The China History Podcast

In this first of three episodes, Laszlo offers up a nice easy overview of Qin Shihuang and the Qin State. In Part 1 we'll look at the ancient beginnings of the Qin and how they caught a few lucky breaks, establishing themselves around Gansu and Shaanxi province, after coming to the aid of the Zhou kings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph Needham, a renowned scholar in Chinese science and technology, recounts his perilous travels during WWII and his dedication to fostering academic collaboration. He discusses the Needham Question, revealing why modern science stalled in China while thriving in Europe. The conversation highlights key exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations, including significant translations that shaped global knowledge. Needham shares insights into his ambitious project, the Gujin-Tushu encyclopedia, and reflects on his complex legacy in studying China’s scientific heritage.

In this conversation, Joseph Needham, a biochemist and devoted scholar, shares his insights on the rich history of Chinese science and culture. He recounts his transformative journey from academia to becoming a passionate advocate for China during turbulent times. Highlights include his daring 1943 expedition to explore the legendary Mokao Grottos and the significance of Sichuan's irrigation innovations. Needham's quest to bridge Eastern and Western knowledge reveals a fascinating interplay of historical developments and personal connections.

In this shorter than usual episode, Laszlo introduces a little piece of culture taken from the southern portion of Hunan Province. Generations of illiterate women from a single county on the Hunan-Guangxi border, denied education, created their own writing script. Men never learned it and so it was used by these women to communicate with each other and to record their secret thoughts and inspirations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Delve into the captivating history of opium in China, tracing its journey from a medicinal product to a societal staple. Discover how opium's cultural integration shaped rituals and spurred addiction during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Learn about the tumultuous responses of emperors to an escalating drug crisis and the powerful role of foreign traders. This exploration also contrasts China's opium use with that of the West, highlighting its pervasive impact across different social classes and its enduring legacy in cultural narratives.

Laszlo finishes off the CHP overview of the story of the AVG in World War II. In this episode, the battle commences on December 20, 1941. From that point forward until the organization was disbanded on July 4, 1942, the Flying Tigers wrote their name into the history books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Part 1 episode, Laszlo provides all the setup and background for the magnificent story of the American Volunteer Group, known more popularly as The Flying Tigers. Theirs was only an eight-month-long story but their success at a time when all seemed hopeless provided an inspiration to many and showed Japan was not invincible. For a list of the terms used in this episode, please visit the CHP website at teacup.media and go to the episode page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover the intriguing history of the Hakka people and their complex origins. Learn about their migration journey from northern to southern China and the unique dialect that formed during this time. Uncover the challenges faced after the Taiping Rebellion, including the unfair blame cast upon them. Explore the resilience of the Hakka identity and community bonds, alongside significant contributions to Southeast Asia. Delight in their culinary traditions and cultural heritage that continue to shape their identity in Chinese history.

That's going to be it for this series, first produced in late 2014 and listened to millions of times on this CHP feed, via the Tea History Podcast feed, and since 2018, fleet-wide on Cathay Pacific Airways. I hope you enjoyed this survey of Chinese tea history. Since this work was first produced seven years ago I've had the great pleasure to meet so many of you and to enjoy tea together. The series ends here with a brief recap of what was discussed. My deepest thanks to all of you for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our survey of the Famous Teas of China continues with a tour of more tea-producing provinces. Teas such as Dancong, Tieguanyin, Jinjunmei, and Da Hong Pao are introduced. Various teas from Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Hubei, and Hunan are also mentioned. All of them are conveniently obtainable from your favorite online tea purveyor and local tea shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices