The Context

Today, we’ll talk about the tomb of Liu He, a Han dynasty ruler whose brief reign ended in disgrace, and how a tiny jade seal, along with thousands of other artifacts, is revealing a far more complicated story about his life, his education and the world he inhabited.

Today, we’ll talk about Yuelu Academy, a historic center of learning in central China whose 1,050-year legacy offers a window into the country’s intellectual traditions, educational transformation and resilience through times of war and change.

Today, we’ll talk about how an important transport artery from Yunnan Province to Xizang Autonomous Region, following old trade routes, relieved social and economic isolation in one of the most scenic but impoverished parts of Southwest China.

Today, we’ll talk about Zhang Boju, the legendary art collector who sacrificed his fortune, endured kidnapping, and ultimately preserved some of China’s greatest artistic treasures for future generations.

Today, we’ll talk about the Taibao Ding, a remarkable bronze vessel from the early Zhou dynasty whose story reveals the origins of the ancient state of Yan, the struggles of a frontier kingdom that survived for more than eight centuries, and the early historical roots of the city that would eventually become modern Beijing.