This article tells the tragic end of the Ming Dynasty. The Qing rose in the northeast, while Li Zicheng’s rebel army marched on Beijing. Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself at Meishan. Li briefly ruled Beijing but lost support. Wu Sangui allied with the Qing, who defeated Li and seized the capital, founding the Qing Dynasty.
This article recounts the Crow Terrace Poetry Case, a famous literary inquisition in the Northern Song. Su Shi’s poems criticizing political reforms were exploited, leading to his imprisonment. Saved by public appeals, he was exiled to Huangzhou, where he created timeless literary works. The case reflects fierce factional conflicts and the risks of outspoken…