PRIME MEMBER EXCLUSIVE | 3 Months Free Trial

Auto-renews at INR 199/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends 15 July, 2026.

The Destruction of the Yongle Dadian: Mao's War on Knowledge

Failed to add items

Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping basket is already at capacity.

Add to cart failed.

Please try again later

Add to wishlist failed.

Please try again later

Remove from wishlist failed.

Please try again later

Follow podcast failed

Unfollow podcast failed

The Destruction of the Yongle Dadian: Mao's War on Knowledge

Listen for free

View show details

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most devastating cultural losses of the Cultural Revolution: the burning of the Yongle Dadian, the world's largest encyclopedia. With 22,877 chapters compiled in the 15th century, only a few hundred volumes survived Mao's campaign against the Four Olds. The hosts trace the encyclopedia's journey from the Ming court to the Forbidden City, its near-total destruction by Red Guards in 1966, and what survives today in libraries across the globe. They discuss how the destruction fits into Mao's broader effort to erase China's imperial past and reshape history, and what it reveals about the conflict between revolutionary ideology and cultural heritage. Specific names and events include the Yongle Emperor, the Hall of Martial Valor, and the 1900 Boxer Rebellion damage. The episode ends on a quiet reflection about what knowledge costs to build and what it costs to lose. #YongleDadian #CulturalRevolution #MaoZedong #RedGuards #FourOlds #ForbiddenCity #MingDynasty #ChinaHistory #BookBurning #Encyclopedia #CulturalHeritage #BoxerRebellion #1966 #Beijing #EastAsia #History #FexingoHistory #KnowledgeLoss Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

No reviews yet