S8E08 | Let's Stick Together

S8E08 | Let's Stick Together

Author: Laszlo Montgomery October 22, 2023 Duration: 11:58

Once again, for all CHP listeners, I'm featuring the latest episode of the Chinese Sayings Podcast. It's said that we human beings have been called social animals by nature. Some of us love other kinds of people more than others do. But no matter how enamored one might be about another culture, nation, or people, we all tend to stick with our own kind. This 4th Century BC Chinese Saying comes from "The Strategies of the Warring States." and concerns the witty and capable minister to King Wei of Qi and his son King Xuan: Chunyu Kun. King Xuan needed to round up several talented souls to help him manage the Kingdom of Qi, where the stunning and beautiful Shandong Peninsula is located. Answering the king's call, Chunyu Kun gathered a whole bunch of worthy and talented men and schooled the king about how easy it was to find them. This is the story behind Wù Yǐ Lèi Jù 物以类聚. I also mentioned another chengyu that goes along with this episode: yīmíng jīngrén 一鸣惊人. You get that one too, at no extra cost, I might add. Only two more episodes to go for this season. Like last time in Season 7, be looking for un episodio extra especial featuring our hardworking and brilliant 领导 of the 成语研究中心 in Beijing: Emma. Looking forward to seeing some of you in Hong Kong during my few days there. My deepest gratitude for listening.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


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. 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: 47:55
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: 35:08
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: 35:23
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: 19:29
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…
Ep. 346 | The Hungry Ghost Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:05
This is the third time the history and traditions behind a Chinese holiday is being introduced. The history behind the Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival were both presented back in the days when I knew even less t…
Ep. 345 | Howqua [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:46
Once dubbed "the richest man in the world" back in his day, the first half of the 19th century, Wu Bingjian 伍秉鉴 was a leading figure in the pre-Opium War world of foreign trade. He's best known as someone who epitomized…
Laszlo discusses historical novels with author, Janie Chang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:02
It must have been three or four years ago that I started bouncing this idea off Janie about a discussion regarding historical fiction rooted in Chinese history. Janie, being a successful writer of this genre, was perfect…
Ep. 344 | James Hong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:20
With the 18-part History of Chinese Philosophy series finally out of the way, we're back with all new CHP content. Here's one that introduces the life of one of my favorite Hollywood legends, Mr. James Hong. He's someone…