The China History Podcast

Tang China’s borders are expanding, its capital is welcoming the world, and behind the palace walls, Wu Zetian is making her move.In Part 8 of From Pangu to Puyi, we follow the Tang from the reign of Taizong into the age of Gaozong and the extraordinary rise of China’s future female emperor. Along the way, we explore Christianity’s arrival in Chang’an, the enduring legacy of the Tang legal code, and the marriage alliance that linked Princess Wencheng with Tibet’s Songtsen Gampo. Campaigns against the Western Turks and the Korean kingdoms carry Tang power far beyond the capital—but holding those gains is another story.At court, the struggle is just as fierce. We trace Wu Zetian’s ascent from imperial concubine to empress and an increasingly powerful partner in government, navigating rivalries, forging alliances, and sweeping aside opponents. It’s a story of conquest, cultural exchange, and palace intrigue, as one of Chinese history’s most formidable figures takes center stage.Here's the list of Chinese names in this episode:Āluóběn 阿罗本, Fáng Xuánlíng 房玄龄, Dù Rúhuì 杜如晦, Jìngjìng 㬌淨, Āshǐnà Jiēshèshuài 阿史那结社率, Āshǐnà Jiēshèshuài 阿史那结社率, Āshǐnà Shè’ěr 阿史那社尔, Princess Héngyáng 衡阳公主, Guō Xiàokè 郭孝恪, Songtsen Gampo 松赞干布, Princess Wénchéng 文成公主, Yǒn Kaesomun 연개소문 延盖苏门, Lǐ Tài 李泰, Lǐ Zhì 李治 / Táng Gāozōng, Lady Yáng 杨氏, Wǔ Zhào 武照 / Wǔ Mèiniáng 武媚娘 / Wǔ Shìyuē 武士彟, Empress Wǔ Zétiān 武则天, Lú Qínzhāi 卢芹斋 (C.T. Loo), Lǐ Shìjí 李世𪟝 / Lǐ Jí 李𪟝, Empress Wáng 王皇后, Consort Xiāo Shūfēi 蕭淑妃, Lǐ Sùjié 李素洁, Āshǐnà Hèlǔ 阿史那贺鲁, Sū Dìngfāng 苏定方, Chǔ Suíliáng 褚遂良, Lǐ Zhōng 李忠, Lǐ Hóng 李宏, Hán Yuàn 韩瑗, Lái Jì 来济, Lǐ Yìfǔ 李义府, Xǔ Jìngzōng 许敬宗, Lǐ Cháo 李巢, Wéi Jìfāng 韦季方, Shàngguān Yí 上官仪,

After centuries of division, how did China find its way back to unity? Part 6 follows the Northern and Southern Dynasties through an age of political upheaval, cultural transformation, and the flourishing of Buddhism. In Part 6, we'll also explore how the Xianbei 鲜卑 rulers of Northern Wei 北魏 blended steppe traditions with Chinese institutions, while the southern courts nurtured literature and religious scholarship amid palace intrigue and dynastic collapse.From the reforms of Empress Dowager Feng and Emperor Xiaowen to the Buddhist devotion of Emperor Wu of Liang, we meet the figures who helped shape the foundations of a new imperial age. The story culminates in Yang Jian’s reunification of China under the Sui, his formidable partnership with Empress Dugu, and his dealings with the powerful Göktürks. But a fateful choice of successor threatens their achievements, setting the stage for the reign of Sui Yangdi and the eventual rise of the Tang.Here's a list of Chinese names from this episodeFú Jiān 符坚, Tuòbá Guī 拓跋珪 / Dàowǔ 魏道武帝, Emperor Xiàowén 北魏孝文帝, Tuòbá Tāo 拓跋焘 / Emperor Tàiwǔ 北魏太武帝, Emperor Wénchéng 北魏文成帝, Empress Dowager Féng 冯皇后, Emperor Xiànwén 北魏献文帝, Emperor Xuānwǔ 北魏宣武帝, Ěrzhū Róng 尔朱荣, Liáng Wǔdì 梁武帝, Liú Yù 刘裕, Eastern Jìn Emperor Gōng 晋恭帝, Táo Yuānmíng 陶渊明, Xiè Língyùn 谢灵运, Bào Zhào 鲍照, Shēn Yuē 沈约, Jiāng Yān 江淹, Xiāo Tǒng 萧统, Liú Sòng Wéndì 刘宋文帝, Liú Shào 刘劭, Liú Jùn 刘骏, Liú Sòng Emperor Xiàowǔ 刘宋孝武帝, Liú Zǐyè 刘子业 / Qiánfèi 刘宋前废帝, Liú Yìgōng 刘义恭, Princess Shānyīn 山阴公主 / Liú Chǔyù 刘楚玉, Liú Zǐxūn 刘子勋, Liú Sòng emperor Míng 刘宋明帝 / Liú Yù 刘彧, Emperor Hòufèi 刘宋后废 / Liú Yù 刘昱, Xiāo Dàochéng 萧道成, Xiāo Yǎn 萧衍 / Emperor Wǔ of Liáng 梁武帝, Hóu Jǐng 侯景, Wáng Sēngbiàn 王僧辩, Chén Bàxiān 陈霸先 / Chén Wǔdì 陈武帝, Gāo Huān 高欢, Gāo Yáng 高洋 / Northern Qí Emperor Wénxuān 北齐文宣, Eastern Wèi Emperor Xiàojìng 東魏孝靜帝, Gāo Chéng 高澄, Gāo Zhàn 高湛, Northern Qí Emperor Wǔchéng 北齐武成帝, Yǔwén Tài 宇文泰, Yǔwén Jué 宇文觉, Yǔwén Yōng 宇文雍 / Northern Zhōu Emperor Wǔ 北周武帝, Yáng Jiān 杨坚 / Emperor Wén of Suí 隋文帝, Northern Zhou Emperor Xuān 北周宣帝, Yáng Lìhuá 杨丽华, Dúgū Qiéluó 独孤伽罗, Emperor Jìng 北周静帝, Chén Shúbǎo 陈叔宝, Bumin Khagan / Yīlìkè Hán 伊利可汗, Ishbara Qaghan 沙缽略可汗, Yáng Yǒng 杨勇, Yáng Guǎng 杨广 / Suí Yángdì 隋炀帝.

Thanks for sticking with the program. Twenty-one more episodes to go till the end of the series. This time in part 4, we pick up with the aftermath of Liu Bang's passing in 195BC. This includes the infamous story of Empress Lü. Also covered will be the peak years of the Western Han under Emperors Wen and Jing. There's also an interlude that examines the long life of Zhao Tuo and his Nanyue Kingdom in the south. Then, the life and times of one of China's great emperors, Han Wudi, will be presented along with the adventures of Zhang Qian. I'll also introduce Dong Zhongshu and show how Confucianism triumphed at the imperial court and became part of the ruling structure. This will be followed by the story of Wang Mang, an old family favorite that also includes the fall of the Western Han, the Xin Dynasty, and the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The episode will conclude with the Eastern Han in pretty bad shape. We'll finish up with the takedown of the Ten Attendants and the introduction of Yuan Shao, Dong Zhuo, and Cao Cao. So, with a lineup like that, you know you're in for a lot of action. From the death of Liu Bang to the rise of Cao Cao, that's a lot of ground to cover. I hope you enjoy.Here's a list of most of the Chinese names from this episode:Lǚ Tàihòu 吕太后, Qì Jī 戚姬, Rú Yì 刘如意, Liú Yíng 刘盈, Hàn Huìdì 汉惠帝, Qiánshào 汉前少, Hòushào 汉后少, Liú Héng 刘恒, Hàn Wéndì 汉文帝, Wáng Zhāojūn 王昭君, Dòu Huánghòu 窦皇后, Liú Qǐ 刘启 / Hàn Jǐngdì 汉景帝, Cháo Cuò 晁错, Zhōu Yàfū 周亚夫, Liú Ché 刘彻 / Hàn Wǔdì 汉武帝, Zhào Tuó 赵陀, Zhào Mò 赵眜, Zhào Yīngqí ,赵婴齐, Sīmǎ Tán 司马谈, Sīmǎ Qiān 司马迁, Dǒng Zhòngshū 董仲舒, Gōngsūn Hóng 公孙弘, Zhāng Qiān 张骞, Gānfù 甘父, Huò Qùbìng 霍去病, Wèi Qīng’s 卫青, Lǚ Jiā 吕嘉, King Zhào Xīng 赵兴王, Queen Dowager Jiū 樛太后, Zhào Jiàndé 赵建德, Sīmǎ Xiāngrú 司马相如, Zhuó Wénjūn 卓文君, Liú Hè 刘贺, Huò Guāng 霍光, Han Emperor Zhāo 汉昭帝, Liú Bìngyǐ 刘病已 / Hàn Emperor Xuān 汉宣帝, Hàn Yuándì 汉元帝, Liú Aò 刘骜 / Hàn Chéngdì 汉成帝, Empress Wáng Zhèngjūn 王政君, Liú Xīn 刘欣 / Hàn Emperor Āi 汉哀帝, Wáng Mǎng 王莽, Hàn Pingdì 汉平帝, Rúzǐ Yīng 孺子婴, Liú Yīng 刘婴, Liú Yǎn 刘𬙂, Liú Xiù 刘秀 / Hàn Guāngwǔ / Emperor Gēngshǐ 汉更始帝, Liú Xuán 刘玄, Hàn Míngdì 汉明帝, Emperor Zhāng 汉章帝, Hàn Língdì 汉灵帝, Zhāng Jué 张角, Zhāng Bǎo 张宝, Zhāng Liáng 张梁, Liú Bèi 刘备, Cáo Cāo 曹操, Sūn Jiān 孙坚, Hé Jìn 何进, Yuán Shào 袁绍, Yuán Shù 袁术, Dǒng Zhuó 董卓, Emperor Shào 汉少帝, Liú Xié 刘协 / Emperor Xiàn 汉献帝, Liú Biǎo 刘表, Liú Cóng 刘琮, Sūn Cè 孙策, Sūn Quán 孙权, Zhōu Yú 周瑜, Chéng Pǔ 程普.22 Episodes already available on Patreon and CHP Premiumhttps://www.patreon.com/c/TheChinaHistoryPodcasthttps://teacupmedia.supercast.com/

In this episode, we look at the life of Anson Burlingame, a well-known name in California. During Lincoln's term as president, he was appointed Chief Minister to China, arriving in Beijing in the summer of 1862. Already well-known in the US as a fiery abolitionist and a man who believed everyone should be treated fairly and with all due respect, he sympathized with the Chinese government. When he arrived in post-Opium Wars, post-Treaty of Tianjin/Convention of Beijing China, he used his respected position among the diplomatic community of the treaty powers to fight for a fair deal for China. In a controversial move, he was appointed by the Qing government to lead a mission to the US and the great capitals of Europe to advocate on China's behalf. While in the US, Burlingame championed the signing of a treaty, the first of its kind, that recognized China as an equal sovereign nation. It opened the door to legal Chinese immigration and travel to the US. That ended up becoming the treaty's undoing.

This is only a 2-parter, so this exciting episode will bring the curtain down on Lin Biao and his famous "Incident." We resume the story following the 1970 Lushan Plenum. Lin, or Lin's ambitious manipulators, pushed Chairman Mao just a bit too much at this meeting, and he decided to take immediate action. This whole 913 Incident, as you will hear, was a huge embarrassment to the Chinese Communist Party. Therefore, it's not surprising that they circled the wagons and went beyond the call of duty to cover up what could still be covered up. Mao had to be careful. With a history filled with men like Wang Mang, Zhu Wen, Zhao Kuangyin, and Yuan Shikai, he knew he had to watch these generals. So here's all the various fun bits of speculation surrounding the days of September 12-13, 1971. No Beatles references in this episode, though I was tempted to mention that Stella McCartney was born on the exact day of the plane crash that ended Lin Biao's life. Thanks everyone, for listening. This episode was posted to Patreon and CHP Premium back in February. Consider joining. You'd have my everlasting appreciation.

Just in time for Liberation Day, I'm presenting this timely episode. Back in 1890, with the aim of protecting American companies from foreign competition, tariffs were jacked up significantly. With all the advances in transport, logistics, and new technologies, world trade was shifting into a higher gear. For a few centuries, the Ming and Qing emperors did their damnedest to regulate the invasion of European traders clamoring to do business with Chinese merchants. The foreigners wanted free, open, and unfettered trade with China. By the 1890's and a few humiliating unequal treaties later, the dream finally came true. That's when the real problems started. Thanks to Dan Stein for this topic idea we discussed over lunch recently. If you'd like to support the China History Podcast and listen ad-free and get new episodes weeks or months early:CHP Premium: https://teacupmedianetwork.supercast.com/, CHP Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheChinaHistoryPodcast