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Chinese history

Chinese history
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Chinese history. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The traditional Chinese dragon motif embellishes countless objects, profoundly influencing the identity of ancient artefacts. Photo: SCMP composite/Wikipedia
Trending in China

Carved in history: how dragon motifs tell the rise and fall of Chinese empires

Modern research reveals how imperial dragon artwork directly mirrored a regime’s strength and prosperity.

Chinese culture

‘Cleverest woman that ever lived’: the rise of China’s Empress Dowager Cixi

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How the Chinese language has long been shaped by foreign influences

US-China relations

Opinion | How Chinese philosophy influenced US founding fathers

From the Mandate of Heaven to the ‘pursuit of happiness’, the US and China share a rich intellectual tradition of ethical governance.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Food and Drinks

Bear’s paw, monkey brain? Not in this US$2,000 Manchu-Han banquet in Hong Kong

Chef who was part of the team behind the 1977 ‘imperial’ feast in Hong Kong is planning a modern interpretation, minus the taboo ingredients.

Technology

Opinion | How the I Ching inspired modern computing and AI

The connection between Chinese civilisation and Western scientific thinking is far deeper and more intricate than commonly understood.

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Chinese culture

As I see it | What the I Ching is really about

While it may depart from scientific axioms, readers can glean much about their circumstances by consulting the Book of Changes.

The I Ching contains 64 hexagrams, where solid and divided lines represent the cosmic principles of yang and yin respectively. Photo: Shutterstock
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | From Hong Kong to Singapore, how China’s Teochew have left an outsized mark

Hit Teochew family drama Dear You spotlights a Chinese community with a long, influential history and notable figures like Li Ka-shing.

Food and Drinks

Think matcha is Japanese? Think again, says this Hong Kong tea brand

Hong Kong bar owner Gavin Yeung founded matcha brand Celadon after being ‘floored’ by its long history in China before reaching Japan.

Trending in China

Sips of history: how ancient Chinese brewing techniques shaped modern alcohol

Unopened 2,500-year-old bottle of liquor contains substantial volume of liquid, allowing researchers to analyse drink’s chemical composition.

This setting is the historic Liaoyuan Longquan Distillery Co. Ltd., which boasts a legacy of 110 years in Jilin province. Photo: CFOTO via Getty Images
Chinese culture

How a Chinese empress shaped her country without ever taking the throne

Empress Xiaozhuangwen secured power, averted crises and deposed enemies while raising and guiding China’s longest-serving emperor.

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A painting of Empress Xiaozhuang (1613-1688), known for most of her life by the title Grand Empress Dowager. After securing power by having her son ascend the throne in 1643, she raised his successor, her grandson Kangxi, who would go on to be China’s longest-ruling monarch, reigning from 1661 to 1722. Photo by: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Trending in China

Discovery of ancient Chinese anaesthesia reveals advanced early surgical practices

Researchers recently announced the discovery of Ming-era (1368–1644) topical anaesthetics, but how did they work.

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | The history of weiqi, or go, Chinese board game dating back over 2,000 years

More popularly known as go – its Japanese name – weiqi has for centuries been embraced as a mark of cultivation and refinement.

Food and Drinks

What are alkaline rice dumplings, the Dragon Boat Festival sweet treat?

Alkaline rice dumplings, traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat or Tuen Ng Festival, boast a rich history that dates back to ancient times.

A golden kumquat rice dumpling from Tsui Hang Village in Hong Kong. Alkaline rice dumplings are a Dragon Boat Festival sweet treat with ancient origins. Photo: Tsui Hang Village
Asia travel

Best things to do in Wuxi, China’s lakeside city of gardens and sweet cuisine

Nestled on China’s Lake Taihu, Wuxi, with its industrial heritage, serene gardens, temples and decadent cuisine, is great for a weekend trip.

Tourists stroll around a historical district in Wuxi. The city on the shores of Lake Taihu in China’s Jiangsu province is known for its canals, temples, peaceful gardens and decadent cuisine that reflects its wealthy industrial past. Photo: Shutterstock
Art

At Art Basel Hong Kong, 3 artists reimagined the ancient art of Chinese ink

Xu Jiong, Chao Chung-hsiang and Tang Chang brought calligraphy and ink landscapes with Western sensibilities to the fair.

US-China relations

How a US prosecutor’s private diaries documented Nanking Massacre evidence

Disclosure came ahead of Donald Trump’s high-stakes visit to China and amid Japan’s recent attempts to erode lessons of post-WWII tribunal.

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Trending in China

‘Sky breaks’: in China, lying flat can avoid bad luck; use ‘mending pancakes’

Ancient ritual based around a mythical mother goddess sees work of women in household celebrated; involves baking cakes.

In some regions of China, a so-called lying flat day once a year, is a ritual based around the legend of an ancient goddess, is thought to bring good luck. Photo: Getty Images
Diplomacy

Opinion | Norman Bethune’s story still holds lessons for China-Canada relations

The Canadian doctor, hailed a hero in China, was driven by personal conviction; there are others today, tilling the soil of Sino-Canadian friendship.

Chinese culture

Who was Yang Guifei, the Chinese beauty blamed for toppling a dynasty?

One of ancient China’s ‘Four Beauties’, Yang besotted an emperor, was the target of a rebellion, and in death became a tragic romantic icon.

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Hong Kong principal’s Singapore disgrace highlights centuries-old standards

School heads in premodern China had to lead by example above all. More recently, principal Lee Cheuk-hing’s failure to do so cost him his job.

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A still from a viral video shows Hong Kong principal Lee Cheuk-hing exchanging heated words with security guards outside a venue during a school trip to Singapore. Lee tendered his resignation to the San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, after the incident sparked online outrage, but it was rejected; the school has instead opted to fire him.
China society

As I see it | How adversity has guided the path of Chinese civilisation through the ages

Recent findings by archaeologists suggest the push for innovative solutions is often borne out of the struggle to overcome severe challenges.

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Descendants of Chinese railroad workers gather during a ceremony for 12,000 Chinese immigrant labourers who worked on the Central Pacific Railroad between 1865 and 1869 being inducted into the Labor Hall of Honor, at the Department of Labor, in Washington DC, on May 9, 2014. Photo: Xinhua
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | After the Shanxi disaster, how China’s coal mining industry evolved over history

From bamboo ventilation systems to steam power and beyond, China now leads the world in producing and consuming coal, but dangers remain.

Trending in China

Eat idol’s poems: ancient roots of China fan culture show extreme devotion to idols

In ancient times, fame was cultivated in streets, restaurants, poetry circles, where beauty and talent transformed poets, performers into icons.

Trending in China

Chinese scientists suggest harsh environments foster early human creativity

The research unveils a more intricate narrative of innovation, intelligence, and human evolution in East Asia.

To survive harsh environments and support their communities, ancient humans developed group hunting and sophisticated tools. Photo: Wikipedia
China’s Communist Party

Video | How a rural French town became the cradle of Chinese communism

Late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping was among the many Chinese students who studied in Montargis in the early 20th century.

Late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping was among the many Chinese students who studied in Montargis in the early 20th century
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Trending in China

2 notable women in ancient China broke barriers in fields of medicine, science

Breakthrough by woman pioneer led to jail, execution for son who agreed with her decision to dissect her dead husband.

Chinese culture

The dark story of Consort Wan, 17 years older than the emperor who loved her

Wan Zhen’er became a beloved consort of Emperor Chenghua against all conventions, but records indicate a pernicious side to her tale.

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