Perspective Journeys

Pre trip programs

If you like Chinese history or are planning to visit China and like to have a deeper understanding of the history and culture, this program is for you.

This is a in house, home based program for travelers who are visiting China or anyone who is interested in Chinese history.

You can do this in a cafe or in the comfort of your home.

We start with a overview view of Chinese dynasties, characteristics of each period. A general understanding of Chinese history allows you to appreciate the cultural landscape within a larger context of time and history as well as insight to contemporary society and its appropriation and use of history.

The cultural landscape in China are often embedded in specific historical time. 

Beijing with Yuan, Ming & Qing Dynasties;

Xian & Luoyang with Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties

Suzhou & Hangzhou with the Song, Ming & Qing dynasties.

Events and personalities are often analyzed with reference to historical examples and precedents. ; The Empress Dowger Cixi of the Qing compared to Empress Wu of the Tang and Empress Lu of Han; Mao compared to the First Emperor of Qin Dynasty.

They show how history is being extracted for materials to embark on contemporary social critique as well as the the role of history in shaping political events. On the other hand, social and political trends initiate evaluation and re evaluation of historical events to suit contemporary agendas.

Some examples:

The Forbidden City in Beijing was built during the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644) when Emperor Yongle shifted the Ming capital from Nanjing to Beijing.

It is considered to be a small palace by historical standards.

The palace of the First Emperor was supposed to be 10 times bigger.

Why was the capital shifted and why the need to build a new capital?

What does this tell us about the relationship between ancient history and imperial ambitions?

This set of sculpture in Long Men grotto, Luo Yang, was commission by Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty (618-906). It was recorded Empress Wu donated her cosmetic budget for this project.

Empress Wu was the only female Emperor of China.

While there were many women who held political power in Imperial China but only Empress Wu declared herself an Emperor and founded a new dynasty, The Chou Dynasty.

Was this a religious act or were there other political agenda involved?

What does this tell us about religion and politics in Tang China?

What are the ways in which religious dynamics are appropriated for political purposes?

The Great Wall of China was built by the First Emperor of China (221-207 BC) as a defense against nomads.

The Beijing section was repaired and built with bricks during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644).

Towards the end of the Ming dynasty, the rising Manchurian power was a source of concern and the Ming Great Wall was built as a defense. However, it was internal peasant revolt that ended the Ming Dynasty in 1644. The rebel leader Li Zhi Cheng led his troops towards Beijing and Emperor Ching Zhen, the last Ming Emperor, committed suicide at the coal hill just behind the Forbidden City.

The Manchurian were "invited" to fight the rebel forces and never left. They stay on to establish the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).

The Ming Dynasty became the last ethnic Chinese Dynasty in China.

The fall of Ming supposedly had strong influence on the Sino-Japanese War and the Nationalist- Communist war in China before and during WW2. This story shows how history and use of history influenced the course of history.......

See list of Chinese Dynasties

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