Laszlo Montgomery presents easy-to-digest stories, events and people from China’s most ancient times up to our present day.
Laszlo finishes off the overview of the Rape of Nanking as well as the stories of John Rabe, Robert O. Wilson, Minnie Vautrin, Rev. William Magee and others who directed the Nanjing Safety Zone during the worst weeks of the atrocities. The aftermath of the Nanjing Massacre is also examined.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE:
The Nanjing Safety Zone Nánjīng Ānqúan Qū 南京安全区
Jīnlíng Women's College 金陵女子大学 Now part of Nanjing Normal University
Jīnlíng 金陵 ancient name of Nanjing during the Zhou Dynasty
Zhū Dé 朱德 Red Army founder
Péng Déhuái 彭德怀 Great PLA general and later defense minister
Nana-san-ichi Butai 731部队 Unit 731, based in Harbin
General Shiro Ishii 石井四郎 Director of Unit 731
Joseph Mengele The German version of Shiro Ishii.
Nánjīng Dà Túshā 南京大屠杀 The Nanjing Massacre
Okamura Yasuji 岡村宁次 Japanese general who led the brutal Three All’s Policy to Kill all, Burn all, Loot all
Yasukuni Shrine 靖国神社 Shinto shrine that commemorates those who died for the Empire of Japan
Shì shí qiú shì 实事求是 seek truth from facts, originally from the ancient Book of Han, later made famous by Chairman Mao and then even more famous by Deng Xiaoping.
LINKS:
Iris Chang, "The Rape of Nanking - The Forgotten Holocaust if World War II"
"The Good German of Nanking - The Diaries of John Rabe"
Jay Taylor, "The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the Struggle for Modern China"
Rana Mitter, "Forgotten Ally: China's World War II 1937-1945"
Honda Katsuichi, "The Nanjing Massacre: A Japanese Journalist Confronts Japan's National Shame"
Sinica Podcast April 7, 2015 with Lucy Hornby "Comfort Women and the struggle for reparations"
Isaac Meyer's excellent History of Japan Podcast
YouTube link to the Nanking movie mentioned in CHP-183 Nanjing Massacre Part 2
By popular demand Laszlo finally introduces the Nanjing Massacre. This is a very emotional, controversial and sensitive subject for a whole lot of reasons. Over the next two episodes Laszlo will review material from past episodes to discuss the lead-up to the Massacre. Then in Part 2 the actual event itself as well as the story of the Nanjing Safety Zone and some of the foreigners who became eyewitnesses to the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre. It's also referred to as the Nanking Massacre and the Rape of Nanking.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Rape of Nanking Nánjīng Dà Túshā 南京大屠杀 (Japanese 南京大虐杀) Also referred to as the Nanjing (Nanking) Massacre.
Zēng Guófán 曾国藩 1811-1872 Viceroy of Zhili, founder of the Xiang Army that helped put down the Taiping Rebellion.
Zhào Qīzhèng 赵启正 PRC official who has mostly been associated with news organizations.
Kublai Khan 忽必烈 Yuan Dynasty founder and grandson of Chinggiz Khan
Zhāng Chúnrú 张纯如 Iris Chang 1968-2004, American writer.
Honda Katsuichi 本多勝 Japanese journalist and writer who wrote extensively on the Rape of Nanking.
Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarian (Japanese 攘夷勅命 Sonnō Jōi)
Zūnwáng Rǎngyí 尊王攘夷 The Mandarin version of the above phrase.
Lǐ Hóngzhāng 李鸿章 1823-1901 Successor to Zeng Guofan, top late Qing era diplomat
Treaty of Shimonoseki 下关条约 Signed 1895 at conclusion of 1st Sino-Japanese war
Zhāng Zuòlín 张作霖 Warlord of Manchuria from 1922 - 1928.
Prime Minister Hamaguchi Osachi 濱口雄幸 Japanese Prime Minister 1929-1931
Jiǔyībā 九一八 The Mukden Incident of September 18, 1931
Manchukuo (Mǎnzhōuguó) 满洲国 Lasted from 1932 to 1945. Puppet state in Manchuria
Pǔ Yí 溥仪 The last Qing Emperor, also known as the Xuantong 宣统帝Emperor. Emperor of Manchukuo.
Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi 犬養毅 Japanese prime Minster from 1931-1932.
Héběi 河北 Northern province of China, where Beijing and Tianjin are geographically located.
Shānxī 山西 Northern Province of China, capital at Taiyuan
Shāndōng 山东 Coastal northern province
Tiānjìn 天津 Northern city in China just east of Beijing
Lúshān 庐山 Mountain resort in Jiangxi popular with Nationalist and Communist leaders as a meeting place.
Jiāngxī 江西 Province in China, capital at Nanchang
Zhōu Dynasty 周朝 Ancient dynasty of China
Bái Chóngxǐ 白崇禧 NRA general, close ally to Li Zongren
Lǐ Zōngrén 李宗仁 Major military and political figure during the 1920's and 30's. Had a stormy relationship with Chiang Kai-shek.
Chóngqìng 重庆 City in Sichuan province, now a stand-alone municipality
Wǔhàn 武汉 City in Hubei on the Yangzi River
Lǎobǎixìng 老百姓 The people, in this case the Chinese people, (the old 100 surnames).
Jiāng-Zhè 江浙区 region Abbreviation for the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region
Yamaguchi Tsutomu 山口 彊 1916-2010 A survivor of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings August 6 and 9, 1945.
Nánchāng 南昌 Capital city of Jiangxi province
Táng Shēngzhì 唐生智 Nationalist general who was tasked with defending Nanjing
Sūn Quán 孙权 Three Kingdoms era leader of the State of Sun Wu.
Matsui Iwane 松井石根 Imperial Japanese Army Commander-in-chief for the Shanghai-Nanjing Region
Nakajima Kesago 中岛今朝吾 Lt. Gen. in the Imperial Japanese Army
Yanagawa Heisuke 柳川平助 General in the Imperial Japanese Army
Sūzhōu 苏州 City in Jiangsu province renowned for a thousand things
Emperor Hirohito (Emperor Showa 昭和天皇) Emperor of Japan 1926-1989
Prince Asaka Yasuhiko 朝香宮鳩彦王 1887-1981 General in the Imperial Japanese Army, uncle of Emperor Hirohito.
Ānhuī 安徽 Province in central China
LINKS:
Iris Chang, "The Rape of Nanking - The Forgotten Holocaust if World War II"
"The Good German of Nanking - The Diaries of John Rabe"
Jay Taylor, "The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the Struggle for Modern China"
Rana Mitter, "Forgotten Ally: China's World War II 1937-1945"
Honda Katsuichi, "The Nanjing Massacre: A Japanese Journalist Confronts Japan's National Shame"
Sinica Podcast April 7, 2015 with Lucy Hornby "Comfort Women and the struggle for reparations"
Isaac Meyer's excellent History of Japan Podcast
YouTube link to the Nanking movie mentioned in CHP-183 Nanjing Massacre Part 2
After more than 40 days wandering in the desert Laszlo is back with a topic that languished on the list for more than six years. At last the early years of Russia-China relations can see the light of day (here at Teacup Media, that is). As you can see, this is another one of those hour plus episodes that was not long enough for two episodes and a bit overly long for one. Basically this covers the beginnings back in the late Ming when they first met and mostly in the Qing where all the history happened. This isn't a particularly deep dive on the subject. I first give you a 走马看花 view of the history of Russia's expansion east and how they ended up on the doorstep of Manchuria. Hope you don't mind.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Míng Dynasty 明朝 Second to last dynasty in Chinese Imperial history 1368-1644
Lóngqìng 隆庆 Ming Dynasty Emperor (1567-1572)
Wànlì 万里 Son of Longqing Emperor, reigned a long time 1572-1620
Qing Dynasty 清朝 Last imperial dynasty in China 1644-1912
Xīnjiāng 新疆 Autonomous Region in the northwest of China, formerly referred to as Chinese Turkestan
Hēilóng Jiāng 黑龙江 The Black Dragon River (The Amur, and name of Heilongjiang Province)
Shùn Zhì 顺治 First emperor of the Qing Dynasty, 1643-1661
Pǔyí 溥仪 The Last Emperor, a.k.a. The Xuantong Emperor, reigned 1908-1912
Northern Sòng 北宋 The first half of the Song Dynasty, lasted from 960-1126
Kāngxī 康熙 Long reigning Qing Emperor, 1661-1722
Jiāyùguān 嘉峪关 The western terminus of the Great Wall of China
Songgotu (Suǒ'étú) 索额图 Manchu diplomat during the reign of Kangxi
Qiánlóng 乾隆 Another long reigning Qing emperor, 1735-1796
Treaty of Nanjing 南京条约 The marquee "Unequal Treaty" signed in 1842
Hóng Xiùquán 洪秀全 Rebel leader responsible for the Taiping Rebellion
Jīntián, Guangxi 广西金田 Place where the Taiping Rebellion was launched
Tàipíng Rebellion 太平天国运动 A bloody Rebellion and Civil War all in one, 1850-1864
Hēihé 黑河 City in northeast Manchuria (Heilongjiang) formerly known as Aigun
Aìhún 瑷珲 Now called Heihe, formerly called Aigun, site of the signing of the Treaty of Aigun.
Yìshān 奕山 Manchu diplomat who was forced into signing the Treaty of Aigun
Qíshàn 琦善 Manchu diplomat also forced to sign unequal treaties
Lín Zéxú 林则徐 Chinese hero who stood up to the foreign traders and torched their opium
Hǔmén 虎门 Located on "The Bogue" in Guangdong, site where Lin Zexu burned the opium
Guǎngdōng 广东 Southern province in China
Convention of Chuenbi 穿鼻草约 (Chuānbí Cǎoyuē) signed 1841, never ratified.
Ili 伊犁 (Yīlí) Town, valley and river name at the northwest border of Xinjiang - Kazakhstan
Zuǒ Zōngtáng 左宗棠 (1812-1885) Military leader and statesman from Hunan
Li-Lobanov Treaty 中俄密约 (known as the Zhōng É Mìyuē ), signed 1896
Lǐ Hóngzhāng 里鸿章 Co-signer of the Li-Lobanov Treaty), Chinese diplomat and statesman
Liaotung Peninsula 辽东半岛 (Liáodōng Bàndǎo) The tip of peninsular Liaoning Province
Lǚ Dà Zūdì Tiáoyuē 旅大租地条约 Convention for the Lease of the Liaotung Peninsula at Dalian (大连)
Port Arthur Also known as Lüshunkou (旅顺口), Port located at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula
Qīngdǎo 青岛 Scenic city in Shandong, once a German concession
Wēihǎiwèi 威海卫 Another scenic city in Shandong, once a British concession, today known simply as Weihai 威海
If you'd like to brush up on your Russian History, may I recommend an old stalwart of mine:
MARK SCHAUSS, PRESENTER OF THE RUSSIAN RULERS PODCAST
I call it "The CHP of Russian History"
Many people don't know that the first preaching of Christianity in China pre-dated the Jesuits by more than nine centuries. We'll take a second cursory look at the Jesuits as part of a bigger story that includes Christianity in China during the Tang and Yuan dynasties. We'll see that prior to the arrival of Matteo Ricci, there were two other lesser known attempts to grow Christianity in China.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Āluóběn 阿罗本 Nestorian monk who visited Chang'an in 635 CE
Dàqín Jǐngjiào liúxíng Zhōngguó bēi 大秦景教流行中国碑 "A Monument Commemorating the Propagation of the Dàqín Luminous Religion of China" or "The Story of the Coming of the Religion of Light from the West to China."
Jǐngjiào 景教 Nestorian Christianity
Tiānzhǔjiào 天主教 Roman Catholicism "the religion of the Lord of Heaven"
Dōngzhèngjiào 东正教 Eastern Orthodox “the religion of Eastern Truth”
Jīdūjiào 基督教 Protestantism
Jīdū 基督 Christ
jiào 教 religion or teaching
Xīn Jiào 新教 the New religion
Lǐ Shìmín 李世民 2nd son of Li Yuan, the Tang founder
Táng Tàizōng 唐太宗 Taizong Emperor, formerly known as Li Shimin
Fáng Xuánlíng 房玄龄 Chancellor under Taizong
Zhōu Gōng 周公 Duke of Zhou
Dù Rúhuì 杜如晦 Chancellor under Taizong, colleague of Fang Xuanling
Cháng'ān 长安 Capital of Tang Dynasty China (present day Xian)
Jǐngjìng 景淨 Christian monk who wrote the story of Alopen on the Nestorian Stele
Dàqín 大秦 Rome
Xīān 西安 Capital of Shaanxi province, location of ancient of Chang'an
Jǐngjiào bēi 景教碑 The Nestorian Stele (or Tablet)
bēi 碑 a stele or stone tablet or monument.
Fùpíng County Shaanxi 陕西富平县 Northeast of Xian, the place where the stone came from that the Nestorian Stele was made from. Also the ancestral home of President Xi Jinping.
Bēilín Bówùguǎn 碑林博物馆 The Forest of Monuments Museum in Xian
Xīān Wénchāng Gate 西安文昌门 One of the ancient gates of Xian
Táng Wǔzōng 唐武宗 Tang Emperor from 840-846
Huáng Cháo Uprising 黄巢起义 Uprising lasting 881-884, weakened the Tang Dynasty.
Khanbaliq 汗八里 Capital of Yuan Dynasty China. Present day Beijing
Dàdū 大都 Great Capital...other name for Khanbaliq
Hàn Wǔdì 汉武帝 Western Han emperor from 141-87 BCE
Xiàmén 厦门 Ancient port city in Fujian
Quánzhōu 泉州 Another ancient port city in Fujian
Zhū Yuánzhāng 朱元璋 Ming Dynasty founder, also known as the Hongwu Emperor - reigned 1368-1398
Hóngwǔ Emperor 洪武帝 Zhu Yuanzhang, who came from humble beginnings and founded a dynasty.
Xú Guāngqǐ 徐光启 Also known as Paul Hsu, a colleague of Matteo Ricci
Lǐ Zhīzǎo 李之藻 Along with Xu Guangqi and Yang Tingyun, he was one of the Three Pillars of Catholicism in China.
Yáng Tíngyún 杨廷筠 One of the Three Pillars of Catholicism in China
Dorgan 多尔衮 Prince Regent during the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor
Shùnzhì 顺治 1st Qing Emperor to rule over China 1643-1661
Kāngxī 康熙 Successor to Shunzhi, the longest reigning Chinese emperor 1661-1722
Yōngzhèng 雍正 Successor to the Kangxi Emperor
Luō Guànzhōng 罗贯中 Author of the classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms
MATT SHEEHAN'S CHINAFORNIA NEWSLETTER - CHECK IT OUT HERE
JOHN ZHU'S THREE KINGDOMS PODCAST - Click here and check it out
Click here for Laszlo's past episode CHP-098-Ricci, Schall von Bell and Verbiest
Thanks to Carole in Virginia for giving me enough of a push to get this episode finally produced. This might have been one of the first ten topics I came up with when I began writing the original list back in 2010. The history of silk is really an amazing testament to humankind's ingenuity and the randomness of life since Neolithic times. I hope you enjoy this episode. It turned out to be a much greater story than I was ever aware of.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Shén Nóng 神农 The Divine Farmer, god of agriculture and many other things
Qīng Dynasty 清朝 The last imperial dynasty in China - 1644-1911
Dèng Xiǎopíng 邓小平 Chairman of China Bridge Association and great Chinese leader during 20th century
Míng Dynasty 明朝 Second to the last dynasty...1368-1644
Táng 唐朝 Dynasty in China 618-907
Ānhuì 安徽 Province in China
Fújiàn 福建 Province in China
Sòng Dynasty 宋朝 Dynasty in China....960-1279
Yǎngsháo Wenhua 仰韶文化 Yangshao Culture in China..5000 to 3000 BCE more or less
Yángshuò County 阳朔县 One of the great sightseeing centers of China, near Guilin
Zhèngzhōu 郑州 City in Henan
Qīngtaí 清台村 Village in the northwest corner of Zhengzhou on the south bank of the Yellow River
Huāxià 华夏 The collective tribes that made up ancient core Han Chinese civilization
Xià County 夏县 County in south Shanxi on the border with Henan
Shānxī province 山西省 Province in China
Qiánshānyàng 钱山漾 town at the south end of Lake Tai near Húzhōu
Shāng Dynasty 商朝 China's first "official dynasty," lasted from 1600 to 1046 BCE
Huángdì 黄帝 The Yellow Emperor
Xī Líng Shì 西陵氏 The discoverer of silk and the primary wife of the Yellow Emperor
Léi Zǔ 嫘祖 Other name of Xi Ling Shi by which she is more commonly known
Cán Nǎinai 蚕奶奶 The Goddess of Silkworms
Cán 蚕 a silk-worm
Kǒngfūzǐ 孔夫子 Confucius
Shǐ Jì 史记Records of the Grand Historian
Lǐ Jì 礼记 Book of Rites
nǚgōng 女红 the feminine arts
Sūzhōu 苏州 City in Jiangsu Province
Nánjīng 南京 Capital city of Jiangsu province
Chéngdū 成都 The capital city of Sichuan province
Zhāng Qiān 张骞 Great Western Han Dynasty adventurer, instrumental in getting the Silk Road up and running
Hàn Wǔdì 汉武帝 Great Western Han Dynasty emperor
Wǔyí Mountains 武夷山 Mountains in northern Fujian where some of the best tea in the world comes from
Hétián 和田 Formerly called Khotan...a great trading kingdom in present day Xinjiang
Jìn Dynasty 晋朝 Dynasty in China: 265-420 CE
Suí 隋朝 Dynasty in China from 581-618
Cháng'ān 长安 Present day Xian in Shaanxi Province
Qiánlóng 乾隆 Emperor during the heyday of the Qing Dynasty, 1735-1796
Frank Lavin's new World War II book: "Home Front to Battlefront"
Web Site: EXPORT NOW if you're looking to break into the China online market with your product.
Website for SupChina.com ......everything you need to know to stay on top of China news......Only 3 minutes is all it takes (unless you read ALL the articles)
In part two of this series examining the forgotten life of William Mesny, we hear the second half of his story in China. We're mostly using author David Leffman's 2016 book "The Mercenary Mandarin"
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE
Chéngdū 成都 Capital city of Sichuan
Khampa 康巴 Area in eastern Tibet bordering Sichuan
Yúnnán 云南 Southwestern province of China
Huí 回族 Musilm ethnic minority
Guìlín 桂林 Beautiful city in Guangxi
Lí River 漓江 River running through Guilin
Liǔzhōu 柳州 City in Guangxi
Róngshûi 融水 City near Liuzhou
Róng’ān 融安 City near Liuzhou
Dānzhōu 丹州 City near Liuzhou
Miao 苗族 Known as the Hmong in the US, one of China's ethnic minorities
Yáo 瑶族 one of China's ethnic minorities
Dòng 侗族 one of China's ethnic minorities
Zuǒ Zōngtáng 左宗棠 Successful Qing era general
Guìyáng 贵阳 Capital of Guizhou
Chóngqìng 重庆 Formerly part of Sichuan, now a Municipality
Lánzhōu 兰州 Capital of Gansu
Zhìlǐ 治理 Old province of China that no longer exists
Qīnghǎi 青海 Province in West China
Gānsù 甘肃 Province in West China
Níngxià 宁夏 Province in West-Central China
Shǎolín Temple 少林寺 Famous temple in China
Tàiyuán 太原 Capital of Shanxi
Shānxī 山西 Province in China
Bǎodìng 保定 City in Hebei
Lǐ Hóngzhāng 李鸿章 Chinese military leader and diplomat and signer of more than a couple unequal treaties.
Zhuōzhōu 涿州 City south of Beijing in Hebei
Zhāng Zhīdòng 张之洞 Reforming governor of Shanxi
Xīān 西安 Capital of Shaanxi
Qínlǐng Mountains 秦岭山 Mountain chain in southern Shaanxi
Kūnmíng 昆明 Capital of Yunnan
Dōngjīng 东京 Eastern Capital. Can mean Tokyo or Tungking (N. Vietnam)
Anhui 安徽 Province in Eastern China
Hefei 合肥 Capital of Anhui
Guǎngxī 广西 Province in southern China
Xinjiang 新疆 Province in northwest China
Shaanxi 陕西 Province in north-central China
Huangxing Road 黄兴路 Road in Hankou
The Mercenary Mandarin - amazon link to the book
Link to Blacksmith Books
Link to one of Mesny's Chinese Miscellany (Vol IV)
Link to John Pomfrets book "The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom"
In this first part of a two-part series we examine the forgotten life of William Mesny. Drawing from author David Leffman's 2016 book "The Mercenary Mandarin," Laszlo discusses an unknown character from the bad old days of late Qing Dynasty China. Though he never made it to the history books, he nonetheless witnessed and took part in a lot of it. Through Mesny we can once again wander through some of Imperial China's worst years.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE
Qīng 清朝 The Qing Dynasty 1644-1911
Bǎinián guóchǐ 百年国耻 China's Century of Humiliation
Lǐ Hóngzhāng 李鸿章 Famous Chinese military man and diplomat
Màishìní Huá-yīng Huìtōng 麦士尼华英会通 "Mesny's Chinese Miscellany"
Sòng 宋朝 The Song Dynasty
Tàipīng Tiāngguó 太平天国 Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Hóng Xiùquán 洪秀全 The head of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Guǎngxī 广西 Province in Southwest China
Húnán 湖南 Province on Central China
Cháng Shèng Jūn 常胜军 The Ever-Victorious Army
Zhìlǐ 治理 Old province of China that no longer exists
Húguǎng 湖广 Hubei - Hunan and surrounding areas
Liǎngguǎng 两广 Guangdong - Guangxi
Wǔhàn 武汉 Capital City of Hubei Province
Zhènjiāng 镇江 City in southwest Jiangsu
Sūzhõu 苏州 City in Jiangsu, called the Venice of China
Bǎoyīng 宝应 County in central Jiangsu
Jiāngsū 江苏 Coastal province in China
Yángzhōu 扬州 City in Jiangsu
Nânjīng 南京 Capital city of Jiangsu
Hànkǒu 汉口 City in Hubei, the "Han" in Wuhan
Wǔchāng 武昌 City in Hubei, the "Wu" of Wuhan
Hànyáng 汉阳 City in Hubei, part of Wuhan
Chóngqìng 重庆 Used to be part of Sichuan, now a municipality
Niǎn Jūn Qǐyì 捻军起义 The Nian Rebellion lasted from 1851 – 1868.
Miáo Rebellion 苗民起义 Three different rebellions share this name
Guìzhōu 贵州 Mountainous interior province in West China
Zuǒ Zōngtáng 左宗棠 Famous and very successful general during the Qing
Dungan Revolt 同治回辩 Tóngzhì Huí Biàn Another in a long line of Muslim wars , this one against Yaqub Beg in the northwest of China.
Xīnjiāng 新疆 Province in northwest China
Zūnyì 遵义 City in Guizhou
Táng Jiǒng 唐炯 Governor of Sichuan and early benefactor of Mesny
Chóng'ān River 崇安河 River in Guizhou where Mesny's bridge stands
Shāndōng 山东 Coastal province in China
Jìnán 济南 Capital city of Shandong
Dīng Bǎozhēn 丁宝桢 Governor of Sichuan Province
Gōng Bǎo Jī Dīng 宫保鸡丁 Kung Pao Chicken
Gōng Bǎo 宫保 Palace Guardian
In this episode Laszlo explains a little about the "Gagi Nang", the 自己人, known the world over as the Teochew (Chiu Chow or Chaozhou) people. Like the Hakka people, the Teochew's were originally from the Yellow River Valley and migrated to their present location on the Guangdong coast via Fujian province. Their language and culture is unique. Their food and Chaozhou culture is celebrated in more places than Chaozhou and not just by the people from that region. There are Chaozhounese people on every continent except maybe Antarctica. They're a proud group of people with a collective track record that is admirable by any standards of human achievement. The only mentions in this episode were of the Teochew's of South East Asia and the US. There are plenty of other lesser known or unknown histories of Teochew's in Canada, Europe, Mexico, Central and South America and of course Australia and New Zealand. The great 19th century Chinese diaspora is filled with stories, legends and historic events. The Chiu Chow people are a major part of everything that happened. They contributed not only to the society and the economy of their adoptive homelands, they still kept their ties with the eight districts of Chao-Shan.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE
Teochew People 潮州人
Gaginang 自己人 What Teochew's call themselves in their dialect ("Our People")
Hakka People 客家人
Chaozhou 潮州 Mandarin pronunciation
Chiu Chow 潮州 Cantonese pronunciation
Chaoshan 潮汕 The term for the Chaozhou-Shantou-Jieyang region
Shantou 汕头 Port city of the Chaoshan region
Swatow 汕头 Shantou in the Teochew dialect
Jieyang 揭阳 The 3rd city to make up the Chaoshan region
Meizhou 梅州 Homeland of the Hakka people, located in Guangdong
Jin Dynasty 晋朝 Dynasty that ran 265-420 CE
Jürchen Jin dynasty 金朝 The dynasty that replaced the Northern Song 1115-1234
Henan 河南 Province of China
Shanxi 山西 Province of China
Han River 韩江 One of the three rivers of Chaoshan
Huanggang River 黃冈河 One of the three rivers of Chaoshan
Rong River 榕江 One of the three rivers of Chaoshan
Wu Hu 五胡 The Five Barbarian tribes
Han Dynasty 汉朝 Ancient dynasty of China 206 BCE - 220 CE
Xiongnu 匈奴 People from the northern steppe of Central Asia
Xianbei 鲜卑 People from the northern steppe of Central Asia
Jie 羯 People from the northern steppe of Central Asia
Qiang 羌 People from the northern steppe of Central Asia (and Tibet)
Di 氐 People from the northern steppe of Central Asia
Jiangnan 江南 South of the Yangzi River (Southern China)
Tang dynasty 唐朝 Dynasty of China 618 - 907
Fujian 福建 Southeast coastal province of China
Quanzhou 泉州 City in southern Fujian
Putian 莆田 City in southern Fujian
Yuan dynasty 元朝 Mongol-run Dynasty of China 1271-1368
Guangdong province 广东 Southernmost province of continental China
Wu 沪 The dialect of Shanghai and the surrounding region
Yue 粤 The Cantonese dialect
Xiang 湘 The Hunanese dialect
Gan 赣 The dialect of the Jiangxi region
Hakka 客家 The dialect of the Hakka people
Min 闽 The dialects of Fujian
Min River 闽江 The main river of Fujian
Minbei 闽北 North of the Min River
Minnan 闽南 South of the Min River
Hokkien 福建 Pronunciation of Fujian in the local dialect (and the people of course)
Xiamen 厦门 Major city in south Fujian
Zhangzhou 漳州 Major city in south Fujian
Hoklo 福佬 Cantonese for Fujian people
Fulao 福佬 The Mandarin pronunciation of Hoklo
He Luo 河洛 (also 河老) Another way of writing Hoklo
Fujian ren 福建人 Someone from Fujian
Hoa Kieu 华侨 Overseas Chinese (Vietnamese)
Qin Shihuang 秦始皇 First emperor of China 220 - 210 BCE
Nanhai Commandery 南海郡 The 郡 or commandery located in southern Guangdong
Zhou dynasty 周朝 Ancient dynasty of China 1046 - 256 BCE
Zhao Tuo 赵陀 Former Qin general who set up the Nanyue Kingdom in Southern China and Northern Vietnam
Nanyue Kingdom 南越国 A kingdom that lasted from 204 - 111 BCE
Han Emperor Wu 汉武帝 Han Dynasty emperor whose forces conquered the Nanyue and reigned 141 - 87 BCE
Sui 隋 Dynasty in China that preceded the Tang 581 - 618 CE
Emperor Wen of Sui 隋文帝 Founding emperor of the Sui
Chao Prefecture 潮州 Set up in 590, where Chaozhou got its name
Zhou 州 An ancient name for a prefecture
Chao’an County 潮安县 Set up during the Republic of China
Wenhua 文化 culture
Qianlong emperor 乾隆帝 Qing emperor reigned 1735-1796
Taiping Rebellion 太平天国运动 Violent upheaval in China lasting from 1850-1864
She Youjin 佘有进 Seah Eu Chin 1805 - 1883 - early Singapore Teochew community leader
She 佘 A Chinese surname (rhymes with 蛇)
Yu 余 The Chiense surname Yu......but compare it to the She above.
Liu Song Dynasty 刘宋朝 Dynasty in southern China during the Nanbei Chao 420-479
Nanbei Chao 南北朝 The Southern & Northern Dynasties period
Ngee Ann Kongsi (Yi'an Gongsi) 義安公司 Charitable foundation in Singapore
Chaozhou Bayi Huiguan 潮州八邑会馆 The Singapore Eight Districts Association
Chaoshan cai 潮汕菜 Term used to describe the food of the Chaoshan region
Rougucha 肉骨茶 a kind of a Chaozhou style meat soup
Lushui E 卤水鹅 Fine tasting Chaozhou goose dish....dip it in vinegar...The Ultimate umami!
dongxie 潮州冻蟹 A kind of crab in the shell (of course) eaten cold
Yao Ming 姚明 China basketball great and NBA superstar. Also a major anti-shark's fin soup crusader.
Yulu 鱼露 Nước mắm in Vietnamese, Fish Sauce in English
Shacha Sauce 沙茶醬 made from soybean oil, shallots, dried fish, dried shrimp and a nice kick of chili and garlic. Satay sauce
Chaozhou Guotiao 潮州粿条 hủ tiếu in Vietnamese, often spelled in English "Kway Teow"
Gongfu cha 工夫茶 A kind of tea service and traditional Chaozhou tea custom.
Tieguanyin 铁观音 The preferred tea for Chaozhou style gongfu tea.
Dancong Cha 蚕丛茶 Another kind of tea from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong. Not easy to get.
Chao Ju 潮剧 Chaozhou Opera
Nanxi 南戏 Southern Drama that was popular during the Later Song
Kun Qu 昆曲 Kun opera, the oldest form of Chinese opera
Tan 陈 Teochew for Chen, the #1 most popular Teochew surname
Lim 林 Teochew for Lin, the #2 most popular Teochew surname
Ng 黄 Teochew for Huang, the #3 most popular Teochew surname
Goh 吴 Teochew for Wu, the #4 most popular Teochew surname
Tay 郑 Teochew for Zheng, the #5 most popular Teochew surname
Li 李 Teochew for Li, the #6 most popular Teochew surname
Sir Li Ka-shing 李嘉诚爵士 Featured in CHP episode 13.
Wang Jianlin 王健林 Asia's reigning champion for richest man, founder and chairman of the Dalian Wanda Group.
Guangyuan 广元 Town in northeast Sichuan province
Wu Zetian 武则天 Amazing lady from the Tang dynasty, China's only real true empress
Joseph Lau 劉鑾雄 Boss of Chinese Estates Holdings
Lim Por-yen 林百欣 Lin Baixin... Boss of the Lai Sun Group
Albert Yeung...杨受成 Yang Shoucheng The main guy at the Emperor Group
Vincent Lo... 罗康瑞 Luo Kangrui of Sino Land (who gave us Shanghai's Xintiandi)
Xie Guomin 谢国民 Dhanin Chearavanont - Thailand's richest man and CP Group boss (sorry for mispronouncing his name)
Ma Huateng 马化腾 Pony Ma, founder of Ten Cent (騰訊控股有限公司) who gave us WeChat and QQ
David Tran 陈德 Họ Trần Legendary founder of the company that gave us Sriracha sauce with the green bottle cap.
Huy Fong Foods 汇丰食品公司 David Tran's company, located in Irwindale, California
Zou ma kan hua 走马看花 To look at the flowers while riding a horse....a very superficial view.
Charles Antoine de Rouve and Jerome Scemla directed documentary La Guerre du Thé...Tea Wars
LINK TO WEBSITE
John Pomfret's new book
Amazon link to "The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom"
PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT:
THE CHINA VINTAGE HOUR
AND
THE CHINESE SAYINGS PODCAST
BOTH ARE NEW SHOWS FROM TEACUP MEDIA
In this 175th episode Laszlo gives the great Northern Song jack-of-all-literary-trades Su Dongpo the once over. This isn't meant to be a deep dive into the reasons for all his renown in literature, calligraphy and painting. Instead, this is just a "popular Chinese historical" overview of who he was and the times he lived in. And for those who never heard of him, this is a good intro. In America we have Washington Irving, Mark Twain, Hemingway and so on. In China....Su Shi would be mentioned when rattling off their best of the best. He was definitely a major guy not only in the Song, but in the overall world of Chinese culture as well. The list of terms from this episode is particularly long this time. You can see them below in the approximate order of their mention. If you're interested to check out some of his poetry, here's an amazon link to a book of his poems translated by Burton Watson: Selected Poems of Su T'ung-P'o
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE
Ouyang Xiu 欧阳修 1007-1072 Northern Song statesman, historian, calligrapher, literatus extraordinaire
Wang Xizhi 王羲之 Called arguably the greatest Chinese calligrapher
Zhou 周 1046 BCE - 256 BCE Ancient dynasty of China
Han 汉 206 BCE - 220 CE Ancient dynasty of China
Jin 晋 265-420 Ancient dynasty of China
Sui 隋 581-618 Ancient dynasty of China
Tang 唐 618-907 Ancient dynasty of China
Song 宋 960-1279 Ancient dynasty of China
Kaifeng 开封 Capital of the Northern Song dynasty 960-1127
Northern Song 北宋 960-1127
Huizong 徽宗 The Northern Song emperor who "lost China" to the Jürchens
Su Dongpo 苏东坡 1037 - 1101 Our subject in this episode
Su Shi 苏轼 Su Dongpo's birth name
Tang Song Ba Da Jia 唐宋八大家 "Eight Great Men of Letters of the Tang and Song Dynasty
Han Yu 韩愈 768-824 - Tang essayist and poet. Major influence in development of Chinese literature
Liu Zongyuan 柳宗元 773-819 Tang waster of prose and poetry
Su Xun 苏洵 1009-1066 - Great man of letters and Father of Su Shi and Su Zhe
Su Zhe 苏辙 1039-1112 - Brother of Su Shi, also a great man of letters
Wang Anshi 王安石 1021-1086 - Song statesman and father of far reaching reforms. Also a great literary figure in his day.
Zeng Gong 曾鞏 1019-1083 - Great prose master of the Song
Hangzhou 杭州 Capital of Zhejiang and of dynasties past. Su Dongpo served there twice
Zhejiang 浙江 Province in east China
Meishan 眉山 City south of Chengdu, birthplace of the Three Su's, Su Xun, Su Dongpo and Su Zhe.
Min River 岷江 Yangzi tributary river in Sichuan, famous for the Duijangyan irrigation system
Leshan 乐山 City in Sichuan
Ya'an 雅安 Great tea city near Chengdu in Sichuan
Chengdu 成都 Ancient capital of Shu Kingdom, now capital of Sichuan
jinshi 进士 The highest degree that allowed you to fill the top positions in government
Wang Fu 王弗 1039-1065 - First wife of Su Dongpo
Henan 河南 Province in north China where it all began
doucha 斗茶 "Tea Battles" that were popular during the Song
Wang Runzhi 王闰之 1048-1093 2nd wife of Su Dongpo
Su Di 苏堤 the Su Causeway across West Lake in Hangzhou
Xin Fa 新法 The New Policies championed by the Shenzong Emperor and Wang Anshi
Shenzong 神宗 1048-1085 - Northern Song Emperor and Wang Anshi supporter
Sima Guang 司马光 1019-1086 Conservative Song scholar and official, writer of the Zizhi Tongijan
Luoyang 洛阳 City in Henan and former ancient capital of past dynasties.
Cheng Yi 程颐 One of the pride of Luoyang, Chinese philosopher
Zizhi Tongjian, the "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance" A monumental historical work covering Chinese history from 403 BCE to 959 CE
Wutai Poem Incident 乌台诗案 In 1079, a poem by Su Shi got him in trouble and exiled fron the capital.
Huangzhou 黄州 Former name of Huanggang, now a district of that city
Hubei 湖北 Central province in China, capital is at Wuhan
Huanggang 黄冈 City just east of Wuhan in Hubei Province
Dongpo 东坡 Eastern slope
Dongpo Jushi 东坡居士 Dongpo, the retired scholar or Buddhist.
Chibi Fu 赤壁赋 Ode to Red Cliffs, famous poem by Su Shi
Hou Chibi Fu 后赤壁赋 The Later Ode to Red Cliffs, famous poem by Su Shi
Nian Nujiao Chibi Huaigu 念奴娇赤壁怀古 Remembering Chibi, Su Shi's third poem in this series about Red Cliffs
Zhuge Liang 诸葛亮 Great Shu-Han strategist during Three Kingdoms Period
Lu Su 鲁肃 Politician and general who worked for Sun Quan
Zhou Yu 周瑜 One of Sun Quan's main generals
Cheng Pu 程普 Another of Sun Quan's main generals
Sun Quan 孙权 Emperor of Eastern Wu, one of the Three Kingdoms
Liu Bei 刘备 Emperor of Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms
Cao Cao 曹操 King of Wei, one of the Three Kingdoms
Fu 赋 One of the three main types of Chinese Poetry, like rhymed prose
Ci 词 One of the three main types of Chinese Poetry, like lyric poetry
Han Shi Tie 寒食帖 Su Shi's most famous calligraphic work, now hanging in the National Palace Museum in Taipei
Huang Tingjian 黄庭坚 1045-1105 artist, scholar, official, a great Northern Song Master
Mi Fu 米芾 1051-1107 Great Song painter and calligrapher
Cai Xiang 蔡襄 1012-1067 One of the great calligraphers of the Northern Song
Song Si Jia 宋四家 the Four Great Calligraphers of the Song
Han Shi 寒食 is the holiday that occurs right before Qingming in April
Yan Zhenqing 颜真卿 708-785 Great calligrapher of the Tang and one of the greatest of all time
Zhezong 哲宗 Northern Song emperor, Reigned 1085-1100
Empress Dowager Gao 高太皇后 1032-1093 Empress of Northern Song emperor Yingzong, regent for Zhezong during his minority.
Dongpo Rou 东坡肉 Dongpo Pork
Zuo Zongtang 左宗棠 Hunan-born general from the Qing, the man who brought us General Tso's Chicken
Lou Wai Lou 楼外楼 Not the best restaurant in Hangzhou but one of the most famous. Been around over one hundred fifty years
Ni Zan, the late Yuan-early Ming painter.
Xu Wei, the Ming painter
Yuan Mei, the Qing dynasty scholar and artist.
Yuanyou era 元祐 Conservative era in Emperor Zhezong's reign that lasted 1086 to 1093
Huizhou 惠州 City in Guangdong where Su Dongpo served a stint
Hainan 海南 Island province off the coast of Guangdong
Danzhou 儋州 Coastal city in Hainan just west of Haikou
Haikou 海口 Capital city of Hainan
Dongpo Shuyuan 东坡书院
Wang Zhaoyun 王朝云 1062-1095 - 3rd wife of Su Dongpo
Changzhou 常州 City in Jiangsu
Jiangsu 江苏 Coastal province just north of Zhejiang
Cai Jing 蔡京 Long serving chancellor to Emperor Huizong
Cai Tao 蔡绦 Son of Cai Jing who had the audacity to say something nice about Su Dongpo
Shi 诗 The word meaning all Chinese poetry but also a specific kind as well.
Su Men Si Xueshi 苏门四学士 The Four Scholars at Su Shi's Gate
Zhang Lei 张耒 1054-1114 One of the four scholars famous for being part of Su Shi's gang
Chao Buzhi 晁补之 One of the four scholars famous for being part of Su Shi's gang
Qin Guan 秦观 1049-1100 - Northern Song writer and poet. Also one of the four scholars famous for being part of Su Shi's gang
Jin 金朝 The Jin Dynasty of the Jürchens 1115-1234
In this latest episode Laszlo finally gets around to the oft requested subject of piracy in early 19th century China. Pirates had been a fact of life going back to the most olden days. Mid to late Qing Dynasty the amount of trade being plied on the China coast attracted pirates like never before. Zheng Yi Sao ("Zheng Yi's Wife") was a tough woman from the Pearl River Delta who married the most notorious pirate of his day Zheng Yi. Upon Zheng Yi's death, his widow took control of his massive pirate fleet. With her adopted son, and later husband Cheung Po Tsai, she controlled what as, at the time, the largest pirate fleet that preyed on coastal dwellers and vessels engaged in trade. She later became an inspiration for many characters that appeared in books, movies, video games and other media.
TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE
Zheng Shi 郑氏 Madame Zheng, Widow Zheng
Zheng Yi Sao 郑一嫂 Zheng Yi Sao, wife of Zheng Yi
haidao 海盗 pirate
Zhejiang 浙江 East coast province of China
Guangdong 广东 Southernmost province of continental China
Tây Sơn Rebellion Major uprising in Vietnam from 1770 to 1802
Binh Dinh Province South central coastal province in Vietnam
Da Nang Vietnam's 3rd largest city
Nha Trang Coastal city in Vietnam
Xishan 西山 West Mountain (Tây Sơn in Vietnamese)
Guangxi 广西 One province over from Guangdong
Shi 石 Common Chinese surname, means stone
Ma 马Another common Chinese surname, means horse
Xu 徐 Common Chinese surname. I always get it mixed up with 许.
Shi Xianggu 石香姑 Zheng Yi Sao's real name
Xinhui 新会 City near Jiangmen
Tanka or Danjia 疍家 The boat dwelling people of south China and Fujian
shuishang ren 水上人 people who live on the water
Zheng Yi 郑一 South Seas pirate who ran the Red Flag Fleet. Married Shi Xianggu
Red Flag Fleet 红旗帮 Hóngqí Bāng.
Cheung Po Tsai 张保仔 Zhang Bâozâi
Jing Hai fen ji 靖海氛记 Charles F. Neumann's "The Pirates who Infested the China Sea from 1807 to 1810.
Jiaqing emperor 嘉庆帝 Qing emperor 1796 - 1820
Daoguang emperor 道光帝 Qing emperor 1820 - 1850
Ming Jiajing Emperor 明嘉靖帝 Ming emperor 1521 - 1567
Lantau 大屿山 Island that is part of the Hong Kong SAR
Cheung Chau - Changzhou 长洲 Island off the coast of Lantau
Humen 虎门 Located at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta
Chow Yun-fat 周润发 Great Actor who played Sau Feng, one of the Pirate Lords from Disney's P of the C movie Part 3.
Qiongzhou Strait 琼州海峡 Body of water that separates Hainan from Guangdong