The Context
NewsChina explores the perspectives driving today’s China and its people with a deep dive into the histories that shaped them.
Episodes
305 episodes
Yuegang: Crescent of Silver and Silk
Today, we’ll talk about an important Ming Dynasty port that became a cradle of globalization. Yuegang, in Fujian Province, started as a smuggling hub but was later developed into the only legally sanctioned port for private overseas trade d...
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16:10
Dunhuang’s Murals: Where Time, Faith, and Art Converge
Today, we’ll talk about how Dunhuang’s murals, which are layered with faith, art, and cross-cultural exchange, preserve a thousand-year visual history of China and the Silk Road.
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17:19
China’s Murals: A Fragile Legacy Painted on Walls
Today, we’ll talk about the walls that once carried China’s greatest paintings, and the long journey of an art form shaped by faith, power, and time.
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17:24
Siku Quanshu: Lost and Bound
Today, we’ll talk about a digital project that recounts the creation of the most comprehensive book collection in Chinese history and the efforts to protect it from the ravages of war.
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15:43
Tang Architecture: Modern Science Illuminates Ancient Craftsmanship (II)
Today, we’ll continue to explore modern scientific advances and ongoing research that deepen understanding of Tang-era structures, emphasizing the importance of sustained study and cultural heritage preservation.
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21:54
Tang Architecture: Modern Science Illuminates Ancient Craftsmanship (I)
In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we’ll talk about the historic quest to rediscover and preserve China’s Tang Dynasty wooden architecture, highlighting key discoveries, early investigations, and the challenges pos...
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20:55
A County’s Pride: Discovering Liao-Era Architectural Masterpiece (II)
In this second half of our feature on Liao-era architecture, we’ll uncover how the lesser-known Gaoyuan Temple and other Liao structures embody cultural continuity, meticulous craftsmanship, and the enduring legacy of China’s architectural ...
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21:40
A County’s Pride: Discovering Liao-Era Architectural Masterpiece (I)
In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we’ll talk about how two very distinct Liao-era temples reveal the ingenuity, grandeur, and spiritual vision of ancient Chinese wooden architecture.
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20:44
Jiaohe Ruins: The Carved City
Today, we’ll talk about one of the world’s most perfectly preserved settlements, which offers valuable insights into ancient urban planning, construction techniques and the vibrant religious and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.
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14:05
Shifting Targets: The Evolution of Archery Rites in Ancient China
Today, we’ll talk about the evolution of archery rites in ancient China that became understood through a bronze artifact in the shape of an arrow-pierced turtle, highlighting how archery transformed from a martial art essential for kings into a...
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17:59
Houguan Culture: Grounds for Genius
Today, we’ll talk about how a tradition of learning and openness in an ancient county in Fuzhou helped to shape the ideas of key figures in the development of education in modern China.
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12:45
Xiao Qian: Across Frontlines and Cultures
Today, we’ll talk about the life of Xiao Qian, a Chinese writer, war correspondent, translator and cultural ambassador whose words bridged China and the world across wars, revolutions, and a century of change.
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14:51
Empire in Exile: Rediscovering Southern Song Burials
Today, we’ll talk about one of the most intriguing archaeological discoveries in recent Chinese history – the long-lost imperial tombs of the Southern Song dynasty, hidden for centuries beneath quiet tea fields in Zhejiang Province...
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14:05
Zhaozhou Bridge: China’s Timeless Stone Miracle
Today, we’ll talk about the Zhaozhou Bridge, a 1,400-year-old stone arch masterpiece that revolutionized global bridge engineering and withstood floods, earthquakes, and wars to remain a timeless symbol of human ingenuity.
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14:35
Empress Dowager Feng: The Woman Who Shaped a Dynasty
Today, we’ll talk about Empress Dowager Feng, a formidable woman whose intelligence, political acumen, and unwavering determination allowed her to guide her empire through turbulent times, leaving a lasting legacy in Chinese history.
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14:14
King Gesar: Dreaming Legends
Today, we’ll talk about King Gesar, the world’s longest epic that has been passed down orally among Tibetans for over a thousand years, and these days, the story has been recognized for its invaluable historic qualities and mysterious cultu...
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19:06
Museum Reveals Austronesian Roots in China
Today, we’ll talk about a new museum in Fujian Province that shines a spotlight on major discoveries linking the roots of Austronesian people to the Chinese mainland.
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12:50
The Timeless Genius of Dujiangyan: Taming a River Without a Dam
Today, we’ll talk about the Dujiangyan irrigation system, a 2,200-year-old Chinese marvel of engineering that tamed a violent river using nature’s own forces, transforming a flood-ravaged plain into a prosperous “Land of Abundance”.
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15:09
The Eagle-shaped Ding: China’s 6,000-year-old Cultural Ambassador
Today, we’ll talk about the Eagle-shaped Pottery Ding, a prehistoric vessel that reveals the advanced artistry, spiritual beliefs, and enduring cultural legacy of ancient Chinese civilization.
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16:28
From Heaven to Hell: The Cultural Evolution of Owls in Ancient China
Today, we’ll talk about a pair of owl-shaped wine vessels unearthed in the tomb of Fu Hao, China’s first female general, as well as the cultural significance of owls throughout Chinese history.
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15:41
Xizang Prehistoric Sites: Unravel the Mystery of Ancestors
Today, we’ll talk about recent archaeological findings in Tibet, or Xizang - the so-called “rooftop of the world”. The new discoveries are helping to unravel the mystery of prehistoric Chinese ancestors’ migration patterns and how they were...
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14:13
Zhu Xi: Wisdom Without Borders
Today, we’ll talk about Zhu Xi whose words once guided China’s emperors. Today, Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucian ideas on knowledge and virtue are inspiring new perspectives worldwide on the moral order of life itself.
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18:34
Treasures of Pingyao: Architecture, Finance, and Culture
Today, we’ll talk about Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi Province – a 2,800-year-old city that continues to thrive today maintaining a vibrant culture that weaves together ancient architecture, photography, and a unique story about the city’s...
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14:24
Saving the Forbidden City: Ma Heng’s Legacy in Protecting Cultural Heritage
Today, we’ll continue to talk about how the Forbidden City transformed into the Palace Museum. Specifically, we’ll introduce Ma Heng, the longest-serving director of the Palace Museum, whose leadership during key historical events preserved...
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16:37
A Century of Change: The Forbidden City’s Journey to the Palace Museum
In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we’ll talk about the transformation of the Forbidden City into the Palace Museum, focusing on China’s last emperor Puyi’s expulsion in 1924, the Qing imperial family’s financial s...
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16:50