The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast
A podcast sharing stories from ancient China, covering historical events and tales. Hosted by William Han, it offers English-language narratives about Chinese history. The show also includes whatever other topics come to mind.
Episodes
The Pheasant Cap Master
On one of the most neglected but also mysterious texts of Warring States philosophy.Support the show
Liang Qingbiao: Art Collector
The most important Chinese art collector of the 17th century.Support the show
The Zizhi Revolt & King Zhao of Yan
The Zizhi Revolt in 314 BC upended Warring States politics and led to the rise to power of King Zhao of Yan.Support the show
Zou Yan and the Five Elements
The Warring States thinker who gave us one of the most influential if mystical theories about dynastic changes.Support the show
Tuva or Bust!
That republic within the Russian Federation that used to be a part of China.Support the show
Su Dingfang and the Western Turkic Empire
One of the great but largely forgotten military leaders in Chinese history.Support the show
Shengyu Guangxun or Broader Disquisitions on the Sagely Edicts
From the 16 Points of 1670 to the exegesis of 1724: one of the most widely read documents during the Qing Dynasty.Support the show
Ying Shao and the General Treatise on Customs
On the late-Han Dynasty text on customs and its author.Support the show
Cheng Yaojin Comes Out of Nowhere
Regarding one of the most significant personalities of the early-Tang Dynasty and his fictionalization.Support the show
Madam Xian
Regarding the remarkable 6th century leader of the Li people.Support the show
Three Cases After the Southern Crossing
Three mysteries in 1644-45.Support the show
Li Zicheng, the Truculent King
About the man who actually brought down the Ming Dynasty.Support the show
Yining Incident or Revolution of the Three Districts
What is the origin of the term "East Turkestan"? The complicated history of Xinjiang in the 1930s and '40s.Support the show
Zhang Zhidong
Another of the "Four Great Ministers of the Late-Qing."Support the show
Li Hongzhang
One of the most important mandarins of the late-Qing was also one of the most controversial figures in Chinese history.Support the show
Feng Dao, Political Survivor
Regarding the unique career of Feng Dao of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.Support the show
Matteo Ricci
One of the most important missionaries in the history of Christianity in China.Support the show
Emperor Jiajing of Ming
The second-longest reigning emperor of the Ming Dynasty was an out-too-devout follower of religious Daoism.Support the show
Sino-Burmese War of 1765
From 1765 to 1769, Qing China invaded Burma four times...Support the show
Biographies of Some Exemplary Women
Regarding the Han Dynasty "Biographies of Exemplary Women," Queen Jiang, Zhongli Chun, Cai Wenji, and Xie Daoyun.Support the show
Tan Sitong of the 100-Day Reform
One of the leading figures of the reform of 1898.Support the show
Cao Xueqin
Regarding the author of "The Dream of the Red Chamber," the greatest novel ever written in the Chinese language.Support the show
Mao and "Outlaws of the Marsh"
I think the Ming Dynasty novel contains in it a history of the Chinese Communist Party written centuries before the Party existed.Support the show
Wu Sangui and Chen Yuanyuan
The tale of the Ming Dynasty general who switched sides and helped to bring it down and the woman whose legendary beautiful supposedly made him do it.Support the show
Cai Jing: Calligrapher and Perfidious Minister
Regarding one of the greatest calligraphers who ever lived, and one of the worst prime ministers in Chinese historySupport the show
Chong Family Generals
A most significant military family during the Northern Song Dynasty.Support the show
“To Rise with the Cockcrow to Practice Swordsmanship”
About a classical Chinese expression and the two men behind it.Support the show
Qian Qianyi: Hero or Turncoat?
Regarding the late-Ming mandarin and his ethical choices.Support the show
Nanchang Uprising: Birth of the PLA
August 1, 1927: a date that lives in PRC history.Support the show
A History of Lushan
Mt. Lu or Lushan, the object of so much classical Chinese poetry, the site of so much modern Chinese history.Support the show
Luoxia Hong: Why Chinese New Year Is When It Is
The Han Dynasty inventor of the Taichu Calendar.Support the show
Altai: of Gold and One-Eyed Folks
Tales from the Altai Mountains.Support the show
Yu Yunwen, Hero of the Southern Song
A lesser known figure who saved the Southern Song Dynasty in 1161.Support the show
Destruction of the Buddha During the Huichang Era
The reason why so few Buddhist temples from before the mid-9th century survive in China.Support the show
Zhu Zaiyu: Prince, Musician, Mathematician
The Ming Dynasty prince who worked out the modern musical scale.Support the show
Miscellaneous Morsels of Youyang and the Chinese Cinderella
The Chinese version of the Cinderella story and the 9th century collection in which it appears.Support the show
Eight Immortals Cross the Sea
The legend of the Eight Immortals, which gradually arose starting during the Tang Dynasty, particularly associated with the town of Penglai in Shandong.Support the show
Lady Shexiang
The remarkable stateswoman of Ming Dynasty Guizhou.Support the show
The Nanjing-Wuhan Split
In 1927, when Nanjing and Wuhan were both capitals of the ROC...Support the show
Southwest United University
The triple university that continued the educational mission through WWII.Support the show
Fan Zhen: On the Annihilation of the Soul
On the North and South Dynasties philosopher who argued against the immortality of the soul.Support the show
Jia Sidao: Hero, Villain, Entomologist
The late-Song prime minister with a terrible reputation.Support the show
Zhengde, the Emperor with an Alter Ego
Zhengde or Wuzong of Ming, a most perplexing ruler.Support the show
Hai Rui, Mad Mandarin
The Ming mandarin who helped, 400 years later, to start the Cultural Revolution.Support the show
General Qi Jiguang of the Ming
The most successful military commander of the mid-to-late-Ming Dynasty.Support the show
Zhang Zai, Philosopher
The major Song Dynasty philosopher who began to formulate Neo-Confucianism.Support the show
Chen Tuan, the Sleeping Immortal
The Daoist hermit who supposedly lived to 118 years old and profoundly influenced Confucian philosophy.Support the show
The Yellow River, Changing Course
In recorded history, the Yellow River has flooded 1,593 times and changed course 26 times.Support the show
Di Qing: Soldier Out of Time
One of the great heroes of the Song Dynasty, born into the wrong time.Support the show
Liu E and "The Travels of Lao Can"
The late-Qing author and his famous novel.Support the show
Shen Gua, Scientist
Shen Gua or Shen Kuo of the Song Dynasty is one of the most significant figures in the history of Chinese science.Support the show
Xie Jin of the Yongle Encyclopedia
The early-Ming Dynasty mandarin and editor of one of the greatest literary undertakings ever performed.Support the show
"Discourse on the Lamas" and the Golden Urn
In 1793, Emperor Qianlong of Qing decreed a new process by which to select future Tibetan spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama. And he wrote an essay about it.Support the show
Wu Jingzi and "The Scholars"
Regarding the great Qing Dynasty novel and its unfortunate author.Support the show
Rebellion of the Eight Princes
The chaotic series of events from 290 to 306 A.D. that set the stage for the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty.Support the show
The Tragedy of the Parties and Shackles
The Eastern Han Dynasty conflict between the eunuchs and the mandarins that set the stage for Three Kingdoms.Support the show
The Chinese Rites Controversy
The troubled history of Catholicism in China.Support the show
Zuo Zongtang and the Muslim Rebellion of Shaanxi and Gansu
One of the most significant late-Qing officials and the bloody conflicts he fought.Support the show
The Nian Rebellion
The amorphous, decentralized, and non-ideological rebellion of the mid-19th century.Support the show
The White Lotus Sect
A most curious, longstanding, and blood-drenched religious movement.Support the show
Wellington Koo, Diplomat
The story of one of Republican China's greatest diplomats.Support the show
Chen Youliang and the Battle of Poyang Lake
Regarding the late-Yuan era rebel leader and the greatest naval battle in medieval Chinese history.Support the show
Shangguan Wan'er: "Prime Minister in Women's Clothing"
The story of a remarkable Tang Dynasty woman.Support the show
The Panthay Rebellion
The 19th century Muslim revolt in Yunnan.Support the show
Li Ling, Tragic Hero
The tragic tale of the Han Dynasty general Li Ling.Support the show
The Nestorian Stele
In 635 A.D., a Syriac bishop arrived in the Chinese capital, Chang'an. This is the story of the stele they put up to commemorate that event...Support the show
Li He, the Ghost of Poetry
Li He, one of the most unusual poets of the Tang era, who also gave us the expression: "to answer the summons to the jade pavilion."Support the show
The Latter Ruler Li
Li Yu, the last ruler of the Kingdom of Southern Tang, who also happened to be one of the greatest poets in Chinese literature.Support the show
Liu Shipei
Regarding the man who came up with the calendar of the Yellow Emperor.Support the show
The "Sweet Dews" Massacre
The Coen Brothers-esque plot of 835 A.D. that backfired spectacularly, and gruesomely...Support the show
Prime Minister Li Linfu
The Tang Dynasty prime minister who only hired non-Chinese generals.Support the show
Dou Jiande, Chivalric Rebel
The late-Sui rebel leader who lived by the code of the xia.Support the show
A Cup of Wine for Your Command
The tale of a cocktail hour in 961 A.D.Support the show
The Tumu Crisis of 1449
The military fiasco that led to an emperor serving two non-consecutive terms.Support the show
Fan Zhongyan
Regarding the Song Dynasty mandarin who defined the mission for the Confucian intelligentsia.Support the show
The Sibe People
Regarding the small minority race who gave us the name "Siberia" and preserved the Manchu language.Support the show
Qin Liangyu: the Woman General
In all the "24 Histories" of Chinese tradition, only one woman is feature in the biographies of military generals. This is her.Support the show
Xunzi: Confucian Apostate
Was he a Confucian or a Legalist? Regarding one of the most controversial Chinese thinkers.Support the show
Su Xiaoxiao, Courtesan
The famous 5th or 6th century courtesan of Hangzhou and all the poetry that's been about her.Support the show
Early Han Dynasty Figure: Jia Yi
Author of "On the Faults of the Qin."Support the show
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