ese hares, in­for­ma­tion may be in­ferred from other hare species. There ap­pears to be var­i­ous types of vo­cal­iza­tions, mostly high-pitched, that occur when hares are con­fronted with un­com­fort­able or fright­en­ing sit­u­a­tions. Like other hares, hear­ing is an im­por­tant mode of per­cep­tion. It is a solitary animal except during mating season, when males and females gather for breeding.  Not much is known about Japan­ese hare mat­ing sys­tems.  There is, how­ever, gen­er­al­iz­able in­for­ma­tion re­gard­ing other species of hares. Aside from arc­tic hares, which pair each breed­ing sea­son, most male and fe­male hares are promis­cu­ous. Male and fe­male hares come to­gether dur­ing the breed­ing sea­son and males some­times dis­play ag­gres­sive be­hav­ior, such as box­ing, in order to com­pete for mates.  Japan­ese hares have a long breed­ing sea­son, be­gin­ning in early Jan­u­ary and end­ing in Au­gust. The num­ber of lit­ters per sea­son ranges from 4 to 5. The av­er­age lit­ter size ranges from one to four, with 1.6 ba­bies being the av­er­age and the av­er­age weight of the young at birth is 132 g. There is a 1:1 ratio of males to fe­males born in each lit­ter. Within one breed­ing sea­son, a typ­i­cal fe­male will av­er­age 7.4 young. The wean­ing pe­riod typ­i­cally takes place 2 to 3 weeks after birth. Fe­male hares be­come sex­u­ally ma­ture at ten months old. The ges­ta­tion pe­riod ranges from 43 to 45 days and the pe­riod be­tween births ranges from 33 to 109 days. An in­ter­birth pe­riod shorter than the ges­ta­tion pe­riod sug­gests the pos­si­bil­ity of su­per­foeta­tion. This is fur­ther sup­ported by the oc­cur­rence of post­coital ovu­la­tion in Japan­ese hares. At the other end of the spec­trum, there can also be de­lays be­tween birth and the next cop­u­la­tion. Some­times fe­male Japan­ese hares will chase away males with whom they do not want to cop­u­late. There is some vari­abil­ity in breed­ing pat­terns be­tween north­ern and south­ern Japan­ese hares as breed­ing ap­pears to be af­fected by tem­per­a­ture, pho­tope­riod, and pre­cip­i­ta­tion. En­vi­ron­ments in higher lat­i­tudes have de­creased tem­per­a­ture and pho­tope­ri­ods through­out the ma­jor­ity of the year and stud­ies of cap­tive an­i­mals have found that with in­creas­ing lat­i­tude, the breed­ing sea­son, ges­ta­tion pe­riod and lit­ter size de­creases. Food Japan­ese hares are op­por­tunis­tic her­bi­vores that typ­i­cally eat newly planted grasses, grasses at plan­ta­tions, and young trees and shrubs. Saito and Koike de­ter­mined that their main source of food dur­ing the sum­mer comes from the Fam­ily Gramineae, which in­cludes the grasses and many com­mer­cial crops. In north­ern Japan, when these grasses are un­avail­able due to win­ter snow cover, Japan­ese hares eat the buds and seedlings of young trees, often found in plan­ta­tions.  Vegetation found in and around its habitat is where the Japanese hare gets most of its nutrients. Grasses, shrubs, and bushes are all eaten by the hare. The Japanese hare is one of the few hares that will eat the bark off of trees and it does so occasionally which can cause major damage to trees and forests.   Tori and Suzuki ex­am­ined which trees were fa­vored in the win­ter and con­cluded that the vast ma­jor­ity of trees were Phyl­lostachys prae­cox, a bam­boo which is high in crude pro­tein con­tent.  Other pop­u­lar win­ter trees in­clude Acer, Paulow­nia, Acan­thopanax, Ar­alia and Legu­mi­nosae. The trees and shrubs cho­sen by Japan­ese hares often have in­creased amounts of branches and stems, which are typ­i­cally found in young forests. Most of the trees that are con­sumed have high pro­tein con­tent.   Japan­ese hares also en­gage in co­prophagy, or the reinges­tion of feces. While co­prophagy is com­mon in most hares, what is unique in L. brachyu­rus is that it reingests both soft and hard feces, as they are ob­served sim­ply swal­low­ing soft feces and chew­ing hard feces. Co­prophagy is done to ex­tract as many nu­tri­ents as pos­si­ble from their dif­fi­cult to di­gest plant food. There is also a pos­i­tive re­la­tion­ship with the lack of avail­able food and an in­creased oc­cur­rence of con­sum­ing hard feces. Japan­ese hares are read­ily preyed on by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), golden ea­gles (Aquila chrysae­tos) and Japan­ese martens (Martes melam­pus). The color change in the north­ern sub­species of Japan­ese hares, from brown to white in the win­ter, is likely a cryp­tic color change to blend into their sur­round­ing en­vi­ron­ment and avoid pre­da­tion. Due to the large pop­u­la­tion sizes of Japan­ese hares, they are ex­tremely im­por­tant in the food web. They are prey for larger mam­mals and they im­pact the veg­e­ta­tion on which they feed. They can cause dam­age to woody trees and plants when they are for­ag­ing for buds in the win­ter The Japanese hare population seems to be stable; in some places, it has become a nuisance animal. It is hunted in certain regions for food, fur, pelts, and to help curb its growing numbers.  It is estimated that Japan­ese hares do not live longer than 4 years in the wild. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_hare http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepus_brachyurus/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2011/01/for-the-year-of-the-rabbit-some-musings-on-rabbits-and-hares-in-japanese-culture-and-history/ Plant of the Week: Fox Glove Word of the Week: Sandwich

Welcome to episode 047 of Expand Your World - Be Bilingual.  My name is Queenie Kawabe and I am your host of Expand Your World - Be Bilingual. The podcast will be released 5 days a week between Monday - Friday, and this is the place for you to get inspired and stay motivation with your language learning.  Monday & Friday : Ask Me A Question or A Guest Talk  Tuesday & Thursday : Learn Japanese / Chinese in 5  Wednesday : Effective Wednesday  In this episode, I teach you Chinese - Basic Greeting  Learn Chinese and Japanese with clearly-explained audio lesson with Queenie Kawabe between September - December 2015. Click on the link below.  Links to contact me  15-minute consultation session with me Queenie Kawabe Facebook Twitter  http://queeniekawabe.com info@queeniekwabe.com A small change in a day is good enough, so be consistent in your language learning adventure! Do you have a question?  Ask me on twitter @qkawabe and I will featured your questions on one of my show  Get Your Guides to Language Learning Adventure : http://queeniekawabe.com

This week's discussion basis was Lads - Lads, it got a bit laddy at the end. Blame lad's mags. Shaun and Dom chat about a bunch of stuff, well a few things, Chinese/Japanese houses of the future Flintstones, Jeremy Kyle fuckwittery, loads. Email in podcastfour@gmail.com. It's ace.DIRECT DOWNLOADWatch the award winning Podcast Four film, Last Night at Emilio's. With Podcast Four commentary