Billy September 3, 2016 Leave a Comment

China, A Little History, Part 12

Red China

The one and only Chairman Mao watches over Tiananmen Square for eternity. Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China, Asia. — The one and only Chairman Mao watches over Tiananmen Square for eternity.

Civil War, World War II, and Back to Civil War

Back in 1934, the Chinese Civil War between the Nationalists of the KMT and the Communists of the CPC was in full bloom. In October, the KMT overwhelmed CPC forces in southern China. The CPC began a long, slow retreat of over 5,500 miles to northwestern China. This “Long March” (actually a series of retreats) took over a year and cost many lives. As many as 90% of those who initially escaped the KMT didn’t make it. But the CPC grew in isolation [Read more…]

Billy August 6, 2016 2 Comments

China, A Little History, Part 8

First Sino-Japanese War

During the second half of the 19^th century, while China was reluctantly opening and modernizing, Japan’s modernization was going from zero to sixty. (That’s zero to 100, if you’re using the metric system.) Moving up in the world, the Japanese were eagerly looking beyond their island shores. They particularly turned their eye towards very close-by, resource-rich Korea, which had been under under China’s sphere of influence for centuries. Both [Read more…]

Billy July 30, 2016 2 Comments

China, A Little History, Part 7

Second Opium War

The Tower of Buddhist Incense at the Summer Palace in Beijing. Like much of the Palace, it was destroyed by Anglo-French forces during the Second Opium War and subsequently rebuilt. Summer Palace, Beijing, China, Asia. — The Tower of Buddhist Incense at the Summer Palace in Beijing. Like much of the Palace, it was destroyed by Anglo-French forces during the Second Opium War and subsequently rebuilt.

15 years after winning the First Opium War, the British were growing antsy. They wanted even more favorable trade conditions, including the definitive legalization of the opium trade, as well as the regulation of the coolie trade. (Coolies were Chinese indentured servants—in effect, legal slaves—shipped off by the British to outlying spots of the British Empire and to Latin America.) The British also believed that the Chinese were not keeping up with the [Read more…]

Billy July 16, 2016 2 Comments

China, A Little History, Part 5

First Opium War

The Bund in Shanghai symbolizes a century of foreign control over most of the city. Shanghai, once a small port, started to become the large international city it is today when Western powers occupied most of the city as a result of the First Opium War. Bund, Shanghai, China, Asia. — The Bund in Shanghai symbolizes a century of foreign control over most of the city. Shanghai, once a small port, started to become the large international city it is today when Western powers occupied most of the city as a result of the First Opium War.

Welcome to the 19^th century. It’s all downhill from here. The 19^th century was a disaster for China and the Qing Dynasty. Actually, it was one disaster after another.

With China being a self-contained civilization, the only thing the Qing wanted from the West in exchange for its highly desired tea, porcelain, and silk was silver. However, millions of Chinese citizens were eager to get their hands [Read more…]

Billy May 14, 2016 3 Comments

5 Reasons Why You Should Go To Asia

Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Asia — Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A few people have mentioned to me that they love traveling to Europe, but they have no desire to go to Asia. I have a brief response to that: You’re missing out! Sure, it’s a longer trip from the US to Asia than it is to Europe. But it’s a completely different world, one definitely worth visiting. Here are 5 reasons why you should go: [Read more…]