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110 Xinhai Revolution

Duration: 0:07:51.992018

Welcome to listen to Chinese history, but that's it. The author and the podcaster discuss how the Xinhai Revolution unfolded on the day before the death of Emperor Guangxu. Empress Dowager Cixi summoned the military ministers to the Zhongnanhai to discuss the selection of the heir to the throne. Eventually, they chose the three-year-old Aisin Gioro Puyi and appointed his biological father, Prince Chun, as regent. The political situation of the Qing Dynasty was precarious with the nation on the brink. Patriots from all walks of life united to form revolutionary organizations. In 1905, Sun Yat-sen established the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, whose principles can be summarized as the Three Principles of the People: nationalism, democracy, and socialism. Under the leadership of the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, the bourgeois revolution in China took a new leap forward. In Wuhan, revolutionary organizations like the Literary Society and the Youth Party were formed, and they planned to launch an armed uprising on October 6, 1911. However, unexpected events led to delays, and the uprising was eventually moved to October 10. Despite setbacks and unexpected incidents, the revolutionaries in Wuhan finally launched the uprising on the night of October 10, 1911. By morning, the whole city of Wuhan was under their control. The subsequent events and uprisings in other cities led to the establishment of the Hubei Military Government and the declaration of the Republic of China. This Xinhai Revolution successfully overthrew the corrupt rule of the late Qing Dynasty and paved the way for a new era of democracy and republicanism in China. On January 1, 1912, the temporary government of the Republic of China was established in Nanjing, with Sun Yat-sen elected as the provisional president. On February 12, 1912, the last Qing emperor, Puyi, abdicated, bringing an end to the 268-year-old Qing Dynasty and over 2000 years of feudal imperial rule in China.

Language: Chinese
Topics: The Xinhai Revolution

108 The Boxer Rebellion

Duration: 0:08:01.163900

Welcome to listen to Chinese history, but so, the author and the nodes are wrong, the country changes in the year of 1900. The failure of the reforms did not stop the worsening national crisis in China. In the late 1890s, a large number of foreign missionaries came to China under the guise of preaching, engaging in espionage activities and frequently deceiving the Chinese people. During this period, natural disasters struck the country, causing suffering among the people. American missionaries such as Haines, Fuller, and others established churches in places like Daliuzhuang, leading to the rapid growth of their influence. The behavior of these missionaries and their followers in the local villages became intolerable to the people, who spontaneously organized movements to resist imperialist aggression, giving rise to the Boxer Rebellion and the formation of secret societies in Shandong, Henan, and Zhili provinces. These organizations set up altars, practiced martial arts, and claimed that after drawing symbols and reciting spells, they could call upon spirits to make themselves invulnerable to weapons. In 1898, the members of the 'Righteous and Harmonious Fists' (Boxers) in Guan County, Shandong, under the leadership of Qian Dechang and others, officially initiated the Boxer Rebellion. They established a central altar in the House of Affairs in Hequan, Shandong, with the village as the basic organizational unit. The Boxer members were mainly poor farmers, artisans, urban commoners, small traders, and transport workers. The local population rose up to resist the church's influence in the region, leading to conflicts with the authorities. Eventually, the government sent troops to suppress the uprising, resulting in the Boxers engaging in battles with Qing troops. Following a series of confrontations, the Boxer Rebellion led to the invasion of China by the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900. The signing of the Boxer Protocol in 1901, also known as the 'Boxer Indemnity,' marked the end of the Boxer Rebellion. This unequal treaty imposed heavy indemnities on China, allowed foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing, and severely restricted Chinese sovereignty, bringing disastrous consequences for the Chinese people and marking the country's transformation into a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society under imperialist rule.

Language: Chinese
Topics: Qing DynastyBoxer Rebellion in Late 19th Century China

U.S.-China Climate Pledges and India's Coal Reliance

Duration: 0:11:52

The climate summit in Glasgow showcased the determination of countries to control greenhouse gas emissions. China and the US made commitments to strengthen their climate actions, despite political and economic tensions. However, China's agreement with India to reduce the use of coal was weakened, and its emissions are still twice as high as the US and four times as high as India's. Japan pledged to reduce its use of coal. The UN's document on climate change for the first time highlighted coal as a major driver of global warming, with India opposing the motion. The agreement reached called for the gradual reduction of coal use and the end of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels. To achieve the target of controlling global warming by 1.5°C, emissions must be reduced by 10-45% by 2030, with wealthy nations required to submit new emissions plans by 2025.

Language: Chinese
Topics: Climate changeEnvironment

Beijing's Green Olympics Faces Challenges

Duration: 0:11:18

The Chinese government aims to increase its international influence through the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. However, the city faces political pressure from countries like the US, which may not send government officials to the event, due to China's human rights violations and environmental issues. The Winter Olympics committee hopes to organize an environmentally friendly and clean event. China has invested heavily in making artificial snow due to its semi-arid climate, and the government aims to improve air quality in Beijing and neighboring areas. However, the risk of winter smog remains high, and the Chinese government has implemented an emergency plan to address environmental issues. The government has prepared for possible incidents due to environmental concerns, and various measures have been taken, such as moving industrial pollution companies and constructing wind and solar power stations. Although air quality has improved, the potential for smog to affect the event remains a concern.

Language: Chinese
Topics: ChinaWinter Olympics

107 The Hundred Days' Reform

Duration: 0:07:10.451519

Welcome to listen to Chinese history. In 1894, the Beiyang Fleet of the Qing Dynasty suffered a major defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, signaling the complete loss of the Qing government's naval power. This also marked the failure of the Self-Strengthening Movement that had been ongoing for 35 years. After defeating Japan, China rapidly became a military power and started down the path of militarism. The country's semi-colonial status and national crisis deepened, leading to a rise of patriotic intellectuals such as Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and Tan Sitong, who advocated for reforms to save the country. Despite facing opposition from conservative factions, they formed societies and started newspapers to spread their ideas. In 1895, news of the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki by Japan reached Beijing, prompting Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and others to petition the Emperor Guangxu for reforms. However, their efforts were hindered, and the Emperor was not able to receive their petition. At the time, Yuan Shikai, who worked in military affairs, supported Kang Youwei's ideas and was close to the reformers. The internal conflicts within the Qing court between Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi intensified as the reformist political reforms threatened the interests of the Manchu nobility and traditional forces led by Cixi. On September 18, 1898, Emperor Guangxu secretly sought Kang Youwei's help in response to the impending crisis. A plan was developed to remove the Empress Dowager Cixi from power, with Yuan Shikai playing a crucial role in the unfolding events. Different accounts suggest that Yuan Shikai promised to support the reformists before ultimately siding with the conservative faction, while others argue that his actions were driven by fear of Cixi's power. The coup attempt failed, leading to the downfall of the reformists and the execution of several key figures. This period, known as the Hundred Days' Reform, marked a brief period of political reform in China before ultimately collapsing due to the weakness of the reformist forces. Yuan Shikai, a prominent political and military figure in modern China, played a pivotal role in these events. Born in 1859, Yuan Shikai rose to prominence during the late Qing Dynasty and played a significant role in modernizing the Chinese military. After the downfall of the Qing Dynasty, he helped negotiate the abdication of Emperor Puyi and became the first President of the Republic of China, choosing to establish a constitutional monarchy.

Language: Chinese
Topics: Late Qing DynastyThe Hundred Days' Reform

Crystals: From Apocalypse to Absolute

Duration: 0:34:29

Oksana Reznichenko: Crystals are the most mysterious objects that scientists around the world are studying with interest . One of the popular scenarios of the apocalypse, written by the famous science fiction writer, a chemist by education, Kurt Vonnegut, is connected precisely with crystals. It is interesting that crystals can not only grow like living organisms, but also reproduce themselves .

Language: Russian
Topics: ScienceChemistryChinaKurt Vonnegut

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

The crossover of Burberry's blogging world: Artist Wang Hua's imagination about "chains"

Duration: 0:34:26

The "1 Song Ramble" podcast episode features a discussion with artist Wang Hua, who primarily works with materials like ceramics, glass tanks, and bamboo. Wang Hua graduated from Central Saint Martins in London in 2012 and later studied ceramics at the Royal College of Art in the UK. He lived and worked in Jingdezhen, a city famous for its ceramics industry in eastern China, before moving to Beijing. During the conversation, Wang Hua shared his experiences of working and living in Jingdezhen, where he learned the traditional techniques and processes of making ceramics. He also talked about the challenges and unexpected outcomes of working with ceramics, including the high risk of failure due to factors like weight distribution and temperature control.

Language: Chinese
Topics: ArtCeramics

EP4 Can only be imagined but can’t be done - talk about the ups and downs of the innovation circle, tell me, I’m listening

Duration: 0:32:55

In this episode, the host and guests discuss the revolutionary impact of fintech on the financial industry. The fintech industry has faced many challenges, but the guests share their successes and experiences in overcoming them. Fintech Space, the first fintech innovation accelerator in China, offers a wide range of resources and support for fintech startups, including legal advice, mentorship programs, and business development opportunities. Two featured fintech startups, specializing in insurance technology and blockchain, share their services and projects that help their clients automate and streamline their processes. Overall, the fintech industry has great potential for growth and innovation, but entrepreneurs need to be willing to tackle the challenges and be open to collaboration and partnership.

Language: Chinese
Topics: TechnologyFinanceFintech

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
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