Ma Boyong’s Hilarious Brief History of China

For the first time, I learned about Tai Chi, Yin Yang, Five Elements, Eight Diagrams, and the Five Virtues theory through a book. My previous understanding of Tai Chi Bagua only existed in TV series, such as Tai Chi Bagua Lian Zhang and Tai Chi Zhang Sanfeng. Or the five elements of yin and yang, metal, wood, water, fire and earth, green dragon on the left and white tiger on the right. I just read it as a jingle, without knowing its origin or the history and culture behind it. When I read that Tai Chi generates two physical phenomena, two physical phenomena generates four images, and four images generate Bagua... And its connection with the binary system, I was completely shocked! It seems like a dialogue between modern Western computers and ancient Chinese civilization across time and space. It turns out that my Chinese ancestors have already revealed the secret of binary! Chinese culture is extensive and profound and well-deserved! We are proud of our Chinese national culture. In addition, this book also describes the changes in historical dynasties in great detail. It uses the virtues of each dynasty and each generation to connect the entire process of Chinese history from Yanhuang Fuxi to the Qing Dynasty. It can help readers better understand the changing process of some small and trivial dynasties, such as how the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period changed in various small countries. During this period, the conclusions about virtue in various dynasties were dazzling and amazing. I have to admire the wisdom of the ancients. Apart from changes in technology, there is really no difference in wisdom from today's people.

I have always believed that when students read Chinese, they should start with Chinese history, so that Chinese will be much more interesting and easier. After all, classical Chinese takes up a relatively large portion of the college entrance examination. What I learned from the book "Ma Boyong Laughs Over Chinese History", or the most profound knowledge I have consolidated, is that it deepened the impression in my mind of the sequence of Chinese dynasties. From Xia, Shang and Zhou to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States, then to the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, then the Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, followed by the more familiar Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is easy to remember the unified dynasties, but the history of several troubled times is very complicated: the Five Hus and Sixteen Kingdoms, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, remembering their relationship with the previous and previous dynasties, you can remember them at once. Ma Boyong is deeply involved in Chinese history, starting from the minutiae, which may seem trivial. In fact, he has read the history thoroughly and made the boring history vivid. At the end of many chapters of this book, the author attaches an original text of historical data. After reading the story written by the author, and then reading the original text, it is indeed easier to understand and has a deeper impression of the story.

This book is so interesting! Teacher Ma Boyong told the history of China in humorous language, which made me, a person who is not very interested in history, read it with gusto! He also used many novel themes to connect history, such as "dynasty virtues", to make history no longer boring. As the book says, "History is like a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone." We need to look at it from a different perspective. I recommend everyone to read this book, it will definitely make you laugh!

2025/12/27 First reading completed [plus one on bookshelf] Teacher Ma's style is still lively and humorous. I respect but disagree with some of the views in this book. Regardless of whether it is the "Yin and Yang" theory, or the "Five Elements" or "Five Virtues" theory, I maintain the view that "existence is reasonable." I don't think these should be discarded as "dross", but should be viewed objectively. At least these doctrines have played a role in stabilizing the country and unifying the people in the past.

History is a prism, and this book is the sharpest prism. It uses humor as a blade to cut through the high-sounding "mandate of destiny": while laughing, the etiquette of the court and the five elements of virtue are all realized; after laughing, what is revealed is the absurd logic of power and human nature. The so-called dynasty's virtue is never in the cyclical formula of metal, wood, water, fire and earth, but in the people's hearts and minds - "mandated by heaven" is just a performance art carefully arranged by the ruler, but the people's heart is the last word that has not changed for thousands of years. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Recommended reading: Laughing at the past events of thousands of years, understanding the core of history, it is a worthwhile trip to open the book👍👍👍👍👍

I didn't expect Teacher Ma's deep research on Chinese studies and history! Very well known! I have read a few novels before, but I thought they were just based on historical time and related characters! After learning about "Microscope under the Ming Dynasty", I felt that Teacher Ma paid great attention to the details of studying history, and was really impressed by the details! This book involves a lot of Chinese studies and the research and understanding of books such as "Historical Records". It seems necessary to study hard with Teacher Ma! You should buy a set of Mr. Ma's paper books for your collection, and you can take them out and read them at any time!

Teacher Xiangrui Yumanma was born in 1980? I was so young [laughing] I finished watching it without realizing it, but I didn't remember [laughing evilly] who told them to come up with two theories of mutual reinforcement and mutual restraint [face covering]

It was the first time I saw historical details from this perspective. It was shocking and interesting. It turns out that reading historical stories critically is so interesting!

I used to feel that there were a lot of unreasonable things about the Five Elements, but I couldn't explain them. Now I understand what the problem is. I like it very much. Thank you for clearing up my doubts.

Mr. Ma is worthy of everyone's reputation. The books he writes are all good-looking.