Jiu yi ba  九一八 9-18, September 18, 1931 Mukden (Shenyang) Incident Wong Nai Chong Gap 黃泥涌峽 Gap on rocky Hong Kong island where one can go from north to south. San nian ling bage yue 三年零八个月 The 3 years and 8 months (of Japanese occupation) Kempeitai 宪兵队 The Japanese Military Police Yingjun Fuwutuan  英军服务团  The British continue reading >>

In this latest installment of the CHP History of Hong Kong overview we look at the years from Governors Nathan to Peel.  The modern age comes to Kong Kong along with plenty of fallout and spillover from the upheavels going on in China in the 1920′s and 30′s. This was a period when the great continue reading >>

In this fifth installent of our Hong Kong history overview we look at the final couple decades of the 19th century.  Hong Kong’s second generation is coming to the fore.  They are a better educated and more sophisticated lot than those Chinese who came before them. This time period saw the governorships of MacDonnell, Kennedy, continue reading >>

We continue this overview series on the history of Hong Kong.  This time we pick up right after the Treaty of Nanjing and look at the early efforts to get this colony up and running.  The first couple decades of Crown Colony of Hong Kong weren’t easy and many considered throwing in the towel early. continue reading >>

TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE Chuanbi Caoyue 穿鼻草约 The Convention of Chuen-pi Nanjing Tiaoyue 南京条约 The Treaty of Nanjing Qishan 琦善 Manchu official and Elliot’s counterpart in negotiations Daoguang Emperor 道光帝 Emperor of China during the Opium Wars Huangpu 黄埔 Port of Whampoa Amoy 厦门 City of Xiamen in Fujian, referred to as Amoy in the old continue reading >>

In part two of Laszlo’s overview of the history of Hong Kong, we look at the Canton System and the leadup to hostilities that culminated in the Treaty of Nanjing that ceded Hong Kong in perpituity to the British crown.  In this episode we’ll get as far as the Convention of Chuenpi of January 20, continue reading >>

Laszlo is back after another long delay.  In this shorter than usual episode, The China History Podcast presents Part 1 of a multi-part series that will explore the history of Hong Kong. In this introductory episode, Laszlo starts at the very beginning and traces Hong Kong from the Devonian Period all the way up the continue reading >>

In this episode we introduce American Sidney Rittenberg, 李敦白，known by the title of his 1993 book  as “The Man Who Stayed Behind.”  He arrived in China in his 20′s at the end of WWII and witnessed the Chinese Revolution from a front row seat. When the US pulled out of China after the war, Sidney continue reading >>

In this longer than usual episode, we feature the three giants of the Jesuit China Mission of the 16th and 17th centuries.  In addition to their work in introducing Catholicism to China, these three men, Matteo Ricci, Johann Adam Schall von Bell and Ferdinand Verbiest made a collective contribution to the scholarship of China that continue reading >>

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. TERMS FROM THIS continue reading >>

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 continue reading >>

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 continue reading >>

We continue on with the voyages of Zheng He.  This time we 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 continue reading >>

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. Today Chinese look back with pride continue reading >>

We’re back in ancient days again, this time the short period in between the Qin and Han Dynasties when two great leaders, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, contended for the throne left vacant by the deceased first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang.  Xiang Yu has gone down in the annals of Chinese history as one continue reading >>

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. TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE: Babaoshan 八宝山 Cemetery in Beijing reserved for leaders and revolutionary heroes laobaixing 老百姓 continue reading >>

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. continue reading >>

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 continue reading >>

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, continue reading >>

The second half of 1966 and into 1967 saw some of the worst excesses of the Cultural Revolution.  In this episode the violence spreads throughout China and anyone with something to hide about their class background is tracked down and forced to endure the most horrible of fates. Mao is liking what he sees and continue reading >>

In this third episode of Laszlo’s Cultural Revolution Overview we only advance 18 days in August of 1966.  Momentous and shocking events happen one after another, day after day.  With the announcement of the 16 Points, now the Cultural Revolution has a purpose and guidelines to follow.   Today’s episode will show that Mao had continue reading >>

This week Laszlo takes us up to August 1966 with this Cultural Revolution overview.  After a nine month hiatus down in the Hangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan, Mao is now back in Beijing and ready to mount his attack on the party leadership and unleash the Cultural Revolution on the entire country. Terms used in this continue reading >>

By popular demand Laszlo begins to trace the history of the Cultural Revolution.  This week’s episode looks at the events leading up to the moment in 1966 when Mao called for the people to Bombard the Headquarters and to tear down the government. Terms used in this episode: Dazibao 大字报 Big Character Poster Paoda Silingbu continue reading >>

Firstly, Laszlo apologizes in advance for the horrific pronounciation of all terms Hindi.  This week the topic is the history behind Sino-Indian relations.  This is an extremely emotive, complex and sometimes incendiary topic, conveniently encapsulated in an easy to digest half hour episode.  The long history of Chinese-Indian Relations is overwhelmoingly one of peaceful coexistance, continue reading >>

Known by many names, Guan Yu, Guan Gong, Guan Di, this great man of loyalty, integrity and justice lived during the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His oath of brotherhood with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei is the stuff of legends and remembered to this very day. Guan Yu was a historical person continue reading >>

This week we look at a committed Communist Party leader who played an important role in steering China’s economy and financial system from 1949 to 1966 and during the Deng era.  Like many other leaders of his generatiom, Shanxi-born Bo Yibo suffered terribly during the Cultural Revolution.  Today he is best remembered as one of continue reading >>

This time we look at Missouri-born Carl Crow (1883-1945).  Though pretty much forgotten today, Carl Crow lived an amazing life and was a prolific writer.  From his front row seats to many of the historic events in China between 1911-1937, Crow wrote many books about his observations and opinions.  He has gone down in history continue reading >>

In this farewell look at the Silk Road, we discuss a few more interesting things and then give the travels and adventures of Marco Polo a once over. Terms used in this episode: Frances Wood: Did Marco Polo Go to China? China Between Empires: Mark Edward Lewis: Book about the Northern & Southern Kingdoms Eastern continue reading >>

Another fortnight, another China History Podcast. We return to the Silk Road and focus our attention on the monk Xuanzang.  His was an interesting life.  Through looking at Xuanzang you can truly gain a sense of the importance of Buddhism in China, India and almost the entirety of Central Asia. If not for the mechanism continue reading >>

NOTE: This episode was produced PRIOR to President Xi's accession to the Head of the Party (and everything else). Xi Jinping left U.S. soil last night after taking in the Laker game at Staples Center.  His visit this week went off without a hitch.  Today we look at Xi Jinping’s life in the context of PRC history.  This fifth generation leader is someone who has a rich background not only in Party and military continue reading >>

Laszlo’s back from Germany and after a long delay we pick up where we left off.  In this episode we reacquaint ourselves with the background and early years of the Silk Road.

The Triads of Hong Kong have an interesting historical past that shaped their development throughout the years.  Today we look at their origins and some of the more important historic events that made them the violent international criminal gangs they are today.

Now that we have Deng Xiaoping out of the way, we’re back looking at random topics throughout the ages.  This week we look at the great Song Dynasty statesman and sage Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072).  In this episode we’ll review aspects of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and Ouyang Xiu’s place in this amazing age in continue reading >>

Today we conclude our eight-part overview of Dr. Ezra Vogel’s recent biography of Deng Xiaoping.  In this installment we focus on Deng’s dramatic and brilliant Southern Tour of January-February 1992.