Tag: Chinese History
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Legacies of Power: Koxinga and Shi Lang’s Lasting Impact on Taiwan’s Identity and Development
Koxinga and Shi Lang significantly influenced Taiwan’s identity, culture, and economy during their respective eras. Louisa Steijger investigates their legacies, viewed variably as heroes or villains, reflecting Taiwan’s ongoing struggle for autonomy amidst evolving political contexts and relations with China.
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Emperors and Their Boys: Homosexuality in the Court of China’s Western Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty emperors engaged in romantic relationships with male companions, reflecting a nuanced perspective on homosexuality. Yet, these relationships intertwined affection with political power dynamics and as Kilan Duan notes, they reveal deeper societal implications regarding loyalty and authority during that era.
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Beyond Boundaries: Pioneers in Chinese Women’s Education from Past to Present
The recent focus on Zhang Guimei and her pioneering work at Huaping High School highlights the vital role of women in advancing education in China. Sarah Zhou discusses how their legacies inspire and promote ongoing efforts towards gender equality and educational opportunities.
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The Autocratic Democrat: why did Chiang Ching-kuo dismantle Taiwan’s authoritarian regime?
Inheriting an one-party state from his father, Chiang Ching-kuo turned the authoritarian state Taiwan was shaping up to be into a democracy. Ed Green discusses the political development of the Republic of China and Ching-kuo’s legacy in present day.
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“We foreigners don’t smoke opium”: Exposing Western Opium Consumption, 1840-1930
The narcotic opium is the subject of an explicitly racialised history. Kat Jivkova traces Western opium consumption in an attempt to remedy perceptions of the drug as inherently Chinese.
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Conceptualising Longevity within the Theoretical Wheel of Fortune: Trajan, Henry VIII, and Mao’s Cult of Personality
Harry Fry considers the concept of the wheel of fortune in relation to rulers spanning across history, from Roman Emperor Trajan to Mao Zedong.
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‘Ten Years of Chaos’: Revisiting the Chinese Cultural Revolution
The Chinese Cultural Revolution is one of the most brutal events in history with hundreds of thousands killed in an attempt to create a modern communist society. Edie Christian revisits the history of the Cultural Revolution to understand how citizens were impacted by the immense societal changes.
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Uncovering China’s Complex History of Animal Welfare: From Compassion to Modern Challenges
Attitudes towards animals vary from culture to culture, with legal and social implications. Sarah Zhou examines China’s history of animal welfare and what it means today.
Retrospect Journal 