The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast

The Parisian life of the man who taught Europeans how to speak Chinese... and inspired Montesquieu. Support the show

Unfortunately for learners of Chinese as a foreign language, it is quite difficult.One major reason for its difficulty is that the language is packed with allusions to the ancient past. These may be in fixed forms as "chengyu" or as quotations or stories from history that one is simply expected to know.Here are a few illustrative examples that I recently encountered.Support the show

News coming out of Mariupol in Ukraine reminds me of an episode from the Second Sino-Japanese War, what eventually became a part of WWII.As the Chinese military was forced to withdraw from Shanghai in the face of a superior Japanese army in October 1937, one regiment stayed behind to guard a strategically located warehouse to cover the retreat. Soon, "the Eight Hundred Brave Warriors" became a rallying cry for the Chinese for the remainder of the war. Even today, their story lives on. But of course it has become more myth than fact, more propaganda than truth. And unfortunate details and tragic codas are largely forgotten.Support the show

“A man loses his horses, and yet who is to say whether it is benefit or bane?”It's a common Chinese proverb, and it refers to a fable contained in Huai Nan Zi, a Han Dynasty book of Daoist thought written by a prince of the imperial family and his group of friends.The fable has had a long and varied life. It has been quoted, or misquoted, in texts and media from the book "The Biggest Bluff" by Maria Konnikova to the film "Charlie Wilson's War" written by Aaron Sorkin. It seems to me to echo the Book of Job in the Bible. It's applicable to the ethical theory of utilitarianism. And it helps us put into perspective all that goes on in the world of politics and policy, from the US withdrawal from Afghanistan to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Support the show

This past Tuesday was the Qing Ming or Tomb-Sweeping Festival, one of the major holidays of Chinese tradition. What is it? When? And Why?Support the show

Discover the intriguing worldview of Zhuangzi, a central figure in Daoism, who challenges the traditional dominance of Confucianism. Explore his humorous parables, like the butterfly dream, which question reality and perception. Dive into the engaging dialogues between Zhuangzi and Huishi, showcasing how mastery shapes understanding and happiness. Uncover the philosophy of 'Xiao Yao,' emphasizing radical freedom through harmony with nature, and learn how true contentment arises from aligning with life's natural rhythms.

Everyone knows his name by now. The law graduate who became a comic actor, the actor who became president, the president who became a wartime commander-in-chief.What has been relatively unremarked upon is Zelenskyy's apparent appreciation for history, particularly ancient history. And he seems to understand history in a way that makes the antique past a source of strength for him. He seems to understand history in away that is rather "Chinese."Support the show

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