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History

History
The latest news, analysis and opinion on History. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Qing dynasty astronomer and mathematician Wang Zhenyi defied societal norms and the expectations set upon her gender to study and demystify complex scientific and mathematical concepts. Illustration: Huy Truong
Chinese culture

Who was Wang Zhenyi? Chinese female scientist who defied gender expectations

Wang shot for the stars with her work in astronomy and mathematics at a time when learned women did little more than write poetry.

Food and Drinks

History of mooncake moulds and their designs, and those preserving the craft

Art

Fan Ho’s poetic photos of mid-20th century Hong Kong show in an unlikely place

Travel

Tapestry depicting England’s ‘most important event’ back in UK after 1,000 years

The Bayeux Tapestry is expected to draw 1 million visitors to the British Museum before its exhibition ends in July 2027.

A section of the Bayeux Tapestry. The 70-metre-long panorama, which vividly depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, is on display at the British Museum in London until July 2027. The loan of the tapestry, which has resided in France for almost 1,000 years, took years of diplomacy to finalise and is seen as a symbol of Franco-British friendship. Photo: AP
Japan

Crouching dragons: the suicide divers Japan never sent to war

Sealed in diving suits with mines attached to poles, Japan’s ‘fukuryu’ frogmen waited beneath the waves for an invasion that never came.

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | A Polish priest’s perilous mission to save a doomed Chinese dynasty

In 1651, the embattled Ming court, which included several Christian converts, sent Michal Boym to seek the Pope’s aid. It never came.

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Cinema

New book peeks behind the scenes of Sofia Coppola’s 2006 cult classic Marie Antoinette

Photographer Andrew Durham documents life on and off the lavish set of Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-winning cult classic, shot on location at the Palace of Versailles.

Making Marie Antoinette by Andrew Durham is a new book covering the 2006 film’s shooting on location at the Palace of Versailles, with Kirsten Dunst playing the film’s lead character. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong

As I see it | Why mainland Chinese despise the British – but Hongkongers don’t

Whereas Hong Kong people experienced a milder form of colonialism, mainland Chinese were subjected to the extremes of Western imperialism.

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Wellness

He trained Jet Li. Wu Bin, 89, shares his secrets to great health in old age

Martial arts legend Wu Bin talks about mentoring Jet Li and other wushu stars, and how building good habits is key to health in older life.

From our archives

On This Day | Hong Kong mourns Mao Zedong’s death in 1976 – SCMP archive

Fifty years ago, Mao Zedong’s death sent shock waves around the world.

Mourners wearing black armbands attending the memorial service for China’s late leader Mao Zedong at the Bank of China building on September 16, 1976. Photo: Chan Kiu
Jewellery

The rise of the double-finger ring, from Hermès to Dior

Jewellery houses everywhere, including Cartier, Rick Owens and Jean Paul Gaultier, are turning the design into a statement of scale and attitude.

Ara Vartanian Ara x Mr Dean collection. Photo: Handout
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Amid ‘Lake America’ stink, the Chinese emperor whose renaming campaign backfired

Two thousand years ago, Wang Mang’s renaming of places, peoples and titles fuelled rebellions that ended both his regime and his life.

Chinese culture

Famous Chinese women in folklore, from Mulan to a dynasty-toppling consort

These women have inspired countless poems, books, movies and TV shows over the centuries, but what are their stories and why do they endure?

United States

Americans mark 25 years since 9/11 attacks amid enduring grief, reflection

Nearly 3,000 people were killed on the day that has shaped US society for decades, influencing its foreign policy and domestic politics.

Flowers are left at the memorial during the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 attacks in New York on Friday. Photo: AFP
Switzerland

‘Angel of Death’: Switzerland publishes 200-page dossier on Nazi doctor

The war criminal was infamous for carrying out horrific medical experiments on inmates at Auschwitz.

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Forensic doctor Daniel Munoz shows the skull of Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele at the school of medicine of Sao Paulo University in Brazil in December 2016. Photo: AP
Special Reports

Hong Kong’s push for human infrastructure beyond ports and railways

Beyond physical trade routes, the city’s museums, universities and orchestras are cultivating the personal relationships needed to sustain international cooperation.

Travel

On a tower trip: a bike tour around China’s Unesco-listed Kaiping watchtowers

Many of the ‘diaolou’ can be reached only by farm tracks and quiet paths, making cycling the ideal way to explore them.

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South Korea

Can Japan, South Korea move past the ‘comfort women’ issue?

The issue is set to continue rattling ties between Tokyo and Seoul even as they seek to find common ground on security and trade issues.

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Protesters hold up banners during a rally against Japanese colonial rule, in front of a statue symbolising a wartime sex slave near the Japanese embassy in Seoul, in 2021. Photo: AP
Britain

Jamaica to petition UK king over slavery reparations in landmark legal test

Culture minister seeks Privy Council opinion on the legality of the transatlantic slave trade and UK liability for redress.

Mainland China

Rewriting history puts China’s image and sense of self at risk, party warns

Article warns that claims ancient Greece was a hoax or the Industrial Revolution originated in China have already hurt the country’s image.

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American cinema

How 1969 oddity The Chairman pitted Gregory Peck against Mao at ping-pong

The Cold War thriller starring Gregory Peck features a surreal encounter with Chairman Mao and a prescient warning about climate change.

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Actor Gregory Peck in a scene from the movie ‘The Most Dangerous Man in the World’, 1969. (Photo by Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images) Actor Conrad Yama as ‘The Chairman’, in a scene from the movie ‘The Most Dangerous Man in the World’, 1969. (Photo by Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images)
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | From prison and poverty to Chinese emperor: rags-to-riches tale of Liu Bingyi

Spared execution as a baby, imperial family member Liu Bingyi grew up a palace outcast, but this served him well after taking power in 74BC.

Liu Bingyi, who later became Emperor Xuan of the Western Han dynasty, rose to power after being spared execution as an infant. Photo: Baidu
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong proposes grade 2 heritage status for Kennedy Town selfie spot sea wall

Heritage assessment panel proposes listing New Praya’s century-old sea wall as historic structure amid plans to build new pedestrian walkway.

Mainland China

Have you been to the Great Wall of China?

Why the answer to the question of whether you have been to the Great Wall of China is trickier than it might seem.

Food and Drinks

What are five-kernel mooncakes? A history of the protein-packed treat

Rich in nuts and seeds, five-kernel mooncakes are making a comeback as a protein-packed alternative to have during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Five-kernel mooncakes from the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui. We dive into the rich history of these “wuren” mooncakes, from ancient origins to modern interpretations. Photo: Jonathan Wong
United Nations

Countries must consider reparations for slave trade, UN committee says

At least 12.5 million Africans were ‌taken and sold between the 15th and 19th centuries, according to the committee.

A vote by the UN General Assembly on a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade and the racist enslavement of Africans the gravest crimes against humanity in March. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Chinese culture

23,000 bronzes, 14 years, 60 volumes: China tracks lost heritage held abroad

Peking University study reveals seven times more relics held overseas than previously thought, creating crucial evidence trail.

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Malaysia

Reviving Kuala Lumpur: can Malaysia modernise without pricing out its past?

Urban renewal aims to regenerate the capital’s historic core, but polish and authenticity don’t always share the same street.

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