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History Lessons

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General Li Shuangjiang
Sep 23, 2011 (WiC 123)

Confucius would have understood what General Li Shuangjiang was trying to say when the singer of patriotic songs recently told netizens: “I didn’t beat my son. I couldn’t bring myself to. On advice, sometimes we would scare him. But I ...

How greatest dynasty began
May 6, 2011 (WiC 105)

Before becoming emperor, Song Taizu, the founder of the Song Dynasty, was a general-in-chief in the service of the preceding dynasty. Similar to most of the dynastic founders who’d preceded him, Taizu then seized the throne through military ...

Sun versus Pang
Apr 15, 2011 (WiC 103)

During the Warring States period (475 – 221 BC), seven states spent decades feuding over turf. Sun Bin was a famous military strategist at the time in the state of Wei, and Pang Guan his good friend. But Pang, envious of Sun’s talent, plotted ...

Battle of the Fei River
Oct 22, 2010 (WiC 82)

During the state of Sixteen Kingdoms (304 to 439 AD), China was divided into numerous short-lived sovereign states. The Qin, led by Fu Jian, dominated much of Northern China. In 383 AD Fu led his massive force of 870,000, hoping to conquer the ...

Wan Bi Gui Zhao
Apr 30, 2010 (WiC 58)

During the Warring States Period, the ruler of Zhao, King Huiwen, acquired a piece of invaluable jade. The Emperor of Qin, a stronger state at the time, heard the news and wanted the jade for himself. So he sent an envoy to Zhao, expressing his ...

Lord Xinling saves Zhao
Mar 26, 2010 (WiC 54)

During the Warring States Period (476-221 BC), the state of Zhao was under attack by Qin. Zhao asked the state of Wei for help. But worried that Qin – the most powerful state – would retaliate, the King of Wei told his army general Jin Bi to ...

Straw Boat Borrows Arrows
Mar 19, 2010 (WiC 53)

Zhuge Liang, the Chancellor of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period (221-280 AD), is a legendary figure in Chinese history. And one of the better-known stories of his military genius is known as ‘Straw Boat Borrows Arrows’. At the time, ...

The last emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty
Feb 12, 2010 (WiC 49)

Emperor Qinzong (1100 – 1161) ascended to power at a time when the Song Dynasty was faced with invasion by the Jurchen of the Jin Dynasty. To fend off the Jurchens, Qinzong appointed Li Gang to direct the Song armies. Li suggested that large ...

Using beauty to seduce the enemy
Nov 13, 2009 (WiC 38)

Xi Shi was a legendary beauty from the ancient state of Yue (today’s Zhejiang province) during China’s Spring and Autumn Period (770 to 476 BC). According to folklore, such was Xi’s beauty that fish would forget to swim and birds would ...

The ideal official
Oct 30, 2009 (WiC 36)

Originally from Hefei, Bao Zheng (999-1062) served in the government of Duanzhou (today’s Zhaoqing in Guangdong) during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song China. At the time, the imperial court demanded that Duanzhou officials fulfill an ...

Older »

12 3 4

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History Lessons

General Li Shuangjiang Sep 23, 2011 (WiC 123) Confucius would have understood what General Li Shuangjiang was trying to say when the singer of patriotic songs recently told netizens: “I didn’t beat my son. I couldn’t bring myself to. On advice, sometimes we would scare him. But I ...

How greatest dynasty began May 6, 2011 (WiC 105) Before becoming emperor, Song Taizu, the founder of the Song Dynasty, was a general-in-chief in the service of the preceding dynasty. Similar to most of the dynastic founders who’d preceded him, Taizu then seized the throne through military ...

Sun versus Pang Apr 15, 2011 (WiC 103) During the Warring States period (475 – 221 BC), seven states spent decades feuding over turf. Sun Bin was a famous military strategist at the time in the state of Wei, and Pang Guan his good friend. But Pang, envious of Sun’s talent, plotted ...

Battle of the Fei River Oct 22, 2010 (WiC 82) During the state of Sixteen Kingdoms (304 to 439 AD), China was divided into numerous short-lived sovereign states. The Qin, led by Fu Jian, dominated much of Northern China. In 383 AD Fu led his massive force of 870,000, hoping to conquer the ...

Wan Bi Gui Zhao Apr 30, 2010 (WiC 58) During the Warring States Period, the ruler of Zhao, King Huiwen, acquired a piece of invaluable jade. The Emperor of Qin, a stronger state at the time, heard the news and wanted the jade for himself. So he sent an envoy to Zhao, expressing his ...

Lord Xinling saves Zhao Mar 26, 2010 (WiC 54) During the Warring States Period (476-221 BC), the state of Zhao was under attack by Qin. Zhao asked the state of Wei for help. But worried that Qin – the most powerful state – would retaliate, the King of Wei told his army general Jin Bi to ...

Straw Boat Borrows Arrows Mar 19, 2010 (WiC 53) Zhuge Liang, the Chancellor of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period (221-280 AD), is a legendary figure in Chinese history. And one of the better-known stories of his military genius is known as ‘Straw Boat Borrows Arrows’. At the time, ...

The ideal official Oct 30, 2009 (WiC 36) Originally from Hefei, Bao Zheng (999-1062) served in the government of Duanzhou (today’s Zhaoqing in Guangdong) during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song China. At the time, the imperial court demanded that Duanzhou officials fulfill an ...