Ancient History

ANCIENT HISTORY

The Ox in Myth and History

From helping humanity grow food to becoming good luck charms for flood control, stories about cattle are as old as Chinese civilization itself

Liu Jue (刘珏)

Feb. 13, 2021

ANCIENT HISTORY

Death of Chivalry

What did “martial ethics (武德)” mean in ancient (and modern) China?

Jan. 13, 2021

ANCIENT HISTORY

Skin Deep

A guide to ancient beauty and cosmetics in the Tang dynasty

Yang Tingting (杨婷婷)

Jan. 12, 2021

ANCIENT HISTORY

The Road to Succession

Usurper, emperor, hard worker: The short and paranoid reign of the Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing

Dec. 23, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

Seals of Approval

Why do Chinese authenticate documents with a stamp?

Yang Tingting (杨婷婷)

Nov. 22, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

Skulls and Sacrifices

Why did a 3,000-year-old dynasty practice ritual killing?

Nov. 20, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

The Eunuch and the Yogurt

Who poisoned China’s second-to-last emperor?

Nov. 19, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

Lootings of Legend

Five audacious tomb robberies from ancient history to today

Nov. 4, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

Rags to Ruler

Five Chinese emperors who rose from humble beginnings

Oct. 21, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

Everlasting Splendor

The Forbidden City celebrates its 600th birthday with a new exhibition

Oct. 17, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

Fields of Gold

Tomb of a “deposed emperor” in Jiangxi provides new clues to the history of the Han dynasty

Oct. 10, 2020

ANCIENT HISTORY

When Stars Attack

An ancient disaster from the sky baffles historians

Oct. 9, 2020

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