How volcanic eruptions contributed to the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties
Volcanic eruptions may have triggered abrupt climate changes contributing to the repeated collapse of Chinese dynasties over the past 2,000 years, according to new research.
Salt mafias and rebellion in medieval China
Salt was big business in Tang China, and for certain individuals the vibrant but illegal trade in contraband salt paved the way for grander, imperial ambitions.
Stones into Sheep: The medieval search for a legendary Daoist master
The legend of the Daoist master of Mount Redpine who could turn stones into sheep had fascinated China for centuries. Sometime in the 1200s, one man ventured up the mountain to see if he was still there.
The intriguing world of medieval Chinese ceramic pillows
Pre-modern Chinese pillows were made of hard materials like ceramics and possessed a surprising range of functions beyond simply acting as a headrest.
Medieval Chinese and Inner-Asian Politics
This week’s guest on the Medieval Grad Podcast is Soojung Han, a PhD candidate in East Asian studies at Princeton University. Soojung Han talks with Lucie Laumonier about the Shatuo Turks who rose to power in the ninth century, after the fall of the Tang dynasty.
New book explores how poison shaped medieval Chinese medicine, culture
If poison was medicinal, then what was medicine?
The insomniac poets of medieval China
What to do on those nights where no matter how hard you try, you just can’t fall asleep? For the literati of pre-modern China there was at least one possible answer: write a poem about it.
How newspapers existed in China 900 years ago
It is commonly believed that newspapers first emerged in Europe in the early 1600s. However, there is much evidence to show that publications that could rightfully be called newspapers were thriving centuries earlier in medieval China.
Writing of the Ultimate CV: A Death Ritual in Medieval China
Examines the life of a prematurely deceased 20-year through her epitaph, created in China in the year 518 CE, and discover how the craftsmanship and aesthetic are passed on in modern Chinese culture with a veteran tombstone engraver.
How well do you know the Ming Dynasty?
From the years 1368 to 1644, China was ruled by the Ming Dynasty. It was an era of new heights, especially in the fields of art and literature. Try these 10 questions to see how much you know about this period.
Study examines the creation of lotus-pattern tiles in Tang Dynasty
The researchers conducted an investigation of 449 tile ends with lotus patterns from various periods during the Tang dynasty that had been recovered from the Ximing Temple.
Abstaining from alcohol in medieval China
If you, like many at this time of year, have resolved to give up alcohol, then it might be a comfort to remember you are not the first in history to have attempted this. As Song dynasty writer Liu Xueji found, then as today, peer pressure and social obligations can test one’s resolve to cut back on wine.
Essential Hiking Gear for a Medieval Chinese Monk
Pilgrimage, alms begging, and journeys to obtain scriptures or relics: life on the road was a reality for many monks in medieval China. So what kind of things did they take with them, according to popular depictions?
Child Emperor vs Empress Dowager: Regency in the Western Xia
Court intrigue and poison plots were rife, policy swung from one direction to the other, and geopolitical relations were put under severe strain.
The Upstart King: Jingzong of Xia
The headstrong and ambitious ruler of an underdog state, Jingzong’s bold military and civil policies reached into almost every aspect of Xia life.
The Medieval Cinderella
It takes place within a community of rural “cave-dwellers,” features magical fish bones, presents a prince who is both violent and greedy, and stars a heroine who is much more disobedient and ambitious than the European version.
Ethnicity and empire in China and Byzantium, with Shao-yun Yang and Ying Zhang
How do imperial societies talk about barbarian or ethnic groups?
Book care in Medieval China
How did people look after their books and libraries in medieval China?
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Written in 14th century China, Romance of the Three Kingdoms can best be described as a historical novel. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle is joined by Peter Konieczny to talk about this famous work of warriors, generals and rulers.
Parenting Tips from a Tang Dynasty General
What was it like to have this famous general as a father?
How to get good horses in medieval China
During the Northern Song period, the best regions for horse breeding had been snapped up by powerful steppe empires. So the Chinese state had to turn to other means to obtain good horses, coming up with a variety of innovative and ambitious schemes in the process.
An Offer He Couldn’t Refuse: The Man of Iron Recruits the Man of Letters
A portrait of Yeh-lu, Genghis Khan’s Chinese chancellor, the greatest statesman of the Mongol Empire.
A Tang dynasty monk and his secret candy recipe
A new column by Elizabeth Smithrosser will be looking at China in the Middle Ages. In her first post she looks at a very tasty treat dating back to the Tang dynasty.
The Medieval Invention of Toilet Paper
With toilet paper, or rather the sometimes frenzied demand for toilet paper, being in the news recently, it is a good time to look at the medieval origins of this very useful product.