The China History Podcast - Ep. 268 | Eunuchs in Chinese History (Part 2)

Ep. 268 | Eunuchs in Chinese History (Part 2)

02/22/21 • 31 min

This time we look at eunuchs in the Tang from Xuanzong to hapless Emperor Ai. We'll see how it was a long hard downhill slide once Xuanzong let Gao Lishi amass so much power. Subsequent emperors were either too weak or too young to push back against eunuchs who, once given an inch of authority, took a mile more and never let go. They grew in power and venality at the expense of the dynasty's fortunes. Finally they drove it into the ground.

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Previous Episode

Ep. 267 | Eunuchs in Chinese History (Part 1)

This topic was coming sooner or later. Laszlo offers up another general overview of Chinese history, this time with eunuchs serving as the prism to view it all. In this episode we'll look at the story of the maybe/maybe not eunuch/official from the Qin Dynasty Zhao Gao and his antics trying to cover up the sudden and unexpected death of Qin Shihuang. Then we'll finish off with eunuchs in the Later Han including the rise and fall of the Ten Attendants.

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