Makers and Shakers of Chinese History

Jan 17 2021 279

Makers and Shakers of Chinese History Podcast artwork

Put down that lengthy history book spanning thousands of years and instead follow the “Makers and Shakers of Chinese History” podcast, which presents the biographies of 20 historic figures who shaped the course of ancient China. Meet the most renowned ancient Chinese rulers, ministers, thinkers, scientists, poets, and rebels, and find out how they continue to influence the Chinese to this day.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Li Hongzhang: patriot or traitor?

Jan 17 2021 10 mins

Li Hongzhang is often regarded as the pillar of politics, diplomacy, and industry of the late Qing Dynasty. Put another way, in the eyes of many Chinese and Westerners at that time, he was the one who truly governed China. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yixin: The Inevitability of fate the tale of a prince

Jan 13 2021 11 mins

Yixin, later known as Prince Gong, had every quality to be an emperor and savior of the dynasty. But his emperor father chose his brother as the heir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yongzheng: A rare 'Robin Hood' emperor

Jan 10 2021 9 mins

Yongzheng was the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty, who lived between 1678 and 1735. He was renowned for accomplishing several "firsts" in history for he was an innovator, always willing to try new things. He is also nicknamed as the Chinese founding father of cosplay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hong Xiuquan: Rebel with & without a cause

Jan 06 2021 12 mins

Meet the 'granddaddy of rebels' in China’s history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emperor Chongzhen: An ambitious monarch in a failing empire

Jan 03 2021 11 mins

History has shown that being an emperor requires more than brains, blood, and bravery to move mountains and shift the heavens. Timing and a bit of luck must be factored in, as Emperor Chongzhen, the last ruler of the Ming Dynasty realized during his fateful reign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Xu Guangqi: History’s most preeminent Shanghainese

Dec 30 2020 10 mins

From military strategist and astronomer to agricultural scientist and mathematician, Xu Guangqi is one of the most talented Shanghainese from the past 400 years. He rose to one of the highest government positions in the Ming Dynasty, led the introduction of Western science and technology into China, and became one of the nation’s most influential Catholic converts in the 17th cen

Zhu Yuanzhang: The ultimate rags to riches story of the true peasant emperor

Dec 27 2020 13 mins

Need motivation to make a way out of no way? Well, this story’s for you. Rising from the humblest beginnings, Zhu Yuanzhang made it to become the first emperor of a dynastic monarchy that ruled ancient China for some 276 years. How on earth was he able to pull that off? What kind of emperor was he? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Su Shi: The Chinese "renaissance man"

Dec 23 2020 11 mins

You may have heard of Su Shi as the “Chinese da Vinci”. What you might not know is that the legendary figure was a “renaissance man” even before the Western concept came into existence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wang Anshi: The most controversial intellectual in feudal China

Dec 20 2020 12 mins

Good intentions don’t naturally bring good outcomes. Wang Anshi, one of the most (in)famous Chinese reformers learnt it the hard way about a millennium ago. His policies were supposed to cure the ailing Song Empire yet eventually he was blamed for its collapse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Li Qingzhao: No.1 talented female poet in China

Dec 16 2020 12 mins

The poet Li Qingzhao is often described as the "most talented woman in ancient China" and is still one of the best-known female writers in China to this day. She lived in east China's Shandong Province during the Song Dynasty some 1,000 years ago and excelled at traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy and, most notably, poetry writing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m