Chinese History & Mythology

Why do Chinese people avoid the number 4, green hats, mirrors facing the bed, or saying the word “death” too directly? In this episode, we explore 15 everyday Chinese cultural taboos and the history, beliefs, and social values behind them. From weddings and funerals to bedroom layout, speech habits, feng shui, and nighttime rules, these customs reveal how Chinese culture understands luck, respect, harmony, and the rhythm of life.

The man who offered the plan was Mi Zhu, courtesy name Zizhong, from Qu County in Donghai. His family had been merchants for generations and was one of the famous wealthy families in the region. Mi Zhu was kind and generous. Once, because he treated a mysterious woman with respect, he learned in advance that his home would suffer a fire, and he was able to save most of his family property. After that, he saw how unpredictable life could be and often used his wealth to help the poor and suffering. His reputation spread widely. When Tao Qian heard of his ability, he invited him to serve as an aide in Xu Province.

A room, a few windows, and curtains pulled tightly shut. The new mother is wearing long sleeves and long pants, with a towel wrapped around her head. There is a smell of traditional Chinese medicine in the room, and a thermos sits on the windowsill. Her mother or mother-in-law comes in every few minutes and asks, “Are you cold?” Then she quickly closes the door again, as if she is afraid that even a little wind might slip inside. Beside the bed is a bowl of brown sugar millet porridge, and next to it is a small booklet filled with detailed food restrictions.

Starting from the last episode, our historical storyline entered the Three Kingdoms period, from 220 to 280 AD. Through the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, we’re exploring what actually happened during this period of history. In the last episode, we briefly introduced several important characters in the story: Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang,, and Dong Zhuo. We also talked about two incredibly powerful warriors, Guan Yu and Lü Bu. In today’s episode, we continue the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

The Han Dynasty, we’re now stepping into a brand-new era starting this month: the Three Kingdoms period, from 220 to 280 AD. After the middle period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, political power kept shifting between the emperor’s relatives and court eunuchs. The government became more and more corrupt. Powerful families seized more land, ordinary people suffered, and life became increasingly difficult. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, along with Water Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and the famous Journey to the West, is widely recognized as one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels.

A name called “Becoming Chinese” started trending on TikTok, and along with it, a wellness drink became very popular.Apples are usually eaten fresh, so why would anyone boil them into a tea? And why did so many people suddenly start making boiled apple tea? What is so special about it that even foreign friends who are used to drinking ice water have started trying it?

Before dragons became famous worldwide, ancient China had its own monster universe. Creatures with nine heads, human faces, giant wings—and gods that controlled the sun itself. And they were all written down thousands of years ago in one of China’s strangest books: The Classic of Mountains and Seas.

It has been a while since we last sat down and talked about mythological stories together. In the past few episodes, we have mainly focused on stories about historical development. The reason we have not talked much about myths is that, in the period of history we have been covering, there really were not many highly representative mythological stories. It is also because these dynasties existed for a relatively short time in Chinese history, so they left behind very little literary material. So does that mean no mythological stories were passed down during this period?

The social turmoil at the end of the Qin dynasty began with uprisings from the common people. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised the banner of rebellion in Dazexiang. Although their rebel army was ultimately defeated, they lit the flames of resistance across the land. In this process, the noble descendants of the old six states responded one after another, hoping to restore their former glory. It was in this background that Xiang Yu stepped onto the front stage of history. He was the grandson of Xiang Yan, a famous general of Chu, and he came from a traditional military aristocratic family.

More than two thousand years ago, Qin Shi Huang brought a long age of war to an end and united scattered lands into one vast empire. This ruler was called the First Emperor, and his name left a deep mark on the long course of history. However, when it comes to the end of his life, the historical record contains many unclear and uncertain parts. The turning point in history came when he suddenly died during one of his imperial inspection tours. After that, later generations created countless stories about his death, his tomb, and his search for eternal life. These stories are not just stories. They reflect how people of that age understood life, death, and even the universe itself. For people who are not familiar with the historical background of East Asia, understanding these mysteries requires stepping into the cultural world of that time. People in that age believed that there was a connection between heaven and earth, and that the health of the ruler was closely tied to the fate of the state.

Hey friends, welcome back to another episode of Interesting Chinese Culture. The fact that Chinese people love drinking tea is something almost everyone in the world already knows. As the generations have changed, tea culture in China has also developed in many different ways, and one of the most popular forms today is milk tea, which young people are especially enthusiastic about. So why does tea culture have such a huge influence in China? And how did tea develop throughout Chinese history?

In the history of the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, left behind achievements that could never be erased. But the way such a huge empire rose so quickly in only fifteen years, and then collapsed in an extremely short time, is not something often seen in the long course of human history. The founding of the Qin dynasty marked the formal establishment of the first centralized imperial system in Chinese history, and that system shaped the political order of the next two thousand years. When we look back on this period, we often focus our attention on Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, and think that the direction of the empire was decided entirely by his personal will. But in reality, the operation of an empire depends on a vast bureaucratic system, and the choices made by the few people at the top of that system can often determine the fate of the whole state. In the final years of the Qin dynasty, there were two figures who played a decisive role in the destruction of the dynasty. They were the Chancellor Li Si and the Palace Commandant Zhao Gao.

Although the Qin dynasty existed for only fifteen years in Chinese history, it made an enormous contribution to the history of China as a whole. Even today, Qin Shi Huang still attracts scholars around the world who are interested in studying his historical background. And once we start talking about the Qin dynasty, there is one place that we absolutely have to mention, and that is the Terracotta Army.

If you have listened to some of the earlier episodes, you probably remember that we once mentioned that Chinese history stretches back about five thousand years. Across those five thousand years, many objects and daily habits have been preserved and passed down. So today, we are going to talk about one of them: chopsticks.

There is a popular story that says Qin Shi Huang was actually a very handsome man. There is a book called Records of the Grand Historian. Some of you who are interested in Chinese history and culture have probably heard of it. In this book, in the section called The Basic Annals of Qin Shi Huang, there is a description of what Qin Shi Huang looked like.

Lü Buwei traveled a long way with Prince Yiren and finally made it back to Xianyang. Lü Buwei had already found out something important. Lady Huayang was from Chu. So he told Yiren to put on Chu-style clothes before going to see his father and mother. When Yiren met Lord Anguo and Lady Huayang, he cried and said, “Your unfilial son has been away for many years and has failed to serve his parents. I beg Father and Mother to forgive me.”

 For many people who are not familiar with Chinese culture, the first thing they may hear about Qingming is that it is a day for tomb sweeping and remembering the dead. But if we look deeper, we will discover that Qingming is actually a very rich cultural system. It contains elements of astronomy, agriculture, historical legend, ethics, and even everyday aesthetics of life.

After Su Qin and Zhang Yi said farewell to Guiguzi and left the mountain, their fates turned in completely different directions. Zhang Yi went to the state of Wei, while Su Qin returned to his hometown in Luoyang.

The Yue minister Wen Zhong returned from the state of Wu with troubling news. King Fuchai of Wu had agreed to make peace, but he demanded that King Goujian of Yue come to Wu at once and serve as a slave. The Grand Steward Bo Pi was already waiting by the river to escort him. Goujian heard this and burst into tears. Wen Zhong said calmly, “Crying will not help. Time is short. We must return to the capital and arrange everything at once.”

If you are invited to a formal Chinese family dinner for the first time, you will likely have many questions. Why does everyone sit around a round table? Why are dishes placed one by one in the middle, instead of each person having their own portion in front of them? Why do older people always pick up their chopsticks first? Why does someone keep putting food on your plate? Why do wine glasses keep being raised, with seemingly polite words being said?  

After Duke Jing of Qi returned from Pingqiu, he looked calm on the surface and formed an alliance with Jin, but in his heart he could see it clearly. Duke Zhao of Jin had no real vision. So Duke Jing began to think again. He wanted to push Qi one step higher and walk the old hegemon path of Duke Huan. He asked Yan Ying, “Jin is trying to dominate the northwest. Can we not dominate the southeast?”

The Jin army had surrounded Biyang for twenty-four days. The city was small, but it was tough. They simply could not break it. Then heavy rain poured down. The water rose to three feet deep. Xun Yan and Shi Gai saw that morale was about to collapse. They hurried to the central command and quietly advised Zhi Mao: “We thought a small city would fall quickly, but it has dragged on. Now the rivers are all connected to the Si River. If the rain keeps falling and the water rises, it will be even harder. Why not withdraw first and wait for a better chance?”

Every year around February, during the Chinese New Year season, city hotels are almost fully booked, wedding planners work until after midnight, ancestral halls in the countryside are decorated with lanterns and red banners, and social media fills with one red wedding invitation after another. Why do so many people choose to get married right before or after the Spring Festival? And why are Chinese weddings often so elaborate, with dozens of banquet tables, a complicated set of rituals, heavy gift money exchanges, and almost the entire extended family showing up?

Xun Linfu ordered Xi Yong to hunt down the bandits. But Yangshe Zhi made a bold prediction. He said Xi Yong would not die a natural death. Xun Linfu asked him why. Yangshe Zhi replied, “There is an old saying among the Zhou people. If you can see the fish clearly in deep water, it is not a good sign. If you can guess what others hide in secret, it will bring trouble. No matter how clever Xi Yong is, he cannot catch every thief by himself. If some escape, they will gather together and strike back. How could he survive that?”

Zhong Sui and Shu Sun De Chen arrived in the State of Qi. On the surface, they congratulated Duke Hui of Qi on his accession. At the same time, they thanked Qi for sending representatives to attend the funeral of Duke Wen of Lu. As the banquet began, Duke Hui of Qi casually asked, “Why is the new ruler of Lu named ‘Evil’? There are so many good names. Why choose such an unlucky one?”

I don’t know if you’ve recently seen the news about China’s Spring Festival Gala and those robots. You probably came across that clip on your phone this year, right? A group of robots, moving in perfect unison on stage, flipping, spinning staffs, even coordinating with an eight- or nine-year-old child to perform Liuhe Quan. To be honest, when I first saw that scene, the first thought that popped into my head wasn’t “Wow, that’s amazing.”

During the mourning period of Duke Xiang of Jin, the marshal Xian Zhen had already learned of Qin’s secret plan to strike Zheng. He entered the court and asked for permission to fight. He spoke plainly. “The Duke of Qin ignored the advice of Jian Shu and Bai Li Xi. He marched a thousand miles to launch a surprise attack. He thinks Jin is weak because we are in mourning. If we do not strike now, this will become a great disaster in the future.” Luan Zhi, however, remembered old ties. “The ruler of Qin once helped our former lord. If we attack his army now, would that not betray our late duke?”

Zhao Cui carried Duke Wen of Jin’s secret order and rode by carriage to see Wei Chou. At that time, Wei Chou’s chest wound was very serious. He lay in bed and first asked, “How many people have come?” The attendants replied, “Only Marshal Zhao, with a single carriage.” Wei Chou gave a cold smile. “He has come to see whether I am alive or dead, so they can deal with me under military law.”

Have you ever wondered why Chinese people often say that China has five thousand years of civilization? Where does that number really come from? Five thousand years ago, most parts of the world were still in very early stages of development. Five thousand years is an almost unimaginable stretch of time. If we count back five thousand years from today, the ancient Egyptians were building pyramids, and the Sumerians in Mesopotamia had just created cuneiform writing. So what was happening on the land of China that allows Chinese people to confidently trace their history back so far? What did they leave behind? On what basis does China claim five thousand years of civilization? Today, we are going to talk about whether Chinese history really stretches back that far.

After executing Lü Sheng and Xi Rui in Wangcheng, Duke Wen once again bowed in thanks to Duke Mu of Qin. He then formally requested to bring Huai Ying back to Jin with the full honor of personally escorting his wife. Duke Mu hesitated. He said, “My daughter was once married to Zi Yu. I fear that bringing her as your principal wife might dishonor your ancestral temple. Let her serve as a consort in the inner palace.”

Prince Chong’er blamed Hu Yan for designing the plan and tricking him into leaving Qi. He grabbed Wei Chou’s long halberd and thrust it at Hu Yan. Hu Yan quickly jumped down from the carriage to avoid the strike. Chong’er also jumped down, raised the halberd, and chased after him. Zhao Cui, Jiu Ji, Hu Shegu, and Jie Zitui all got down as well and tried to persuade him.

I wonder if any of you have ever tried a Chinese dish called Hot Pot. In recent years, Hot Pot has become one of the most beloved foods among young people. It is popular not only in China, but also widely enjoyed by friends in many other countries. Chinese cuisine offers countless choices, encompassing sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty flavors in endless variations. Yet among all these possibilities, why has Hot Pot risen to become one of the most popular dishes of all?

Taking advantage of the moment when Yong Wu led troops out of the city. Gao Hu hid brave warriors inside the city tower and sent someone to invite Shu Diao to discuss state affairs. Shu Diao suspected nothing, Full of arrogance, he arrived as usual,.Gao Hu prepared a banquet and waited for him in the tower. After three cups of wine.Gao Hu said, “Now the ruler of Song has gathered the other states and is escorting the Crown Prince back with a great army.How should we resist them?”

Someone heard this and told yi ya, yi ya then went to bao shuya’s home and said, “guan zhong became the chancellor of qi because you recommended him, today our lord visited him while he was ill, yet he said you are not fit to hold the chancellorship, and instead he recommended xi peng, i really cannot accept this for you,”

Is it true that Chinese people can take fifteen days off for the Spring Festival? It sounds a bit exaggerated, almost like a joke. But if you’ve been following our earlier episodes on Chinese culture, especially the one where we talked about the Spring Festival, you might remember this detail. Today, we’re going to pick up right where that story ends and talk about the very first festival after the Spring Festival — the Lantern Festival.

After Duke Xian of Jin swallowed up the states of Guo and Yu, the court officials all came to offer congratulations. Only Li Ji felt unhappy in her heart.She had hoped to send Crown Prince Shensheng to lead the campaign against Guo, but instead Li Ke took his place and succeeded in one stroke. For the moment, she could find no chance to charge Shensheng with a crime.

At the Kuiqiu alliance meeting.Zhougong Kong was also present. Meanwhile, the new ruler of Song, Duke Xiang of Song, had just suffered a death in the family, yet he still came to the meeting in mourning clothes. This showed both his respect for ritual and his respect for Qi. Guan Zhong judged that Duke Xiang of Song was the best choice. So Duke Huan publicly took Duke Xiang’s hand and solemnly entrusted Prince Zhao to him.

The Qixi Festival , also known as the Qiqiao Festival is a Chinese festival celebrating the annual meeting of Zhinü and Niulang in Chinese mythology.The festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

Qi, Song, and Cao camped at Niebei and did not move. They stayed there for two full months. During that time, the Di forces kept attacking Xing day and night. Xing could not hold out. In the end, it was crushed. The people of Xing fled in panic and ran to the Qi camp to beg for help. Among them, one man collapsed to the ground crying.It was the ruler of Xing, Shuyan.

At the critical moment, the main Qi army arrived.The Qi general Prince Chengfu charged bravely, defeated Sùmai, and rescued Hu’er Ban. Hu’er Ban led the remaining Rong troops back to Duke Huan, his face filled with shame.Duke Huan encouraged him, saying.“Victory and defeat are the common fortunes of war.Do not take it to heart.” He also bestowed a fine horse upon him, moving Hu’er Ban to tears of gratitude.

If you ask a Chinese person, “What is the most important festival of the year?” Most people will answer without hesitation: the Spring Festival. For Chinese people, the Spring Festival has never been just a holiday. It is more like a time ritual that has lasted for thousands of years, a collective dialogue between humans and nature, between family and society.

In the first month of the first year of King Xi of Zhou. Duke Huan of Qi held court. After the ministers finished their audience, Duke Huan asked Guan Zhong. “By following Zhongfu’s guidance, our state has risen quickly.Now our troops are strong, our grain is abundant, and the people understand ritual and justice.I want to build alliances and bring peace to the four directions.What do you think?”

On the Lu side Duke Zhuang finally understood what it meant to ignore good advice. With Qi troops right at the border he chose to give in. Prince Jiu was killed. Shao Hu would rather die than accept shame, so he died on the spot for his lord. But Guan Yiwu chose to stay alive.

So when a Chinese person gets excited and tells you, look, that is a dragon pattern, it stands for good luck and strength. You might freeze for a second. Wait, a dragon？ That fire breathing giant？ It's means a good luck ？

Afterward Shi Bo privately said to Duke Zhuang that from Guan Yiwu’s expression he did not look like someone who would die on the road.He was a rare talent under heaven.If he survived he would surely help Qi grow strong and once Qi became strong Lu would inevitably be threatened.Shi Bo suggested thinking in reverse.Lu could request Qi to spare Guan Yiwu’s life.If Guan Yiwu did not die he would certainly remember Lu’s favor and this could be useful for Lu in the future.

This Guan Yiwu, whose courtesy name was Zhong, was very tall and strongly built.He looked powerful and full of masculine presence.He had read many books, knew a great deal, and had broad experience.Other people believed he had real ability, that he could handle major affairs, find ways to save a state, and also find ways to make it stronger.

Content Disclaimer This episode includes discussion of discrimination strictly within historical and cultural contexts and is presented solely for academic, educational, and analytical purposes. Nothing in this episode is intended to express or represent political positions, contemporary viewpoints, or value advocacy, nor does it endorse, justify, or promote discrimination, hatred, violence, or harmful conduct of any kind. Listener discretion is advised. If this subject matter may be distressing, please consider skipping this episode or the related sections. ——————————————————————   Today we are talking about something that sounds fun and a little provocative Why is there no so called noble bloodline race among Chinese people？

What kind of person was he  . To put it plainly, he was indulgent, lustful, and had no respect for boundaries  . On the outside he wore the robes of a ruler, but inside he did not treat ritual and moral rules as real limits at all  . Wangji entered the palace of Qi, and within just a few months she heard a piece of news that shattered her heart  . She heard that Duke Xiang of Qi had long been doing something shameful with his own younger sister WenJiang  .

After reading the report, Duke Xiang was furious .  His first thought was, “I just made peace with Duke Zhao of Zheng, and I just agreed to this alliance with Ji Zu  . Now your ministers turn around and murder him and switch rulers  . What does that make my state look like  ?How am I supposed to hold my face as the ruler of Qi .”

A long time ago, about two thousand six hundred years ago during the Zhou dynasty, the Jade Emperor, the highest god in Chinese mythology,decided to choose twelve animals to represent the years. He announced that there would be a river crossing race. The first twelve animals to reach the finish line would enter the zodiac team. They would be ranked by the order they arrived.