Happy Learn from Lei Feng Day!
Just because Lei Feng's diary is about as real as a herd of purple unicorns doesn't take anything away from the central message: It's nice to be nice...and always follow the Chairman! [Read More...]
Writings
On cultural hybridity, ambassadors, and other low hanging fruit
Chinese media called Amb. Locke a "banana," but Chinese history is filled with those who transcended "identity" http://wp.me/pgK30-1CF [Read More...]
On Lamas in the White House…
Obama meets with the Dalai Lama tomorrow. Is China missing an opportunity? [Read More...]
Fatal Firing: The Tragic Story of China’s First Battleship
The Dingyuan, flagship of the Beiyang Fleet, was as impressive a ship as sailed in the Western Pacific but she suffered from one catastrophic design flaw. [Read More...]
The Macroregions of China and the Red Sox/Yankee Rivalry
Connecticut is a state divided by two competing urban centers (and baseball teams) providing a lesson in why researchers need to look beyond state-defined boundaries. [Read More...]
This Week in History: The end of the Qing and how (not) to get thrown out of a pub quiz
It's not easy always being right about history. How the end of the Qing dynasty once got me thrown out of a pub quiz. [Read More...]
Live Tweeting the 2014 Spring Festival Gala: We watch so you don’t have to!
Five hours of equine nuttiness and patriotic fervor condensed into one post. [Read More...]
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...]
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...]