Book Review: The Mercenary Mandarin
In a guest post, John Ross reviews David Leffman’s new book, The Mercenary Mandarin: How a British adventurer became a general in Qing-dynasty China now available from Blacksmith Books. [Read More...]
August 2016
“Anyone seen the Son of Heaven?” World of Chinese Magazine
How do you lose an emperor? I mean, it’s not like you would confuse the Son of Heaven with somebody’s wayward schnauzer. [Read More...]
“Beijing Emperor and Qing Dynasty Scammer Faces Prison Time in Shenzhen,” The Beijinger
It is a twist on an old scam: A gullible patsy loses a small fortune helping a former monarch recover his royal funds. But what happens when the deposed ruler claims to be the Beijing born and raised Qianlong Emperor who last ruled China in the 18th century? [Read More...]
Taiwan’s apology, Beijing’s problem
Taiwan’s president's apology to the island’s aboriginal groups could complicate relations with Beijing [Read More...]
“How to Barbecue Relatives and Win Friends,” World of Chinese Magazine
Turns out scorched earth tactics are bad for identifying dead kings [Read More...]
What does evidence of China’s Great Flood mean for Yu?
Today's New York Times reports on findings by Chinese archaeologists that seem to confirm the story of Yu and the Great Flood. [Read More...]
Barbarians at the Gate Podcast: Yaqub Beg and the Provincializing of Western China
Jeremiah and James look at the life and times of Yaqub Beg (1820-1877) and what his legacy means for Beijing's relationship with Western China and Central Asia today. [Read More...]