I am one of the few on this website who can actually understand original Chinese historical sources.
Joined November 2016
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also reflected on how Qin Shi Huang had been dead for 2,000 years.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he wrote this poem.
In the spring of 1682, while accompanying Emperor Kangxi on an eastern tour, Nalan Xingde arrived at Shanhaiguan (the easternmost pass of the Great Wall).
As he climbed to a high vantage point and gazed into the distance, he was reminded of the tragic legend of Meng Jiangnu and
In China, the imperial throne is not about bloodline but about military might.
This famous quote by An Zhongrong is known to every Chinese person, and Mao Zedong's statement that "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" conveys the same meaning.
Shi Hu said: "The Sima family father, sons, and brothers killed each other. That’s how I was able to gain the empire. If it weren’t for that, how could I have what I have today? There’s no way I would ever kill my own son!"
This article about the dangers of imperial succession in China is very well written. I will translate them all.
very smart woman.
To be honest, I feel that most Chinese empresses or concubines had this kind of personality—Wu Zetian was quite similar.
AI-reconstructed Ming emperors.
You can observe that as they had children with beautiful women, their facial features grew increasingly delicate over generations.
forward bravely. The soldiers under his command were all inspired and fought with renewed courage.
——Old Book of Tang
In 645, Ashina She'er accompanied Emperor Taizong in the campaign against Goguryeo.
When they reached the battlefield at Zhubi Mountain (near present-day Liaoyang), he was struck by enemy arrows multiple times.
Yet, after pulling out the arrows, he continued to press
