The China History Podcast

This week's Chinese Saying is another good and respectable one that comes to us compliments of the Book of Song. It concerns the Northern Song official and literatus Yang Shi. His two main teachers were the famous Cheng Brothers, Cheng Hao 程颢 and Cheng Yi 程颐. Those two were giants in Neo-Confucian philosophy which flourished during the Song. This episode features Chéng Mén Lì Xuě 程门立雪. It's a story of respect and reverence for those teachers who had a profound effect on the direction of our lives. "Standing in the snow in front of the Cheng's gate." This is another in a very long line of stories that would feel right at home in the "Made Me Smile" subreddit. For anyone who has one or more teachers who made a positive difference in their life, this is a good 成语 to describe your feelings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time we will look at some pre-Confucian philosophy during the Zhou Dynasty. Philosophers such as the little-known Yuzi 鬻子 will be introduced. Then we will look at Guan Zhong 管仲 and the concept of the Chinese Gentleman, or Junzi 君子. The rise of the Knights Errant 武侠 and their association with the Ru School 儒家 will also be presented. Then we will look at Duke Huan of Qi and his role as the first great benefactor to scholars and his sponsorship of the Jixia Academy. Transcripts to all eighteen episodes are available on Amazon, Barnes-Noble, and Earnshaw Books. Below are links if you're interested. Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/ahw3oWq Earnshaw Books Link: https://earnshawbooks.com/product/the-history-of-chinese-philosophy-book-1/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in time for Kaiser's birthday today, March 7th, here's a recording of a chat we had a couple of days ago. Nothing too heavy. Laszlo invited Kaiser on to the CHP for a friendly, light-hearted, and respectful conversation about the many merits of Chinese history. Happy Birthday Kaiser, 寿比南山! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2017, I produced a nine-part series on the history of Chinese philosophy. These were once episodes CHP-184 to 192. In 2021, I removed this series from the CHP lineup of shows and published it as an online course. Since last year the History of Chinese Philosophy series has only been available on my Patreon and CHP Premium. What you're listening to here is an updated and new recording from what first came out seven years ago. In the first of 18 episodes that will be covered in this series, we look at Chinese Philosophy’s Ancient Beginnings and early Western understanding of Chinese Philosophy. The lives of the ancient Chinese sage kings will also be explored and why some philosophers held them up as role models for society. We will also look at Karl Jaspers's Theory of the Axial Age. For these first ten episodes, the focus will be on pre-Confucian and Confucian philosophers, Legalism, and how Confucianism developed up to the Tang Dynasty. Transcripts to all eighteen episodes are available on Amazon, Ba

For the Season 9 opener, we bring you a good one that takes place in the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty. Qin Hui, the reviled chancellor of Emperor Gaozong is back again, starring in another Chinese Saying, inspired by his historic perfidy. He conspired with his wife, Lady Wang, to have the great hero Yue Fei rubbed out. Their careful conspiracy, discussed in the utmost secrecy in a private spot in their residence, was somehow discovered. This is the story behind Dōng Chuāng Shì Fā 东窗事发. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an old topic I thought I'd present now to coincide with the recent release of the interview with the curators of "Clockwork Treasures From China's Forbidden City. Usually, I release new shows on Sundays at 5 AM L.A. Time. Since I'll be launching the first episode of Season 9 of the Chinese Sayings Podcast this Sunday, I figured I'd release this one Thursday, fresh on the heels of the interview. This is a quick and easy episode that traces the beginnings of timekeeping in China and will survey a few of the most notable horologists from Chinese history from the Han to the Qing Dynasties. The achievements of Zhang Heng, Yi Xing, Zhang Sixun, Su Song, and Zhan Xiyuan will be examined. Then we'll finish off with the arrival of the Jesuits and the zimingzhong 自鸣钟 clocks they brought with them. Thanks a bunch for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After hearing me talk about it for the longest time now, here's the interview with Tilly Blyth and Abbie MacKinnon at The London Science Museum. We discussed the Zimingzhong: Clockwork Treasures From China's Forbidden City that opened on February 1, 2024. The show will run until June 2, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Year of the Dragon, 新年快乐，龙年大吉! Just in time for the Lunar New Year here's, here's a look back at the 1960s when Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the nation of Tanzania, and Mao's China were fully engaged and setting the pace for future Sino-African Relations.  This episode is useful in gaining a little context for today's China-Africa big picture. China's relationship with most African nations goes back to 1955. In this episode, the focus will be on PRC-Tanzania relations but from this relationship you can get a halfway decent big picture of the dynamic back in the Mao era. I hope you enjoy it.  I'm back from London, all tanned and rested. Be looking for the interview with Tilly Blyth and Abbie MacKinnon recorded lived at the London Science Museum. The China Global South Project https://chinaglobalsouth.com/ Clockwork Treasures from China's Forbidden City https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/zimingzhong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Part 5 episode, we'll look at the history of Chinese medicine during the Ming and Qing, as well as all the major works that came out of that period. There will be a spotlight on Li Shizhen and his Bencao Gangmu Compendium of Materia Medica. He's one of the most important figures in Chinese medicine going back to the beginning. Many other big names will be introduced: Wang Kentang, Chen Sicheng, Yang Jizhou, Wang Ji, Jiang Guan, Zhang Jiebin, and Li Zhongzi. Better download the Terms from this Episode pdf at the website. Thanks so much for listening. I know this was a rough series to get through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I wouldn't technically call this a Bonus Episode. We're in between seasons right now. And while Laszlo and Emma are busy brainstorming the chengyu lineup for Season 9, here's a re-recording of one of Laszlo's all-time favorite episodes from the seven-year history of the CSP. How can anyone forget Mr. Nanguo, 南郭先生, who posed as a musician for three years without knowing how to play his instrument? He was a Làn Yú Chōng Shù 滥竽充数. He got the gig because the band only needed one more musician. And it didn't matter who it was. Mr. Nanguo was indiscriminately chosen just to make up the required number. A great story and it comes from the Han Feizi. Season 9 should start, hopefully, by the time the Year of the Dragon rolls around on 2/10/2024. Thanks, everyone. I hope you enjoy this Chinese Saying as much as I do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the 2024 Year-End Closing episode, we continue on with the History of Chinese Medicine during the Sòng. Bi Sheng started a revolution in book printing with his invention of movable type printing. This led to an explosion of new printed titles and wider access to medical texts among the general (urban) populace. During the Song, it became downright respectable to enter the medical profession. Many young people aspiring for a career in officialdom, looked to a career in medicine as either an alternative to working in the government or something to do in addition to serving the emperor. Many advances were made in forensic medicine, pediatrics, and healthy nutrition. And with all the new knowledge and acquisition of new knowledge through interaction with physicians from other cultures, the understanding of human health and how the body operates kept inching forward. In the field of pharmacology, there were also many advances, particularly in the publication of new materia medica texts. Learn more about your a

As promised and advertised, to cap off another winning season of the Chinese Sayings Podcast, we're proud to feature none other than our very own Emma, presenting a special bonus episode. This time we look at another good one: 鹬蚌相争, 渔翁得利. Yù bàng xiāng zhēng, Yú wēng dé lì. This one comes from the Strategies of the Warring States. It tells the story of the Clam, the Sandpiper, and the fisherman, amidst the backdrop of the early 3rd century BC. This chengyu, like many presented before in the CSP, has plenty of relevance in today's world. Thanks, Emma for all your help this season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The focus in Part 3 will be on the Song Dynasty, the Jin and the Yuan. Looming large in Chinese medicine during this fertile period was Sun Simiao, the 药王 or King of Medicines. We'll look at his life as well as many others: Wang Shuhe 王叔和, more Tao Hongjing 陶弘景, Ge Hong 葛洪, Gong Qingxuan 龚庆宣, Chao Yuanfang 巢元方， and others. If you'll be in London Feb 1-2-3, I'll be there collaborating with the London Science Museum. Details here: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/zimingzhong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the second time in a row, we feature the Cao Family of Wei in a Chinese Sayings Podcast Episode. This one concerns a story of someone who made the grade late in life. There are a lot of people in history who all throughout their early years and even into their prime, didn't make much of their life. But come their 50's or 60's they achieve greatness. This time we look at Dà Qì Wǎn Chéng 大器晚成 and the story of Cui Yan and his no-good young relative Cui Lin. February 1, 2024, I'll be in London as part of the opening festivities for an exhibition at the London Science Museum. Details here: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/zimingzhong Thanks everyone for another great season of The Chinese Sayings Podcast. Special episode coming next time featuring Emma. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So much rancor in this world these days. Here's one that describes the feeling of mutual enmity that existed between two giants of their day, Cao Cao and Sun Quan. During the waning years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, three powerful forces jockeyed for position to see who might push the Liu's off the throne and take over to found a new dynasty. There was no reconciliation in the tea leaves. As far as Cao Cao of Wei and Sun Quan of Wu were concerned, that throne was only big enough for one of them. Here's a story from 208 AD that features a useful Chinese Saying born on the eve of the epic Battle of Red Cliffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As advertised last time in Part 1, we'll take a look at The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, the Huangdi Neijing 黄帝内经, including an explanation of the meridians. I'll also read a few passages from this most important of the ancient medical texts. As we get deeper into the earliest centuries of the development of Chinese medicine you'll gain a sense of how the ancients created a holistic system that encompassed all aspects of the body and spirit and how they sought to maintain harmony and equilibrium throughout. When everything was in balance, a person was healthy and happy. Still, a lot more to come. I hope you'll stick with the series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again, for all CHP listeners, I'm featuring the latest episode of the Chinese Sayings Podcast. It's said that we human beings have been called social animals by nature. Some of us love other kinds of people more than others do. But no matter how enamored one might be about another culture, nation, or people, we all tend to stick with our own kind. This 4th Century BC Chinese Saying comes from "The Strategies of the Warring States." and concerns the witty and capable minister to King Wei of Qi and his son King Xuan: Chunyu Kun. King Xuan needed to round up several talented souls to help him manage the Kingdom of Qi, where the stunning and beautiful Shandong Peninsula is located. Answering the king's call, Chunyu Kun gathered a whole bunch of worthy and talented men and schooled the king about how easy it was to find them. This is the story behind Wù Yǐ Lèi Jù 物以类聚. I also mentioned another chengyu that goes along with this episode: yīmíng jīngrén 一鸣惊人. You get that one too, at no extra cost, I might add.

Here we commence a new series, one that will explore the history of Chinese Medicine. In this episode, we'll explore some of the basics and the lives and achievements of China's earliest physicians, the mythical and the ones we know lived. This episode is kind of a warm-up for Part 2 where we'll take a closer look at the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon (Huangdi Neijing) and Shennong's Materia Medica (or Shennong Herbal). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back for the seventh time this season. This time we're happy to feature once again the great Daoist philosopher who never disappoints. This story about the fish in a rut is a rather well-known one from the Outer Chapters of The Zhuangzi, or Second Book of the Dao as it's sometimes called. Zhuangzi himself stars in today's episode: Hé Zhé Zhī Fù 涸辙之鲋. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the second time this season, we refer to Zuo Qiuming's "Chronicles of Zuo" for another good and useful chengyu. This one takes place in the Spring and Autumn Period and concerns a haughty self-important minister from Jin State stopping for the night at an inn in Ningyi (河南宁邑). He left quite an impression on the innkeeper there but when this simple innkeeper looked more closely at this official, he saw he was Huá Ér Bù Shí 华而不实. Enjoy this ancient story and learn a new Chinese Saying too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices