Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchIasyr Shivaza and the Dungan
Episode 138
A fascinating minority group in the former USSR, chiefly Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, is the people known as the Dungan. Originally Hui Muslims from no…
2 years, 5 months ago
Zengzi and Great Learning
Episode 137
The Confucian philosopher Zengzi and some of his ideas that became deeply influential in Chinese culture.
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2 years, 6 months ago
King Goujian of Yue, Avenger
Episode 136
Even as I want to finish telling you the story of Wu Zixu, the fact is that his life so intersected with the lives and careers of other major figures…
2 years, 6 months ago
Wu Zixu, Tragic Hero
Episode 135
One of the most famous personalities from the late-Spring and Autumn period, Wu Zixu was someone I grew up learning about as a commendable character.…
2 years, 6 months ago
Yan Ying: the Short King
Episode 134
Yan Ying, the statesman of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn era, was famously diminutive. But his short stature was only cover for a bril…
2 years, 6 months ago
The Historian's Conscience
Episode 133
"History is written by the victors," so goes the common saying. But Chinese court historians actually usually provided us with honest accounts of eve…
2 years, 7 months ago
Yangtze River No. 1
Episode 132
The legend of the "James Bond" of Republican China and how his fictional codename became a household name.
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2 years, 7 months ago
Duke Wen of Jin, the Exile
Episode 131
Continuing our series on the hegemons of the Spring and Autumn era: Duke Wen of Jin, who as a prince lived in exile for 19 years.
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2 years, 7 months ago
Duke Xiang of Song, Moralist
Episode 130
Continuing our discussion of the hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period, we look at Duke Xiang of Song, whom some consider a hegemon but perhaps sh…
2 years, 7 months ago
Duke Huan of Qi and the United States
Episode 129
Duke Huan of Qi dominated the politics of Spring and Autumn China from the 680s B.C. until the 640s under the slogan of "respecting the king and supp…
2 years, 8 months ago