Ep. 365 | Anson Burlingame, the 1868 Treaty, and the Open Door Policy

Ep. 365 | Anson Burlingame, the 1868 Treaty, and the Open Door Policy

Author: Laszlo Montgomery May 28, 2025 Duration: 36:57
In this episode, we look at the life of Anson Burlingame, a well-known name  in California. During Lincoln's term as president, he was appointed Chief Minister to China, arriving in Beijing in the summer of 1862. Already well-known in the US as a fiery abolitionist and a man who believed everyone should be treated fairly and with all due respect, he sympathized with the Chinese government. When he arrived in post-Opium Wars, post-Treaty of Tianjin/Convention of Beijing China, he used his respected position among the diplomatic community of the treaty powers to fight for a fair deal for China. In a controversial move, he was appointed by the Qing government to lead a mission to the US and the great capitals of Europe to advocate on China's behalf.


While in the US, Burlingame championed the signing of a treaty, the first of its kind, that recognized China as an equal sovereign nation. It opened the door to legal Chinese immigration and travel to the US. That ended up becoming the treaty's undoing.

For more than a decade, Laszlo Montgomery has been guiding audiences through the vast and intricate tapestry of Chinese civilization on The China History Podcast. This isn't a dry recitation of dates and dynasties, but a deeply researched exploration of the people, ideas, and events that have shaped one of the world's oldest continuous cultures. Each episode feels like a focused conversation, unpacking a specific theme, figure, or era with a clarity that makes complex history accessible. You'll find episodes delving into the philosophical foundations laid by Confucius and Laozi, the machinations of imperial courts, the transformative impact of the Silk Road, and the profound changes of the modern age. With a catalog surpassing 350 episodes, the journey spans from deepest antiquity to contemporary times, offering a comprehensive resource for both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts. Laszlo's steady narration and careful curation build connections across centuries, revealing how the past continuously informs the present. Tuning into this podcast is an ongoing education, revealing the incredible depth and diversity of Chinese history, society, and culture, one story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The China History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 343 | The History of Clocks and Timekeeping in China [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
This is an old topic I thought I'd present now to coincide with the recent release of the interview with the curators of "Clockwork Treasures From China's Forbidden City. Usually, I release new shows on Sundays at 5 AM L…
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Duration: 53:32
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Ep. 341 | The History of Chinese Medicine (Part 5) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:57
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Ep. 340 | The History of Chinese Medicine (Part 4) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:13
For the 2024 Year-End Closing episode, we continue on with the History of Chinese Medicine during the Sòng. Bi Sheng started a revolution in book printing with his invention of movable type printing. This led to an explo…
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Duration: 8:45
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Ep. 339 | The History of Chinese Medicine (Part 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:29
The focus in Part 3 will be on the Song Dynasty, the Jin and the Yuan. Looming large in Chinese medicine during this fertile period was Sun Simiao, the 药王 or King of Medicines. We'll look at his life as well as many othe…
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Duration: 11:11
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