China
This section features documentaries on China, both the current and ancient history.
Ancient China
Lost Treasures of the Silk Road - YouTube (50:31)
It was thought that the Chinese Middle Empire had developed independently of the West. Mighty mountains and deserts seemed to be impossible barriers to cross. However, there have been archeological discoveries that may dispute that theory. Mummies from the Bronze Age have been discovered and extraordinarily well preserved in the desert. What shocked the archeological world was that these mummies did not come from China. Who were they? How much did Western civilization influence China? *Recommend for teacher and student research purposes. Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*
Diva Mummy - YouTube (49:47)
While ordinary people fought in battles, the aristocrats celebrated and grew wealthy. There was a Han aristocrat named Lady Dai. Lady Dai would not ordinarily make history. However, when her tomb was opened the discovery sent shockwaves through the archeological community. Her mummy was the best-preserved mummy in the world. She was known as the perfect mummy. Her lifelike mummy leaves the Egyptian efforts in the dust. *Recommend for teacher and student research purposes. Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*
Mysterious Hanging Coffins - YouTube (52:44)
China's Sichuan Province is home to ancient coffins hanging from the mountains. How did they get there? Who put them there? Why did they bury their dead vertically? Do any of their descendants remain? This mystery has baffled historians for centuries. This documentary documents the efforts to learn about them as well as preserve them for the future. It also attempts to learn more about the descendants of the people who built them. *Recommended for research purposes for independent study students and to use in a lecture. Recommended for use in a science and history classroom.*
The Only Empress of China - YouTube (48:02)
Wu Zetian is one of the most controversial rulers of China. She was a concubine who rose to become Empress of China. She was the only woman who ruled China. She led China for 50 years. The Chinese officials under her were scathing in their criticism. However, historians and archeologists are uncovering evidence that challenges that assertion. *Recommend for middle school and high school classrooms. Highly recommend for independent study students or use for clips.*
The Legendary First Emperor of China - YouTube (1:39:33)
Qin Shi Huangdi was the first Emperor of China. He unified the Chinese people. He built an empire that lasted thousands of years. He left behind a legendary tomb. This documentary explores the man and the legend. It will be a challenge to separate fact from fiction but Professor Jeffrey Reigel takes on that challenge. How did Qin create an empire? How could such a person exist? Why is he such a legendary man? *Recommend for high school classrooms. Highly recommend for independent study students or use for clips.*
Confucius - YouTube (1:28:27)
This docu-drama tells the story of Confucius. His ideas were radical and only adopted after his death by the Emperors. His teachings were the foundation of Chinese education for 2,000 years. He taught obedience, meritocracy, and morality. Rituals and etiquette were tools to unite the people. His ideas still govern everything in China. This documentary is the story of Confucius and his legacy. *Highly recommended for a high school history class or class projects.*
Chinese Treasure Fleet - YouTube (44:47)
Six hundred years ago, China had an unstoppable fleet. It was led by Zhen, a long-forgotten admiral. He was one of the most accomplished sailors in history. He commanded an unrivaled fleet, a fleet known as the Treasure Fleet. A modern-day adventurer recreated one of his ships and is setting the theory of this fleet to practice. This documentary drama is the story of this grand fleet. *Recommended for a history classroom and independent study students.*
The Lost City at Jinsha - YouTube (49:53)
Sichuan China is home to a mysterious kingdom. It was found in the Jinsha suburb and was one of the most important finds of the century. Archeological finds include thousands of graves and their grave goods. Who were these people? Why were they left with such fine grave goods? Why did this civilization disappear? Agnes Hsu-Tang, director of the China Institute of New York investigates this lost civilization. *NOT RECOMMENDED FOR A HISTORY CLASSROOM.*
The Mystery of the Jade Suit - YouTube (43:27)
In 1983, construction workers discovered a tomb entrance while excavating a site for a new apartment building. This tomb entrance was dated 2000 years ago. The most curious object in the tomb was a jade suit. However, no historical record showed that an Emperor was entitled to be buried in a jade suit. Who was this man? Why did he deserve such an honor of being buried in a jade suit? What will Agnes discover about this man? *RECOMMENDED for a history class and for independent study students.*
Cao Cao's Tomb: Ancient Secrets of the Three Kingdoms - YouTube (44:01)
In Anyang, a discovery set shockwaves through the archeological world. Many archeologists believe that it belonged to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was one of the most divisive leaders in all of China. Some believed him to be a good leader. Others believe him to be a cruel and ruthless military leader. Others called him a brilliant scholar. He took center stage in the era known as the Three Kingdoms, a period characterized by three factions rising up to fight for control of China. Who was this man really? What can this tomb reveal about his leadership? *RECOMMENDED for a history class and for independent study students.*
Lost Treasures of the Silk Road - YouTube (50:31)
It was thought that the Chinese Middle Empire had developed independently of the West. Mighty mountains and deserts seemed to be impossible barriers to cross. However, there have been archeological discoveries that may dispute that theory. Mummies from the Bronze Age have been discovered and extraordinarily well preserved in the desert. What shocked the archeological world was that these mummies did not come from China. Who were they? How much did Western civilization influence China? *Recommend for teacher and student research purposes. Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*
Diva Mummy - YouTube (49:47)
While ordinary people fought in battles, the aristocrats celebrated and grew wealthy. There was a Han aristocrat named Lady Dai. Lady Dai would not ordinarily make history. However, when her tomb was opened the discovery sent shockwaves through the archeological community. Her mummy was the best-preserved mummy in the world. She was known as the perfect mummy. Her lifelike mummy leaves the Egyptian efforts in the dust. *Recommend for teacher and student research purposes. Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*
Mysterious Hanging Coffins - YouTube (52:44)
China's Sichuan Province is home to ancient coffins hanging from the mountains. How did they get there? Who put them there? Why did they bury their dead vertically? Do any of their descendants remain? This mystery has baffled historians for centuries. This documentary documents the efforts to learn about them as well as preserve them for the future. It also attempts to learn more about the descendants of the people who built them. *Recommended for research purposes for independent study students and to use in a lecture. Recommended for use in a science and history classroom.*
The Only Empress of China - YouTube (48:02)
Wu Zetian is one of the most controversial rulers of China. She was a concubine who rose to become Empress of China. She was the only woman who ruled China. She led China for 50 years. The Chinese officials under her were scathing in their criticism. However, historians and archeologists are uncovering evidence that challenges that assertion. *Recommend for middle school and high school classrooms. Highly recommend for independent study students or use for clips.*
The Legendary First Emperor of China - YouTube (1:39:33)
Qin Shi Huangdi was the first Emperor of China. He unified the Chinese people. He built an empire that lasted thousands of years. He left behind a legendary tomb. This documentary explores the man and the legend. It will be a challenge to separate fact from fiction but Professor Jeffrey Reigel takes on that challenge. How did Qin create an empire? How could such a person exist? Why is he such a legendary man? *Recommend for high school classrooms. Highly recommend for independent study students or use for clips.*
Confucius - YouTube (1:28:27)
This docu-drama tells the story of Confucius. His ideas were radical and only adopted after his death by the Emperors. His teachings were the foundation of Chinese education for 2,000 years. He taught obedience, meritocracy, and morality. Rituals and etiquette were tools to unite the people. His ideas still govern everything in China. This documentary is the story of Confucius and his legacy. *Highly recommended for a high school history class or class projects.*
Chinese Treasure Fleet - YouTube (44:47)
Six hundred years ago, China had an unstoppable fleet. It was led by Zhen, a long-forgotten admiral. He was one of the most accomplished sailors in history. He commanded an unrivaled fleet, a fleet known as the Treasure Fleet. A modern-day adventurer recreated one of his ships and is setting the theory of this fleet to practice. This documentary drama is the story of this grand fleet. *Recommended for a history classroom and independent study students.*
The Lost City at Jinsha - YouTube (49:53)
Sichuan China is home to a mysterious kingdom. It was found in the Jinsha suburb and was one of the most important finds of the century. Archeological finds include thousands of graves and their grave goods. Who were these people? Why were they left with such fine grave goods? Why did this civilization disappear? Agnes Hsu-Tang, director of the China Institute of New York investigates this lost civilization. *NOT RECOMMENDED FOR A HISTORY CLASSROOM.*
The Mystery of the Jade Suit - YouTube (43:27)
In 1983, construction workers discovered a tomb entrance while excavating a site for a new apartment building. This tomb entrance was dated 2000 years ago. The most curious object in the tomb was a jade suit. However, no historical record showed that an Emperor was entitled to be buried in a jade suit. Who was this man? Why did he deserve such an honor of being buried in a jade suit? What will Agnes discover about this man? *RECOMMENDED for a history class and for independent study students.*
Cao Cao's Tomb: Ancient Secrets of the Three Kingdoms - YouTube (44:01)
In Anyang, a discovery set shockwaves through the archeological world. Many archeologists believe that it belonged to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was one of the most divisive leaders in all of China. Some believed him to be a good leader. Others believe him to be a cruel and ruthless military leader. Others called him a brilliant scholar. He took center stage in the era known as the Three Kingdoms, a period characterized by three factions rising up to fight for control of China. Who was this man really? What can this tomb reveal about his leadership? *RECOMMENDED for a history class and for independent study students.*
Empire of Time - Episode 1 (48:48) Episode 2 (49:09)
Matteo Ricci was a Jesuit priest who entered China. He was the first European to enter China at the end of the 16th Century. He would look to convert the Emperor and eventually all of China to Catholicism. He was a man who was trained in geometry and algebra. He would use his learning to convert the people. He noted that Astronomy was important to the Chinese. After him, the Jesuits remained in China for three generations looking to convert the Emperor and eventually all of China. *NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE HISTORY CLASSROOM.*
China's Forbidden City - Episode 1 (52:50) Episode 2 (52:43)
At the beginning of the 15th Century, Prince Zhu Di took power in China. With his new power, he established the Forbidden City and declared Bejing the capital of China. The Forbidden City was a palace complex and was a symbol of the new Emperor. The Forbidden City was a place where the emperor lived with his empress and concubines. It was kept off-limits to the ordinary man. It is now China’s greatest tourist attraction and is revealing its secrets from the past. *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*
Matteo Ricci was a Jesuit priest who entered China. He was the first European to enter China at the end of the 16th Century. He would look to convert the Emperor and eventually all of China to Catholicism. He was a man who was trained in geometry and algebra. He would use his learning to convert the people. He noted that Astronomy was important to the Chinese. After him, the Jesuits remained in China for three generations looking to convert the Emperor and eventually all of China. *NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE HISTORY CLASSROOM.*
China's Forbidden City - Episode 1 (52:50) Episode 2 (52:43)
At the beginning of the 15th Century, Prince Zhu Di took power in China. With his new power, he established the Forbidden City and declared Bejing the capital of China. The Forbidden City was a palace complex and was a symbol of the new Emperor. The Forbidden City was a place where the emperor lived with his empress and concubines. It was kept off-limits to the ordinary man. It is now China’s greatest tourist attraction and is revealing its secrets from the past. *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*
Updated on May 8, 2023
