The China History Podcast

In this episode, we take a look at the circumstances and times when the brand spanking new nation of the USA came to a calling to China for the very first time. The so-called “Most Important Relationship in the World” had very humble origins indeed. When representatives of the United States first arrived in Canton in August 1783 they really had a lot of explaining to do about who they were and where they came from. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at the Khitan people of the steppes. These people came from the lands between Manchuria and Mongolia. Their most famous son was Yelü Abaoji who took his people to great heights in the early 10th century. His Liao Dynasty in the north of present-day China ran concurrently with the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (as well as the Song Dynasty) that resulted after the breakup of the Tang Dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the life and times of Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD). He’s a very good example of a well-known name from Chinese history that many have heard of but aren’t quite sure why. Zhuge Liang is mostly remembered for his cleverness and many consider him right up there with Sunzi (Sun Tzu) as far as the works of strategy and military science he left behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today after a month-long break the China History Podcast is back with another episode. This time we look at the life and times of Sir Y.K. Pao. In telling the story of Sir Yue-kong Pao (Bao Yugang in Mandarin) we can also relive the periods in China and Hong Kong during the 1960s, 70’s and into the ’80s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of the Chinese Mexicans is typical in some respects. They came to Mexico either because they wanted to and saw it as a land of opportunity or they came because it was the next best thing to emigrating to the United States. Many stayed in Mexico despite great hardships and the usual racism directed against them. But most either moved on to try their luck in the US or they were forced out by racist and nationalistic anti-Chinese immigration policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this part 4 episode, we conclude our overview of the Chinese Civil War. After the Pingjin Campaign ended in January of 1949 it was time for the Communists to finish off what they started. The victory was imminent but by no means would it be easy and simple. The PLA forces dramatically crossed the Yangzi River in May and their great generals led their forces to a smashing victory, finishing off the KMT forces of Chiang Kai-shek by December 1949. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Part 3 of our overview of the Chinese Civil War. The focus this time will be on the Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin Campaigns that not only grabbed all of north China and Manchuria for the Communists but the heartland and everything north of the Yangzi River as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode focuses mainly on the year 1947. The Americans have now left and the NRA and PLA attack each other with all they got. The years start out well for the Nationalists as they pummel the PLA in Manchuria and in the north. But once the summer offensive begins, it’s a steady stream of bad news for Chiang. Ultimately with the conclusion of the bloody Siping Campaign that ended in March 1948, Manchuria was lost for good. Chiang would never be able to win it back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, we begin a multi-part series covering the Chinese Civil War from 1945 to 1949. In China, this is known as the War of Liberation. In this Part 1, we will look at the background leading up to the war as well as failed attempts by the Americans in 1945-1946 to mediate a peace between Mao’s Communists and the Nationalists led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode runs way into overtime but at least we’re getting through to the end of 1944. The Dixie Mission is in full swing by the end of that year. John Service has established himself in Washington circles as one of the most informed and dynamic China hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode runs way into overtime but at least we’re getting through to the end of 1944. The Dixie Mission is in full swing by the end of that year. John Service has established himself in Washington circles as one of the most informed and dynamic China hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this second episode covering the life of John S. Service, we take a look at the general situation and the proliferation of mistrust and bad faith in wartime Chongqing. Chiang Kai-shek remains baffled and frustrated with American efforts to cozy up to Mao. He blames the China Hands such as John Service for feeding American officials the CCP propaganda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we explore the life and times of John S. Service. This original “China Hand” was born in China and grew up in Chengdu and Shanghai. He went on to a brilliant career in the State Department serving in China as a Foreign Service officer during the Second Sino-Japanese War and throughout WWII. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode takes a slightly deeper look at the Shang Dynasty and their signature achievement, the oracle bone script. Some of this episode will be a repeat of things covered in Episode 15. Like the oldest parts of the oldest world civilizations a lot of what we “know” is the collective guesswork of the best minds researching the history. From Wang Yirong down to the present generation of scholars, new secrets of the Shang Dynasty oracle bones continue to be revealed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at the Canadian and international hero Dr. Norman Bethune. Bethune is a staple among noted western friends and advisors who came to China in 1938 to help the Communists and the people in their struggle against the Japanese. He was not only a great friend of China but a gifted and brilliant man of medicine as well who had a great impact on thoracic surgery in his day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at a topic many have heard about but aren’t familiar with the details. We look at the early origins of the Jewish people in China and the time of the settlement in Kaifeng, Henan. Although you’d be hard-pressed to find a minyan amongst the native Jews in Kaifeng today, there are efforts being made to revive Judaism in that ancient city. It’s an interesting story that spans a millennium and offers a look at Chinese history from another angle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we delve back into the mists of ancient times to look at the State of Wu from the Spring & Autumn Period. Although they didn’t last long, the Wu State had a major impact on the development of the culture of the Jiangsu/Zhejiang/Shanghai region. There are a number of Wu periods throughout Chinese history, so today we will try to sort them all out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we will conclude our History of Hong Kong overview. We’ll look at the years following the 1967 riots and the reforms championed by Governor Murray MacLehose in the 1970s and ’80s. We’ll close out this series by looking at the dramatic lead up to and the signing of the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law, and the handover on July 1, 1997. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, we look at the year 1967 in Hong Kong. The words “riots” and “1967” go hand in hand when talking about Hong Kong history. Although the events that went down between May and December of 1967 caused death, mayhem, and destruction throughout the territory, when it was all over it led to a sea change in labor rights for Hong Kong workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a bit of a break, we pick up after the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. The 1950s were a stressful time for Hong Kong with Britain managing a diplomatic balancing act trying to be a good neighbor to the new PRC and to their closest ally, the USA. Thanks to the exodus of Chinese industrialists, from Shanghai mostly, Hong Kong will usher in a manufacturing boom that will transform the economy and the territory’s place in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices