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. 353 | The History of Singapore (Part 5) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:07
Although all kinds of tension brewed beneath the surface, the mid to late 19th Century saw a continued bonanza for Singapore. A prosperous combination of hard-working men and women, fearless entrepreneurs, and fortunes m…
Ep. 352 | The History of Singapore (Part 4) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:07
Part 4 continues with the aftermath of the 1824 Treaty of London. John Crawfurd takes over from a disgraced William Farquhar as First Resident. Singapore commences its never-ending building and infrastructure process. Th…
Ep. 351 | The History of Singapore (Part 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:48
With Singapore formally established, we look at those first months and years. As soon as the document was signed, Raffles left the island and William Farquhar took over as First Resident. It would be hard to find a more…
Ep. 350 | The History of Singapore (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:20
With the arrival of the Portuguese and their 1511 victory, the history of this region began to move in s new direction. The Portuguese and the Dutch rather ignored Singapore and focused their trade and colonizing efforts…
Ep. 349 | The History of Singapore (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:41
Requests to present the history of Singapore go back to 2010 or 2011. At long last, here's an easy-to-consume and digest overview of The Lion City. In Part 1 we'll look at the watered world of Southeast Asia and the Mons…
Chinese-Mexican History - Laszlo chats with Hugo Wong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:54
First off, let me apologize for the less-than-optimal audio quality. This is a very informative interview. And for those of you who missed my very old episode from 2013 or thereabouts covering this topic, this discussion…
Ep. 348 | Paper Sons and the Chinese Confessions Program [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:07
This is surprisingly not very well-known and certainly wasn't taught in my US history classes. Here's a story for you that many might find hard to believe. Perhaps you're already familiar with the history of America's Ch…
Ep. 347 | The Grand Canal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:22
In this episode, I'm presenting a simple but still informative overview of not only the Grand Canal but also the bigger subject of canals in China. The history of the Grand Canal isn't one clean linear story of a structu…
The unlikely tale of Chinese slave, soldier and tycoon Jiang Zonghan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:28
Here's a reading of an article recently published in the South China Morning Post, written by travel writer David Leffman. On his most recent trip to Yunnan to work on his upcoming book on the 1875 Margary Affair, David…