China's Long Revolution, 1900-1950

At the turn of the 20th century, China was still ruled by a dowager empress, last of an ancient dynasty that refused to engage with the modern world. Half a century later it was the People’s Republic of China, headed by Mao Zedong, on track to become one of the most powerful nations on Earth. In this video we’ll delve into the complicated story of China’s tumultuous half-century and try to understand how it became what it is today. This video is dedicated to Dr. Jonathan Porter (1938-2024). CORRECTIONS: The KMT is not currently (2025) in power in Taiwan; I should have said they're in the government still, but not the party in power. Sources for this video included: Lü Peng, A History of China in the 20th Century (Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023); Jonathan Porter, Imperial China 1350-1900 (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2016); Jung Chang, Empress Dowager Cixi (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013); Xavier Paulès, The Republic of China, 1912 to 1949 (Paris: Polity Press, 2023); Hans J. van de Ven, War and Nationalism in China, 1925-1945 (London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003); Jay Taylor, The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the Struggle for Modern China (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2009); Pang-Mei Natasha Shang, Bound Feet & Western Dress (New York: Knopf Doubleday, 2011); Andrew David Field, Shanghai’s Dancing World: Cabaret Culture and Urban Politics, 1919-1954 (Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, 2010); Edgar Snow, Red Star Over China (New York: Grove Press, 1968); Hal Gold, Unit 731: Testimony (Tokyo: Yenbooks, 1996); Diana Lary, China’s Civil War: A Social History, 1945-1949 (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2015); Harrison E. Salisbury, The New Emperors: China in the Era of Mao and Deng (New York: Avon Books, 1992). The interstitial music in this video consists of: “Eastern Steppe Sunrise” by Matt Oakley; “Lau Tzu Ehru” by Doug Maxwell; “Echoes of Ancient Jade” by Jackchai Tilakoon; and “Nomadic Odyssey” by Sinsai Jasila. Special thanks to: John Marcucci, David Albers, Lawarch Extra special thanks to: The Daily Lobo (https://www.dailylobo.com) and Jaden McKelvey-Francis: the University of New Mexico library and registrar’s office; and Robert Marchetti. Check out Andrew Field's channel: ‪@andrewfield‬ Heavy metal T-shirts I wore in this video included: Ensiferum, Necroviolence, Candlemass (clip from old video), Stormhammer, Amon Amarth. My book, “The Gangster Crown”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPJF8HZX My book, “Daniel Vanished”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYWTRDKF My website: https://www.seanmunger.com My Ko-fi: https://Ko-fi.com/seanmunger My blog: https://gardenofmemory.net/ Contents: 00:00-13:54: Fists of Righteous Harmony 13:54-24:12: The Dowager 24:12-35:42: Century of Humiliation 35:42-42:50: The First Revolution 42:50-52:17: A Farewell To Kings 52:17-1:01:04: The Great Frenemies 1:01:04-1:07:15: The Warlord Era 1:07:15-1:17:04: The Big Split 1:17:04-1:21:11: A Tribute To Jonathan Porter 1:21:11-1:28:54: The Long March 1:28:54-1:41:00: China In The Thirties 1:41:00-1:47:30: The Resistance War 1:47:30-1:55:02: Japan Attacks (Again) 1:55:02-2:01:54: The Big War 2:01:54-2:07:35: Musical Chairs 2:07:35-2:18:13: The Final Battles 2:18:13-2:26:14: The Second Revolution 2:26:14-2:35:27: The Aftermath 2:35:27-2:48:14: What Happened To Everyone