The History of China

The fates have not been kind to the Liu Song Dynasty. It keeps rolling the monarchy dice, and they keep coming up crazy-eyes. Emperor Ming will start strong, but descend into cruelty and paranoia. His successor seems to have just been born bad, and the final monarch of the dynasty won’t have enough time fall one direction or the other before a rising star will unseat him, and Liu Song altogether, as the true power of Southern China.Period Covered: 465 – 479 CEMajor Figures:Emperor Ming of Liu Song (née Liu Yu, r. 465-472)Emperor Houfei (née Liu Yu, r. 472-477)Emperor Shun (née Liu Zhun, r. 477-479)General Xiao Daocheng General Shen YouzhiYang Yufu, Imperial Attendant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the mid-5th century, Southern China is at a boiling point. Between the decade reign of Emperor Xiaowu, and the 1-year abomination of his son Liu Ziye, there will be rebellion, murder, torture, and incest... so, so much incest. All of leading toward a terminal decline for the Liu Song Dynasty.Period Covered: 453-465 CEImportant Figures:Emperor Xiaowu (Liu Jun)r. 453-464Prince Liu YigongPrince Liu Yixuan of NanjiaoPrince Liu Dan of JinglingCrowned Prince Liu Ziye (Emperor Qianfei) r. 464-465Prince Liu ZiluanDai FaxingHe MaiPrincess Shanyin (Liu Chuyu)Prince Liu Yu of Xiangdong (Emperor Ming) r. 465-472 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emperor Taiwu has been described as "Northern Wei's Teddy Roosevelt", and overshadows many of the Tuoba emperors to follow his reign of conquest and war. But the most forgotten of those successors, his grandson Emperor Wencheng, may have actually been far more responsible for the longterm success and stability of Wei than most realize. Though Taiwu gets all the glory for conquering the North, poor, unsung Wencheng would be the one responsible for keeping and governing it.[Show Notes]Timeframe: 452-465Major Figures:Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei (née Tuoba Jun)Empress Dowager ChangConsort LiConsort/Empress FengCrowned Prince Tuoba HongBuliugu Li (Li the Bulgar)Yuan HeRouran Khaganate Gaoche Turkic TribesMajor Locations:Pingcheng (N. Wei capital)Yungang GrottoesHexi CorridorMajor sources:Scott PearceA King’s Two Bodieshttp://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.3868/s020-001-012-0006-6?crawler=true# Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The decade long détente between the South and North will be shattered in 449 by a series of tit-for-tat campaigns by both sides, resulting in the destruction of much of the lands south of the Yellow River. But it will be assassins, not soldiers, who will most drastically shape the fates of both Northern Wei and Liu Song, one right after the other.[WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]Dates: 446-453Cast - Northern Wei: Emperor Taiwu (Tuoba Tao) Crowned Prince Tuoba Huang Prince Tuoba Han Prince Tuoba Yu (briefly emperor) Tuoba Jun (Emperor Wenzheng)Zang Ai (Eunuch, Duke of Qing) Liu Song: Emperor Wen (Liu Yilong)Crowned Prince Liu Shao (briefly Emperor Yuanxiong)Prince Liu Jun of ShixingPrince Liu Jun of Wuling (Emperor Xiaowu)General Wang XuanboGeneral Zang ZhiGeneral Lu XiuYan Daoyu (witch) Locations: Shengle, Jiankang (Nanjing), Pengcheng, Xuanhu, Xiancheng, Qian’ao, Liu’an, Huatai, Xunyang, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the course of the 5th century, Buddhism had become the rising star within China, in spite of its foreign origins. That would run into direct conflict with China's own home-grown religion: Daoism. As the two co-mingled, some would accept both... but others, especially in Northern Wei, would use all the might to eradicate what they deemed to be a heretical foreign influence on their Chinese culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northern Wei uses Liu Song's hesitation to move north of the Yellow River as an opportunity to reintegrate the last of the 16 Kingdoms into its hegemony. Koreans, Huns, and Mongols all get caught up in the fray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What had been sixteen kingdoms in the North and an uneasy Dynasty in the South has calcified into a seemingly permanent polar split. After some shenanigans, both halves of China will - surprisingly - find themselves with capable leaders. The coming showdown will be one for the history... um... podcasts... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explanation of THoC's name switcheroo... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We track back down south to discover what's been going on with the Jin Dynasty. An imbecile emperor will precipitate multiple governmental crises, ultimately resulting in overthrow, restoration, and then second overthrow the the dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Xianbei Tuoba Clan from the northwest fills the power-vacuum left by the collapse of Former QIn, and will soon add much of Later Yan to its conquests. But its rulers will be sorely tempted by the trappings of power, and as we all know in this tumultuous period, indulgence is a swift path to downfall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fratricide, regicide, and genocide are hallmarks of this period in the north. Though the tumult, Former Qin shall emerge triumphant to reunite both the North and Sichuan under its banner... only to watch it all crumble in the span of two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second half of Shi Hu's reign over Later Zhao, his scheming heirs, and the short, unhappy reigns of his eventual successors... all leading the the once-supreme kingdom being pulled apart like so much carrion by its neighbors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the death of Emperor Shi Le, Later Zhao will swiftly succumb to the bloody revenge of Shi Hu. But it's his heir, Shi Sui, who is the true terror of this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South of the Huai River, The Eastern Jin discover that a house divided against itself cannot long stand. Meanwhile in the north, the barbarian kings have turned on each other with the Xiongnu emperor of Han Zhao squaring off against the Jie Prince of Later Zhao. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jin Dynasty has lost the north, and now hides on the southern banks of the Yangtze River, trying to pull themselves together. Meanwhile the Xiongnu-led tribal coalition calling itself Northern Han will discover that defeating Jin was the easy part, and it's the stresses of governing that will either make or break with tenuous coalition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices