Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
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From Hostage to Hero: The Making of Liu Yuan Centuries earlier, during the early Western Han dynasty, the Xiongnu nomads of the north frequently raided Chinese territory. Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) opted for a policy of heqin – marital alliances and diplomatic brotherhood – with Modu Chanyu, leader of the Xiongnu. This pact allowed…
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The Rise of Jia Mi and His Literary Coterie In the bloody coup that toppled Empress Jia Nanfeng, Jia Mi – her nephew and adopted heir to the powerful Jia Chong – was executed. Yet just months earlier, this man in his twenties had stood at the pinnacle of imperial favor. Backed by the…