Audio, History
Jeremiah Jenne
What can the end of the Ming Dynasty tell us ...

Trump's re-election disappointed many in the U.S. and abroad. To help them process, Jeremiah and David talk with literary translator and Pennsylvania voter Brendan O’Kane about Zhang Dai, the Ming-Qing transition, and living through an age of upheaval.

What can the end of the Ming Dynasty tell us about the election of Donald Trump and what comes next
Contemporary China, History, Audio
Jeremiah Jenne
Historical Battles: Rewriting China's Past to ...

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.

Historical Battles: Rewriting China's Past to Shape the Future
Audio, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Dan Snow's History Hit The Creation of the ...

How China transitioned from imperial rule to Chinese Socialism and all about the key characters whose opposing visions for China's future created so much chaos along the way.

Dan Snow's History Hit The Creation of the People's Republic of China
Book Reviews, History
Jeremiah Jenne
Philip Kuhn: Sorcery and Bureaucracy in Qing ...

A supernatural crisis pits an anxious autocrat against his own functionaries when a hunt for soul-stealing sorcerers turns into a political witch-hunt among 18th-century China’s “deep state.”

Philip Kuhn: Sorcery and Bureaucracy in Qing China
Audio, History, Travel
Jeremiah Jenne
Edge of Empire with author and journalist ...

In this episode of Barbarians at the Gates, Edward Wong of the New York Times joins David and me to discuss Ed's new book, At the Edge of Empire. We discuss frontiers, what the Qing Dynasty means for China, and the different generational perspectives on China's recent past.

Edge of Empire with author and journalist Edward Wong

Temples and Shrines

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Story of the 'Jing: A History of Commerce at Longfusi

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Story of the 'Jing: A History of Commerce at Longfusi

The area around the former Longfusi (Temple of Abundant Blessings) is a popular place to get some of Beijing’s best Pho at Susu or grab a pint at Jing-A, but the neighborhood historically is no stranger to commerce. 

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Story of the 'Jing: What's the Deal With the Old Red Gate on Ghost Street?

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Story of the 'Jing: What's the Deal With the Old Red Gate on Ghost Street?

Ever walked (or stumbled) down Gui Jie and wondered why there is a red doorway and a stone tablet right in the middle of the sidewalk?

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Weekend Walk: In the Footsteps of the Emperor

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Weekend Walk: In the Footsteps of the Emperor

The Temple of Heaven is one of Beijing’s largest – and liveliest – spaces for a weekend walk, particularly in spring. The surrounding park is over three times the size of the Forbidden City, making it the perfect place to visit on those holiday weekends when the Palace Museum and other popular destinations will be heaving with visitors.

Don't Be a Fool, Eat Your Gruel: The Story Behind Eating Porridge for Laba Festival

Don't Be a Fool, Eat Your Gruel: The Story Behind Eating Porridge for Laba Festival

Some people will do anything for a free meal, even if that means waiting in line outside in Beijing in the middle of January for nothing more than a bowl of thin 粥 zhōu, or porridge.