Chinese History & Mythology
Chinese History & Mythology is an English-language podcast that explores Chinese history, mythology, folklore, and culture through story-driven episodes. It covers dynasties, legendary heroes, classic literature like The Investiture of the Gods and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and everyday traditions. New main episodes are released every Tuesday and Thursday, with additional cultural episodes on Thursdays.
Episodes
181.In Search of the Supernatural--13
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
180.Interesting Chinese Culture——The Misty Six Dynasties to the Bloodstained Jinling
The recorded history of this city can be traced back to the fifth century BCE. After destroyed the State of Wu, he built a settlement known as Yue City in Changganli, near the southwestern corner of what is now Zhonghua Gate. This marked the beginning of the city’s documented history. During the following two thousand years, it served as the capital of ten different governments. It witnessed the
179.In Search of the Supernatural--12
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
178.In Search of the Supernatural--11
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
177.Interesting Chinese Culture——Xi'an: A Journey Through History and Food
Xi'an. After Beijing ,Xi'an is China’s most internationally recognized ancient capital. It is not merely a geographical name. It is more like a vast, living museum. To understand Xi'an is to understand how the political center of ancient China shifted over time, how Chinese civilization moved from isolation toward openness, and how Eastern and Western cultures came together and deeply influenced o
176.In Search of the Supernatural--10
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
175.In Search of the Supernatural--9
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
174.Interesting Chinese Culture——Tianjin: A Journey Through History and Food
Just over a hundred kilometers from Beijing, China’s capital, stands a great metropolis with a character so unique that it feels completely different from a traditional northern Chinese city. When introducing China to friends from other countries, we often talk about the grandeur of Beijing, the historical depth of Xi’an, and the modern style of Shanghai. But Tianjin is a city whose character cann
173.In Search of the Supernatural--8
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
172.In Search of the Supernatural--7
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
171.Interesting Chinese Culture——Beijing's rich culinary scene and profound history
A morning in Beijing often begins with air filled with the mingled aromas of steam, charcoal, and cooking oil. To a first-time visitor, these smells may seem unfamiliar or even a little strong. But to the people who live here, they are the city’s morning alarm clock, more effective than any sound. Many people wonder why Beijing, as a northern Chinese city, has such a distinctive food tradition.
170.In Search of the Supernatural--6
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
169.In Search of the Supernatural--5
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
168.Interesting Chinese Culture——Why Do Chinese People Care So Much About Marriage and Having Children?
In recent years, a term has become increasingly common on Chinese social media: “cutting ties with relatives.” It refers to young people deliberately distancing themselves from their extended families. They do not want to go home for Chinese New Year, deal with relatives pressuring them to marry or have children, or take part in family group chats. Some remain silent in these chats for long period
167.In Search of the Supernatural--4
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
166.In Search of the Supernatural--3
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
165.Interesting Chinese Culture——China’s Long History of “So-Bad-It’s-Good” Entertainment.
Why can a rough, low-budget animated film become a viral sensation and fill theaters across China? Beginning with the unexpected popularity of Niu Lai, this episode traces the ancient roots of China’s “so-bad-it’s-good” entertainment—from pre-Qin court jesters and Han dynasty street performances to Tang storytelling, Song entertainment districts, Ming and Qing folk opera, and today’s memes, livest
164.In Search of the Supernatural--2
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
163.In Search of the Supernatural
In Search of the Supernatural, is a 4th-century Chinese compilation of legends, short stories, and hearsay concerning Chinese gods, ghosts, and other supernatural phenomena in the zhiguai and chuanqi styles. Although the authorship of the book is not made explicit in the text, it is believed to have been written and compiled by Gan Bao, a historian at the court of Emperor Yuan of the Jin dynasty a
162.Interesting Chinese Culture——Were Dragons in Ancient China Really Connected to Natural Disasters?
A typhoon formed deep over the Pacific Ocean and traveled more than 6,000 kilometers across the sea. After making landfall, its winds gradually weakened, but the moisture it carried continued moving deep into China. Zhejiang, Shanghai, Hubei, Henan, and Beijing were hit by heavy rainfall one after another. In some places, just a few hours brought as much rain as would normally fall over a much lon
161.What Came After Romance of the Three Kingdoms?
What period came after the Three Kingdoms?
After the Three Kingdoms, the next period in Chinese history was the Western and Eastern Jin dynasties.
160.Is Romance of the Three Kingdoms Biased Against Women?
A woman, a woman who had never gone onto the battlefield and had never taken part in any political decision, had her name used like a match to ignite the fuse of an entire war. This detail is extremely thought-provoking. It reveals a deep logic that runs through the entire Three Kingdoms narrative, and even through all of classical Chinese literature: in war epics written by men, women’s bodies,
159.Interesting Chinese Culture——The Ten Most Beloved Deities.
When we open the vast historical scroll of China, or walk through those ancient temples across Asia, surrounded by curling incense smoke, one very unique cultural phenomenon immediately catches our eye. The Chinese system of gods is completely different from the monotheistic systems found in many other civilizations around the world. Here, there is no one and only creator who excludes all other go
158.Romance of the Three Kingdoms- The Strategists
In the story of the Three Kingdoms, the most fascinating parts were never really the flashing blades and clashing weapons on the battlefield. They were the conversations inside military tents, the calculations hidden in letters, and the tests carried out over wine at banquets. In Chinese popular culture, there is a saying: young people should try not to read Water Margin, because that book mainly
157.Romance of the Three Kingdoms- The Military Generals
When we peeled back the labels, we found that both of them were far more complex than those simple names. In today’s episode, we are going to change our perspective. We will not talk about the lords, but about the fighters. We will not talk about the people playing the game of chess, but about the pieces charging across the board — the famous military generals in the story of Romance of the Three
156.Interesting Chinese Culture——What Is the Most Important Exam in China?
In China, there is a very important exam. It can even be said that this exam determines the fate of ninety percent of Chinese people. Why can one exam stir up such enormous social energy?
155.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-Was Liu Bei a Hypocrite?
A lower-class man who started out selling straw sandals had no money, no territory, and no powerful background. Why was he able to make outstanding men like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei follow him with total loyalty for their entire lives? Why was he able to make a heaven-sent talent like Zhuge Liang devote himself completely until death? Why was he able to make Tao Qian hand over the entire Xuzhou to h
154.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-Cao Cao a Bad Man?
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he is often written as a “treacherous hero”: suspicious, ruthless, skilled in political tricks, and always standing opposite Liu Bei’s image of “benevolence and righteousness.” For many Chinese audiences, when they hear the name from childhood, what appears in their minds is often not simply a politician or a military strategist, but a complicated, dangerous, int
153.Interesting Chinese Culture——How Ancient China Spent the Night？
How many of you have ever imagined that life in ancient China was probably nothing but darkness after sunset? That the moment the sun went down, everyone immediately went to bed, and the entire country fell into silence. Part of that impression is true, but much more of it is filled with unexpected energy and detail. The nighttime schedule, entertainment, street sounds, lights, and shadows of anci
152.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-28
Now, in Chengdu, the Later Lord Liu Shan heard that Deng Ai had already captured Mianzhu, and that Zhuge Zhan and his son had both died in battle. He immediately turned pale with shock and hurriedly gathered all the civil and military officials to discuss what to do. Close attendants from the palace came again to report, “Outside the city, the common people are carrying the old and leading the you
151.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-27
In the tenth month of winter, in the fifth year of Jingyao in Shu Han, Great General Jiang Wei ordered men to repair the plank roads through the night, organize military grain and weapons, and transfer boats from the water routes in Hanzhong. After everything was ready, he submitted a memorial to the Later Lord, saying, “I have gone on campaign many times. Although I have not yet achieved great me
149.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-26
In the first month of the second year of Zhengyuan in Wei, Guanqiu Jian, Commander of Yangzhou and General Who Guards the East, heard that Sima Shi had removed and established emperors on his own authority. He was extremely angry. His eldest son, Guanqiu Dian, advised him, “Father, you hold a high regional office. Now Sima Shi controls power alone and has deposed the ruler. The state is as dangero
150.Interesting Chinese Culture——Did LV Copy China?
There is an old Chinese saying: “A tall tree catches the wind.” In other words, the more successful and visible you become, the more likely you are to attract trouble. Perhaps it was this successful commercial collaboration that brought this previously unremarkable milk tea brand to the attention of the global luxury company Louis Vuitton. So what exactly happened?
148.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-25
Now, when Sima Yi heard that Cao Shuang had taken his trusted followers, the imperial guards, and the Wei ruler Cao Fang out of the city to pay respects at Emperor Ming’s tomb and go hunting along the way, he was overjoyed.
147.Interesting Chinese Culture——How Did China Stay Cool Without AC?
The moment you step outside, it feels like walking into an oven. For us modern people, the first thing we do when we get home is turn on the air conditioner, collapse onto the sofa, and say, “Air conditioning is keeping me alive.” But while feeling that cold air, a very interesting question suddenly came to my mind: in ancient China, when there was no electricity and no compressor at all, how did
146.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-24
Now, when Jiang Wei saw Wei Yan rush into the tent and knock out Kongming’s life lamp, he was furious and drew his sword to kill him. Kongming quickly stopped him and said, “This is because my fate has reached its end. It is not Wenchang’s fault.” Only then did Jiang Wei put away his sword.
145.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-23
When the generals heard that Kongming would not pursue the Wei soldiers, they all entered the tent and reported, “The Wei soldiers have been trapped by the heavy rain and cannot even set up camp properly. Now that they are withdrawing, this is the perfect chance to pursue them. Chancellor, why do you not pursue?”
144.Interesting Chinese Culture——Why Don’t Chinese People Stay Out at Night During This Month?
Do you know when China’s Ghost Festival is? And do you know what customs it has, and how it developed over history?
143.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-22
In the autumn, in the ninth month of the sixth year of Jianxing in Shu Han, the Wei Commander Cao Xiu was badly defeated at Shiting by Lu Xun, the Grand Commander of Eastern Wu. Warhorses, vehicles, weapons, grain, and supplies were almost all captured by the Wu army. After this defeat, Cao Xiu was terrified and deeply troubled. After returning to Luoyang, a poisonous swelling grew on his back, an
142.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-21
After Cao Zhen and Guo Huai were defeated, they were in the camp discussing how to drive back the enemy. Guo Huai said to Cao Zhen, “The various tribes of Western Qiang have been sending tribute every year since the time when Cao Cao was still alive, and Emperor Wen also treated them generously. Now we can hold the dangerous passes and send people through small paths into Qiang territory to ask fo
141.Interesting Chinese Culture——Qixi ：China’s Valentine’s Day
Next month, on Wednesday the 19th, it will be Chinese Valentine’s Day. Did you know that? Every year, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, many Chinese people celebrate a festival called Double Seventh Festival, the Double Seven Festival.
140.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-20
After Kongming pacified the Southern Barbarians, he led the army back to Shu. Meng Huo brought the cave lords, chiefs, and tribal leaders, large and small, to come forward one after another, bow in thanks, and see him off.
139.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-19
That day, Kongming personally rode in his small carriage and brought several hundred cavalry ahead to scout the road. As they moved forward, they suddenly came upon a large river called the Xi’er River. The water did not flow very fast, but the river was wide, and there were no boats or rafts. For the moment, the troops and horses could not cross.
138.Interesting Chinese Culture——Did Soccer Really Begin in China?
Right now, people all over the world are watching the World Cup at the same time. Billions of viewers are sitting in front of their screens. Once the whistle of the World Cup blows, the whole world seems to fall into the same rhythm for a while. Some people stay up late to watch the matches. Some study formations. Some are only waiting for the penalty shootout. And some watch the smooth teamwork o
137.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-18
After Lu Xun of Eastern Wu defeated the Shu army at Xiaoting and Yiling, and then successfully forced back the Wei troops, Sun Quan trusted him even more. He appointed Lu Xun as General Who Supports the State, granted him the title Marquis of Jiangling, and also made him Governor of Jingzhou. From then on, almost all real military power in Eastern Wu fell into Lu Xun’s hands.
136.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-17(part 2)
After the sacrifices were finished, Ma Liang advised, “Now all the enemies have been executed, and the revenge can be considered complete. Eastern Wu has sent Cheng Bing here. They are willing to return Jingzhou, send Lady Sun back, renew the alliance, and attack Wei together. They are still waiting for Your Majesty’s decision.”
136.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-17(part 1)
After Liu Bei became emperor, he immediately prepared to raise troops for an eastern campaign against Eastern Wu, to avenge Guan Yu. Zhao Yun stepped forward and advised him, “The true traitors to the state are Cao Ren and Cao Pi, not Sun Quan.
135.Interesting Chinese Culture——The Secret History of Pandas
Black-and-white, fluffy fur, and a vegetarian. Almost everyone would immediately think of the panda. As China’s national-treasure-level animal, it is not an exaggeration to say that in any country, if a zoo has a panda, it can almost guarantee a steady flow of ticket sales.
134.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-16
When Mi Fang heard that Jingzhou had already fallen, he did not know what to do. Suddenly, someone reported that Fu Shiren, the defender of Gong’an, had arrived. Mi Fang quickly invited him into the city and asked what had happened. Fu Shiren said, “It is not that I am disloyal. The situation was truly desperate, and there was simply no way to defend it. I have already surrendered to Eastern Wu. G
133.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-15
Seeing that Huang Zhong was determined to go, Kongming said, “Since you insist on taking this campaign, I will send Fa Zheng with you. Discuss every matter with him before making a decision. I will also arrange reinforcements behind you.” Huang Zhong agreed and set out with Fa Zheng and his troops. Afterward, Kongming said to Liu Bei, “If the old general had not been stirred by this challenge, he
132.Interesting Chinese Culture——What Is the Dragon Boat Festival?
Every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, people across China hold dragon boat races, eat zongzi, and follow many other interesting customs. To understand it, we need to start with where it came from. In fact, the Dragon Boat Festival was not connected to one famous person from the very beginning.
131.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-14
Sun Quan could not stop thinking about Jingzhou. Zhang Zhao offered a plan and said, “The person Liu Bei relies on most now is Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang’s elder brother, Zhuge Jin, serves in Eastern Wu. First, we can place Zhuge Jin’s family under guard. Then send Zhuge Jin to Western Chuan to meet Zhuge Liang and force him to persuade Liu Bei to return Jingzhou. Just tell Zhuge Liang that if Jingz
130.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-13
Pang Tong and Fa Zheng continued urging Liu Bei to kill Liu Zhang during the banquet. In their view, Western Shu could then be taken with little effort. But Liu Bei firmly refused. “I have only just arrived in Shu,” he said. “I have not yet earned the people's trust or established my reputation. Such a thing must never be done.” No matter how many times they tried to persuade him, Liu Bei would no
129.Interesting Chinese Culture——How did advertising in China slowly take shape?
These days, we are so surrounded by ads that we are almost numb to them. You unlock your phone and the first thing you see is a notification. You open a webpage and a pop-up jumps right into the middle of the screen. You scroll through short videos and suddenly one cuts in with, “Friends, you have to buy this.” Even when you just want to sit quietly and listen to some music, before the intro is ev
128.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-12
Zhou Yu had been defeated by the three forces of Guan Yu, Huang Zhong, and Wei Yan, which Zhuge Liang had arranged in advance, and Eastern Wu’s navy had also suffered considerable losses. Huang Gai and Han Dang quickly helped Zhou Yu back onto a boat. From a distance, Zhou Yu saw Liu Bei and Lady Sun standing on the mountaintop, watching the battle. Shame and anger surged through him. His arrow wo
127.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-11
Just as Kongming was about to execute Guan Yun Chang according to military law, Liu Bei quickly stepped forward and pleaded for mercy. He said, “Back when the three of us swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, we vowed to live and die together. Although Yun Chang has violated military law, I truly cannot bear to break the oath we made in those days. I ask that you record his offense for now and sp
126.Interesting Chinese Culture——What Was Northeast China Like in the 1980s?
If time could move backward and we turned the clock back to the nineteen eighty, what kind of China would you see?
125.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-10
Now, back to Lu Su. Following Zhou Yu’s orders, he went to visit Kongming on his small boat. The moment Lu Su sat down, Kongming smiled and said, “I was just about to congratulate the Commander.”
124.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-9
Now, when Guan Yu released the waters from upstream, Zhang Fei charged out from downstream and cut straight into Cao Ren’s defeated army. The two sides clashed in fierce battle, and Zhang Fei soon ran into Xu Chu. He immediately lowered his spear and attacked. Xu Chu did not dare stay and fight for long, and quickly forced his way out and fled.
123.Interesting Chinese Culture——Morning Markets & Night Market
Today, we are going to talk about a steaming hot topic: morning markets and night markets in China. I believe many of you may have this habit. You open YouTube and watch videos about Chinese food. In the past two years, as China’s morning market and night market culture has become more visible, more and more creators on YouTube have started filming videos in different Chinese cities, walking throu
122.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-8
Liu Bei successfully recovered Fancheng and comforted the people. The county magistrate Liu Mi held a banquet to welcome him. During the banquet, Liu Bei saw a young man standing nearby. His bearing was impressive, so Liu Bei asked about him. Liu Mi answered, “This is my nephew Kou Feng. He was originally the son of the Kou family of Luohou. His parents died early, so he has been raised here with
121.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-7
Inside the prison, Tian Feng had already expected his death. He told the prison guards, “Yuan Shao appears broad-minded on the outside, but inwardly he is jealous and suspicious. If he had won, perhaps he might have spared me. But now that he has lost, his shame has turned into anger. He will surely kill me to vent his hatred.”
120.Interesting Chinese Culture——Why Did Xi Take President Donald Trump to These Three Places in Beijing?
The hidden meaning behind President Donald Trump’s China visit: the Great Hall of the People, the Temple of Heaven, and Zhongnanhai.
In mid-May 2026, U.S. President Trump set foot on Chinese soil. As one of the most powerful figures in the world, the schedule of his visit to China carried a strong sense of careful design. During this three-day visit, Xi Jinping took him to three places: the Great
119.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-6
When Yuan Shao heard that Yan Liang had been killed, he flew into a rage and ordered Liu Bei executed. But Liu Bei calmly replied, “Since we were separated in Xuzhou, I have not known whether Yunchang was alive or dead. Based on one report alone, how can we be certain the man who killed Yan Liang was truly Guan Yu?” Yuan Shao was already hesitant by nature, and after hearing this, he felt the argu
118.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-5
breaking point of the entire plan? In this episode, we continue the story.
Dong Cheng and the others asked Ma Teng, “Who is this person you mentioned?” Ma Teng replied, “Liu Bei, the governor of Yuzhou, is now in Xudu. Why not bring him in?” Dong Cheng hesitated. “Although Liu Bei is an imperial relative, he is now under Cao Cao. He may not be willing to take such a risk.”
117.Why Do Chinese People Love Using Idioms?
In our main historical storyline, we are now in the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Romance of the Three Kingdoms can be called a “super-rich mine” of Chinese idioms. There are more than three hundred idioms and historical references connected to it alone. Even today, behind everyday Chinese conversation, you can still see the shadow of Three Kingdoms stories. So today, let’s talk about
116.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-4
Yuan Shu’s chief clerk, Yang Dajiang, proposed a plan. He believed Liu Bei should be attacked first, but Lü Bu had to be stabilized. He said, “Liu Bei is in Xiaopei. The city is small and his troops are weak, easy to defeat. But Lü Bu holds Xu Province. If he comes to help Liu Bei, it will cause trouble. Better to send him the grain we promised before to keep him satisfied, then move troops agains
108.Interesting Chinese Culture—— 15 Chinese Cultural Taboos
Why do Chinese people avoid the number 4, green hats, mirrors facing the bed, or saying the word “death” too directly? In this episode, we explore 15 everyday Chinese cultural taboos and the history, beliefs, and social values behind them. From weddings and funerals to bedroom layout, speech habits, feng shui, and nighttime rules, these customs reveal how Chinese culture understands luck, respect,
115.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-3
The man who offered the plan was Mi Zhu, courtesy name Zizhong, from Qu County in Donghai. His family had been merchants for generations and was one of the famous wealthy families in the region. Mi Zhu was kind and generous. Once, because he treated a mysterious woman with respect, he learned in advance that his home would suffer a fire, and he was able to save most of his family property. After t
114.Interesting Chinese Culture——Why Do Chinese Women Avoid Going Out for a Month After Giving Birth?
A room, a few windows, and curtains pulled tightly shut. The new mother is wearing long sleeves and long pants, with a towel wrapped around her head. There is a smell of traditional Chinese medicine in the room, and a thermos sits on the windowsill. Her mother or mother-in-law comes in every few minutes and asks, “Are you cold?” Then she quickly closes the door again, as if she is afraid that even
113.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-2
Starting from the last episode, our historical storyline entered the Three Kingdoms period, from 220 to 280 AD. Through the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, we’re exploring what actually happened during this period of history. In the last episode, we briefly introduced several important characters in the story: Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang,, and Dong Zhuo. We also talked about two incredibly powerf
112.Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The Han Dynasty, we’re now stepping into a brand-new era starting this month: the Three Kingdoms period, from 220 to 280 AD.
After the middle period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, political power kept shifting between the emperor’s relatives and court eunuchs. The government became more and more corrupt. Powerful families seized more land, ordinary people suffered, and life became increasingly diffic
111.Interesting Chinese Culture——How Do Chinese People Use Food to Stay Healthy?
A name called “Becoming Chinese” started trending on TikTok, and along with it, a wellness drink became very popular.Apples are usually eaten fresh, so why would anyone boil them into a tea? And why did so many people suddenly start making boiled apple tea? What is so special about it that even foreign friends who are used to drinking ice water have started trying it?
110.The Monster Universe of the Classic of Mountains and Seas
Before dragons became famous worldwide, ancient China had its own monster universe. Creatures with nine heads, human faces, giant wings—and gods that controlled the sun itself. And they were all written down thousands of years ago in one of China’s strangest books: The Classic of Mountains and Seas.
109.The Hidden Legends：Shiji & Classic of Mountains and Seas
It has been a while since we last sat down and talked about mythological stories together. In the past few episodes, we have mainly focused on stories about historical development. The reason we have not talked much about myths is that, in the period of history we have been covering, there really were not many highly representative mythological stories. It is also because these dynasties existed f
107.What Really Happened to Western Chu?
The social turmoil at the end of the Qin dynasty began with uprisings from the common people. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised the banner of rebellion in Dazexiang. Although their rebel army was ultimately defeated, they lit the flames of resistance across the land. In this process, the noble descendants of the old six states responded one after another, hoping to restore their former glory. It was
106.The Qin Dynasty: Secrets We Still Can’t Explain
More than two thousand years ago, Qin Shi Huang brought a long age of war to an end and united scattered lands into one vast empire. This ruler was called the First Emperor, and his name left a deep mark on the long course of history. However, when it comes to the end of his life, the historical record contains many unclear and uncertain parts. The turning point in history came when he suddenly di
105.Interesting Chinese Culture——Why Do Chinese People Love Tea？
Hey friends, welcome back to another episode of Interesting Chinese Culture.
The fact that Chinese people love drinking tea is something almost everyone in the world already knows. As the generations have changed, tea culture in China has also developed in many different ways, and one of the most popular forms today is milk tea, which young people are especially enthusiastic about. So why does tea
104. Who Destroyed the Qin Dynasty？
In the history of the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, left behind achievements that could never be erased. But the way such a huge empire rose so quickly in only fifteen years, and then collapsed in an extremely short time, is not something often seen in the long course of human history. The founding of the Qin dynasty marked the formal establishment of the first centralized imperial syste
103.The Terracotta Army and Jing Ke’s Attempt to Kill the King of Qin
Although the Qin dynasty existed for only fifteen years in Chinese history, it made an enormous contribution to the history of China as a whole. Even today, Qin Shi Huang still attracts scholars around the world who are interested in studying his historical background. And once we start talking about the Qin dynasty, there is one place that we absolutely have to mention, and that is the Terracotta
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