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History of the Ming and Qing Dynasties 42 Internal strife in Tianjing

Duration: 0:08:21

In this episode of Chinese history stories, the story of the Tianjin internal conflict is told. After the Taiping Rebellion stabilized the situation in the Yangtze River region, a power struggle erupted within the Taiping army. Yang Xiuqing, the East King, used his claimed connection to God to try to gain more power and even requested the title of "Wansui" (Long live the East King) from the leader of the Taiping army, Hong Xiuquan. Despite being promised the title, Yang Xiuqing was later assassinated by Wei Changhui, who was critical of East King's behavior and saw him as a threat. This sparked a violent conflict in Tianjin in which over 30,000 Taiping soldiers were killed. Ultimately, Wei Changhui also turned against the Taiping army and was later killed.

Language: Chinese
Topics: HistoryTianjin

Ming and Qing History 43 Burning the Old Summer Palace

Duration: 0:09:02

This Chinese historical story recounts the burning of the Yuanmingyuan (Summer Palace) in Beijing during the Second Opium War in 1860. This was a result of Western colonial powers such as Britain, America, and France forcing unequal treaties upon the Qing government, that allowed them to loot China's wealth. A Chinese ship was seized by the British under false pretences, which triggered the war. The Yuanmingyuan, which was an elaborate palace complex built over centuries by Qing emperors and interwoven with traditional Chinese and Western architectural styles, was looted and burned to the ground by the Western forces. The palace had been filled with countless treasures, artworks, and historical artifacts. The destruction of the palace is regarded as one of the greatest cultural losses in Chinese history.

Language: Chinese
Topics: HistoryYuanmingyuan

Ming and Qing History 44 Sino-Japanese War

Duration: 0:08:57

This is a story about the Battle of the Yellow Sea that took place in 1894 during the Qing dynasty in China. The battle occurred after the corrupt Qing dynasty signed a series of unequal treaties with Western colonial powers. Japan, feeling left out after not gaining substantial benefits from these treaties, decided to use force to gain access to China. The Battle of the Yellow Sea was a significant naval confrontation between the Chinese and Japanese naval fleets. The battle resulted in heavy losses for the Chinese navy, but they managed to hold their ground and inflict substantial damage on the Japanese navy. The heroism and bravery of the Chinese naval officer, Deng Shichang, who went down with his sinking ship, the Zhiyuan, inspired the Chinese people and became a symbol of patriotism.

Language: Chinese
Topics: HistorySino-Japanese War

History of Ming and Qing Dynasties 38 Ji Xiaolan's Poetry

Duration: 0:07:33

This is a story about Ji Xiaolan, an outstanding scholar and literary figure during the Qing dynasty. He was known for his wit and humor and had many stories and jokes passed down in folk tales. One time, he accompanied Emperor Qianlong on an outing and saw a white crane flying high in the sky. Qianlong asked Ji Xiaolan to compose 11 poems about it, and Ji immediately recited a couplet. However, before he could finish, Qianlong interrupted him, challenging him to continue with crossed lips.

Language: Chinese
Topics: HistoryLiteratureQing Dynasty

History of Ming and Qing Dynasties. He Shen was killed

Duration: 0:11:44

The story is about He Shen, a Manchu banner person who became an important official during the Qing dynasty. He was clever and sharp-tongued and was appointed as a school officer in the palace. One day, when Emperor Qianlong was reading news about rebellious peasants in Sichuan province, he used a quote from the Analects to express his frustration. He Shen was the only one who understood the emperor's meaning and explained it to him. This impressed the emperor and He Shen was promoted to higher positions, eventually becoming a powerful minister. He received numerous prestigious appointments and awards until he was executed for alleged corruption.

Language: Chinese
Topics: HistoryQing DynastyEmperor Qianlong

Ming and Qing History 41 The Jintian Uprising

Duration: 0:09:28

This podcast episode tells the story of the Taiping Rebellion, a peasant uprising against the Qing Dynasty that took place in the mid-19th century. The rebellion was sparked by the corruption of the Qing government and the influx of foreign powers, particularly Britain, into China. The rebellion was led by Hong Xiuquan, who founded a religious movement called the God Worshipers, which blended elements of Christianity and Confucianism and promoted equality and the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. The rebellion quickly gained momentum, and Hong Xiuquan declared himself the Heavenly King. The Taiping rebels captured several cities, including Nanjing, and declared it the capital of their kingdom. The rebellion lasted for over a decade and resulted in the deaths of millions of people, but ultimately failed in its goal to overthrow the Qing Dynasty.

Language: Chinese
Topics: HistoryQing DynastyTaiping Rebellion

Ming and Qing History 39 Zheng Banqiao

Duration: 0:08:45

This is a Chinese historical story about the silent symbol Zheng Banqiao, who was a prominent calligrapher and literary figure during the Qing Dynasty. One day, his teacher took him on a spring outing and saw a young female body floating under a bridge. Moved by his teacher's sympathy, Zheng spontaneously recited a poem. When his teacher asked him how he knew the woman was 16 years old, he replied that he did not, but the poem was based on his emotions. Impressed by his answer, the teacher commented that Zheng was even better than his own teacher.

Language: Chinese
Topics: HistoryZheng BanqiaoQing DynastyCalligraphy