The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast

The Sui Dynasty (581-619) doesn't get much respect, largely because it was short-lived. Even so, and perhaps paradoxically, its founder implemented a number of measures that far out-lasted the dynasty itself. This is the story of that man, Yang Jian, Emperor Wendi of Sui.Support the show

Two of the most infamous tyrants from ancient Chinese history, the women who enabled them, and why it all might be the worst libel.Support the show

Hu Qubing was one of the most remarkable and meteoric military figures in Han Dynasty China during the second century B.C. Meteoric because he rose fast (thanks to nepotism), burned bright, and died young. A kind of soldierly James Dean. But in his brief but brilliant career, he left an indelible mark on Chinese and world history.Support the show

Xiwangmu or the Mother Goddess of the West is one of the most important and familiar deities in the Daoist pantheon. "The Biography of King Mu of Zhou," dug up in 281 A.D. from a royal tomb, gives a euhemerist account of her as the queen or princess of a distant nation, and tells of how King Mu of Zhou visited her in the 10th century B.C.Much more besides, including King Mu's appearance in what amounts to an ancient work of science fiction...Support the show

The guest, known as the Emperor of Shanghai, was a notorious figure in the Chinese underworld and a key member of the Green Gang. He delves into the historical roots and political connections of the Green Gang, highlighting its pivotal role in Shanghai's crime scene. The conversation weaves through Dui Asun's turbulent journey during World War II and the Chinese Civil War, and explores the Gang's influence in post-Republican Taiwan, revealing the intricate ties between organized crime and political power.

The Heaven and Earth Society, a.k.a. the Hong Society, is one of the most famous underground organizations in Chinese tradition. But its origin is shrouded in legends and myths, many of which connect it to Taiwan.Support the show

The story of the curious and arguably proto-Socialist figure who founded a dynasty so brief that it's often left out when we enumerate Chinese imperial dynasties.Support the show

The story of an expression, from its origin in the 7th century B.C. to the reason it's associated with so many places today in Taiwan.Support the show

The bloody tale of the salt merchant, failed scholar, and reasonably good poet who very nearly destroyed the Tang Dynasty. Support the show

It is often said that Taiwan came into the Chinese orbit as far back as the 3rd century. Is that true? How? The story of the Three Kingdoms era exploration of (maybe) Taiwan.Fast forward a few hundred years to the early 7th century, and records show that the Sui Dynasty fought a war against an indigenous kingdom that the chroniclers called "Liuqiu." Today, that name refers to Ryukyu, also known as Okinawa. But could it have meant Taiwan at the time?Support the show