Ep. 370 | The Looting of the Eastern Tombs

Ep. 370 | The Looting of the Eastern Tombs

Author: Laszlo Montgomery December 18, 2025 Duration: 38:32

This one is more entertaining than anything. Mr. Andrew Shaw mentioned this looting of the eastern Qing Tombs event when I interviewed him earlier in the year. If you recall, he wrote that book called "Spoil." This time, I'm focusing on the events that went down in July 1928 at the Qing Eastern Tombs 清东陵 northeast of Beijing. This all took place in the final moments of the Warlord Era, right after the Central Plains War. This act perpetrated by warlord Sun Dianying 孙殿英 epitomized the venality of these parasites. To get early access to all the new episodes coming in February 2027, consider Patreon or CHP Premium. Details at the Website: https://teacup.media/support


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: 50

The China History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 359 | Plant Hunters during the Qing Dynasty (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
I was afraid I'd barely be able to scrape together enough material for a short episode. Instead, this one is gonna take almost two hours to tell. I hope no one minds that I opted not to drown anyone with Latin names and…
Introducing: History Daily [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:38
Calling all fans of podcast great, Lindsay Graham! Here's a sampling of the very popular podcast, History Daily. On History Daily, they do history, daily. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American Hi…
Laszlo and Andrew Shaw discuss the History of Jade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:07
Former BBC reporter and master jade carver Andrew Shaw is back. What an informative interview this one turned out to be! I hope you all enjoy this discussion of the history and legends behind jade. I learned quite a bit…
"The Second Journey" An interview with Joel Bigman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:40
With the Singapore History series out of the way, and 2025 off and running, here's the first special interview episode of the year. Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Joel Bigman, author of a new bo…
Ep. 358 | The History of Singapore (Part 10) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:39
First of all, to all of you who lasted through the entire series up to this concluding episode, I extend to you, my deepest appreciation. I hope you learned a few things about Singapore. Here it is, the final installment…
Ep. 357 | The History of Singapore (Part 9) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:03
In its hour of need, quite a few leaders rose to the occasion in Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew didn't transform the nation by himself. Last time we saw how S. Rajaratnam carried the flag around the world and advanced Singapore…
Ep 356 | The History of Singapore (Part 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:03
We left off last time with Singapore being granted sovereignty by Britain on June 3, 1959, and Tunku Abdul Rahman's "Grand Design" speech concerning a merger between Malaysia and Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew took this pro-mer…
Ep. 355 | The History of Singapore (Part 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
Post-WWII Singapore was a time that was loaded with historical events that shaped how matters would unfold throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s. The matter of how to handle the future of Malaya and Singapore begins to…
Ep. 354 | The History of Singapore (Part 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:04
In this episode, we see how Japan marched and bicycled their way across the Johor Strait and proceeded to quickly defeat the British Commonwealth troops. Then we see how Japan carried out a brutal and repressive occupati…