The China History Podcast

CHP-075-Xi Jinping

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:21:34 -0800

Xi JInping left U.S. soil last night after taking in the Laker game at Staples Center. His visit this week went off without a hitch. Today we look at Xi Jinping's life in the context of PRC history. This fifth generation leader is someone who has a rich background not only in Party and military affairs but matters of state as well. No past leader has been groomed to become Party Secretary as has Vice President Xi.

CHP-072-The Hong Kong Triads

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:25:07 -0800

The Triads of Hong Kong have an interesting historical past that shaped their development throughout the years. Today we look at their origins and some of the more important historic events that made them the violent international criminal gangs they are today.

CHP-071-Ouyang Xiu

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:43:04 -0800

Now that we have Deng Xiaoping out of the way, we're back looking at random topics throughout the ages. This week we look at the great Song Dynasty statesman and sage Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072). In this episode we'll review aspects of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and Ouyang Xiu's place in this amazing age in China. Also featured in this podcast will be other notable scholar-statesmen, Fan Zhongyan, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.

CHP-070-Deng Xiaoping Part 8

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 20:48:57 -0800

Today we conclude our eight-part overview of Dr. Ezra Vogel's recent biography of Deng Xiaoping. In this installment we focus on Deng's dramatic and brilliant Southern Tour of January-February 1992.

CHP-069-Deng Xiaoping Part 7

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:37:06 -0800

After a holiday delay, Laszlo is back with the 7th and almost final episode of our overview of Ezra Vogel's new biography of Deng. In this episode we look at the meat and potatoes of the Reform years from 1979 to 1989.

CHP-068-Deng Xiaoping Part 6

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:31:32 -0800

In this sixth installment of the Deng Xiaoping overview we focus in on 1978-1979. In this episode we see Deng return to power a third time. Deng immediately throws all his energy into advancing the cause of modernization in China. The age of reform takes off in earnest. But first he has to deal with Hua Guofeng.

CHP-067-Deng Xiaoping Part 5

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:45:12 -0800

This week's episode looks at the exciting events that all went down in 1976. Deng Xiaoping is on the defensive thanks to his 1975 policies to revive the nation. But a concatenation of events will happen starting on January 8 and ending on October 6 that will both bring Deng back and rock China. But these events will set the country on a course that will lead China to become the economic and international powerhouse it has become in the 21st century. Sorry to everyone for all the iTunes issues.

CHP-066-Deng Xiaoping Part 4

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 08:21:17 -0800

After a bit of a delay, this week we look again at Deng Xiaoping and his struggles during the Cultural Revolution Years from 1966 to 1975. Seems we still have a long way to go yet. Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for a possible new iTunes Feed for the China History Podcast.

CHP-065-Deng Xiaoping Part 3

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:09:06 -0800

Today in Part 3 of our Deng Xiaoping overview we look at The Great One's life from 1952 after his return from the Southwest Bureau all the way up to the start of the Cultural Revolution.

CHP-064-Deng Xiaoping Part 2

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:34:05 -0800

This time we continue on with our overview of the great leader Deng Xiaoping. We pick up in 1937 with the invasion by Japan, the civil war and the founding of the PRC. We examine Deng's achievements all the way up to 1952, the year he left the Southwest Bureau and returned to Beijing to serve as Vice Premier and to take the lead, with Mao, Zhou, Liu Shaoqi and others in building the PRC from the ground up.

CHP-063-Deng Xiaoping Part 1

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 11:53:06 -0800

Laszlo is happily back in Cali with a new episode that looks at the early years of Deng Xiaoping. Most of the narrative is based on passages gleaned from Ezra Vogel’s new biography of The Great One. Inspired by the events of May Fourth 1919, Deng Xiaoping was a lifelong revolutionary and by the end of his days had personally seen to it that China ended up the nation it was meant to be on the world stage. In this multi-part series on the life of Deng Xiaoping we’ll trace his life, all the triumphs aas well as the tragedies. We’ll look at why he is lionized as one of the greatest 20th century world leaders and also why some have vilified Deng for his actions. His life itself is an interesting prism from which to view 20th century China.

CHP-062-Four Noted Foreigners Buried at Babaoshan

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:59:55 -0700

This time we take a look at four Westerners who committed their lives to the People's Republic of China. These four foreigners, Agnes Smedley, Anna Louise Strong, George Hatem and Israel Epstein were all friends of China and were admired by China's leaders. Upon their deaths they were given the honor of internment at China's Babaoshan Cemetery in Beijing. In this episode we offer an overview of each of their lives and why they were given this great honor.

CHP-061-The First Twelve Months of the PRC

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 07:25:30 -0700

Today we jump over much of the history of the 1940's and zero in on the moment when the PRC was officially established on Oct 1, 1949. Today's podcast episode offers a general overview of the first year of the PRC and some of the multitude of challenges Mao and China's new leaders faced.

CHP-060-The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 19:41:20 -0700

Before we head back to modern times, we look at the mythological beginnings of the Chinese people and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. This period preceded China's legendary Xia Dynasty and the beginnings of Chinese recorded history in the Shang.

CHP-059-The Duke of Zhou

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:36:39 -0700

This week we look at the immortal Zhou Gong, the Duke of Zhou. If he isn't the most revered person from Chinese history, he's certainly in the top three. He guided the earliest years of the Zhou Dynasty through treacherous times. Zhou Gong was responsible for building a great amount of the foundation from which Chinese culture has evolved.

CHP-058-Sir Robert Hart

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:00:52 -0700

This week's episode runs a little long in order to compensate for no episode for the following week. Today's episode looks at the life and interesting career of Sir Robert Hart (赫德), an Ulsterman from Northern Ireland. For most of his life he lived in China in the employ of the Zongli Yamen. Though his official title was Inspector General of the China Maritime Customs Service, he played an important behind the scenes role during the Treaty Port Era. His was an amazing life and today we look at his days in China from 1853 to 1908. I'm in Shanghai and Ningbo all this week so there won't be any episode until after I get back.

CHP-057-Mid-Autumn Festival

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:10:51 -0700

Mid-Autumn Festival takes place every year on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar. This year that date falls on September 12. The Chinese world will be celebrating the holiday in very much the same way that generations have enjoyed going back to ancient times. Families will get together and stroll in public gathering places. Children will carry all manners of lanterns and everyone will gaze at the moon. Due to the autumnal equinox, our moon is at its roundest and brightest. Enjoy a moon cake everyone and 看月亮！

CHP-056-China & Japan 1895-1945

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 19:09:15 -0700

Thanks to RL in Hefei for the inspiration, this week we take a look at China and Japan's difficult history. We focus on the historical events that led to "2,000 years of friendship and 50 years of confrontation," as CPCCC member Zhao Qizheng 赵启正 said recently in the People's Daily. We look at the background and the 50 years that were so terrible, the reverberations are still loud and clear today with many Chinese.

CHP-055-The Shanghai Massacre 1927

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:28:00 -0700

Today we're back with more history. We look at the Shanghai Massacre of April 12, 1927. This was the defining moment when Chiang Kai-shek and his allies and supporters made a bloody break with the Communists.

CHP-053-China in the Early 1920's

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 07:21:37 -0700

The 1920′s in Republican era China was anything but quiet and uneventful. In this episode we focus in on the general situation in China during the period of the early 1920′s. This was a time when the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and KMT (Kuomintang) were in the same bed dreaming their different dreams. It was a period where China was divided with warlords Zhang Zuolin, Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang controlling China from the Yangzi north. The south was the domain of the KMT-CCP alliance where revolution was always in the air. In 1927 Chiang Kai-shek will turn on the CCP and this sets a chain of events in motion that will lead to the Communists victory in 1949.

CHP-049-Sir Run Run Shaw

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:13:55 -0700

Today we have some lighter fare than usual. Nine months ago we looked at one great Hong Kong tycoon, Li Ka-shing. Today we look another. In this episode we look at the life and career of entertainment mogul Sir Run Run Shaw and the Shaw Brothers organization. Born in NIngbo in 1907, along with his brothers, Run Run Shaw built a business empire that spanned the globe and he brought joy to millions with his movies and television. This week we'll take a break from the brutality and bad news to examine a nice success story from Chinese history.

CHP-048-The Founding of the CCP

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 22:08:41 -0700

Thanks and 非常感谢 to listener Steaven who alerted me that the July 1st podcast was cut-off two thirds of the way through. After rallying the entirety of the resources here at the China History Podcast, we were able to resolve the problem and have re-uploaded this episode. Our profoundest apologies. In commemoration of the festivities in China marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, today we look at the events leading up to the CCP's 1st Party Congress in Shanghai. It was nine decades ago on this day on July 1, 1921 that the thirteen delegates of the Party participated in this historic event that began in Shanghai and finished off in the city of Jiaxing.

CHP-047-Adventurer Zhang Qian

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:12:47 -0700

In this episode we look at the life of one of the bravest and greatest adventurers of ancient times. Zhang Qian was selected by the Han Dynasty Emperor Wu to make a political alliance with a distant central Asian people, the Yuezhi. Zhang Qian's thirteen year journey to the west between 138 BC and 126 BC brought back massive amounts of intelligence and understanding about those distant lands beyond Han China's frontiers. This great adventurer and national hero of China paved the way for the explosion of two way trade that followed in his footsteps and led to the development of the Silk Road.

CHP-046-The May 4th Movement

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:46:17 -0700

May 4, 1919 was an historic day in modern Chinese history. The demonstration in Beijing and the subsequent movement brought seismic changes to Chinese culture, politics and literature. All the leaders of modern China who played a founding role in the establishment of the PRC were influenced by the writings and ideas that grew out of this May 4th Movement. All the pent up anger, frustration and resentment of foreign imperialism and China's weakness in the face of their might, came to a head at this time.

CHP-045-The Aftermath of the Xinhai Revolution

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 22:49:49 -0700

The Qing Dynasty formally came to an end on February 12, 1912 when the last emperor Puyi abdicated. That same year the Republic of China was founded and had a very rocky start. In today’s episode we look at the immediate aftermath of the Xinhai Revolution and what happened right after Sun Yat-sen handed the presidency of the new republic to Yuan Shikai.

CHP-044-The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Sun, 29 May 2011 07:19:01 -0700

In an effort to bring some understanding to the recent proposed call for a resolution to formally acknowledge and express regret for banning Chinese immigration and other violated rights of the Chinese settlers, we examine the history of the Chinese Exclusion Act. The resolution was introduced by L.A.'s very own Rep. Judy Chu, the first Chinese American elected to the US Congress. It is also co-sponsored by Rep. Judy Biggert of Illinois and Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado. The resolution is calling on Congress to express regret for the passage of several laws between 1882 and 1904 that violated the fundamental civil rights of Chinese-Americans. In today's episode of the China History Podcast we look at the history behind this resolution and why it is important to understand the past in order to be better informed about the issues of today.

CHP-042-Review of the Overviews

Fri, 13 May 2011 23:51:55 -0700

非常抱歉大家！ Sorry for the few day delay. In a special collectors edition of the China History Podcast we review the Imperial China overviews of the past eight months. We'll quickly review the whole period from 2200 BC to 1912. You can now follow the China History Podcast on Twitter @LaszloCHP. Next time I’m late, I can let you know.

CHP-041-The Qing Dynasty Part 7

Tue, 3 May 2011 19:38:42 -0700

In this episode we conclude our eight month overview of Chinese Imperial history from Yu the Great of the Xia Dynasty to Puyi of the Qing. After more than half a century of tragedy, upheaval, national humiliation and plenty of mass death and destruction, the Qing dynasty ends in 1912. Now as China takes her place in the modern world, the nation must transition from a traditional monarchy to a republic.

CHP-040-The Qing Dynasty Part 6

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 08:45:18 -0700

This week we look at China during the Tongzhi Era and part of the reign of Guangxu. This period from 1875 to 1895 is more of the same for China. More humiliation at the hands of foreigners. More scrambling to modernize. More imperial skullduggery. More military defeats. By the time of China's disastrous defeat after the Sino-Japanese War, the Middle Kingdom reaches a stage where they must wake up and defend themselves or face ruin as a country.

CHP-039-The Qing Dynasty Part 5

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:29:41 -0700

We're almost at the end of our Imperial China History Overview. In this segment of the China History Podcast we look at the continued misfortunes in China during the Xianfeng era, as the country is torn apart by the Taiping and Nian rebellions and revolts in the west. The western powers, following the 2nd Opium War, force yet another unequal treaty on the shellshocked Qing government. In these trying times emerge three great China military heroes Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang. The Qing at last face the choice of modernize or lose the mandate of heaven forever. But with the Empress Dowager Cixi preparing to seize power, things are going to be dicey for this last dynasty of imperial China.

CHP-038-The Qing Dynasty Part 4

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 23:15:57 -0700

Here we begin the turbulent, bloody and historically humiliating 19th century in China. The first half century sees two emperors, Jiaqing and Daoguang stand by helplessly as China is torn apart by uprisings, anti-Manchu discontent, a financial crisis, opium addiction on a massive scale, foreign invasion and the usual deadly floods and other natural disasters. By the time the Daoguang emperor passes from the scene in 1850, it is clear to all that the Qing have long lost Heaven's Mandate.

CHP-037-The Qing Dynasty Part 3

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:06:13 -0700

In this episode we look at the bittersweet reign of the Qianlong emperor. The longest reigning emperor in Chinese imperial history, the Qianlong era saw the most splendid three decades for the Manchu's of the Qing Dynasty. China reached its greatest territorial extent and was still the marvel of the world. But during the second half of the Qianlong era, Westerners became more aggressive in their ongoing attempts to increase China trade. In addition to Westerners and their demands for China to open up, domestic problems increasingly plagued the Qing emperor. The stage was being set for the turbulent 19th century. The remaining six Qing emperors were powerless to control the cataclysmic series of events that would change China forever.

CHP-036-The Qing Dynasty Part 2

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:59:51 -0700

In this episode we examine the Yongzheng emperor, the second of the three great Qing emperors who reigned during the most golden of times for the Manchu dynasty. A tireless emperor who was a wizard at managing the machine of state, he reigned for only thirteen years before his son later brought the Qing dynasty to its greatest heights.

CHP-035-The Qing Dynasty Part 1

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:34:22 -0700

In this first episode covering the Qing Dynasty we look at the Shunzhi emperor and his son, the Kangxi emperor. The 61 year reign of the Kangxi emperor was the longest in imperial Chinese history. The Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong eras saw the Qing dynasty reach its greatest heights and China was economically the wealthiest and intellectually the most advanced and artistically refined empire on earth. In this episode we examine the life of the first of these three great emperors.

CHP-034-The Ming Dynasty Part 4

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 16:08:24 -0800

We finish off our overview of the Ming Dynasty in this episode and also trace the rise of the Manchu's. The period from the Jiajing emperor to the tragic suicide of the Chongzhen emperor saw a slow and steady decline in the fortunes of the Ming dynasty.

CHP-033-The Ming Dynasty Part 3

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:10:24 -0800

In today's episode we look at Ming Dynasty China from the reigns of Xuande to Jiajing. This period in Chinese history was witnessing momentous changes. The dynasty suffers a terrible debacle in 1449. Portugal was becoming a regular visitor and sets up down in Macao. This was also a time when evil self-serving eunuchs spread their tentacles throughout the government. By the close of the Jiajing emperor's long reign the best days of the Ming were already behind them.

CHP-032-The Ming Dynasty Part 2

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:34:06 -0800

In this week's episode we examine the second great emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the Yongle [Yong - Leh] emperor who reigned 1402-1424. This tireless emperor waged campaigns against the Mongols in the north, the Vietnamese in the south and sent sailing expeditions throughout Asia, the subcontinent and the east coast of Africa to engage the peoples of these faraway lands and bring the splendor of China to them. These legendary voyages of the eunuch Admiral Zheng He were the brainchild of the Yongle emperor.

CHP-031-The Ming Dynasty Part 1

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:59:03 -0800

Laszlo is back, finally, after a longer layoff than expected. This week we look at the end of the Yuan dynasty and the founding of the Ming Dynasty. We look at the first emperor Ming Taizu, a.k.a. The Hongwu Emperor. With the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, once again Chinese are in control of the Middle Kingdom.

CHP-030-Chinese New Year

Tue, 1 Feb 2011 16:32:30 -0800

This week we take a break from the history to look at the background and the traditions surrounding Chinese New Year. Laszlo will be back next time to pick up where we left off after the fall of the Song Dynasty. On behalf of everyone here at the China History Podcast, we wish everyone a happy and healthy new year filled with good health, prosperity and peace. 新年快乐大家！年年有余！

CHP-029-The Southern Song Dynasty

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:32:03 -0800

In this week's episode Laszlo finishes off the Song Dynasty after the Jin Empire captures the royal family and sacks the capital in Kaifeng. The Song dynasty continues on with the new capital in the south of China, below the Yangzi River. Despite perilous times with hostile neighbors to the north, the dynasty enjoys continued prosperity and a burst of creativity in philosophy, the arts and sciences. The Southern Song has a good 152 year run until they are overrun by the Kublai Khan's great armies in 1279.

CHP-028- The Northern Song Dynasty

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:26:23 -0800

This week's episode runs a little longer than usual. In it we examine the Northern Song Dynasty from 960 to 1127. This was a precarious time for China. Despite three potentially menacing non-Han empires surrounding them to the north and west, China once again had another magnificent great leap forward of brilliance and innovation. Together with the Tang, the Song Dynasty is considered one of the greatest periods in all of China's long history. Today we look at the first half of the Song when the capital was located up in Kaifeng.

CHP-027-Tang Dynasty Part 3 & The 5 Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms

Sun, 9 Jan 2011 16:54:40 -0800

In today's final installment covering the history of the great Tang Dynasty, we look at its agonizing decline until 907 when it is pushed aside and another period of disunity sets in. Five Dynasties reign in the north, all short lived and not spectacular by any means. In the south, after the Tang falls you have a total of ten kingdoms that exist independently. While not the most interesting period in Chinese history, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period acted as a kind of buffer between the two greatest dynasties in China's long history: the Tang and Song.

CHP-026-The Tang Dynasty Part 2

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 22:01:04 -0800

Laszlo is back after a holiday illness to continue where we left off in 705 with the passing of Wu Zetian. After an initial golden age during the Taizong emperor, the Tang will reach new heights of glory under Tang Minghuang a.k.a. the Xuanzong emperor. The magnificent city of Chang'an is once again the center of the world where the arts flourished like never before and traders, travelers and explorers from around the world came to gather and marvel at the splendor of Tang Dynasty China.

CHP-025-The Tang Dynasty Part 1

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 22:48:59 -0800

As the Sui peters out, Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, seizes power and establishes the Tang Dynasty in 618. Along with the Song, the Tang Dynasty is considered the pinnacle of China's long history. In culture, art, poetry, painting, ceramics, science, navigation, diplomacy this was a golden age. Buddhism made even greater inroads into Chinese society. And Chang'an was the center of the world where the great and mighty Taizong emperor ruled and people came from as far away as Persia to marvel at China’s greatness and might. In this week’s episode we look at the founding of the Tang up to the demise of the third emperor Gaozong. With her husband's death in 683, the Empress Wu Zetian came to the fore and began ruling in her own name.

CHP-024-The Sui Dynasty

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:32:14 -0800

The demise of the Southern & Northern Dynasties brought us a China unified under the Sui emperors Wen and Yang. This ephemeral dynasty laid the groundwork for the splendor of the Tang dynasty. Lasting only 37 years, the Sui Dynasty doesn't get the limelight enjoyed by the great dynasties of Han, Tang, Song, Ming and Qing but it played a critical role in the development of a unified China.

CHP-023-The Southern & Northern Dynasties

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:08:03 -0800

The Southern & Northern Dynasties were a collection of dynasties that lasted 170 years and preceded the time of unification under the Sui Dynasty. North of the Yangzi River you had the Northern Wei, the Northern Qi and the Northern Zhou. South of the great river reigned the Liu Song, Southern Qi, the Liang and finally the Chen. Although there was disunity in China and plenty of warring going on to make things miserable for most, it was still a very critical and formative time in China with mass migrations of Han Chinese from the north to the south. It was also a time when Buddhism triumphed in China.

CHP-022-The Three Kingdoms, the Jin Dynasty & the Sixteen Kingdoms

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:37:10 -0800

This week we are back with more Chinese history. We will look at a very confusing but exciting time when there was mostly a period of disunity and China was broken up into contending kingdoms. However this period of chaos brought us some of the richest tales of ancient China filled with amazing battles, events and larger than life characters. We'll look at the Three Kingdoms period that followed the demise of the Eastern Han. Then we will look at the Western Jin dynasty that briefly united China, followed by the Eastern Jin and then the period of the 16 Northern Kingdoms.

CHP-020-The Han Dynasty Part 3

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:00:48 -0700

In this final installment of the Han Dynasty overview we look at the reign of Wang Mang during the short lived Xin Dynasty and the Eastern (or Later) Han Dynasty that followed. The Eastern Han was a period of endless skullduggery at the imperial court where the palace eunuchs rose to power and meddled endlessly behind the scenes. The final years of the Eastern Han was a period of great chaos where the empire ultimately broke up into three kingdoms. This was the time of Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan. When the Eastern Han ended in 220AD, the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu battled for supremacy in China for sixty years.

CHP-019-The Han Dynasty Part 2

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:11:03 -0700

Today we present the second part of the Western Han Dynasty overview where we will look at the great Han emperors Wendi, Jingdi and perhaps the greatest of them all, Han Wudi. It was a golden age in Chinese history and saw the first indirect contact between Rome in the west and Han China in the east. The Silk Road of course was the conduit between these two great empires. Next week we will continue on with the short-lived Xin Dynasty of Wang Mang and the Eastern Han Dynasty.

CHP-018-The Han Dynasty Part 1

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:00:47 -0700

In this episode we look at the first few decades only of the Western Han Dynasty. The Western Han lasted from 202BC to 8AD. We'll focus in on the fall of the Qing and the rise of Liu Bang who went on to found the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang would reign as Emperor Gaozu. Today we will look at his rise to power, his reign, his death and its gruesome aftermath. Next week we will pick up with the reigns of Emperors Wen, Jing and Wu. The periods of Wang Mang and the Eastern Han will wait until the 3rd installment of our Han Dynasty overview. On another day we will return and focus in on many of the amazing stories of this golden period..