To understand contemporary China, one must look back into its past. As one of the world’s oldest civilizations, China’s more than 5,000 years of history are not confined to textbooks and museums; they continue to offer living wisdom today. Its long history was shaped not only by emperors and legendary figures, but also by the countless ordinary people who have lived on this land.
From the complex political struggles during the Three Kingdoms period and the mysterious bronze artifacts unearthed at Sanxingdui, to the lasting influence of Confucianism, which continues to influence Chinese social values and ways of life, China’s history reveals the breadth of human experience, as the ancients learned about the natural world, overcame disaster, dealt with conflict, sought better lives, or simply live out their days while creating arts and poetry and forming philosophical ideas.
Whether it’s the tumultuous Warring States period, lost tales along the ancient Silk Road, crime and punishment in the Ming and Qing dynasties, or the sweeping transformation of modern China, our collection of stories from Chinese history is yours to explore.
In the early 20th century, debate raged in China over whether to accept a deluge of Japanese loanwords
From paper and straw to fur coats...this is what ancient Chinese wore to keep themselves warm in winter
From the women of Xunpu to ancient emperors, the floral hairpin has been a cherished tradition among both men and women for centuries, serving as dec…
From Wu Zetian to Emperor Yongzheng, China’s imperial rulers were obsessed with people conspiring against the throne and came up with various systems…
Slogans, music, celebrities, and rhymes all helped ancient Chinese advertise their wares for sale
From celebrations of workers at the 1959 National Games to vast displays of technological prowess during this year’s Asian Games, China’s opening cer…
Historian Duan Zhiqiang explores road dangers and the emergent travel industry in China’s Ming and Qing eras
The Mid-Autumn Festival became an official public holiday only in 2008, but it has been celebrated for centuries
Because of the popularity of films based on the martial artist’s life story, few can really distinguish the actual history of Huo Yuanjia from fictio…
An audience with the Son of Heaven could be a minefield of ritual, ceremony, and etiquette for China’s court officials
These women were wrongly blamed for bringing down dynasties
Every Chinese worker has a “dang’an” (personnel file), but hardly anyone ever sees inside them
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