The History of China

Wang Anshi's heady, glorious dream at last comes crashing into the cold, mechanical reality of imperial bureaucracy, to everyone's chagrin.

Wang Anshi's heady, glorious dream at last comes crashing into the cold, mechanical reality of imperial bureaucracy, to everyone's chagrin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wang Anshi weilds his newfound power to implement, through his hand-picked Finance Planning Commission, a sweeping series of reforms aids at revitalizing that dynasty's sagging economy. They'll include a government loan program, new tax policies to pay for laborers, a rethink of the state's very relationship with commerce and traders, and a re-formatting of the empire's volunteer self-defense forces. Time Period Covered: 1069-1073 CE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wang Anshi wields his newfound power to implement, through his hand-picked Finance Planning Commission, a sweeping series of reforms aids at revitalizing that dynasty's sagging economy. They'll include a government loan program, new tax policies to pay for laborers, a rethink of the state's very relationship with commerce and traders, and a re-formatting of the empire's volunteer self-defense forces. Time Period Covered: 1069-1073 CE

In this first part of a mini-arc, southern provincial nobody Wang Anshi rises above his station and attracts both the curiosity and the attention of Emperor Shanzong and his court by laying out a bold new vision to lead the Song Dynasty out of its economic malaise before disaster inevitably strikes. But when neither Wang nor his critics are willing to give an inch on their principles, sparks fly... Time Period Covered:  1021-1070 CE Relevant Historical Figures: Emperor Shenzong of Song (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067 - 1085] Wang Anshi, Economic Maverick [1021-1086] Sima Guang, Conservative Historian [1019-1086] Ouyang Xiu, "Old Drunkard" [1007-1072] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this first part of a mini-arc, southern provincial nobody Wang Anshi rises above his station and attracts both the curiosity and the attention of Emperor Shanzong and his court by laying out a bold new vision to lead the Song Dynasty out of its economic malaise before disaster inevitably strikes. But when neither Wang nor his critics are willing to give and inch on their principles, sparks fly Time Period Covered: 1021-1070 CE Relevant Historical Figures: Emperor Shenzong of Song (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067 - 1085] Wang Anshi, Economic Maverick [1021-1086] Sima Guang, Conservative Historian [1019-1086] Ouyang Xiu, "Old Drunkard" [1007-1072]

"Like milk on a hot day in San Diego, it turned out that Emperor Yingzong was a bad choice." Time Period Covered: 1063-1067 CE Important Historial Figures: Song: Emperor Renzong (Zhao Zhen)[r. 1022-1063] Emperor Yingzong (Zhao Shu)[r. 1063-1067] Emperor Shenzong (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067-1085] Empress Cao [1016-1079] Chancellor Han Qi（韩琦）[1008-1075] Prime Minister Fu Bi Chief Censor Sima Guang [1019-1086] Minister Ouyang Xiu [1007-1072] Western Xia: Li Liangzuo (Weiming Liangzuo)[b. 1046, r. 1048-1067] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Like milk on a hot day in San Diego, it turned out that Emperor Yingzong was a bad choice." Time Period Covered: 1063-1067 CE Important Historial Figures: Song: Emperor Renzong (Zhao Zhen)[r. 1022-1063] Emperor Yingzong (Zhao Shu)[r. 1063-1067] Emperor Shenzong (Zhao Xu) [r. 1067-1085] Empress Cao [1016-1079] Chancellor Han Qi（韩琦）[1008-1075] Prime Minister Fu Bi Chief Censor Sima Guang [1019-1086] Minister Ouyang Xiu [1007-1072] Western Xia: Li Liangzuo (Weiming Liangzuo)[b. 1046, r. 1048-1067]

Emperor Renzong of Song continues to twiddle his thumbs. Confucianism get a much-needed adrenaline shot to the arm via Daoism. Zhuang superpatriot Nong Zhigao declares simultaneous war on China and Vietnam in the name of his people's liberation. Time Period Covered: 1043-1054 CE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emperor Renzong of Song continues to twiddle his thumbs. Confucianism get a much-needed adrenaline shot to the arm via Daoism. Zhuang superpatriot Nong Zhigao declares simultaneous war on China and Vietnam in the name of his people's liberation. Time Period Covered: 1043-1054 CE

Emperor Renzong of Song isn't exactly... into the whole "rule" thing. He'd much rather wile away his days talking about Confucian philosophy, writing calligraphy, and making love to his concubines. But he'll be forced to uneasily embody the might of Song China when the Tangut state of Western Xia declares its independence, triggering a massive conflict on the borderlands. Time Period Covered: 1033-1044 CE Major Historical Figures: Song: Emperor Renzong Chancellor Li Yijian Fan Zhongyan, Commander of Yanan Circuit Xi Xia: Li Yuanhao (Weiming Nangxiao), Emperor of Xia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emperor Renzong of Song isn't exactly... into the whole "rule" thing. He'd much rather wile away his days talking about Confucian philosophy, writing calligraphy, and making love to his concubines. But he'll be forced to uneasily embody the might of Song China when the Tangut state of Western Xia declares its independence, triggering a massive conflict on the borderlands. Time Period Covered: 1033-1044 CE Major Historical Figures: Song: Emperor Renzong Chancellor Li Yijian Fan Zhongyan, Commander of Yanan Circuit Xi Xia: Li Yuanhao (Weiming Nangxiao), Emperor of Xia

Today I’d like to introduce a new show by our friends over at Wondery, called “American Innovations” You can hear the first 3 episodes right now by searching for American Innovations on Apple Podcasts or go to wondery.fm/china.

When Emperor Renzong of Song takes the throne, he's just a boy of 12 and surely in need of his mother's guidance... but how long until Mom becomes more of a hinderance than a help? ... And what if she's not really his mother? Time Period Covered: 1022-1033 CE Important Historical Figures: Emperor Renzong of Song [Zhao] (r. 1022- Empress Dowager Liu (-1033) Lady Li (-1032) Chancellor Ding Wei Chancellor Wang Zeng Assistant Minister of the Palace Library, Lu "Fish-Head" Zongdao (-1029) Sun Shi, Director of Education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Emperor Renzong of Song takes the throne, he's just a boy of 12 and surely in need of his mother's guidance... but how long until Mom becomes more of a hinderance than a help? ... And what if she's not really his mother? Time Period Covered: 1022-1033 CE Important Historical Figures: Emperor Renzong of Song [Zhao] (r. 1022- Empress Dowager Liu (-1033) Lady Li (-1032) Chancellor Ding Wei Chancellor Wang Zeng Assistant Minister of the Palace Library, Lu "Fish-Head" Zongdao (-1029) Sun Shi, Director of Education