In this first part of a mini-arc, southern provincial nobody Wang Anshi rises above his station and attracts both the curiosity and the attention of Emperor Shanzong and his court by laying out a bold new vision to lead the Song Dynasty out of its economic malaise before disaster inevitably strikes. But when neither Wang nor his critics are willing to give an inch on their principles, sparks fly...

Time Period Covered: 
1021-1070 CE

Relevant Historical Figures:
Emperor Shenzong of Song (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067 - 1085]
Wang Anshi, Economic Maverick [1021-1086]
Sima Guang, Conservative Historian [1019-1086]
Ouyang Xiu, "Old Drunkard" [1007-1072]
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#145 - N. Song 12: The New Policies, Pt. 1

A journey through the 5000 years of history documented by one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. For all the episodes for free, as well as additional content, please subscribe and/or visit http://thehistoryofchina.wordpress.com.

History

Society & Culture

After the untimely death of Shunzhi, a regency will be established for the 8-year-old newly-enthroned Kangxi Emperor. These four powerful Manchu lords will each be vying with power for themselves, and the last thing they'll be expecting is a 13-year-old kid to outwit them all.

Time Period Covered:
1661-1669 CE

Major Historical Figures:
The Kangxi Emperor (Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
Prince-Regent Oboi of the Gulwgiya Clan [c. 1610-1669]
Prince-Regent Soni of the Heseri Clan [1601-1667]
Prince-Regent Ebilun of the Noihori Clan [d. 1673]
Prince-Regent Suksaha of the Nara Clan [d. 1667]
Grand Empress-Dowager Xiaozhuang [1613-1688]
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#267 - Qing 12: The Four Regents of Kangxi

With the untimely and mysterious death of Prince-Regent Dorgon, the thirteen-year-old Shunzhi Emperor takes personal command of the still unsteady Qing Empire. He's got a lot to do - and it will turn out, not terribly long to do it! From purging prince, to beheading grand secretaries, to winning conquests... to perhaps that hardest of them all: standing up to his own mother, it's Shunzhi in the driver's seat!

Time Period Covered:
1651-1661 CE

Major Historical Figures:
House of Aisin Gioro:
The Shunzhi Emperor (Fulin) [r. 1651-1661]
Prince-Regent Dorgon [1612-1650]
Jirgalang, Prince Zheng of the First Rank [1599-1655]

Qing Imperial Court:
Grand Secretariat Chen Mingxia [1601-1654]
General Tantai of the Plain Yellow Banner [1594-1651]
Grand Academician Feng Chuan [1596-1572]
Grand Academician Ning Wanwo [1593-1665]
General Ren Zhen
Hong Chengchou, Pacifying General of Jiangnan [1593-1665]
Wu Sangui, Prince of Western Pacification [1612-1678]

Southern Ming/Rebels:
Li Dingguo, Prince of Jin [1621-1662]
Zheng Chenggong, Koxinga, Prince of Yanping [1624-1662]

Works Cited:
Dennerline, Jerry. "The Shun-chih Reign" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 9: The Ch'ing Dynasty, part 1: To 1800.
"Records of Emperor Shizuzhang, Vol. 74" in Records of the Qing Dynasty [Qing Shilu].
Wakeman, Frederic Evans. The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China.
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#266 - Qing 11: Shunzhi's Personal Rule

Genghis Khan leaves the Jin Empire's subjugation to his generals, and makes his way home to Mongolia... only to find that his 5 years of campaigning have left his homeland in a bit of a mess. Siberians in rebellion and old foes cropping up in new places are things he can deal with... but when an unfamiliar warmongering powerhouse to the far West picks a fight, the nearly 60-year-old Great Khan will unleash the wrath of the Eternal Heaven down upon them.
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Bonus - Mongol 7: The Punishment of God

Koxinga takes Taiwan by storm, forcing the Dutch East India Company off the island for good, and heralding the dawn of Chinese rule over that overseas outpost.

Time Period Covered:
1661-1664 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Southern Ming Loyalists [Xiamen, Fujian]:
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), Lord of the Imperial Surname [1624-1662]
Yang Ying, Court Revenue Officer & Recordkeeper
Dutch East India Co. (VOC) [Ft. Zeelandia, Taiwan]:
He Tingbin, Headman & translator
Cornelius Caesar [Governor, 1651-1656]
Frederick Coyett [Governor, 1656-1662]
Hermanus Clenk van Odesse [Governor-select, dispatched 1662]
Admiral Jan van der Laan
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#265 - Qing 10: Zeelandia Has Fallen

Between the Southern Ming warlord Zheng Chenggong in Fujian, and the Dutch East India Company across the Taiwan Strait in Ft. Zeelandia, a curious figure named He Tingbin serves as the two powers' sole line of communication and diplomacy. But He Tingbin has only one true master - himself. And in his drive to maximize his own gains (and minimize his risk of exposure) he will throw the entire cross-strait dialogue into chaos...

Time Period Covered:
1657-1661 CE

Major Historical Figures:
Southern Ming Loyalists [Xiamen, Fujian]:
Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), Lord of the Imperial Surname [1624-1662]
Yang Ying, Court Revenue Officer & Recordkeeper

Dutch East India Co. (VOC) [Ft. Zeelandia, Taiwan]:
He Tingbin, Headman & translator
Cornelius Caesar [Governor, 1651-1656]
Frederick Coyett [Governor, 1656-1662]
Hermanus Clenk van Odesse [Governor-select, dispatched 1662]
Admiral Jan van der Laan
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#145 - N. Song 12: The New Policies, Pt. 1

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