Listen "The Great Explosion of 1626"
Episode Synopsis
On May 30, 1626, a screaming came across the sky over Beijing, the imperial capital of Ming Dynasty China. Within moments, thousands of people lay dead, and many more were injured, including within the Forbidden City. Modern estimates puts the force of the event on par with the Hiroshima bomb.The event shook Ming China to the core. Was it an omen that the "mandate of heaven" might be about to shift to another power?And what was "it," exactly? An accidental detonation of gunpowder? An earthquake? A tornado? A meteor? Support the show
More episodes of the podcast The Master of Demon Gorge: A Chinese History Podcast
Lady Shexiang
04/12/2025
The Nanjing-Wuhan Split
27/11/2025
Southwest United University
20/11/2025
Fan Zhen: On the Annihilation of the Soul
13/11/2025
Jia Sidao: Hero, Villain, Entomologist
06/11/2025
Zhengde, the Emperor with an Alter Ego
30/10/2025
Hai Rui, Mad Mandarin
23/10/2025
General Qi Jiguang of the Ming
16/10/2025
Zhang Zai, Philosopher
09/10/2025
Chen Tuan, the Sleeping Immortal
02/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.