The Year of the Horse
Tianjin. 6:00 a.m. Explosions. The Chinese New Year is upon us. What to expect in this Year of the Horse? [Read More...]
Archives
Academics?! What, they’re gonna study your study?
Searching for Zou Rong, Finding "The Wire" [Read More...]
I’m a Loser, Baby: The Life and Times of Prince Duan
The Qing court had more narcissistic drug-addled half-wits than Justin Bieber’s mansion, but even with that competition Prince Duan was something special. [Read More...]
Bad History: Modern Marvels – The Great Wall
Downloaded the "Great Wall" episode of Modern Marvels for a class. Wasted $1.99 on a History Channel fail. [Read More...]
A Forbidden City
Stopped at the gates of the Forbidden City, I had missed the cut-off time by five minutes. [Read More...]
The Great Wall of Qi?
Discovery of a wall in Shandong raises the question: just what makes a wall "Great"? [Read More...]
The Historical Record January 1, 1912: Sun Yat-sen named president of Republic of China
On this date in 1912, Sun Yat-sen was named the new president of the new Republic of China. Wacky hilarity then ensued. [Read More...]
Historical Responsibility: Yasukuni and Mao Zedong
A group of leaders yesterday visited a shrine packed with historical baggage. Was it in Japan or Beijing? [Read More...]
What is Mao Zedong’s Legacy 120 Years Later?
December 26 is the birthday of Mao Zedong, the portly gentleman from Hunan who, for 70% better and 30% ill, led China from 1949 until his death in 1976. [Read More...]
Nanjing
On December 13, 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army stormed the city of Nanjing, setting off a month of looting and killing that still shocks the world. But what is truly being remembered 76 years later? [Read More...]
Mandela and Mao
Nelson Mandela was so many things that the current Chinese government actively fears and loathes. He was a political prisoner, an activist, a party organizer, general rabble rouser, an outspoken champion of the disenfranchised, and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. If you are Chinese, these are not activities that get you a place on the CCP Christmas card list. [Read More...]
Jesse Appell raps the history of Chinese economic development. No, seriously.
Jesse Appell is a talented guy who has put together the single greatest rap version of Modern Chinese history. Granted, not a lot of competition in this particular category but still very cool. [Read More...]
Granite Studio on the move…
What happens when an apartment deal seems shady? If you've lived in Beijing long enough, your paranoia kicks in and you start to worry. [Read More...]
One from the Archives: The Sicilian Guide to Chinese History
Chris Buckley in the New York Times today described Xi Jinping as being in "Godfather" mode. In that spirit, here is a post from the past looking at Chinese history through the lens of great gangster cinema. [Read More...]
Is Xi a Reformer? It’s still too early to tell
Is Xi a reformer? As Zhou Enlai once said: "It's too soon to tell." [Read More...]