China's Living Legends
Welcome to "China's Living Legends" your gateway to the enchanting world of Chinese stories, legendary heroes, and the art of martial combat.
Dive into captivating tales that blend ancient myths with the rich history of Chinese martial arts. From epic battles and courageous warriors to the wisdom of historical figures, our channel explores the fascinating intersections of folklore and history.
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 22 minutes
- Episodes
- 73
- Years Active
- 2025
How China’s Imperial Exam Created the World’s First Meritocracy
What if your future didn’t depend on your family name—but on one brutal exam?For over 1,300 years, China’s Imperial Examination system promised to turn peasants into officials and redefined what powe…
The Shocking Tax That Changed China Forever
In 594 BC, the small state of Lu introduced the world’s first land-based tax—a reform that would reshape Chinese civilization for 2,000 years.This wasn’t just about revenue. It was about turning unmo…
How China’s Imperial Exam Created the World’s First Meritocracy
What if your future didn’t depend on your family name—but on one brutal exam?For over 1,300 years, China’s Imperial Examination system promised to turn peasants into officials and redefined what powe…
Shaolin, Inc.: The Ancient Roots of the Billionaire Monk
Imagine a Buddhist monk, a master of Zen and martial arts, living a life of spiritual detachment. Now, imagine his personal fortune potentially rivaling that of Elon Musk. How is this possible?This i…
From Confucian Scholar to China’s Sherlock: The Story of Di Renjie
What if China’s greatest detective lived not in the 1800s…but in the Tang Dynasty? 🕵️♂️Di Renjie wasn’t just a bureaucrat—he fought corruption, survived Wu Zetian’s brutal politics, and became the i…
Workplace Secrets from Ancient China’s Bureaucracy
Zero Trust, golden parachutes, and flexible work weren’t born in Silicon Valley—they were pioneered in Ancient China.For over a thousand years, Chinese emperors managed their empires like Fortune 500…
From Confucian Scholar to China’s Sherlock: The Story of Di Renjie
What if China’s greatest detective lived not in the 1800s…but in the Tang Dynasty? 🕵️♂️Di Renjie wasn’t just a bureaucrat—he fought corruption, survived Wu Zetian’s brutal politics, and became the i…
Mulan’s Untold Story: What Disney Never Showed You
Disney Lied About Mulan—Here’s the TruthIn this video, we dive into the historical Ballad of Mulan, tracing her origins from the Northern Dynasties, through Tang and Song Dynasty reinterpretations, a…
How the Ming Emperor’s Secret Police Helped Destroy the Dynasty
What if the deadliest weapon in the Ming Dynasty wasn’t a sword or an army—but the emperor’s own “startup”?This is the shocking business case study of the Jinyiwei, the Emperor’s brutal secret police…
Mulan’s Untold Story: What Disney Never Showed You
Who was the real Mulan? 🌸In this video, we dive into the historical Ballad of Mulan, tracing her origins from the Northern Dynasties, through Tang and Song Dynasty reinterpretations, all the way to m…
How Bureaucracy Kept China’s Empire Alive
They feared generals. Distrusted ministers. And reshaped their entire government just to stay on top.Welcome to 2,000 years of political chess in Imperial China—where the real game wasn’t war, but co…
Why did Qin Shi Huang build an empire that couldn’t last?
He unified China with unmatched power. So why did it all fall apart in just 14 years?In this deep-dive documentary, we uncover how Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, built one of the most amb…
Why did Tang officers work one day and rest one day?
Discover why China’s bloodiest civil war sparked one of its greatest literary movements.In this video, we explore why the An Lushan Rebellion—a brutal civil war that shattered the Tang dynasty—became…
Ming Officials Were Paid Starvation Wages—Here’s Why They Didn’t Revolt
Think your salary is low?Hai Rui, the Ming Dynasty’s most honest official, could barely afford to eat—despite serving the emperor.This episode explores how China’s imperial salary system trapped offi…
How Liu Bang Outsmarted Xiang Yu and Took the Empire with No Army
⚔️ Liu Bang didn’t win through strength — he won through strategy.While Xiang Yu dominated the battlefield, Liu Bang mastered the political chessboard.In this episode, we dive deep into the Chu-Han C…
Why Did China’s Greatest General Almost Die Unknown?
📺 Rejected. Forgotten. Then Feared.Long before Liu Bang ruled China, there was one man whose mind won the war.His name was Han Xin — and his strategies changed Chinese history forever.⚔️ But everythi…
Why did Wang Jian bargain with Qin Shi Huang before going on an expedition?
Military Strategy and Force Requirements
Political Caution and Trust Issues3. Understanding the King's Psychology
One Exam. Two Fates. The Truth Behind Tang China's Civil Test
📜 Why did so many poets risk everything for one test?In the Tang Dynasty, the imperial exam was a ruthless path to power—where scrolls mattered more than swords.But was it really fair?
Do you Like our…
What were ancient Chinese banks like?
Early Chinese Banking – Long before Europe, merchants, temples, and inns handled loans, savings, and payments—creating an economy built on trust.
Could Qing Officials Afford a House? Shocking Truth About Imperial Salaries
🏠 Ever wondered if Qing dynasty officials could actually afford to buy a home?💸 Even a fifth-rank official struggled to survive—let alone own property.📉 This video reveals the brutal financial realit…