The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast

Dive into the intriguing origins of the idiom 'The man from Qi worries about the sky' and its roots in ancient philosophy. Discover the rich historical context of the state of Qi and its literary contributions. Reflect on how an ancient tale about irrational fears resonates with modern anxieties, such as climate change. This exploration reveals the timeless nature of worry and invites listeners to consider the balance between legitimate concerns and unnecessary fears.

The story of the Ming Dynasty secret police led by eunuchs, the most infamous eunuch among them, and the faction of mandarins who opposed them.Support the show

Regarding Gu Yanwu, the 17th century intellectual who has recently been the subject of controversy in Taiwanese politics.Support the show

The remarkable Dujiangyan irrigation system in Sichuan was constructed in the 250s B.C. but remains in use today and remains crucial to the Chinese economy.Support the show

Regarding Zizhi Tongjian, or "General Mirror on Good Governance," and the man who wrote it during the 11th century.Support the show

Taiping Guangji or "Extensive Records of the Taiping Era" is an anthology of stories compiled during the early Song Dynasty. Its editors chose to collect the stories under a series of clearly unworkable categories. In so doing, they made Taiping Guangji a perfect illustration of the point made in an essay by the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges.Support the show

In 1615, the Tokugawa Shogunate made a rule that all Japanese emperors must study "Policy Digests of the Zhen'guan Era," written 900 years earlier in Tang Dynasty China. What is this book and what's important about it?Support the show

A discussion about the famous Chinese literary work, Journey to the West and its historical significance. Also explores the life and struggles of the author, Wu-Chang-wen, and the influence of his experiences on the story. Additionally, discusses villain-hero dynamics and symbolism in the novel.

The story of the somewhat mysterious Tocharian people of Kuche in today's Xinjiang, confusingly named after the Tokharoi of Bactria in modern Afghanistan, from whose language Chinese gets its word for "honey."Support the show

The story of the "Door Gods" and how a pair of Tang Dynasty generals came to serve in that role.Support the show