The Context
NewsChina explores the perspectives driving today’s China and its people with a deep dive into the histories that shaped them.
Episodes
295 episodes
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
Western Xia Imperial Tombs: Echoes of a Forgotten Civilization
Today, we’ll talk about a millennium-old tomb complex in northwest China that has received global recognition for its outstanding testament to a vanished dynasty even though its historical records and tangible architectural legacy has large...
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13:07
Aniko: The Nepali Artist Who Bridged Himalayas and Empires
Today, we’ll talk about Aniko, a young genius from Nepal whose journey across the Himalayas in the 13th century significantly influenced Chinese art, architecture, and the cultural friendship between China and Nepal.
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14:09
Yan’s Urban Life and Final Days: From Prosperity to Decline
Today, we’ll continue to explore the daily life, social structure, and the mysterious decline of Yan’s capital and uncover how a once-thriving city was abandoned within centuries, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with both ritual practic...
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19:34
Xiling Seal Art Society: Stamps on Culture
Today, we’re going to talk about the Xiling Seal Art Society. From clandestine meetings to smuggling priceless artifacts, China’s most exclusive and enigmatic academic society has carried on the spirit of seal art through wars and revolutio...
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18:55
Liulihe Excavations: Tracing the Birthplace of the Yan State
In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we’ll talk about the archaeological discoveries at the Liulihe site, which have unveiled the origins of the Western Zhou Yan capital, revealing its royal tombs, dual city walls, a...
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18:32
Four-Ram Square Zun: Masterpiece of Ancient Chinese Bronze Art
Today, we’ll continue to talk about the Four-Ram Square Zun from the Shang Dynasty, which stands as a masterpiece of ancient Chinese bronze art, showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship and embodying profound cultural and historical significan...
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12:19
Four-Ram Square Zun: War, Destruction, and Renewal
In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we’ll talk about the Four-Ram Square Zun, a masterpiece of Shang Dynasty bronze art, which has endured centuries of turmoil and restoration, symbolizing the nation’s ancient cultu...
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13:46
Potala Palace: Where History, Religion, and Architecture Converge
Today, we’ll talk about the Potala Palace, a 1,300-year-old architectural and cultural marvel that has served as the spiritual and political heart of Tibetan Buddhism, housing sacred relics, murals, and scriptures that embody the region’s r...
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16:40