The Context
The Context
Latest Episodes
Mulan: The Invented Hero Who Has Endured for 1,500 Years
Today, we’ll talk about Mulan, a legendary heroine who has inspired the world for over 1,500 years by disguising herself as a man to take her elderly father’s place in the army, rising to become a celebrated general, and ultimately choosing...
When Tigers Ruled the Wild: The Story Behind the Tiger-Devouring-Man Bronze
Today, we’ll talk about a rare bronze ritual vessel from the Shang dynasty decorated with the striking image of a tiger devouring a human, and how this powerful motif reveals ancient Chinese beliefs about nature, sacrifice, shamanism, and t...
One Hundred Horses: An Italian Master in Imperial China
Today, we’ll talk about the Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione, who crossed cultural boundaries to serve three Qing emperors and created a groundbreaking fusion of European realism and Chinese court painting, most famously represen...
A Grain in the Sea: Liu Haisu and the Birth of Modern Art in China
Today, we’ll talk about Liu Haisu, whose life and work over nearly a century helped to pioneer modern art education in China and forge a bold new path that blended Chinese tradition with Western artistic innovation.
A Bronze Beast’s Journey: The Dowry That Traveled a Thousand Miles
Today, we’ll talk about a mysterious 3,000-year-old bronze vessel from China that once traveled as part of a noblewoman’s dowry, revealing how marriage, wealth, and political alliances shaped the lives of families and even states in ancient...
