Book Reviews, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Lin Yutang: My Country, My People

In 1935, the Chinese author Lin Yutang offered Westerners an insider’s guide to China's society. It endures today despite his own cultural contradictions.

Lin Yutang: My Country, My People
Audio, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Is this America's Cultural Revolution Moment?

In this episode of Barbarians at the Gate, Jeremiah and Chris Stewart of The History of China Podcast ask the question, "Is this America's Cultural Revolution moment?"

Is this America's Cultural Revolution Moment?
Contemporary China, Audio
Jeremiah Jenne
Experiencing the World of Jazz in China

Our latest episode explores jazz in China—from its revival in 1980s Beijing to today's talented performers. David Moser discusses how musicians with limited recordings mastered the medium and laid the groundwork for generations of skilled jazz players from China.

Experiencing the World of Jazz in China
History, Travel
Jeremiah Jenne
Phoenicians and Fish Sauce on the Costa del Sol

Jeremiah heads to Malaga where he inexplicably becomes obsessed with the history of an ancient condiment

Phoenicians and Fish Sauce on the Costa del Sol
Book Reviews, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Reginald Johnston: Twilight in the Forbidden ...

A Scotsman’s memoir of tutoring Puyi, China’s “last emperor,” is more than just court gossip — it’s a tantalizing portrait of China’s imperial trappings.

Reginald Johnston: Twilight in the Forbidden City

Censorship

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Curating Chinese Internet Culture for Global Audiences with What's on Weibo founder Manya Koetse

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Curating Chinese Internet Culture for Global Audiences with What's on Weibo founder Manya Koetse

In this episode of Barbarians at the Gate, we catch up with Dutch sinologist Manya Koetse, the creator of What’s on Weibo, an invaluable platform that curates trends and offers in-depth insights into events, memes, and social phenomena on the Chinese Internet.

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The Challenges of Foreign Reporting in China: An In-Depth Discussion with Jane Perlez

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The Challenges of Foreign Reporting in China: An In-Depth Discussion with Jane Perlez

Jeremiah and David welcome Jane Perlez, former Beijing bureau chief for the New York Times. Jane reflects on shifts in media freedom and the challenges faced by reporters covering China. Her podcast series on U.S.-China relations, "Face Off," launches its second season this week.

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Historical Battles: Rewriting China's Past to Shape the Future

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Historical Battles: Rewriting China's Past to Shape the Future

Jeffrey Wasserstrom joins Barbarians at the Gate to discuss the legacy of the Hong Kong protests, Xi Jinping’s patriotic education law, and how Beijing’s control over historical narratives is reshaping academic engagement with China.

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No Laughing Matters: The State of Stand-up in China Today

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No Laughing Matters: The State of Stand-up in China Today

On this episode of Barbarians at the Gate, David Moser and Jeremiah talk to journalist Chang Che about the state of comedy and entertainment in China and the precarious nature of creative expression in an increasingly ideological cultural landscape.

My Beijing Insecurity (on National Security Education Day)

My Beijing Insecurity (on National Security Education Day)

April 15th, National Security Education and Awareness Day in China, has become an annual day of whimsy for those of us living in Beijing.

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Voices from the Past: Child Abuse and Suppressed Rumors, Then and Now

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Voices from the Past: Child Abuse and Suppressed Rumors, Then and Now

The case of the RYB Kindergarten scandal is not the first time rumors have overwhelmed official denials in a case involving child abuse in China

New Fronts in the Battle Over Scholarship and Ideology in China

New Fronts in the Battle Over Scholarship and Ideology in China

Angry academics rarely make the news, but this particular tempest quickly exploded the tea cup

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