The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast

The Ming Dynasty novel "Water Margin," a.k.a. "All Men Are Brothers," a.k.a. "Outlaws of the Marsh," ranks among the greatest works of prose fiction in Chinese literature.But much about the book remains uncertain: Wrote it? When? What constitutes the definitive edition and how long is it? And finally, what is its moral message?What is beyond doubt is that "Water Margin" has endured as one of the best loved and most impactful works ever produced in Chinese literature. It's one of the texts that you must know if you hope to understand Chinese culture.Support the show

Let's continue our previous episode's theme of Russia.The nationalist narrative of recent Chinese history often emphasizes the so-called "Century of Humiliation" from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century, during which Western imperial powers as well as Japan foisted many "unequal treaties" upon China.But the same narrative often notes one exception: the one modern treaty that Qing Dynasty China entered into that the Chinese do not regard as "unequal."It was the Treaty of Nerchinsk concluded in 1689 between the Qing Court of Emperor Kangxi and the Russian Empire under Tsar Peter the Great, two giant figures of world history who probably would've been good friends if they'd only had a chance to meet. The treaty demarcated the border between Russia and China for the next 170 years or so and was a remarkable example of cross-cultural negotiations.And, as we now live in a time when we all ought to try our best to understand both of those countries, it was a fascinating episode in the history of their interactions with each other.Support the show

In connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the story of the 13th century invasion of the Slavic lands by Batu Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, and his Golden Horde. The Mongols destroyed (the then minor town) Moscow as well as the metropolis of Kyiv, subjecting the principalities of Kievan Rus as vassals. The Mongols went on invade Central-Eastern Europe, finally laying siege to Vienna. They would rule the land of the Rus for over two centuries.And among their vassals was one most interesting personality who would become canonized as a saint, whose story even now tells us a great deal about Russia: Alexander Nevsky...Support the show

The year was 1895. The (First) Sino-Japanese War was just winding down. And news came out of Shimonoseki in Japan that the peace terms would include the annexation of Taiwan, a.k.a. Formosa.So what did the Taiwanese do? They issued a declaration of independence, establishing the first democratic republic in East Asian history... Even if it would not last very long, the Republic of Taiwan set a fascinating precedent that reverberates until today.Support the show

On May 30, 1626, a screaming came across the sky over Beijing, the imperial capital of Ming Dynasty China. Within moments, thousands of people lay dead, and many more were injured, including within the Forbidden City. Modern estimates puts the force of the event on par with the Hiroshima bomb.The event shook Ming China to the core. Was it an omen that the "mandate of heaven" might be about to shift to another power?And what was "it," exactly? An accidental detonation of gunpowder? An earthquake? A tornado? A meteor? Support the show

Bai Xianyong, or Pai Hsien-yung as his name is spelled in the Wade-Giles style, has been a leading light of Taiwanese literature for decades. His works including "Taipei People" and "The Crystal Boys" have been landmarks of Taiwanese fiction, and in addition he has produced important works of history and criticism.What is sometimes insufficiently appreciated, particularly outside of Taiwan, is how the writer that Bai Xianyong came to be substantially depended on the man that his father was: General Bai Chongxi, one of the most interesting figures of Republican China, and a forgotten hero of the Second World War...Support the show

When I was a child in Taiwan, I was told a legend about how the Lunar New Year commemorated a monster that used to haunt the Chinese people around this time of the year.Imagine my reaction upon discovering as an adult that the legend could not be traced back to ancient times.What, then, is the New Year or "Spring Festival" all about? And how have customs of the holiday developed over the millennia? Happy Year of the Tiger!Support the show

Be warned, boys and girls, for this is a gruesome tale.We previously told the story of the founding of the Han Dynasty and its first emperor, Liu Bang. This is the story of his wife, Empress Lü. After being married to Liu by her father, the future Empress Lü stuck by her husband even during his lowest periods, until finally he triumphed over all the other warlords to become emperor.But he didn't stick by her quite as much. Instead, he picked up a favorite concubine, Lady Qi. And he had sons with both women, half-brothers who were now competitors for the throne. When Liu Bang died in 195 B.C., it was time for Empress Lü to exact her vengeance...And yet, as the Chinese proverb says: "A praying mantis may capture a cicada, but the finch watches from behind"...Support the show

We've already done several episodes relating to events and personalities from the Tang Dynasty. Retroactively, then, let's set the stage for how the Tang came into being.The Tang era can boast many achievements. Chinese poetry reached its zenith during this period, never to be surpassed or even equalled subsequently. The Tang Empire was one of the most expansive versions of "China" ever to exist on the face of the earth. The first half of the dynasty at least is often hailed as China's golden age. And the famous Emperor Taizong, whose portrait serves as this podcast's cover art, commanded the obedience and respect of nations from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East.And yet, the way it began was not necessarily auspicious. Overthrowing the short-lived Sui Dynasty, the Li family that ruled the Tang were actually cousins of the Yang family of the Sui. And as much as Emperor Yangdi of the Sui was guilty of fratricide, Emperor Taizong of the Tang was as though a man in a glass house throwing stones...Support the show

Tsui Hark, that maestro of Hong Kong cinema, has in recent years churned a trilogy of films set in ancient China about one "Detective Dee" who goes around solving strange crimes in the manner of Sherlock Holmes.In reality, Tsui Hark got this idea for a Chinese Holmes from, of all people, a Dutchman. Robert van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat and Sinologist who was posted in China during WWII, and he took to translating, then rewriting, a Qing Dynasty novel featuring one Di Renjie as a genius criminal investigator.And who was the real Di Renjie? As is so often the case, the truth is more interesting than the fiction...Support the show