Chinese History & Mythology

Épisodes

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  159.Interesting Chinese Culture——The Ten Most Beloved Deities. 20.08.2026 40min

  When we open the vast historical scroll of China, or walk through those ancient temples across Asia, surrounded by curling incense smoke, one very unique cultural phenomenon immediately catches our eye. The Chinese system of gods is completely different from the monotheistic systems found in many other civilizations around the world. Here, there is no one and only creator who excludes all other gods, and there is no abstract deity standing high above, completely separated from human emotions. The Chinese world of gods and immortals is more like a huge, well-organized cosmic government, full of human warmth. In this system, the gods have clear duties. They have emotions similar to human beings, such as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Some even have detailed life stories and records of promotion. Many figures who truly existed in history were placed on the altar by ordinary people after their deaths because of their outstanding contributions or noble character, and they received worship and incense for generations.
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  158.Romance of the Three Kingdoms- The Strategists 20.08.2026 1h 10min

  In the story of the Three Kingdoms, the most fascinating parts were never really the flashing blades and clashing weapons on the battlefield. They were the conversations inside military tents, the calculations hidden in letters, and the tests carried out over wine at banquets. In Chinese popular culture, there is a saying: young people should try not to read Water Margin, because that book mainly tells stories of fighting. Water Margin is full of violence, rebellion against the court, brotherhood, revenge, and personal justice. Young people who read it may easily imitate the behavior of those heroes, using violence or brotherly loyalty to solve problems, and may even end up breaking the law. So why do people also say, “Old people should not read Romance of the Three Kingdoms”?
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  157.Romance of the Three Kingdoms- The Military Generals 18.08.2026 48min

  When we peeled back the labels, we found that both of them were far more complex than those simple names. In today’s episode, we are going to change our perspective. We will not talk about the lords, but about the fighters. We will not talk about the people playing the game of chess, but about the pieces charging across the board — the famous military generals in the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
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  156.Interesting Chinese Culture——What Is the Most Important Exam in China? 13.08.2026 1h 9min

  In China, there is a very important exam. It can even be said that this exam determines the fate of ninety percent of Chinese people. Why can one exam stir up such enormous social energy?
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  155.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-Was Liu Bei a Hypocrite? 13.08.2026 52min

   A lower-class man who started out selling straw sandals had no money, no territory, and no powerful background. Why was he able to make outstanding men like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei follow him with total loyalty for their entire lives? Why was he able to make a heaven-sent talent like Zhuge Liang devote himself completely until death? Why was he able to make Tao Qian hand over the entire Xuzhou to him? Why was he able to take Yizhou from Liu Zhang, almost by deception, and still make the people of Yizhou feel that he was their savior?
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  154.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-Cao Cao a Bad Man? 11.08.2026 1h 2min

  In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he is often written as a “treacherous hero”: suspicious, ruthless, skilled in political tricks, and always standing opposite Liu Bei’s image of “benevolence and righteousness.” For many Chinese audiences, when they hear the name  from childhood, what appears in their minds is often not simply a politician or a military strategist, but a complicated, dangerous, intelligent, and even somewhat frightening figure.
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  153.Interesting Chinese Culture——How Ancient China Spent the Night？ 06.08.2026 42min

  How many of you have ever imagined that life in ancient China was probably nothing but darkness after sunset? That the moment the sun went down, everyone immediately went to bed, and the entire country fell into silence. Part of that impression is true, but much more of it is filled with unexpected energy and detail. The nighttime schedule, entertainment, street sounds, lights, and shadows of ancient people actually form a very vivid history of society, economy, and culture. We can follow the timeline, starting from the oldest farming traditions, moving all the way to the flourishing urban life of the Song Dynasty, and then returning to the quieter world of the Ming and Qing dynasties, to take a complete look at what nightlife in ancient China was really like.
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  152.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-28 06.08.2026 1h 38min

  Now, in Chengdu, the Later Lord Liu Shan heard that Deng Ai had already captured Mianzhu, and that Zhuge Zhan and his son had both died in battle. He immediately turned pale with shock and hurriedly gathered all the civil and military officials to discuss what to do. Close attendants from the palace came again to report, “Outside the city, the common people are carrying the old and leading the young, crying loudly enough to shake the sky, and fleeing for their lives one after another. The situation is extremely urgent!” When the Later Lord heard this, he completely lost his senses.
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  151.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-27 04.08.2026 1h 20min

  In the tenth month of winter, in the fifth year of Jingyao in Shu Han, Great General Jiang Wei ordered men to repair the plank roads through the night, organize military grain and weapons, and transfer boats from the water routes in Hanzhong. After everything was ready, he submitted a memorial to the Later Lord, saying, “I have gone on campaign many times. Although I have not yet achieved great merit, I have already shaken the morale of the Wei army. Now the troops have been maintained for a long time. If they do not fight, they will grow idle, and if they grow idle, they will easily fall ill. Besides, the officers and soldiers have long been eager to try. They are willing to give their lives for the state and build merit. If I do not win, I am willing to accept death.”
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  149.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-26 30.07.2026 1h 26min

  In the first month of the second year of Zhengyuan in Wei, Guanqiu Jian, Commander of Yangzhou and General Who Guards the East, heard that Sima Shi had removed and established emperors on his own authority. He was extremely angry. His eldest son, Guanqiu Dian, advised him, “Father, you hold a high regional office. Now Sima Shi controls power alone and has deposed the ruler. The state is as dangerous as a pile of eggs. How can you simply guard yourself in peace?”
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  150.Interesting Chinese Culture——Did LV Copy China? 30.07.2026 31min

  There is an old Chinese saying: “A tall tree catches the wind.” In other words, the more successful and visible you become, the more likely you are to attract trouble. Perhaps it was this successful commercial collaboration that brought this previously unremarkable milk tea brand to the attention of the global luxury company Louis Vuitton. So what exactly happened?
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  148.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-25 28.07.2026 1h 15min

  Now, when Sima Yi heard that Cao Shuang had taken his trusted followers, the imperial guards, and the Wei ruler Cao Fang out of the city to pay respects at Emperor Ming’s tomb and go hunting along the way, he was overjoyed.
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  147.Interesting Chinese Culture——How Did China Stay Cool Without AC? 23.07.2026 35min

  The moment you step outside, it feels like walking into an oven. For us modern people, the first thing we do when we get home is turn on the air conditioner, collapse onto the sofa, and say, “Air conditioning is keeping me alive.” But while feeling that cold air, a very interesting question suddenly came to my mind: in ancient China, when there was no electricity and no compressor at all, how did people survive those blazing hot summers that often lasted for months?
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  146.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-24 23.07.2026 1h 20min

  Now, when Jiang Wei saw Wei Yan rush into the tent and knock out Kongming’s life lamp, he was furious and drew his sword to kill him. Kongming quickly stopped him and said, “This is because my fate has reached its end. It is not Wenchang’s fault.” Only then did Jiang Wei put away his sword.
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  145.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-23 21.07.2026 2h 2min

  When the generals heard that Kongming would not pursue the Wei soldiers, they all entered the tent and reported, “The Wei soldiers have been trapped by the heavy rain and cannot even set up camp properly. Now that they are withdrawing, this is the perfect chance to pursue them. Chancellor, why do you not pursue?”
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  144.Interesting Chinese Culture——Why Don’t Chinese People Stay Out at Night During This Month? 16.07.2026 53min

  Do you know when China’s Ghost Festival is? And do you know what customs it has, and how it developed over history?
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  143.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-22 16.07.2026 2h 3min

  In the autumn, in the ninth month of the sixth year of Jianxing in Shu Han, the Wei Commander Cao Xiu was badly defeated at Shiting by Lu Xun, the Grand Commander of Eastern Wu. Warhorses, vehicles, weapons, grain, and supplies were almost all captured by the Wu army. After this defeat, Cao Xiu was terrified and deeply troubled. After returning to Luoyang, a poisonous swelling grew on his back, and in the end, he died of illness. The Wei ruler Cao Rui ordered that he be buried with generous honors.
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  142.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-21 14.07.2026 1h 37min

  After Cao Zhen and Guo Huai were defeated, they were in the camp discussing how to drive back the enemy. Guo Huai said to Cao Zhen, “The various tribes of Western Qiang have been sending tribute every year since the time when Cao Cao was still alive, and Emperor Wen also treated them generously. Now we can hold the dangerous passes and send people through small paths into Qiang territory to ask for help. We can promise them gold and silver, and also promise to form a marriage alliance. If the Qiang people are willing to raise troops and attack the Shu army from behind, while we send troops from the front, then with attacks from both sides, we will surely win a great victory.”
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  141.Interesting Chinese Culture——Qixi ：China’s Valentine’s Day 09.07.2026 49min

  Next month, on Wednesday the 19th, it will be Chinese Valentine’s Day. Did you know that? Every year, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, many Chinese people celebrate a festival called Double Seventh Festival, the Double Seven Festival.
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  140.Romance of the Three Kingdoms-20 09.07.2026 1h 29min

  After Kongming pacified the Southern Barbarians, he led the army back to Shu. Meng Huo brought the cave lords, chiefs, and tribal leaders, large and small, to come forward one after another, bow in thanks, and see him off.