The Qing has just finished burying one crisis (Heshen), only to start realizing that the true threat was never in the palace. It was out on the water. For two centuries the state's own hand had built this monster of the depths: sea bans, forced coastal evacuations, betrayed pardons… each new policy manufacturing more outlaws than it ever destroyed.
Add a fa ... Show More
Sep 2025
#307 - Zheng Yi Sao, Pt. 1: Murders & Acquisitions, Mostly
天高皇帝远 "Heaven Is High & the Emperor Is Far Away" On the far side of the realm from the celestial halls of shining Beijing, an outcast girl born on the fringes of society will scrabble to survive amid the coastal chaos of the closing years of the 18th century. With little more tha ... Show More
50m 55s
Oct 2025
Special - Mid-Autumn: Fly Me to the Moon
A brief history of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the tale of Hou Yi the Archer & the Ten Suns, and Chang’e & the Moon In other words, please be trueIn other words, I love you. Sources:Barlett, Scarlett. The Mythology Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Tales.Masaka, Mori. “Restor ... Show More
13m 37s
Feb 2020
10. China's Han Dynasty - The First Empire in Flames
A city in ruins. A dynasty in tatters. An empire in ashes...This episode, we look at the remarkable story of the first empire of ancient China, the Han dynasty. With ancient Chinese poetry, songs and folk music, we look back at the first empire's rise, its remarkable technologica ... Show More
2h 53m