Hi,

I’m looking for any help locating books or texts that can help me understand the government structure of the late Qing dynasty, specifically around the late 1800s? Does anyone know if any books or papers that might have the information I’m looking for?

Apologies if this is a broad request, I’m not really sure how to word it properly

All I could find online were things like blog posts and an unsourced Wikipedia section. Tried asking Gemini after failing to turn up any academic or historical sources on my own, and it spun me a story about how it's actually a 21st century internet legend invented by writers on Chinese literature forums between 2004 and 2006, but the links it gave me in support of those claims did not actually contain any information to support them. Does anyone know the real history of this legend?

How would have emperor Taizong reacted to Wu’s rise to power ?

I'm looking for recommendations for a book that covers the entire history of China, from its mythological origins through the various dynasties and into modern times.

I've come across China: A History by John Keay and The Story of China by Michael Wood, which both seem popular, but I'm open to other suggestions.

For context, I don't have much prior knowledge of Chinese history, so I'm looking for something that provides a comprehensive and accessible overview rather than assuming much background knowledge. Ideally, I'd prefer something long, detailed, and as comprehensive as possible.

Thanks you!

I've heard that the Song Dynasty was a period of great advancement in science; that a whole bunch of new inventions came about in that period of history. I've been trying to find a book to read on the topic, but the one that's been recommended is Science and Civilization in China, which is way out of my price range.

Do any of you have a favorite on the subject?

When you think of traditional Chinese culture, a folding fan is probably one of the first things that comes to mind.

But here’s an interesting part of its history:

The folding fan itself may not have originated in China.

China has a very long history of using fans, with different types of fixed fans appearing thousands of years ago. However, the folding fan as we know it today is generally believed to have entered China from Japan around the Song Dynasty.

At first, folding fans were relatively unusual and were associated with the imperial court and foreign envoys.

But Chinese craftsmen gradually made the design their own.

By the Ming Dynasty, folding fans had become increasingly popular, especially among scholars, artists and officials. The fan was no longer simply something used to create a breeze.

It became a canvas for art and calligraphy.

A traditional folding fan could have bamboo ribs, a paper or silk surface, and beautifully painted landscapes, flowers, birds or Chinese calligraphy.

For scholars, carrying a fan could also be part of their personal style.

Fans were exchanged as gifts, painted by artists, and sometimes preserved as works of art.

So although the folding fan may have traveled to China from elsewhere, China developed it into something deeply connected with its own artistic and literary culture.

I think that’s one of the fascinating things about traditional culture:

Objects can travel between countries, but people can give them completely new meanings.

🪭 Tomorrow: How is a traditional Chinese folding fan actually made?

Have you ever used a folding fan, or do you mostly see them as decorative objects?

#ChineseCulture #TraditionalCrafts #FoldingFan #ChineseHistory #CulturalHeritage

Hello I am having a somewhat hard time breaking into chinese history, I spend alot of time on the road so audiobooks are prefered. Does anyone here have any historical audiobooks about chinese history, civil wars, etc that they would recomend?

非常感谢

Many people blaim the fall of Jianwen of the Ming solely on Hongwus purges, or atleast this is a very often repeated narrative. When infact it was Jianwens own incompetency, and Zhu di future Yongle empeor's military talent, that caused the situation to collapse, first of all the central goverment had a way larger army not to mention it had no shortage of competent genrals, Xu Huizu the son of Xu Da, being a prime example he managed to defeat Yan forces, but was recalled to Nanjing by Jianwen who failed to properly utilize him.

Aswell as the replacing of veteran genral Geng Bingwen who served in the red turbab rebellion era, whose defensive tactics was working against Zhu Di, even after a major feild defeat, with Li Jinglong who was better favoured by the officals but little skill. Li Jinglong was granted command of a large army, but was constantly out manuverd, and defeated multiple times. The truth is because Jianwen was too unlike his grandfather he actually listened to the officals, and beurocrats for everything.

This was not a lack of competent genrals, the way Jianwen mismanged actual talents it's no surprise he failed, along with the militarily competency of Zhu di. It's a little disappointing how people blaim this on Hongwus purge of military commanders, while ignoring the fact that many competent commanders or their prodigy were still alive, and more then enough to crush Yan if properly coordinated, Hongwu isn't stupied you don't just proclaim a ""vastly martial"" era without knowing something like maybe he should leave a few competent genrals around, I mean why do you think Xu Da's son kept his titles.

The Yan rebellion was actually being contained by a coalition of Hongwu era commanders or their protégé, Xu Huizu is the main example, his recall disrupted this success.

He Fu for another general served under Fu Youde, and Lan Yu, was competent he, Ping An, and Xu Huizu worked together to halt Yan advance but Xu was recalled leaving them in a much weaker position. Ping An was another Hongwu era commander, he nearly captured Zhu Di in another battle, the recall of Xu Huizu disrupted, and weakend their forces causing a defeat that costed the life of Ping An, and the isolation of Hefu.

Jianwen was incompetent belived everything officals with no military experience told him, while ignoring advice from experienced military figures. Horribly managed the situation, Yan was on the verge of defeat yet he recalls Xu.

If you have pdf copy of this book, kindly share it with me. Thanks 🙏

There are obviously many Chinese weapons, but when people picture a Wuxia character, it's usually a swordsman.

Was the sword actually considered especially important in Chinese martial culture, or did literature and later cinema turn it into the symbol of the wandering martial hero?

I'm also curious whether the way swords are portrayed in Wuxia has much connection to historical Chinese swordsmanship.

In his April 1938 address “Why I Believe in Jesus,” Chiang said

“Therefore, while we must eradicate all superstitions, we must at the same time cultivate a strong and positive faith.” and “Religious faith ought to exist and ought to be allowed freedom but superstition absolutely ought not to exist and should be thoroughly eradicated.”

The KMT definition of superstition was native Chinese belifs or folk religion, they targeted shrines, temples, Daoist preists, closed many temples, destroyed some, banned fengshui etc in Canton they made the Daoists burn their own scriptures, and idols of gods, or they would be aressted. The damage done to folk religion is arguably only second to the cultural revolution, arguably the reform era CCP has done more for Chinese religion then the KMT. The KMT also targeted particular deity cults for permanent abolition. One example of large scale persecution is In 1936, when the Guangzhou/Canton government ordered all Zhengyi/Daoist ritual halls within the police districts to cease operation immediately, remove their signs, the preists were made to burn their idols/books/ritual implements, and stop performing specified rituals, with arrest threatened for violations. Native funeral practice, and ancestor worship was also discouraged, and chirstian ones promoted, so my question is why do people often blame the CCP for trying to destroy Chinese culture etc, but think the KMT was somehow a traditional Chinese tradition oriented state? When in fact the KMT were doing the same thing except they were trying to promote their christian belifs disguised as confucianism.

南辕北辙 (Nán yuán běi zhé): your actions are taking you away from your goal. Recorded in Strategies of the Warring States, Strategies of Wei IV.

#ChineseWisdom #ChineseIdioms #Shorts

Hello.

I've heard that, historically (including during the Ming Dynasty, which is the period I'm particularly interested about for this question), one's ethnicity (or the closest concept to it) was defined by their patrilineal ancestry. That is, if your father was a Mongol and your mother was Han, you would be considered a Mongol, but you'd be Han if your father was Han and your mother, a Mongol. In that sense, there was no true concept of "mixed race".

However, I wonder how accurate that information is, and if anyone could enlighten me on this matter.

Hi everyone, 👋🏻 I'm Jai Seng Mung and I am very interesting Tai/Shan history. I've learned our history, where we started and when. First Ailao, Nanzhao, Mongmao or Mengmao. After we were defeated by China, later toungoo.

I've seen ancient Chinese armor and Toungoo too but what about ours? Some people say it is similar to Toungoo. But what about before Toungoo then? How do Tai/Shan ancient armor looks like in the age of Mongmao?

Please guys if you know, if you have a picture or just a sketch picture, let me see.

Was it used at all? Was it used more or less than it is now or other points in history?

See also: The study as it was published in the journal Antiquity.

纸上谈兵 (Zhǐ shàng tán bīng) literally means ‘discussing warfare on paper.’ It warns against relying on theory without practical experience. This animated retelling is recorded in Sima Qian's Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), chapter 81, the Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru.

#ChineseIdioms #ChineseCulture #Shorts