The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast
William Han
Stories from ancient China, and whatever else comes to mind.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 1, 2024 • 21min
Eastern Bureau and Eastern Forest
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
Jan 25, 2024 • 18min
Gu Yanwu
Regarding Gu Yanwu, the 17th century intellectual who has recently been the subject of controversy in Taiwanese politics.Support the show
Jan 18, 2024 • 16min
Dujiangyan
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
Jan 11, 2024 • 19min
Sima Guang and the General Mirror on Good Governance
Regarding Zizhi Tongjian, or "General Mirror on Good Governance," and the man who wrote it during the 11th century.Support the show
Jan 4, 2024 • 15min
Borges and "Extensive Records of the Taiping Era"
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
Dec 28, 2023 • 17min
Policy Digests of the Zhen'guan Era
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
Dec 21, 2023 • 28min
Journey to the West
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.
Dec 14, 2023 • 21min
The Tocharians
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
Dec 7, 2023 • 22min
Door Gods
The story of the "Door Gods" and how a pair of Tang Dynasty generals came to serve in that role.Support the show
Nov 30, 2023 • 16min
Chunyu Kun, Bro
The tale of another short (not to mention poor) man who achieved greatness. Chunyu Kun was a famed "wit" from Warring States era State of Qi. Besides services as a diplomat and political advisor, he was famous for being the sort of party guest you may not allow to leave by evening's end...Support the show
