Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Confucian Ways | 20080603 | Chinese Vistas: In a lecture recorded at the British Library in London, Jonathan Spence reflects on China's most enduring thinker, Confucius. Who was this man, what did he believe in, and what contemporary relevance does his message have, nearly 2,500 years after his death? The Confucian message has survived countless attacks and is being recycled by the Chinese Communist leadership today. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. | |
| 01 | Confucian Ways | 20080603 | 20080607 (R4) | Chinese Vistas: In a lecture recorded at the British Library in London, Jonathan Spence reflects on China's most enduring thinker, Confucius. Who was this man, what did he believe in, and what contemporary relevance does his message have, nearly 2,500 years after his death? The Confucian message has survived countless attacks and is being recycled by the Chinese Communist leadership today. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. |
| 02 | English Lessons | 20080610 | Spence examines China's relations with the United Kingdom through three centuries. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. | |
| 02 | English Lessons | 20080610 | 20080614 (R4) | Spence examines China's relations with the United Kingdom through three centuries. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. |
| 03 | American Dreams | 20080617 | Chinese Vistas: Jonathan Spence lectures about China. Recorded at The Asia Society in New York. Spence explores the two centuries in which the United States gradually moved from its position as a dominant beacon of freedom and democracy for China, to becoming a more demanding global rival during and since World War II. Is America right to be wary of the emerging superpower or can the two economic and military giants co-exist happily? Spence explores the relationship between China and the US over two centuries. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. | |
| 03 | American Dreams | 20080617 | 20080621 (R4) | Chinese Vistas: Jonathan Spence lectures about China. Recorded at The Asia Society in New York. Spence explores the two centuries in which the United States gradually moved from its position as a dominant beacon of freedom and democracy for China, to becoming a more demanding global rival during and since World War II. Is America right to be wary of the emerging superpower or can the two economic and military giants co-exist happily? Spence explores the relationship between China and the US over two centuries. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. |
| 04 | The Body Beautiful | 20080624 | Chinese Vistas: Jonathan Spence lectures about China. Recorded at Lord's cricket ground. Spence discusses how Chinese ideas of sport and athleticism have slowly evolved over the centuries, from languorous courtship and formalised martial arts to the demanding arenas of team sports and the ultimate Olympic challenges that China will controversially host in August. Spence discusses how Chinese ideas of sport and athleticism have slowly evolved. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. | |
| 04 | The Body Beautiful | 20080624 | 20080628 (R4) | Chinese Vistas: Jonathan Spence lectures about China. Recorded at Lord's cricket ground. Spence discusses how Chinese ideas of sport and athleticism have slowly evolved over the centuries, from languorous courtship and formalised martial arts to the demanding arenas of team sports and the ultimate Olympic challenges that China will controversially host in August. Spence discusses how Chinese ideas of sport and athleticism have slowly evolved. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series. |