The History of China Podcast

By Chris Stewart

An audio journey through the 5000 year history of one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations.... more

· History

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FAQs about The History of China Podcast:

How many episodes does The History of China Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 326 episodes available.

The History of China Podcast episodes:

July 19, 2025 #299 - Qing 34: Remember to Remember to Forget You Forgot Me
This was no peace borne of reconciliation; this was silence, enforced by amnesia.
Time Period Covered:
~ 1739-1759 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Empire:
The Qianlong Emperor (Aisin Gioro Hongli) [r. 1735–1796]
Minister Fuheng
General Bandi [d. 1755]
General Yongchang
Khalka Mongols:
Prince Erinchindorj [d. 1756]
Prince Chingünjav [d. 1757]
Dzungar Mongols:
Amursana [d. 1757]
Major Sources Cited:
Perdue, Peter C. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.
Woodside, Alexander. "The Ch'ien-Lung Reign" in The Cambridge History of Vol. 9: The Ch'ing Dynasty, Part 1: To 1800.
Woodside, Alexander. Lost Modernities: China, Vietnam, Korea, and the Hazards of World History.
...more
40min
July 10, 2025 #298 - Qing 33: Echoes of the Erased
The story of the last great nomadic empire’s fall - and the Qing’s ruthless imperial vision for a New Frontier.
Time Period Covered:
1739-1759 CE
Major Historical Figures:
The Great Qing Empire:
The Qianlong Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Hongli) [r. 1735–1796]
General Bandi [d. 1755]
Hojs, Hakim Beg of Ush
Dzungar Khanate:
Galdan Tseren [r. 1727–1745]
Tsewang Dorji Namjal [blinded 1750]
Lama Darja [r. 1750-52]
Dawaci, self-declared Hong Taiji, [r.1752-55]
Amursana [d. 1757]
...more
42min
July 07, 2025 Supplemental: Qianlong's 1758 Dzungar Victory Stele
The "Old Man of 10 Victories" crows to the Heavens in words of stone of his crushing of the once-mighty Khanate.
...more
9min
July 01, 2025 #297 - Qing 32: Tea, Trade, & Thunder
The Qianlong Emperor of Great Qing's conquest of Dzungaria did not begin with any kind of cannon-fire or musketry. Instead, it began like many wars end: with a funeral...
Time Period Covered:
1735-1740 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Qing:
The Qianlong Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Hongli) [r. 1735-1796, d. 1799]
Prince Yinxing [1686-1730]
General Longkedo [1648-1728]
Governor-General Qingfu
Governor-General Yinjishan
Dzungar Khanate:
Galdan Tseren, Khan of the Dzungars [r. 1727-1745]
Tsewang Dorji Namjal, Hongtaiji of the Dzungars [1746-1750]
Princess Ulan Bayar
Lama Darja/Dorji
Dawaci [d. 1759]
...more
39min
June 26, 2025 #296 - Qing 31: The Architect of Capacity
As his era of rule over Great Qing drows to a close, the Yongzheng Emperor spares neither expense nor detail to reform the empire he inherited and modernize it for the who who will inherit it from him. And this is no idle fancy - he has a definite purpose. Though no great warrior himself, he is nevertheless fully in-line with the century-long grand objective of his father and son: the absolute destruction of the Zhungar Khanate.
Time Period Covered:
1722-1735 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Great Qing:
The Yongzheng Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen) [r. 1722-1735]
The Qianlong Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Hongli) [r. 1735-1796, d. 1799]
Prince Yinxing [1686-1730]
General Longkedo [1648-1728]
Governor-General Qingfu
Governor-General Yinjishan
Dzungar Khanate:
Galdan Tseren, Khan of the Dzungars [r. 1727-1745]
Tsewang Dorji Namjal, Hongtaiji of the Dzungars [1746-1750]
Princess Ulan Bayar
Lama Darja/Dorji
Dawaci [d. 1759]
...more
42min
June 16, 2025 #295 - Qing 30: Building Better Worlds
The Yongzheng Emperor seeks to capitalize on his father's greatness abroad - but cautiously. He wants to exterminate the barbarians... but delicately. He wants to build better worlds... no matter how many he has to destroy in the process. He's riding for a fall.
Time Period Covered:
~1725-1731 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Empire:
Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
Yongzheng Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen) [r. 1722-1735]
Prince Yinti, the Fuyuan Daijiangjun [1688-1755]
Governor Nian Gengyao [1679-1726]
Governor-General Yue Zhongqi [1686-1754]
General Erentei [d. 1718]
Funingga [d. 1728]
Dzungar Khanate:
Tsewang Rabdan, Khong Tayiji [r. 1697-1727]
Galdan Tseren, Khong Tayiji [r. 1727-1745]
General Tsering Dondup
Tibetan Gelupa/“Yellow Hats”:
5th Dalai Lama [r. 1642-1682]
6th Dalai Lama [r. 1697]
7th Dalai Lama [r. 1720-1757]
sDe-pa Sangya Gyatso [1652-1705]
Polhanas (Polhané Sönam Topgyé) [1689-1747]
Kokonor Mongols:
Khoshots:
Güshi Khan (Torbaikhu) [r. 1642-1655]
Lhazang Khan [r. 1700-1717]
Prince Lobzang Danjin, Dalai Hongtaiji [d. 1731]
Sources Cited:
Perdue, Peter C. China marches west: the Qing conquest of Central Eurasia.
Rowe, William T. China's last empire: the great Qing.
Zelin, Madeline. “The Yung-chung reign” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 9: The Ch'ing Dynasty, Part 1: To 1800.
...more
36min
May 31, 2025 294 - Qing 29: The Conquest of Qinghai
While the Yongzheng Emperor attempts to get his domestic policy ducks in a row from the Forbidden City, out on the Western Frontiers, change is the only constant. Between squabbling Tibetan lamas, restless Kokonor Khans, and the ever-dangerous Dzungar Empire still on the loose out there, the new successor of the late, great Kangxi Emperor has some very big combat-boots to fill...
Time Period Covered:
ca. 1722-1728 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Qing Empire:
Kangxi Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Xuanye) [r. 1661-1722]
Yongzheng Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen) [r. 1722-1735]
Prince Yinti, the Fuyuan Daijiangjun [1688-1755]
Governor Nian Gengyao [1679-1726]
Governor-General Yue Zhongqi [1686-1754]
General Erentei [d. 1718]
Funingga [d. 1728]
Dzungar Khanate:
Tsewang Rabdan, Khong Tayiji [r. 1697-1727]
Galdan Tseren, Khong Tayiji [r. 1727-1745]
General Tsering Dondup
Tibetan Gelupa/“Yellow Hats”:
5th Dalai Lama[r. 1642-1682]
6th Dalai Lama [r. 1697]
7th Dalai Lama [r. 1720-1757]
sDe-pa Sangya Gyatso [1652-1705]
Polhanas (Polhané Sönam Topgyé) [1689-1747]
Kokonor Mongols (Khoshots):
Güshi Khan (Torbaikhu) [r. 1642-1655]
Lhazang Khan [r. 1700-1717]
Prince Lobzang Danjin, Dalai Hongtaiji [d.
1731]
Sources Cited:
Perdue, Peter C. China marches west: the Qing conquest of Central Eurasia.
Rowe, William T. China's last empire: the great Qing.
Zelin, Madeline. “The Yung-chung reign” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 9: The Ch'ing Dynasty, Part 1: To 1800.
...more
42min
May 24, 2025 #293 - Qing 28: Three Treks Across Eurasia
Leaving behind the imperial court of Beijing, we return to the far frontiers of the northwest, where China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Russia all converge and vie for power. Glory and riches to the victors, subjugation or death for those destined to lose. Into this mix, we follow the travels of three emissaries as they cross deserts, mountains, words, and wits to ensure their sovereign emerges on top.
Time Period Covered:
~1712~1724 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Dzungar Khannate:
Tsewang Rabdan
Tsarist Russia:
Tsar Peter I
Leon Vasielevich Izmailov
Captain Ivan Unkovskii
John Bell
Governor Gragarin of Siberia
Glazunov
Great Qing Empire:
The Kangxi Emperor [r. -1722]
The Yongzheng Emperor [r. 1722-17]
Tulisen
Mongols:
Ayuki Khan of the Torghuts [r. 1673-1724]
...more
37min
May 14, 2025 #292 - Qing 27: The Wonder Years
The Yongzheng Emperor brings Peace, Justice, & Security to his new Empire.
Time Period Covered:
1723-1728 CE
Major Works Cited:
Perdue, Peter C. China marches west: the Qing conquest of Central Eurasia.
Qin, Han Tang (秦漢唐). 不同於戲裡說的雍正皇帝 [A different Yongzheng from the work of fiction]
Rowe, William T. China's last empire: the great Qing.
...more
26min
May 07, 2025 #291 - Qing 26: The Cosplayer of Heaven
The Yongzheng Emperor's stylings:
https://bsky.app/profile/thoc.bsky.social/post/3lnvmogqntk2g
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With the passing of his titan of a father, the Kangxi Emperor's 4th curviving son Prince Yinzheng, will assume the Dragon Throne amidst a tumultuous succession. Amid betrayals and backstabbings, this unlikely monarch will ultimately find himself sandwiched between his father and his son - two uncontestable pillars of Chinese history. And yet, he'll still find ways to shine through, all his own...
Time Period Covered:
1722~1728 CE
Major Historical Figures:
Manchu:
The Yongzheng Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen) [r. 1723-35], Kangxi's 11th (4th surviving) Son
Empress Dowager Xiaogongren [1660-1723]
Longkodo, Commandant of the Capital Gendarmerie [d. 1728]
Prince Yunzhi, Kangxi's 10th (3rd) Son [1677-1732]
Prince Yinsi, Kangxi's 16th (8th) Son [1681-1726]
Prince Yintang, Kangxi's 17th (9th) Son [1683-1726]
Prince Yinxiang, Kangxi's 22nd (13th) Son [1686-1730]
Prince Yunti, Kangxi's 23rd (14th) Son [1688-1755]
O'er'tai [1680-1745]
Hanjun:
Chen Menglei [1650-1741]
Nian Genglao, Sichuan-Shaanxi Governor-General [1679-1726]
Zeng Qing [1679-1736]
Yue Zhongqi [1686-1784]
Lü Liuliang [1629-1683]
Jiang Tingxi [1669-1732]
Zhang Tingyu [1672-1755]
Li Wei [1687-1738]
Tian Wenjing [1662-1732]
...more
35min

FAQs about The History of China Podcast:

How many episodes does The History of China Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 326 episodes available.