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History

The Context

by NewsChina
History

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Latest episodes

  • A Jade Seal, a Lost Emperor and a 2,000-Year-Old Silk Road

    October 23, 2026 · 15 min

    Today, we’ll talk about the tomb of Liu He, a Han dynasty ruler whose brief reign ended in disgrace, and how a tiny jade seal, along with thousands of other artifacts, is revealing a far more complicated story about his life, his education…

  • Yuelu Academy: A Thousand Years of Learning

    October 20, 2026 · 17 min

    Today, we’ll talk about Yuelu Academy, a historic center of learning in central China whose 1,050-year legacy offers a window into the country’s intellectual traditions, educational transformation and resilience through times of war and…

  • Yunnan-Xizang Highway: Highway to Prosperity

    October 16, 2026 · 12 min

    Today, we’ll talk about how an important transport artery from Yunnan Province to Xizang Autonomous Region, following old trade routes, relieved social and economic isolation in one of the most scenic but impoverished parts of Southwest…

  • The Collector Who Gave Away Half the Forbidden City

    October 13, 2026 · 15 min

    Today, we’ll talk about Zhang Boju, the legendary art collector who sacrificed his fortune, endured kidnapping, and ultimately preserved some of China’s greatest artistic treasures for future generations.

  • Bronze Witness: How the Taibao Ding Tells the Story of Yan and Early Beijing

    October 9, 2026 · 18 min

    Today, we’ll talk about the Taibao Ding, a remarkable bronze vessel from the early Zhou dynasty whose story reveals the origins of the ancient state of Yan, the struggles of a frontier kingdom that survived for more than eight centuries…

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  • Jade Turtle: When Astronomy Met Astrology

    October 6, 2026 · 15 min

    Today, we’ll talk about a 5,000-year-old grave in eastern China and learn about the man with three identities buried inside it: he was an astronomer who measured the solstices with stunning accuracy, a shaman who placed the universe over…

  • The Sacred Ladder: How China’s World Tree Fell from Within

    October 2, 2026 · 15 min

    Today, we’ll talk about how a sacred tree in ancient China was deliberately destroyed by its own worshippers, thus marking the end of divine kingship and the rise of secular rule, and contrast that with the ancient history of American…

  • Buried for 3,000 Years: The Story of China’s Golden Sunbird

    September 29, 2026 · 16 min

    Today, we’ll talk about the Sun and Immortal Bird, a delicate gold ornament that unlocked the secrets of a lost Bronze Age civilization and, in doing so, became a symbol of China’s cultural heritage.

  • The Little Brick That Tells a Big Story About Chinese Math

    September 25, 2026 · 15 min

    Today, we’ll talk about a 2,000-year-old pottery brick in Shenzhen that preserves an ancient multiplication table and offers a glimpse into how mathematical knowledge spread throughout China.

  • Yellow Crane Tower: A Landmark Rebuilt by Memory

    September 22, 2026 · 15 min

    Today, we’ll talk about Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan’s iconic landmark with a story stretching back 1,800 years. It’s been a military watchtower, the subject of Chinese poetry, it’s even been rebuilt several times, and is now a modern symbol…

  • Shenyang Imperial Palace: Where a Dynasty Began

    September 18, 2026 · 18 min

    Today, we’ll talk about Shenyang Imperial Palace, a nearly 400-year-old royal complex that witnessed the rise of the Qing Dynasty, revealing through its distinctive architecture, Manchu traditions, and imperial history how a frontier power…

  • A 2,000-Year-Old Joke, Frozen in Clay

    September 15, 2026 · 16 min

    Today, we’ll talk about a lively 2,000-year-old pottery performer from the Han Dynasty whose infectious smile, comic pose and love of performance offer a fascinating glimpse into how ancient Chinese people entertained, laughed and enjoyed…

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About the show

NewsChina explores the perspectives driving today’s China and its people with a deep dive into the histories that shaped them.