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Chinese History

China is one of the oldest civilizations on this earth. This is, after all, the country that gave us Peking Man, who lived three-quarters of a million years ago. More realistically, the Chinese figure their civilization dates back just 5,000 years.

The Chinese base their history through the ages on dynasties, and generally consider the Xia Dynasty (2000 – 1200 BC) to be the first dynasty. The last dynasty was the Qing Dynasty which ended in 1911 when the youngster Pu Yi abdicated as the last emperor of China.

In decades past, China was considered a Third World country. No more. In the 21st century, it is emerging as a Super Power. To understand how China got to the point it is today, it is important to understand its past.

Emperor Hongwu Biography

Emperor Hongwu (or Zhu Yuanzhang) lived as a farmer, wandering monk and rebel leader and eventually become the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu...

Foot Binding in China

Foot binding in China was a practice that involved systematically wrapping a woman’s foot in cloth bandages over a period of years, forcing it...

The Origin of the Wheelbarrow

The first record of a wheelbarrow was designed in A.D. 200 by a general in the Chinese Imperial Army. Chuko Liang, felt the tool...

The Opium War and the Opening of China

China before the Opium War was closed to the West. Foreign trade was strictly controlled by the government. The Chinese had a false sense...

Women’s Status in Medieval China

What was the status of women in Medieval China? Is it possible that footbinding was considered a desirable form of status by women themselves? The...

China: Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty

The Tang and Song Dynasties of China provide a glimpse into ancient Chinese splendor and reveal Chinese advances in all aspects of human life. The...

Tang Dynasty History

The Tang Dynasty was golden age in China. Art, philosophy, literature and technology all flourished during this period. International trade grew along the Silk...

A History of Chinese Tattoos and Chinese Tattooing Traditions

Chinese tattoos have become a raging phenomenon among tattoo enthusiasts of the western world. Chinese tattoos offer beautiful characters with a sense of the...

Sir Victor Sassoon, Builder of 1930s Shanghai

A millionaire with a vision, Sir Victor Sasoon built modern Shanghai. His buildings modernized the city. When he left in 1948, the great metropolis...

The Jurchen

The Jurchen (also known as the Jin) were the semi-nomadic people who had taken over the north of China. In 946, the Khitan people...