China
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Ancient Ghost Stories- Eastern Style
We have discussed the similarities of how the afterlife and ghosts are viewed in the Western World in our previous post. There are also similarities that run through how these subjects are addressed in Eastern cultures, however, there are a few twists that mark them out as different. As in the West, the ghosts of ancestors could appear to their descendants to give warnings or advice. However, in China this was taken to another level as ancestor worship was widely practiced. The Chinese afterlife was a journey for the soul to cross a bridge over an abyss. There the soul was judged and if it was found worthy, it drank…
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Kamikaze and the Aborted Mongol Invasions of Japan
In Simon Schama’s History of Britain, he makes the comment that the weather bats for England. Apparently the weather has that same deal with Japan. The word “kamikaze” brings visions of suicide pilots from World War II, but the word actually means “divine wind”. In this case, the kamikaze defended the Japanese islands from invasion fleets. In the 13th century, the Mongols had swept through Asia and had finished bringing Goryeo, or Korea, into the empire. Kublai Khan had become the first emperor of the Yuan (or Mongol) dynasty of China. Now he cast his hungry eyes towards Japan. At this time, Japan was ruled by the Shogunate Regents of…
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An Introductory Overview of the Mongols
Please note that this is not meant to be a biography of any one person but a brief overview of the dynasty to show the impact that the Mongols had for many centuries. More in depth posts will follow going into more detail of specific people and events. It all started in unassuming grasslands on the high plateau of Mongolia east of the Altai Mountains. Various Turkic and Mongol-Tungusic tribes roamed these steppes- herding animals such as sheep, goats, horses, yaks, oxen and camels; trading and raiding their more sedentary neighbors. The had no permanent cities as their primary shelter was a circular felt covered dwelling called the “ger” or…
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Ching Shih
Ching Shih’s early life is shrouded in mystery. Even her name isn’t really her own, as “Ching Shih” translates to “widow of Ching”. She first appears in the historical record in 1801. However, she left her mark on history as one of the most successful pirates. It is theorized Ching Shih was born around 1775 in the Guangdong province of China. One source records her birth name as Shil Xiang Gu. Nothing is known of her childhood, but I imagine it wasn’t one of ease. At the age of 26, she was a prostitute on a floating brothel in Canton. In 1801, she caught the eye of Ching Yi, who…
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Wang Cong’er
18th century China was not an easy place for those born into poverty, especially women. This was the world Wang Cong’er was born into. She was born around 1777 in the Hubei province to a peasant family. There was no money for rents, and the families were forced to borrow at high rates of interest. When they could not pay, the families were thrown off their land. Beggars were everywhere. Her father died when Wang Cong’er was young, leaving her mother to try to make money any way she could. Her mother took in laundry and sewing and hired herself out as a domestic servant, but still could not feed…
