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PODCAST

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis

Vincent Yuanyi Chang

Understand the big picture for the sake of ourselves email：vychang@alumni.ucdavis.edu B.A. in History and Political Science, University of Claifornia, Davis, 2003 PMP, Project Management I institute， since2007 MBA， Fu-Jen Catholic University， 2008 Powered by Firstory Hosting

science social sciences

All Episodes

30:46

Reflections on Mr. Bo Yang's Account of the Rebellion...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2026/01/06

This essay explores Mr. Bo Yang's unique approach to the "Rebellion of the Eight Kings" in his work Tongjian Jishi Benmo (通鑒紀事本末). Unlike most historians who write from imperial perspectives, Bo Yang reveals deeper truths about why the Western Jin Dynasty collapsed so quickly after its establishment. Two Major Points of Bo Yang's Analysis: 1. The Problem of Official Historiography Traditional court historians were obligated to write history from the emperor's standpoint, creating an inherent bias

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30:37

The Tragic Destiny of the Cao Family: Sentimentality...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/12/30

My reflection on reading the Zizhi Tongjian (資治通鉴), which chronicles the Three Kingdoms era of ancient China, leads me to appreciate how fortunate we are today. We live in a republic with a democratic system, division of labor, and balance of power—things that simply didn't exist in ancient times. Today I want to discuss the inevitable collapse of the Wei (魏) dynasty, which traces back to its very foundation. The Paradox of Cao Cao's Genius Cao Cao (曹操) formally established the empire's foundation,

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29:05

Zhuge Liang and Liu Shan: Idealism Versus Pragmatism...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/12/26

This analysis examines two pivotal figures of the Shu Han kingdom: Zhuge Liang and Emperor Liu Shan (劉禪). Popular understanding of these figures has been heavily influenced by the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which often distorts their true historical characters. Zhuge Liang: The Uncompromising Idealist Zhuge Liang was undeniably a remarkable figure with an admirable yet ultimately impractical vision: to revive the Han Empire. He devoted himself completely to this goal from a collectivist

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39:03

The Fall of Guan Yu and the Breakdown of the Sun-Liu...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/12/20

Summary This reflection examines a critical period in Three Kingdoms history following the Battle of Red Cliffs (208 CE). The analysis focuses on how Cao Pi's ascension to power in 220 CE—after forcing Emperor Xian to abdicate—destabilized the regional balance of power and ultimately led to the collapse of the alliance between Liu Bei's Shu Han and Sun Quan's Eastern Wu (Dongwu). Key Events: Strategic Maneuvering: Cao Pi's advisers suggested granting Sun Quan an official title to legitimize his

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32:53

Three Political Systems, One Era: Power Structures in...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/11/28

This discussion focuses on the eighth book of Mr. Bo Yang's Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government (通鑒記事本末), specifically covering the Battle of Red Cliffs during the Three Kingdoms era (late 2nd to late 3rd century CE). The analysis examines three key aspects: political systems, north-south relationships, and the power dynamics between major leaders—Cao Cao (曹操), Sun Quan (孫權), and Liu Bei (劉備). By the end of the Han Dynasty, the empire fractured into three major factions, plus minor states in

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36:31

When Trust Collapsed: The Psychology of Loyalty and...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/11/11

Hello, friends. Today I want to discuss the Seven Masters of Jian'an period and make comparisons between the past and contemporary times—or rather, the modern age. Historical Context: The Late Eastern Han Empire The background is the late Eastern Han Dynasty, from roughly the 170s CE until just before its end. The empire experienced a clear three-way division of power. There's a Chinese saying: "三尺冰,非一日之寒" (Three feet of ice doesn't form in a single day). The meaning is that significant developments

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33:49

Buddhism in Ancient China: Causes, Effects, and Lessons

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/10/27

Buddhism first appeared in China during the first century CE. Rather than discussing it as a religion, I'll examine it as a system of thought, exploring its causes, effects, and the lessons we can learn from it. Why Emperor Ming Embraced Buddhism Emperor Ming of Han had an extremely troubled family background. During his childhood, even though he lived in the palace, he was separated from his mother—they lived in different houses. Other princes lived with their mothers, but he could not. His father

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27:12

Do People Learn from History?

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/10/21

I want to discuss the old saying "history repeats itself." There are two interpretations: first, that people never learn from their mistakes, and second, that history's patterns naturally recur. I'll use examples from China's Eastern Han Dynasty (first-second century CE) to explore this from different perspectives. The Imperial Power Struggles In first-century China, extended family members of the emperor constantly fought for power, leading to repeated tragedies. It seemed they hadn't learned from

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35:10

The Horrible Internal rivalry of the Huns in 1st &...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/10/14

Hi friends! Today I'm going to talk about the sixth book of Bo Yang's version ofTongjian Jishi Benmo (通鑒纪事本末), specifically about horrible internal rivalries. The incident I'll discuss concerns the Eastern Han Dynasty's relationship with nomadic tribes. These weren't a single ethnic group but many different tribes with complicated relationships. What we can learn from these ancient historical events is still relevant to our lives today. The Historical Context: Sima Guang wanted to illustrate the

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33:03

The Dangers of Royal Life in Early Eastern Han...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/10/09

Today I'll discuss the Eastern Han Dynasty in first-century China, using three examples to illustrate the tragic circumstances of extended royal family members and why we should appreciate living in a republic with democracy. Example 1: Liu Ying, Brother of Emperor Ming Liu Ying was accused of plotting to overthrow the emperor and seize power—a charge that seems ridiculous and extreme. A successful rebellion requires three key elements: proper timing (such as the emperor behaving erratically),

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34:09

Ban Chao's Diplomatic Mission in the Western Regions...

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/09/30

Summary Today I’m going to discuss major events in the Western Regions (西域) during the late first and early second centuries CE, focusing on General Ban Chao (班超), who successfully regained Han Empire control over this territory. The Saying: "Clear Water Has No Fish" Ban Chao famously said: "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. If a man is too strict with others, he will have no friends." The deeper meaning is that top principles should be preserved while allowing flexibility on minor

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27:50

The multidimensional reform of Qin in 350s B.C.E.

Reviewing Chinese history with systems analysis ·

2025/07/01

Summary: Ancient Chinese Reforms and the Rise of Qin State Introduction This episode focuses on the background story of ancient Chinese strategic reforms, specifically examining events around 356 BCE. Rather than diving directly into complex political strategies, this provides essential historical context about the evolution of these tactics. Historical Context: The Warring States Period (circa 356 BCE) During this period, China was divided into seven major states. The state of Qin, located in the

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