The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast
Stories from ancient China, and whatever else comes to mind.
Episodes
181 episodes
Huang Zongxi and "Waiting for Dawn": Chinese Democratic Theory
One of the most influential thinkers -- and his most influential work -- in the history of Chinese democratic thought.
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Episode 181
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22:15
King Li of Zhou and the "Republic" of 841 B.C.
Until the advent of modern scholarship, the earliest definitive date in the chronology of Chinese history was 841 B.C. What happened that year that so marked the calendar?
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Episode 180
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16:46
Zhang Zhongjing, Physician
Regarding the Han Dynasty physician Zhang Zhongjing.
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Episode 179
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17:43
Li Jie: Architect
Regarding the Song Dynasty architect and scholar of architecture.
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Episode 178
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17:32
Li Kui and Shen Buhai, Legalists
Everyone knows that Shang Yang reformed the laws and institutions of the State of Qin, setting it up for superpower status and paving the way to the Qin Dynasty. But a number of earlier reformers prefigured Shang Yang. Here are two of them.
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Episode 177
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19:34
Wang Yangming, Philosopher
The story of the deeply influential Ming Dynasty philosopher.
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Episode 176
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28:40
Zichan, Criminal Law, and the Soul
The 6th century B.C. statesman of the State of Zheng promulgated the first published criminal code in Chinese history. Moreover, it is through him that we know how the ancient Chinese understood the nature of the soul.
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Episode 175
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20:22
Chinese Hedonism: the School of Yang Zhu
The hedonist tradition in Chinese philosophy.
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Episode 174
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19:40
The Discourses on Salt and Iron
The economic conference of 81 B.C. and the book that resulted from it.
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Episode 173
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18:01
Liu Xie and "The Literary Heart and the Carving of Dragons"
On the late-5th and early-6th century work of literary criticism and its author.
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Episode 172
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17:07
Dong Zhongshu, Champion of Confucianism
Regarding the man who made Confucianism the dominant ideology of China.
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Episode 171
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20:15
Chai Rong and the End of the Five Dynasties
On Chai Rong, the second emperor of the Latter Zhou, and how it became the last of the Five Dynasties.
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Episode 170
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18:56
The Secret History of the Mongols
Our only source for many of the stories about the life of Genghis Khan, The Secret History of the Mongols is a crucial document for understanding the Mongol Empire.
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Episode 169
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18:07
The Stone Drums of Qin
In 627 A.D., an elderly shepherd chanced upon ten stone drums bearing ancient inscriptions. Since then, they have gone on a topsy-turvy adventure through the tumultuous course of Chinese history, down to the present day.
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Episode 167
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23:26
The Ceremony of Fengshan
Only six emperors in Chinese history are documented to have performed Fengshan, the worship of heaven at earth at the holy Mt. Tai.
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Episode 166
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21:32
Guo Wei and the Latter Zhou
Continuing the series on the Five Dynasties, the story of Guo Wei, founder of the Latter Zhou.
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Episode 165
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15:10
Dongfang Shuo, Patron Saint of Comedy
On the 2nd century B.C. courtier, jester, and man of letters Dongfang Shuo, who came to be regarded as the patron saint of "xiangsheng," a traditional form of stand-up comedy.
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Episode 163
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18:54
The Prince of Lu of Ming
The story of an imperial cousin and regent of the Southern Ming Dynasty.
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Episode 162
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21:28
Liu Zhiyuan of the Latter Han
The next emperor in our series on the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
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Episode 161
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14:49
King Zhuanxu and Ancient Shamanism
Regarding Zhuanxu, the second of the so-called "Five Emperors" of China's deep past.
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Episode 160
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24:35
Shi Jingtang, the Man Who Gave Away the Great Wall
Continuing our series on the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: the founder of the Latter Jin Dynasty, Shi Jingtang.
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Episode 159
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21:09