The Man Behind China's Golden Age | The Life & Times of Emperor Wu

[@JackRackam]

Thanks again to Noom for sponsoring this video! Click here noom.com/jackrackam to take your free Noom Evaluation

[@Elenrai]

Nyoom~

[@Marinanor]

I know it's literally ancient history but it's sad that Emperor Wu was so scared of his advisor he had him killed.

[@charlotrisch5138]

Loved this video!!!!

[@codekillerz5392]

The humor in this one was particularly top notch

[@charlotrisch5138]

@@codekillerz5392 i love to laugh while i learn. Never seen a video made like this. Absolutely brilliant!!

[@kyletrout3828]

We the people, DEMAND THAT 52 PART SERIES! GIVE US ALL THE DYNASTIC CHINESE CONTENT.

[@KasumiRINA]

I am afraid he was underestimating, 52 episodes won't be enough to describe Han dynasty alone, and you can make hundreds of videos just on Three Kingdoms era with how much it played into popular culture.

[@okamiwithacamera6077]

起来!!!

[@SaretGnasoh]

AGREEE!!!!!

[@TrouvatkiDePercusion]

Considering just how extensive Chinese history actually is, 52 episodes would still be the short version. I too support the great Jack Rackam binging on Chinese history. I would absolutely love that.

[@fedoramaster6035]

As a socialist, when someone starts a sentence with “we the people” and ends it with “China” I don’t really expect the best things 😂

[@NimbleIvy]

Wait, an emperor actually apologizing for his mistakes? This is new.

[@brokensky2378]

yeah, the Qin learned the hard way that just because you got ultimate power does not mean that everybody in your dynasty will not jump on top of you when they feel like someone else can do a better job.

[@louthegiantcookie]

I believe William the Conqueror did so too. On his deathbed, sure, but still.

[@NimbleIvy]

@@louthegiantcookie interesting, I don't know much about william other than hastings. What did he apologize for exactly?

[@NimbleIvy]

@@brokensky2378 but they have the mandate of heaven, they should be able to do what they want.

[@louthegiantcookie]

@@NimbleIvy He apologised for how he treated the English - especially the North of England. The men were all killed, and the survivors impoverished to the point of cannibalism. Generations later they were still recovering from it.

[@jmace2424]

"Magical adventures" makes it sound like Wu was playing Dungeons and Dragons in a real-life realm!

[@deiansalazar140]

I need this. Shame Wikipedia will probably get rid of it now though.

[@adecadeofpoetry4831]

LMFAOOOOOOOOO

[@year111]

Its make as much sense as North Koreas Unicorn Lair.

[@asdsfgjaswdfgsdfa]

As someone who has played Crusader Kings, I totally understand why the baby was forgotten about in prison.

[@Oxtocoatl13]

Fast forward to checking your dungeon 70 years and 5 kings later "who is this old geezer in the oubliette and why is he only now complaining?"

[@bosunbill9059]

Man, if you do Emperor Wu of Han, you should 100% do his great ancestor, founder of Han, Emperor Gaozu. A drunken Scoundrel Peasant who has a degree in scamming, bootlicking and bullshitting. Yet is still very much respected to this day as a People's Emperor and is still considered the most talented Emperor to this day

[@sinoroman]

basically, the emperor was cunning and did shtposting

[@aokhoinguyenang3992]

He had godly charm: Bluffing his way into an exclusive party(saying he'll pay 10 000 coins) then impress the host so much that the man gift his daughter to him as a bride, seducing a bunch of talented people to his side(like Han Xin the greatest general of the age) Ironically ,Liu Bang 1st step to become an Emperor was a stroke of bad luck: His job was to deliver prisoners as laborers for one of the many Qin's construction projects & by the draconian laws if he's late or missing even 1 prisoner he would be put to death. During the night a couple of them escape into the forest & searching for them would delay the trip a couple of days so he let the rest go, most decided to stay with him & became outlaws then rebels

[@bosunbill9059]

@@aokhoinguyenang3992 Imagine rebelling and becoming emperor just because you are late for work.

[@aokhoinguyenang3992]

@@bosunbill9059 He wasn't the only one, there was another dude who was late for work, rebel, recreate the 6 States, then become king of Chu. The harsh punishment made rebellion a very appealing choice. The mentality was "If I'm going to die(via execution or overwork to death as a laborer) for both big & small crime(they really needed those laborers), I'll commit the biggest one(overthrowing the government)"

[@bosunbill9059]

@@aokhoinguyenang3992 Ah yes, his "Oathsworn" bro turn Arch nemesi

[@reillycurran8508]

If you're doing stories about China, there's also the stories of the guy who fought a war with some very out of place Greek city states over wanting their horses, Sima Yi and how he's apparently the historical example of a mad tactical genius in Chinese history but still got outplayed by the ballsiest man in history who busted out the town gates and came out playing a song for Sima Yi and his forces, and also the two Byzantine monks who carried out probably one of the most economically significant heists in history by stealing silk worm eggs and bringing them back to Europe for the first time ever, all under the direct orders of mother flipping Justinian if I am remembering correctly.

[@bhargavadutt8827]

Justinian needs his own episode. Heck maybe even Belisarius, who was a Ceasar level chad.

[@lolasdm6959]

"still got outplayed by the ballsiest man in history who busted out the town gates and came out playing a song for Sima Yi and his forces," Only in the novel.

[@nostradamusofgames5508]

Mad lads! Someone get Count Dankula on the horn!

[@Wylf]

Sima Yis and Zhuge Liangs fort encounter is a fictional incident, though. Likely it never happened, as with a good deal of the stuff alleged to have happened during the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

[@Rynewulf]

The war for the heavenly horses against the Bactrian cities was a different time period to the Sima Yi of the Three Kingdoms period. I think it was later during the Tang dynasty and their push into central asia? Edit: it appears I confused the Tang campaigns against the Gokturks and Abbusids in central Asia for the earlier Han campaigns

[@justinleecw]

That baby who got imprisoned would later become Emperor himself, succeeding Wu’s son after he died young. Technically there’s the Marquis of Haihun between them, but we do not talk about the Marquis of Haihun. Seriously, 1127 acts of misconduct in 27 days is kind of an achievement.

[@matthewcoster5535]

I'm sorry but what the fuck happened there? What did he do in order to rack up that much misconduct in less than a month?

[@justinleecw]

@@matthewcoster5535 Refusal to abstain from meat and sex during the period of mourning (for his uncle, the last emperor) Failure to keep the imperial treasury secure Improperly promoting and rewarding his old subordinates during the period of mourning Engaging in feasts and games during the period of mourning Offering sacrifices to his father during the period of mourning for his uncle And others.

[@cremonkey4301]

the baby in prison reminds me of all the babies in crusader kings ive imprisoned who werent worth a ransom or execution who just lived their whole lives in my prison.

[@BrandonVout]

My CK runs in a nutshell: "A prisoner died? I had prisoners?"

[@chinsaw2727]

@@BrandonVout I look in there and see that a 23 year old has lived in my jail for 17 years

[@neocomp92]

A suitable prison? How about the oubliette?!

[@CelsoSaad]

Please make a 52-part series on the entirety of China's dynastic history! I'd watch it!

[@alexgroen8413]

always a pleasure when jack uploads

[@JackRackam]

Always a pleasure to see nice comments after going live! :D

[@ajithsidhu7183]

@@JackRackam sikh empire please

[@Thecognoscenti_1]

If you are gonna do a "martial" emperor, do the mad lad himself, Zhengde, the "martial ancestor" of the Ming Dynasty. Carried the insanity of the Zhu clan to a new high...

[@shanedoesyoutube8001]

Oh tell me about it. What the fuk was up with that???

[@Thecognoscenti_1]

@@shanedoesyoutube8001 The most degenerate emperor, or the Elagabulus if you like, of the Ming Dynasty. Was generally capable and competent when he was in court and actively governing, however, for the vast majority of the time he severely neglected his duties, turning Ming court politics into a mess, and allowing the eunuchs to gradually gain power as the "mouthpieces" and "representatives" of the emperor. He was extremely eccentric and childlike, being obsessed with fireworks, and Tibetan and Islamic culture (and was rumoured to have converted to Islam), once ordering the eunuchs of the palace dress as shopkeepers and turning the palace itself into a bazaar, and building a zoo in the Forbidden City. He was also bisexual and probably was the horniest emperor, having homosexual trysts with his eunuchs, while also regularly visiting brothels (shark's fin soup was invented by a courtesan of his who tricked him into eating fish's fins, which before this were only consumed by beggars), being an active rapist (he was caught once and was only recognised once he was dragged to court), and created a harem of women so large, that the logistics of maintaining it broke down and it ended up converging with the zoo, leaving many women to starve inside. He was a talented military commander, personally defeating multiple foreign invasions and internal rebellions, however, he was also irresponsible in this respect. He gave himself military titles that, as emperor, one was not supposed to have, and once ordered that a rebellious prince be released so he could personally recapture him and bring him to justice. In the end, he died after falling into the Grand Canal and catching pneumonia after being fished out, and despite his horniness, he left no children.

[@shanedoesyoutube8001]

@@Thecognoscenti_1 wait, "rumored to have converted to Islam" eh??? Was this the same guy whom CJ once said that he called himself a sultan when it wasn't possible since he acknowledged it *privately* instead of *publicly???* Hmm, well, to be fair, the demon king of owari was chill with Christians. Did he convert to it???

[@hemangchauhan2864]

Please make videos on whatever topic you desire, at any point in time. We watch you because your presentation is amazing.

[@RichMitch]

There were many Wu, glad you qualified with Wu of Han

[@gabrielrussell5531]

I require further context on his imprisoned baby grandson. Did he eventually get out?

[@SylviaRustyFae]

Did he ever become not a baby?

[@JackRackam]

You'll just have to make sure you're subscribed 🤫

[@fsblninjx3604]

Kid became one of the best emperors.

[@justblueboy2939]

Spoiler Alert!!! He did get out and become a commoner for a while before become the Emperror.

[@bow35yearsago65]

@@justblueboy2939 i think it is his son who became the emperor

[@JenniferinIllinois]

But I want a 52 part series on the entire Chinese dynastic history. 😉

[@Noresiduel]

What do you mean you stopped yourself from doing a 52 part series on chinas dynastic history. I demand a 52 part series on chinas dynastic history!

[@brokensky2378]

Famed emperors and ancestors of emperors if you're doing Chinese videos: 1. Ying Zheng, Qin Shi Huang Di. Dude started off as a hostage in Zhao (you know, the rival country that got 400,000 of its men buried alive in the battle of Changping). 2. Liu Bang, Han Gao Zu. Unscrupulous illiterate local sheriff man beats up noble and decides to rule the entire country. 3. Cao Cao, Wei Wu Huang Di. Never was an emperor himself, but legendary.

[@deiansalazar140]

I'd include the mad lads Sun Quan, Liu Yuan, and King Tang of Shang too.

[@holeeshi9959]

"There was a Wu Emperor in China." do you have any idea how little it narrows it down? Are you talking about Zhou Wu Emperor? Han Wu Emperor? Wei Wu Emperor? Emperor of the Wu Kingdom? Empress Wu Ze Tian who actually took the title of Emperor?

[@RedsHitpostMedia]

For the oldest surviving civilization all the crazy meme events that happen in games like HOI and Crusader King probably happened already in China to an extent.

[@STRZB001]

How do you not have more subscribers? Your videos are amazing. It’s sad that people don’t care about history taught in a fun and entertaining way. Blame it on social media or whatever. Love your videos Jack.

[@foureyeddragon9376]

"So what're you in here for?" "Goo goo ga ga!" "Oof! That's rough, buddy."

[@Intranetusa]

It's kind of a stretch to say Han Wudi was behind China's Golden Age. There were multiple dynasties that were considered Golden Ages, and there were multiple rulers behind them that contributed. The Han Emperors before Wu were generally competent and helped grow the economy & the nation's wealth to the point where funding multiple large scale military expeditions under Emperor Wu became possible. The conquests of Wu would not have been possible without the economic growth policies of his predecessors.

[@joundii3100]

0:49 "*Wu* of *Han*" *2020 flashbacks intensify*

[@loneronin6813]

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (although romanticized, hence the name) has a plethora of potential video material. I would love to see your take on it someday if any of that interests you and you have the time. It's a bit of a long read lol

[@AegeusI7]

4:59 this guy just unzipped his skin to reveal a Navy blue Brioni suit???

[@kae5717]

Honestly the January reel is the best time on this channel~ I get to learn wild stories about things I can find almost nowhere else

[@alexioskio3894]

Oh man thank you so much, I was feeling down today, but when I saw you had uploaded a new video it was all forgotten.

[@zhing836]

we need the first emperor of han, everyone knows he's full of fun. his nemesis threatened to boil his own father alive in front of him, if don't surrender, and his reply was like you wouldnt dare Im basically still your sworn brother but if dare to do so, a bowl of our father, please.

[@Thecognoscenti_1]

In addition, whenever a Confucian scholar passed by and kowtowed to him, he would take the poor scholar's hat off and piss in it. (This was the time before Confucianism became the state philosophy, and coincidentally it was Han Wu Di who made Confucianism the empire's official philosophy)

[@rolandkloka]

Love the drum n Bass @ 4:52

[@hyunjinpark5086]

Han Wu Di is like LBJ and George Bush combined. He inherited a powerful economic machine from his predecessors and squandered it on ridiculous war of pride and hubris.

[@linlawson1530]

It wasn't all pride tho, the Xiongnu were raiding the north and can't be stopped by simply paying tribute. This would be the equivalent of Canadians burning down the Midwest instead of Iraq or Vietnam. He definitely could just stopped at defeating them tho.

[@navilluscire2567]

As for the Afghanistan war, it did exactly what it was set out to do. Generating massive amounts of profits for the weapons manufacturers and served as an excuse for funneling even more taxpayer money into the military industry complex.

[@N0noy1989]

@@navilluscire2567 And now that US is done making money over their, the next hot place to be is Ukraine.

[@Maxwell-uu1er]

The war between the Han Dynasty and the Huns was by no means meaningless. In fact, the victory of that war ensured the prosperity and stability of the Han Dynasty for hundreds of years

[@juamu1132]

@@navilluscire2567 screams in 2.2 trillion dollars.

[@1inchfemur]

"What are you in for" "one of my uncles was accused of witch craft 20 years ago"

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

This is a new high of wit and quality Jack.

[@lyalllupin8789]

Love the videos. Please do Basil II THE CHAD, also known as the Bulgar-Slayer.

[@Intranetusa]

This video's spin on the Han Empire's dispute between lassiez faire capitalism VS state monopolistic socialism (eg. Discourses on Salt and Iron) is hilarious.

[@Sonamyfan875]

I feel like even for the ancient world, Chinese rulers could mark the year by an annual atrocity instead of a calendar.

[@billychops1280]

Why didn’t he consider that baby who he imprisoned as his next heir? I mean he was his grandson and the son of Wu best Son…

[@billychops1280]

@@chamberlane2899 😂😂

[@ItsTimeSteve_]

Make that 52 part series!

[@choaticsmith8065]

Question guys, what is federalist theory? It seem like economic but I haven’t heard of it till now

[@shinsenshogun900]

while economic, it sure does mean trying to be substantially sustainable in the long term, compared to extractive centralized economies/oligarchic systems it does take more definitions in detail to define this

[@toedpens4954]

You should do one on Gaozu of Han! His life fits your comedic style well with all of his interesting traits

[@seraphik]

his name isn't really emperor Wu (though Wu is a last name like wu zetian). but "han wu di" is actually an honorific that literally means "the Han dynasty's martial emperor". so really everyone is just calling him "the martial emperor" or, y'know, "the badass emperor" at all times, which i think is absolutely baller.

[@TheMelbournelad]

Noom is on a tear for sponsorship. Must be the new year 😏

[@wordern3900]

Could you do something on Gustav ll Adolf or Gustavus Adolfus?

[@mihovilraboteg6160]

Now that would be epic.

[@Oxtocoatl13]

I feel like Gustav's predecessors, Gustav Vasa and his civil war-prone sons would be more up Jack's alley. Not so many glorious battles but many more convolutes plots, rebellions and madnesses. Gustav's Danish counterpart, Kristian Tyrann, would also make a great episode.

[@wordern3900]

@@Oxtocoatl13 I can actually agree on that with you. What you say makes sense but from WHAT I KNOW (which isn't allot) Gustav Vasa made his own biography which could mean that what he did wasn't real in his escape from the Danes to becoming king. Also I think that Gustav ll Adolf's campaigns during the 30 years war could be intresting to talk about.

[@kevwang0712]

I wish we were taught like this in our Chinese history classes

[@staytuned2L337]

I'm sorry, was that a reference to whose line is it anyway? "The rpms dive and the views don't matter" ? Cuz that was well done

[@eloiskret6074]

Legend has it that baby is still inside the prison Edit: damn, his lastest video is about that!

[@PSIRockOmega]

We're marathoning Chinese history this year, boiz! LET'S GOOOOOO!

[@fazed343]

I Only just noticed your Tie changes its pattern for each video!

[@NathanielWinkelmann]

MLove videos about times and places I need to learn more about my info base is way too Eurocentric so love this. I have one thing I don't fully understand here: what is the differnce between Witchcraft and magic in this context? what are the actual words they used?

[@prestonjones1653]

I've been looking forward to this.

[@bautistacano4085]

The animation is getting insane damn

[@HollowDubz]

New jack vid today? Fuck yes happy day!

[@deiansalazar140]

Do you play the ROTK Series? You use their images. And I love it.

[@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes]

He didn’t take over Korea he took over Joseon which is just part of modern North Korea and a tiny sliver of modern Manchuria. The southern part of Korea was fine.

[@eacalvert]

And when I needed him most, he came back

[@sirsquaw4543]

That fall absolutely kills me

[@johnbatsch7938]

nice tie

[@sylviamontaez3889]

please do an episode on the warlord era. its got some strange characters: Yuan Shikai, who attempted to make himself emperor after overthrowing Sun yat sen, Zhang Zongchang, nicknamed the dogmeat general due to his gambling habits. infamously wrote swear word heavy poetry, and wa apparently well endowed. Yan Xishan, who for some reason decided to pull a switzerland and created his own ideology, which blended confucianism, christianity and socialism. then theres the guominjun, who were an army of christian socialists

[@stevejohnson3357]

In his earlier career, Yuan had been very loyal to dowager empress Qi Xi.

[@muhdzafri7551]

Interesting story actually but misunderstandings suck

[@philipwujr.4786]

Thank you!

[@jamcdonald120]

0:10 wait? this is january?

[@aleksandarvil5718]

Do An Lushan !!!

[@michaelsinger4638]

Wow, he actually apologized for his actions? How often does that happen?

[@sebresludolf9611]

*Please make a video on the Mongol civil war and the subsequent Berke Hulagu war, that one will be funny 😄🤣*

[@RichMitch]

Do the Huizong Emperor!

[@Thecognoscenti_1]

Of the Song?...

[@RichMitch]

@@Thecognoscenti_1 of the Song!

[@RichMitch]

@@Thecognoscenti_1 (the one that got captured by the jurchens)

[@Thecognoscenti_1]

@@RichMitch 宋徽宗 was a fool who was completely unfit to be emperor, and only ascended to the position as his brother died without an heir, and his only surviving elder brother was blind.

[@Thecognoscenti_1]

@@RichMitch Also, about Song Huizong, "Ooh, rocks!" (Knocks down city gates)

[@Jackal420]

Please do that 52 part series

[@robert48044]

the person who ended up having a virus named after him

[@pansagi]

I unironically love the casual piss on the viewers when mentioning rpm/(cpm). Mad respect.

[@awesomeblb3407]

2:50 I thought that that was old spice for a second

[@theprussianfemboy165]

Still waiting for the call of war sponsorship

[@eddy796]

from the ending i honestly cannot tell if the baby just stayed forever in or he somehow became the next messiah or something instead in the most ultimate reverse uno card moment.

[@norahzoller6715]

I want the 52 part series!

[@sunlight9056]

Thanks Jack, I was hoping for a Friday vid. OSP let me down, with another Detailed Diatribe (Dragonball Z), but shh don’t tell em.

[@jenna2720]

Would you be interested in doing a vid on Emperor Qin (personal name Ying Zheng/Zhao Zheng)?

[@Eboreg2]

"Wu of Han"? I think there's a Chinese city named after him that has gotten rather infamous lately...

[@SamAronow]

In my case, the _views_ died and the _RPM_ doesn't matter!

[@JOGA_Wills]

2 minutes in the graphics are giving me Dynasty Warriors vibes ha

[@stormrunner4081]

52 part series of the whole dyanatic history to China? Just because you shouldn’t don’t mean you can’t give into the history

[@samiai8905]

One day you and Xiran Jay Zhao are going to collaborate and it is going to be GLORIOUS

[@gorge2786]

give us the 52 part series jack adios

[@t.h.2906]

Where have you been! I demand you entertain me more often. NOW.

[@kremepye3613]

Do one on Wu of Tang

[@crystalp7242]

Interviewer has a Jansport backpack! 😂

[@HVLLOWS1999]

You gotta to Golden Age 2.0 The Tang Dynasty!

[@franbalcal]

Please more Jersey Shore easter eggs! i wouldnt be mad at some Simple Life, Flavor of Love or Kardashians either. just saying ;P

[@Reichsminister2137]

6:00 I'm pretty sure that's a reference to something, but I have no idea to what

[@Birkebeiner1066]

legend has it that baby is still in prison...

[@davidbrewer9030]

Does anyone know the symbolism of the Emperor's hat/crown?

[@inqy8339]

What exactly is witchcraft in the medieval Chinese sense? Presumably doesn’t involve the Christian ideas of serving Satan. What’s the difference between a magician and a witch in the historical Chinese mindset?

[@naruteoh123]

It is more like voodoo where you do a curse to your enemy for your own gain. If you familiar with anime. You sure have seen some one nailing a straw made doll with his enemy name on it. Yeah sort like that.

[@Henrique____]

legendary person

[@johntumbo3175]

How many people noticed Emma the gentle blade from Sekiro

[@catriamflockentanz]

That may come across as dismissive of the (body) problems of other people, but still: Whenever I see an ad for weight loss I always chuckle to myself, who was slightly underweight his whole life without even trying to due to his metabolism being in constant overdrive for no real reason. And if you say that's great: I probably won't see my 55th birthday due to that. Everything comes at a price.

[@Reddigdug]

33 in 20 minutes

[@stefanleo8963]

That is an age of conquest and war, golden age is his grandpa emperor Wen of Han. Emperor Wen is the most humble emperor of entire Han history, but with a great mind. During his rule, everyone honest and kind citizen had their good life. He had quite a story too if you read into it.

[@harukrentz435]

I think Emperor Wu got more credit because he was the one who kicked the Xiangnu out of China's sphere.

[@harukrentz435]

But you correct his grandpa and father laid the foundation.

[@karandullet380]

Please do a video on Mauryan empire please

[@matheusalves5160]

How about the mamluks? Everyone love that mercenaries

[@dflatt1783]

Ahhh the house of ODB and Method Man.

[@sunlight9056]

Love the I-Ching. Do NOT mess around with it lol

[@warotm.590]

A​ happy​ ending? In​ chinese​ history?

[@ballpreuischer1909]

做得很好