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Play S1 E1Tracing Chinese civilization from its prehistoric origins to the fall of the Qing dynasty, this sweeping 100-part documentary explores the rulers, wars, philosophies, religions, cultural achievements and social transformations that shaped one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations. Through archaeological evidence, historical records and expert commentary, the series presents a chronological account of China’s dynasties, peoples and institutions across thousands of years of history.
Season 1
100 episodes
1. China RoadAn introduction to the long development of Chinese civilization, tracing the ideas, institutions, cultural traditions and historical forces that shaped China’s distinctive path from antiquity to the end of imperial rule.CC45minJan 21, 2013
2. The Earliest ChineseArchaeological discoveries reveal the prehistoric peoples who lived across ancient China and the gradual formation of communities, cultures and shared traditions that would contribute to later Chinese civilization.CC45minJan 21, 2013
3. The Rise of AgricultureThe episode explores the origins of farming in ancient China, including the domestication of millet and rice, the growth of settled communities and the social changes produced by agricultural life.CC45minJan 21, 2013
4. The Origins of CivilizationEarly cities, ritual centers, crafts and systems of social organization illuminate the transition from Neolithic cultures to complex civilization in the lands that became China.CC45minJan 21, 2013
5. The Age of Early StatesCompeting regional societies developed fortified settlements, political hierarchies and ritual authority, laying the foundations for the earliest states recorded in Chinese history.CC45minJan 21, 2013
6. The Xia DynastyArchaeology and ancient texts are examined in the search for the Xia, traditionally regarded as China’s first dynasty, with particular attention to the Erlitou culture and debates over its identity.CC45minJan 21, 2013
7. The Rise and Fall of the Shang DynastyThe Shang dynasty emerges as a powerful Bronze Age kingdom before internal weakness and military defeat bring its rule to an end at the hands of the Zhou.CC45minJan 21, 2013
8. Shang CivilizationOracle bones, bronze vessels, royal tombs and sacrificial practices reveal the political order, religious beliefs, warfare and artistic achievements of Shang civilization.CC45minJan 21, 2013
9. King Wu's Conquest of ShangThe Zhou campaign against the last Shang king culminates in the Battle of Muye, establishing a new dynasty and introducing the enduring political idea of the Mandate of Heaven.CC45minJan 21, 2013
10. The Regency of the Duke of ZhouServing as regent for the young King Cheng, the Duke of Zhou suppresses rebellion, consolidates Zhou rule and helps shape political and ritual institutions revered by later generations.CC45minJan 21, 2013
11. The Decline of the Zhou Royal HouseThe authority of the Zhou kings weakens as regional lords grow more powerful, leading to the fall of the Western Zhou and the fragmented political order of the Eastern Zhou.CC45minJan 21, 2013
12. The Struggle for Supremacy in the Spring and Autumn PeriodPowerful states and ambitious rulers compete for leadership while alliances, reforms and warfare transform the political landscape of the Spring and Autumn period.CC45minJan 21, 2013
13. ConfuciusThe life and teachings of Confucius are explored, from his search for ethical government to the development of ideas about ritual, virtue, education and social responsibility.CC45minJan 21, 2013
14. Reforms Among the Warring StatesRival states adopt sweeping military, administrative and economic reforms as rulers seek stronger governments and armies during an age of intensifying competition.CC45minJan 21, 2013
15. The Seven Warring StatesThe seven major powers struggle for survival and supremacy through diplomacy, strategy and mass warfare, setting the stage for Qin’s eventual conquest of its rivals.CC45minJan 21, 2013
16. The Hundred Schools of ThoughtPhilosophers including Confucians, Daoists, Mohists and Legalists offer competing answers to the disorder of their age, creating a rich intellectual legacy for Chinese civilization.CC45minJan 21, 2013
17. The Rise of the State of QinPhilosophers including Confucians, Daoists, Mohists and Legalists offer competing answers to the disorder of their age, creating a rich intellectual legacy for Chinese civilization.CC45minJan 21, 2013
18. Qin Shi Huang Unifies ChinaThe king of Qin conquers the rival states, becomes China’s First Emperor and imposes far-reaching systems of administration, law, measurement, writing and imperial control.CC45minJan 21, 2013
19. The Chu-Han ContentionAfter the fall of Qin, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang battle for control of China in a dramatic civil war that ends with the founding of the Han dynasty.CC45minJan 21, 2013
20. The Parallel System of Commanderies and KingdomsThe early Han balances centrally administered commanderies with semi-autonomous kingdoms, creating tensions that test the new dynasty’s ability to maintain unity.CC45minJan 21, 2013
21. The Rule of Wen and JingEmperors Wen and Jing reduce taxes and state burdens, encourage recovery and strengthen the Han through cautious government, producing an era remembered for stability and prosperity.CC45minJan 21, 2013
22. Emperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu expands Han power, confronts the Xiongnu, centralizes authority and promotes Confucian state ideology, while the costs of warfare place heavy demands on the empire.CC45minJan 21, 2013
23. Confucian Learning During the Two Han DynastiesConfucian classics become central to education, scholarship and government as Han thinkers interpret ancient texts and establish traditions that influence imperial China for centuries.CC45minJan 21, 2013
24. The Reign of Emperors Zhao and XuanFollowing Emperor Wu’s expensive campaigns, the Han court pursues recovery, administrative reform and more restrained government under Emperors Zhao and Xuan.CC45minJan 21, 2013
25. Wang Mang's ReformsWang Mang seizes the throne and launches ambitious reforms intended to restore ancient institutions, but resistance, economic disruption and rebellion bring his Xin dynasty to collapse.CC45minJan 21, 2013
26. The Restoration of Emperor GuangwuLiu Xiu reunifies the realm after years of rebellion, restores the Han dynasty as Emperor Guangwu and rebuilds imperial government from a new capital at Luoyang.CC45minJan 21, 2013
27. The Silk RoadDiplomacy, conquest and long-distance trade connect Han China with Central Asia and lands farther west, carrying goods, technologies, religions and cultures across Eurasia.CC45minJan 21, 2013
28. The Pure Critiques and the Partisan ProhibitionsScholar-officials criticize corruption and eunuch power at the Eastern Han court, provoking political purges that deepen factional conflict and weaken the dynasty.CC45minJan 21, 2013
29. The Yellow Turban RebellionReligious movements, social distress and resentment of the Han government erupt into the Yellow Turban uprising, accelerating the breakdown of imperial authority.CC45minJan 21, 2013
30. The Three KingdomsThe collapse of the Han gives rise to the rival states of Wei, Shu and Wu, whose rulers and generals compete through warfare, diplomacy and shifting alliances.CC45minJan 21, 2013
31. Zhuge Liang Governs ShuAs chief minister of Shu Han, Zhuge Liang seeks to stabilize the state, improve administration, develop the southwest and pursue campaigns against the stronger kingdom of Wei.CC45minJan 21, 2013
32. The Unification Under Western Jinhe Sima family replaces Wei, conquers Shu and Wu and briefly reunites China under the Western Jin before court conflict and rebellion undermine the dynasty.CC45minJan 21, 2013
33. The Spirit of the Wei and Jin PeriodsAmid political turmoil, scholars and artists cultivate personal expression, philosophical debate and unconventional lifestyles that define the celebrated cultural spirit of the Wei and Jin.CC45minJan 21, 2013
34. Rule by the Great Aristocratic ClansPowerful hereditary families dominate politics and society during the era of division, shaping court government, official appointments and relations between northern émigrés and southern elites.CC45minJan 21, 2013
35. Emperor Wu of Liang's GovernmentEmperor Wu presides over a long reign marked by cultural patronage, Buddhist devotion and administrative ambition, but court weakness and rebellion ultimately devastate the Liang dynasty.CC45minJan 21, 2013
36. Emperor Xiaowen's ReformsThe Northern Wei emperor moves the capital to Luoyang and promotes sweeping cultural and political reforms intended to integrate his dynasty with the traditions of the Central Plains.CC45minJan 21, 2013
37. Emporer Wu of Northern ZhouEmperor Wu strengthens the Northern Zhou, curbs rival institutions and conquers Northern Qi, bringing northern China closer to reunification before his sudden death.CC45minJan 21, 2013
38. The Rise and Fall of the Chen DynastyThe final southern dynasty struggles to preserve stability and independence until internal weakness and the military power of Sui bring the Chen dynasty to an end.CC45minJan 21, 2013
39. Buddhism in the Wei and Jin PeriodsBuddhism spreads and adapts across a divided China, influencing philosophy, art, ritual and monastic life while becoming deeply rooted in Chinese society.CC45minJan 21, 2013
40. The Restoration of UnityAfter centuries of division, Yang Jian founds the Sui dynasty, defeats rival regimes and reunifies China through centralized institutions and large-scale reconstruction.CC45minJan 21, 2013
41. Emperor Yang of Sui: Achievements and FailuresEmperor Yang expands canals, capitals and imperial projects, but costly wars, forced labor and rebellion turn spectacular ambition into the rapid collapse of the Sui.CC45minJan 21, 2013
42. The Reign of ZhenguanEmperor Taizong and his ministers establish a respected model of Tang government based on political consultation, military success, legal order and restrained rule.CC45minJan 21, 2013
43. Empress Wu ZetianWu Zetian rises from imperial consort to become China’s only female emperor, using political skill, administrative reform and patronage to secure her extraordinary rule.CC45minJan 21, 2013
44. The Prosperous Kaiyuan EraUnder Emperor Xuanzong, the Tang reaches a height of wealth, cultural achievement and international influence before complacency and court tensions threaten the flourishing empire.CC45minJan 21, 2013
45. The An Lushan RebellionA frontier commander’s revolt plunges the Tang into years of war, causing immense destruction and permanently weakening central authority.CC45minJan 21, 2013
46. The Predicament of the Middle and Late TangRegional military governors, eunuch influence, fiscal strain and court factionalism erode Tang power as the dynasty struggles to govern an increasingly divided empire.CC45minJan 21, 2013
47. Chang'an: Metropolis of the WorldThe Tang capital is presented as a vast, cosmopolitan city where officials, merchants, diplomats, monks and travelers from across Asia meet.CC45minJan 21, 2013
48. The Rise and Fall of the Tibetan EmpireThe Tibetan Empire expands across the plateau and Central Asia, alternately fighting and negotiating with Tang China before internal conflict brings its imperial power to an end.CC45minJan 21, 2013
49. DunhuangThe oasis city of Dunhuang preserves the artistic and religious legacy of the Silk Road through its caves, manuscripts, murals and centuries of cultural exchange.CC45minJan 21, 2013
50. The Tang Dynasty's Foreign RelationsEnvoys, merchants, monks and armies connect the Tang with neighboring states and distant regions, making the dynasty a central power in a broad Asian world.CC45minJan 21, 2013
51. Religion During the Tang DynastyBuddhism, Daoism and foreign faiths flourish in Tang China, shaping art and society while also becoming entangled in debates over wealth, authority and state control.CC45minJan 21, 2013
52. The Five Dynasties and Ten KingdomsFollowing the Tang collapse, short-lived northern dynasties and competing southern kingdoms divide China until new political and military forces prepare the way for reunification.CC45minJan 21, 2013
53. Emperor Taizu of SongZhao Kuangyin founds the Song dynasty, reunifies much of China and limits military power through institutions designed to place civil government above the generals.CC45minJan 21, 2013
54. The Chanyuan TreatyAfter years of conflict, Song and Liao negotiate a landmark peace that stabilizes their frontier and creates a lasting diplomatic relationship between rival empires.CC45minJan 21, 2013
55. Governing the Realm with the Scholar-OfficialsThe Song expands examinations, schools and civil administration, creating a government in which educated scholar-officials exercise unprecedented influence.CC45minJan 21, 2013
56. Wang Anshi's ReformsWang Anshi introduces controversial policies to strengthen state finances, defense and rural society, dividing the Song court between reformers and their opponents.CC45minJan 21, 2013
57. The Jingkang CatastropheJurchen armies capture the Northern Song capital and its emperors, ending the dynasty’s rule in the north and forcing the court to rebuild in the south.CC45minJan 21, 2013
58. War and Peace Between Song and JinThe Southern Song and Jin alternate between fierce warfare and negotiated peace as each seeks security, legitimacy and control of the contested frontier.CC45minJan 21, 2013
59. The Southern Song's Refuge in the SoutheastDriven from northern China, the Song establishes a new center in the prosperous southeast, where commerce, maritime activity and urban culture support a resilient dynasty.CC45minJan 21, 2013
60. The Dreamlike Splendor of the Eastern CapitalThe bustling life of Northern Song Kaifeng is reconstructed through markets, festivals, entertainment and urban scenes immortalized in art and literature.CC45minJan 21, 2013
61. Neo-Confucianism During the Song DynastySong thinkers reinterpret Confucian tradition through new discussions of morality, human nature and the cosmos, culminating in a philosophy that reshapes education and government.CC45minJan 21, 2013
62. Song Dynasty CulturePrinting, scholarship, painting, literature, science and urban life illustrate the extraordinary cultural creativity of the Song era.CC45minJan 21, 2013
63. The Rise of KhitanThe Khitan peoples unite under Abaoji, found the Liao dynasty and build an empire that combines steppe traditions with institutions suited to ruling agricultural lands.CC45minJan 21, 2013
64. The Founding of Western LiaoAfter the fall of the Liao in the east, Yelü Dashi leads Khitan followers westward and establishes a powerful new state in Central Asia.CC45minJan 21, 2013
65. Wanyan AgudaThe Jurchen leader Wanyan Aguda unites his people, rebels against Liao domination and founds the Jin dynasty, transforming the balance of power in northern China.CC45minJan 21, 2013
66. The Rise and Fall of the Jin DynastyThe Jin conquers the Liao and Northern Song, rules a vast multiethnic realm and then faces internal strain and the devastating advance of the Mongols.CC45minJan 21, 2013
67. Liao and Jin CultureThe cultural achievements of the Khitan Liao and Jurchen Jin reveal societies that blended their own traditions with the institutions, religions and arts of neighboring peoples.CC45minJan 21, 2013
68. The Rise and Fall of Western XiaThe Tangut state builds a distinctive empire along the northwestern frontier, develops its own script and culture, and survives between powerful neighbors until the Mongol conquest.CC45minJan 21, 2013
69. The Rise of the MongolsTemüjin unites the Mongol tribes as Genghis Khan and creates a military empire whose campaigns transform Eurasia and threaten every state in northern China.CC45minJan 21, 2013
70. Kublai KhanKublai Khan completes the conquest of the Southern Song, establishes the Yuan dynasty and governs China as ruler of a vast, multiethnic Mongol empire.CC45minJan 21, 2013
71. Imperial Progresses Between the Two CapitalsThe Yuan court moves seasonally between Dadu and Shangdu, reflecting the dynasty’s effort to balance steppe traditions with the administration of China.CC45minJan 21, 2013
72. Phagpa, Imperial Preceptor of the Great YuanThe Tibetan lama Phagpa becomes an influential adviser to Kublai Khan, shaping Yuan religious policy and creating a new script intended for the empire.CC45minJan 21, 2013
73. The Maritime Silk RoadPorts, ships and merchant communities link Yuan China to Southeast Asia, India and the wider Indian Ocean through a flourishing network of maritime trade.CC45minJan 21, 2013
74. Marco Polo and ChinaThe celebrated traveler’s account provides a window into Yuan China while raising enduring questions about observation, memory and the transmission of knowledge between East and West.CC45minJan 21, 2013
75. Emperor Shun of YuanThe last Yuan emperor confronts factional conflict, natural disasters, fiscal crisis and widespread rebellion as Mongol rule in China collapses.CC45minJan 21, 2013
76. Zhu Yuanzhang, Founder of the Ming DynastyFrom impoverished beginnings and rebellion against the Yuan, Zhu Yuanzhang rises to found the Ming dynasty and creates an intensely centralized imperial state.CC45minJan 21, 2013
77. The Yongle Emperor Moves the CapitalThe Yongle Emperor transfers the Ming capital to Beijing, constructs the Forbidden City and reshapes the political and strategic center of the empire.CC45minJan 21, 2013
78. Zheng He’s Voyages to the Western OceansThe Ming court dispatches Zheng He’s enormous fleets across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, projecting imperial prestige through diplomacy, trade and maritime power.CC45minJan 21, 2013
79. The Grand Secretariat SystemThe Ming grand secretariat evolves into a powerful coordinating institution, helping emperors manage the bureaucracy despite the dynasty’s formal rejection of the chancellorship.CC45minJan 21, 2013
80. The Tumu CrisisA disastrous campaign against the Oirats ends with the capture of the Ming emperor, creating a succession crisis and exposing serious weaknesses in court and military leadership.CC45minJan 21, 2013
81. Wang Yangming's Philosophy of MindThe philosopher Wang Yangming teaches that moral knowledge is rooted within the mind and must be united with action, challenging established interpretations of Neo-Confucian learning.CC45minJan 21, 2013
82. Maritime Frontiers and Foreign TradeNo synopsis available yet.CC45minJan 21, 2013
83. Zhang Juzheng's ReformsThe grand secretary Zhang Juzheng strengthens finances, administration and imperial authority through ambitious reforms, but his program faces reversal after his death.CC45minJan 21, 2013
84. The Jesuits Come to ChinaJesuit missionaries enter late Ming China and build relationships through astronomy, mathematics, cartography and scholarship, opening a complex new era of cultural exchange.CC45minJan 21, 2013
85. The Market Towns of JiangnanCommercial towns, specialized crafts and regional markets transform the prosperous Jiangnan region into one of the most dynamic centers of the late imperial economy.CC45minJan 21, 2013
86. Silver CapitalThe influx and circulation of silver reshape taxation, trade and everyday life in Ming China, tying the empire more closely to emerging global economic networks.CC45minJan 21, 2013
87. The Chongzhen EmperorThe final Ming emperor struggles against rebellion, fiscal collapse, factional conflict and external threats as the dynasty moves toward catastrophe.CC45minJan 21, 2013
88. Entering and Ruling the Central PlainsThe Manchus cross the Great Wall, seize Beijing and begin the difficult process of conquering and governing China under the new Qing dynasty.CC45minJan 21, 2013
89. The Consolidation of the Qing DynastyEarly Qing rulers suppress resistance, rebuild administration and adapt imperial institutions in order to secure their authority over a vast and diverse realm.CC45minJan 21, 2013
90. The Recovery of TaiwanThe Qing defeats the Zheng regime in Taiwan and incorporates the island into the empire, reshaping maritime defense and cross-strait administration.CC45minJan 21, 2013
91. The Great Enterprise of UnificationThrough warfare, diplomacy and frontier administration, the Qing expands and consolidates a multiethnic empire across Inner Asia and the Chinese heartland.CC45minJan 21, 2013
92. The Grand CouncilCreated to handle urgent military affairs, the Grand Council develops into the Qing emperor’s most efficient instrument for confidential decision-making and centralized rule.CC45minJan 21, 2013
93. Incorporating the Poll Tax into the Land TaxA major Qing fiscal reform merges head taxes with land taxes, simplifying collection and altering the relationship between population, property and state revenue.CC45minJan 21, 2013
94. Civil Government and the Literary InquisitionsThe Qing sponsors scholarship and cultural projects while also prosecuting writings considered politically dangerous, revealing the close connection between learning and imperial control.CC45minJan 21, 2013
95. Reluctant Self-StrengtheningAfter military defeats, Qing officials adopt Western weapons, industry and technical knowledge while attempting to preserve the dynasty’s traditional political and cultural foundations.CC45minJan 21, 2013
96. The Opium WarCommercial conflict, opium smuggling and diplomatic confrontation lead to war with Britain, exposing Qing military weakness and beginning a new era of unequal foreign pressure.CC45minJan 21, 2013
97. The Taiping Heavenly KingdomA vast religious rebellion establishes the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and wages a devastating civil war that transforms Qing politics, society and regional military power.CC45minJan 21, 2013
98. The First Sino-Japanse WarConflict over Korea ends in a decisive Japanese victory, revealing the limits of Qing reform and triggering a profound crisis over China’s future.CC45minJan 21, 2013
99. Reform and RevolutionIntellectuals, officials and activists pursue constitutional reform, modernization and revolution as the Qing struggles to respond to domestic crisis and foreign pressure.CC45minJan 21, 2013
100. The End of Imperial RuleRevolution spreads across China, forcing the abdication of the last Qing emperor in 1912 and bringing more than two thousand years of imperial government to an end.CC45minJan 21, 2013
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General History of China
★ 9.8/1020131 season100 episodesEnded
Tracing Chinese civilization from its prehistoric origins to the fall of the Qing dynasty, this sweeping 100-part documentary explores the rulers, wars, philosophies, religions, cultural achievements and social transformations that shaped one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations. Through archaeological evidence, historical records and expert commentary, the series presents a chronological account of China’s dynasties, peoples and institutions across thousands of years of history.
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Audio languages
Mandarin
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