The Context

Today, we’ll talk about Prosperous Suzhou, an extraordinary 18th-century Chinese painting that captures the bustling streets, busy waterways and everyday lives of one of China’s great commercial cities, while revealing a remarkable story of imperial ambition, cultural heritage and a long journey home.

Today, we’ll talk about the tomb of Liu He, a Han dynasty ruler whose brief reign ended in disgrace, and how a tiny jade seal, along with thousands of other artifacts, is revealing a far more complicated story about his life, his education and the world he inhabited.

Today, we’ll talk about Yuelu Academy, a historic center of learning in central China whose 1,050-year legacy offers a window into the country’s intellectual traditions, educational transformation and resilience through times of war and change.

Today, we’ll talk about how an important transport artery from Yunnan Province to Xizang Autonomous Region, following old trade routes, relieved social and economic isolation in one of the most scenic but impoverished parts of Southwest China.

Today, we’ll talk about Zhang Boju, the legendary art collector who sacrificed his fortune, endured kidnapping, and ultimately preserved some of China’s greatest artistic treasures for future generations.