The China History Podcast

In this episode, we look at Wang Xizhi, a man of letters who achieved greatness during the Eastern Jin dynasty and is called China's greatest calligrapher. His life and achievements will be explored along with the significance of calligraphy in Chinese culture. We'll also recall those crazy times in the fourth century AD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like Guan Yu in the previous episode 081, Yue Fei of the Southern Song Dynasty was a heroic and legendary military man in Chinese history. He dedicated his life to resisting the aggression of the Jurchens of the Jin dynasty. The Jurchens had booted the Song dynasty out of northern China in 1127. Yue Fei dedicated his short life to win back those northern lands before falling victim to imperial court politics. And this helped to make him a legend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We close out our three-part series on the amazing life of Admiral Zheng He and his seven voyages. This time the CHP looks at retired submarine commander Gavin Menzies and his take on what Zheng He achieved. He makes some wild claims that have been savagely attacked by educated people around the world. If not for the fact that early Ming China was advanced enough to carry out these voyages, as Menzies said they happened, they'd be very hard to believe. The debate is far from closed on this subject. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We continue on with the voyages of Zheng He. This time we look at some of the highlights from all seven voyages. Then after the Yong Le and Xuan De emperors pass from the scene, no further emperors are interested to put their seal of approval on any more of these pricey expeditions. With historic consequences, China's focus turns to protection from the west and northwest of the country rather than engaging in diplomacy and further exploration of the seas and distant lands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laszlo is back after more than two weeks on the lam. This time we look at part 1 of a series featuring the great adventurer/explorer/diplomat Zheng He. Zheng He's seven voyages to India, Persia, and the east coast of Africa created a big sensation in the early 15th century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xiang Yu, renowned as one of China's most formidable generals and strategists, recounts his legendary rivalry with Liu Bang during the tumultuous transition from the Qin to the Han Dynasty. He discusses his rise from a rebel to a ruler amid the chaos following Qin Shi Huang's death. The podcast dives into Xiang Yu's pivotal battles and the cultural backdrop, including the significance of Qu Yuan and the Dragonboat Festival. It culminates in a dramatic tale of ambition and power, exploring what ultimately led to Xiang Yu's downfall against Liu Bang.

In this final episode of the Cultural Revolution overview we look at the events that went down in 1976 as well as the massive mopping-up operation that took place after the fall of the Gang of Four. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we get all the way up to the end of 1975. With Zhou Enlai ailing and Mao Zedong also not long for the world, there is a sudden urgency to find a successor to the chairman. Now more than ever the two opposing camps take every measure to defeat the other. To the victor will go the leadership of the Chinese nation. To the loser, there is a certain loss of power and perhaps of freedom. Everything is building up to the fateful year of 1976. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we finish off 1969, a year that not only saw internal revolt and anarchy but also saw armed border confrontation with the Soviet Union in the freezing northeast. Chairman Mao Zedong pulls out all the stops to quell the violence and rebellion that he himself called for at the outset of the Cultural Revolution. Mao's chosen successor, Lin Biao loses favor with The Great Helmsman. As China enters the 1970's the Cultural Revolution, though tarnished, still has plenty of life left in it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the fifth installment of our China History Podcast overview of the Cultural Revolution we look at the milestone events of 1967: The February Countercurrent, 8 Point Program, 10 Point Program and the Wuhan Incident. Lots of blood and violence during this difficult year in China. Added to this was no small amount of political, military and social upheavel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices