The China History Podcast

08:45

Bonus CSP Episode featuring Emma in the narrator's seat

The China History Podcast ·

2023/12/17

As promised and advertised, to cap off another winning season of the Chinese Sayings Podcast, we're proud to feature none other than our very own Emma, presenting a special bonus episode. This time we look at another good one: 鹬蚌相争, 渔翁得利. Yù bàng xiāng zhēng, Yú wēng dé lì. This one comes from the Strategies of the Warring States. It tells the story of the Clam, the Sandpiper, and the fisherman, amidst the backdrop of the early 3rd century BC. This chengyu, like many presented before in the CSP, has

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48:29

Ep. 339 | The History of Chinese Medicine (Part 3)

The China History Podcast ·

2023/12/10

The focus in Part 3 will be on the Song Dynasty, the Jin and the Yuan. Looming large in Chinese medicine during this fertile period was Sun Simiao, the 药王 or King of Medicines. We'll look at his life as well as many others: Wang Shuhe 王叔和, more Tao Hongjing 陶弘景, Ge Hong 葛洪, Gong Qingxuan 龚庆宣, Chao Yuanfang 巢元方， and others. If you'll be in London Feb 1-2-3, I'll be there collaborating with the London Science Museum. Details here: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/zimingzhong Learn more

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11:11

S8E10 | Don't Count Me Out Yet

The China History Podcast ·

2023/12/05

For the second time in a row, we feature the Cao Family of Wei in a Chinese Sayings Podcast Episode. This one concerns a story of someone who made the grade late in life. There are a lot of people in history who all throughout their early years and even into their prime, didn't make much of their life. But come their 50's or 60's they achieve greatness. This time we look at Dà Qì Wǎn Chéng 大器晚成 and the story of Cui Yan and his no-good young relative Cui Lin. February 1, 2024, I'll be in London as

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11:35

S8E09 | Why Can't We Live Together

The China History Podcast ·

2023/11/19

So much rancor in this world these days. Here's one that describes the feeling of mutual enmity that existed between two giants of their day, Cao Cao and Sun Quan. During the waning years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, three powerful forces jockeyed for position to see who might push the Liu's off the throne and take over to found a new dynasty. There was no reconciliation in the tea leaves. As far as Cao Cao of Wei and Sun Quan of Wu were concerned, that throne was only big enough for one of them

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43:15

Ep. 338 | The History of Chinese Medicine (Part 2)

The China History Podcast ·

2023/11/12

As advertised last time in Part 1, we'll take a look at The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, the Huangdi Neijing 黄帝内经, including an explanation of the meridians. I'll also read a few passages from this most important of the ancient medical texts. As we get deeper into the earliest centuries of the development of Chinese medicine you'll gain a sense of how the ancients created a holistic system that encompassed all aspects of the body and spirit and how they sought to maintain harmony and equilibrium

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11:58

S8E08 | Let's Stick Together

The China History Podcast ·

2023/10/22

Once again, for all CHP listeners, I'm featuring the latest episode of the Chinese Sayings Podcast. It's said that we human beings have been called social animals by nature. Some of us love other kinds of people more than others do. But no matter how enamored one might be about another culture, nation, or people, we all tend to stick with our own kind. This 4th Century BC Chinese Saying comes from "The Strategies of the Warring States." and concerns the witty and capable minister to King Wei of Qi

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41:33

Ep. 337 | The History of Chinese Medicine (Part 1)

The China History Podcast ·

2023/10/15

Here we commence a new series, one that will explore the history of Chinese Medicine. In this episode, we'll explore some of the basics and the lives and achievements of China's earliest physicians, the mythical and the ones we know lived. This episode is kind of a warm-up for Part 2 where we'll take a closer look at the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon (Huangdi Neijing) and Shennong's Materia Medica (or Shennong Herbal). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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07:16

S8E07 | Help!

The China History Podcast ·

2023/10/08

We're back for the seventh time this season. This time we're happy to feature once again the great Daoist philosopher who never disappoints. This story about the fish in a rut is a rather well-known one from the Outer Chapters of The Zhuangzi, or Second Book of the Dao as it's sometimes called. Zhuangzi himself stars in today's episode: Hé Zhé Zhī Fù 涸辙之鲋. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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07:44

S8E06 | Looks can be deceiving

The China History Podcast ·

2023/09/24

For the second time this season, we refer to Zuo Qiuming's "Chronicles of Zuo" for another good and useful chengyu. This one takes place in the Spring and Autumn Period and concerns a haughty self-important minister from Jin State stopping for the night at an inn in Ningyi (河南宁邑). He left quite an impression on the innkeeper there but when this simple innkeeper looked more closely at this official, he saw he was Huá Ér Bù Shí 华而不实. Enjoy this ancient story and learn a new Chinese Saying too. Learn

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42:41

Ep. 336 | Guiguzi, The Sage of Ghost Valley

The China History Podcast ·

2023/09/17

Written into the ancient histories were the big-name Warring States characters Su Qin, Zhang Yi, Sun Bin, and Pang Juan. Sima Qian and others remarked that these four men were all students of Guiguzi 鬼谷子. He's like a lot of figures from Bronze Age China. Guiguzi's name is mentioned in a few important texts. But that's about it. Just his name and the barest of details. Over the centuries, scholars put some flesh on those bones, but the truth remains, there's not much to sink our teeth into as far as

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14:11

S8E05 | Shock the Monkey

The China History Podcast ·

2023/09/10

Lovers of all things Song Dynasty will surely recall the story of Qin Hui. He has top billing in this tale concerning the story behind Shù Dǎo Húsūn Sàn 树倒猢狲散. This one has practical applications these days when we see political and corporate leaders fall from grace. When that happens, we often get to view the spectacle of hangers-on and sycophants scattering and heading for the hills, to search once more for someone to suck up to. This Chinese Saying comes in handy when this happens. We all need

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30:55

Ep. 335 | Qian Xuesen (Part 2)

The China History Podcast ·

2023/09/03

Once his past attendance at meetings of the Pasadena Communist Party in 1938 come to light, Qian gets caught up in the Red Scare of the 1950s. In this Part 2 episode, we see how the US government accused Qian of being a communist. Despite everything he had done for America and all the R&D that he might further contribute in the decades to come, Qian was deported back to his homeland. And from 1955 until his death in 2009, he went on to do all kinds of great things for the PRC's missile and space

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28:28

Ep. 334 | Qian Xuesen (Part 1)

The China History Podcast ·

2023/09/03

Once again, by popular demand, here's another oft-requested topic. With the recent release of the Oppenheimer film, I thought this story was quite timely. Qian Xuesen is called "The Father of China's Missile and Space Program." What's not as well known is the key role he played in the late 1930s and 40s in the United States rocket and jet propulsion programs. He was there, along with Frank Malina, Weld Arnold, Apollo M.O. Smith, Jack Parsons, and Edward S. Forman, when the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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18:19

S8E04 | Run For Your Life

The China History Podcast ·

2023/08/27

Once again we thank The Grand Historian for giving up another good one. This one's an eight-character chengyu. The story goes back to 206 BC and the famous story of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu's meeting at The Banquet at Hongmen. Here, the two contenders for the emperorship of China, meet face to face. Only one of them could sit on that throne and beginning right here, the Chu-Han Contention begins. The chengyu for this time, 项庄舞剑, 意在沛公 Xiàng Zhuāng Wǔ Jiàn, Yì Zài Pèi Gōng comes from this slice of

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25:55

Ep. 333 | Keye Luke

The China History Podcast ·

2023/08/20

If you're someone born in the 1940s-50s and 60s, Keye Luke was a familiar name, especially if you watched American TV. As a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild, I thought his story might be timely. Set's take a break from the wars, rebellions, and days of yore and enjoy a more light-hearted episode featuring a beloved Chinese American who left his mark on the industry he was part of for more than sixty years. For many of us, this episode will be a nice pleasant trip down memory lane. I hope

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09:04

S8E03 | Gimme Three Steps

The China History Podcast ·

2023/08/13

With a cast of characters like the Dukes of Jin and Chu and everyone's favorite exile Chong Er, you're guaranteed a treat. This is the story behind the chengyu: 退避三舍 Tuì Bì Sān Shè. The story of Chong Er, his escape from persecution by his father Duke Xian of Jin, and his triumphant return to Jin in 636 BC is one of the countless unforgettable stories from ancient Chinese history. Before Chong Er became Duke Wen of Jin, he experienced a nineteen-year odyssey that took him throughout the states of

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49:31

Ep. 332 | The History of Yunnan Province (Part 5)

The China History Podcast ·

2023/08/06

Here's the final episode in the Yunnan history series. In this episode, we pick up in 1875 in the wake of the Margary Affair and take the story through the end of the Qing and into the Warlord and Republican era. Warlords Cai E, Tang Jiyao, Long Yun, and Lu Han, all make appearances. Part 5 runs almost 49 minutes which is 15-20 minutes longer than I like these CHP episodes to be. The series concludes a bit prematurely, a hundred years later in 1975. Sorry to end on such a downer as the Cultural

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07:47

S8E02 | Blue, Blue, My World is Blue

The China History Podcast ·

2023/07/30

This time we're featuring another oldie but goodie, Qīng Chū Yú Lán 青出于蓝. Though Xunzi was the inspiration for the chengyu, the tale behind this Chinese Saying comes from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. The longer version of the saying goes 青出于蓝, 而胜于蓝 but we'll just focus on the front four and that's all you need for most situations where you want to remark about a student or apprentice, surpassing their teacher or master. Don't forget, all the terms for all the episodes can be found at

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31:12

New from Empires - An Asian Business Podcast

The China History Podcast ·

2023/07/25

Starting last year I became a big fan of many of the new shows that have been emerging from Singapore, India, China, the Philippines, and elsewhere in Asia. My buddy at 1UP Media, Yeo Guang Jin is running a multi-part series that looks at the humble rise of Alibaba and how Jack Ma built this into one of the great success stories in global corporate history. I'm sharing Part 3 of the series here on the CHP feed which tells the story of how Jack Ma took on mighty eBay and emerged from the competition

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48:53

Ep. 331 | The History of Yunnan Province (Part 4)

The China History Podcast ·

2023/07/23

Here's Part 4 of my latest effort. This episode examines all the events leading up to, during, and immediately after The Panthay Rebellion, 1856-1872. Since the time of the Mongols, the Hui Chinese had served the dynasties faithfully as civil servants and bureaucrats. But come the mid-Qing, after a massive wave of Han Chinese migration to the southwest of China, including to Yunnan, sparks flew at once between the Hui Chinese who controlled business interests that the new migrants demanding a piece

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