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History

History
The latest news, analysis and opinion on History. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A visitor views the “Ancient Shu Civilisation of the Sanxingdui and Jinsha Sites” exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing on January 18. A Chinese team says it has solved some mysteries related to crimson beads found in Sanxingdui. Photo: Xinhua
Science

How did a prized red gemstone reach the ancient, mysterious Shu kingdom?

The presence of the warm, reddish-orange mineral in the Bronze Age archaeological site of Sanxingdui has long puzzled archaeologists.

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Japan

Video | Pop culture fuels revival of Japan’s traditional swords

Style Edit

Style Edit: 5 things you didn’t know about Louis Vuitton’s Monogram

Indonesia

Indonesia’s 68,000-year-old handprint: the birth of human art?

Found hiding beneath a chicken sketch, the faded outline proves ancient humans were capable of reflecting on their existence, scientists say.

Handprints with sharpened fingertips on a cave wall in the Maros region of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo: Ahdi Agus Oktaviana/Maxime Aubert/AP
Science

How old is Chinese civilisation? A scholar says it really dates back 8,000 years

Leading scholar’s argument stretches the timeline back beyond the widely accepted figure of 5,000 years.

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Malaysia

Malaysia did not cede any land to Indonesia, PM Anwar insists

Claims of a 5,200-hectare territorial handover to Indonesia are ‘a lie’, Malaysia’s prime minister tells lawmakers.

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Macau

A timeless love affair with Macau, a city of hidden charms

A decades-long fascination with Macau has endured for historian Jason Wordie, who finds little of what matters to him has changed, post-Covid.

Jason Wordie in Macau in the mid-1990s. Photo: courtesy Jason Wordie
Japan

Japan set to revive WWII military titles in controversial shift

While some argue the change aligns Japan with global norms, others say better pay – not historical titles – is what soldiers really need.

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Greenland

Language Matters | How Greenland’s language is just as invaluable as its minerals and oil

Greenlandic has been an emblem of identity as the territory advanced to political autonomy and has given us words like igloo and anorak.

Macau

Scandals, shidaiqu and fedora-clad concierges – a Macau institution returns

The grand dame, once a haunt of James Bond author Ian Fleming, has been resurrected by a local who vowed to own it as a boy.

The new Hotel Central’s green facade remains faithful to the original. Photo: Eugene Chan
China economy

Opinion | US-China rivalry: great powers that don’t make things won’t be great for long

As globalisation falters, it is countries that focus on building productive capacity, not financial excess, that will come out on top.

Children play next to The Bund Bull sculpture in Shanghai on April 9, 2025. Photo: AFP
Singapore

A tale of two cities: Singapore, Hong Kong and their contrasting paths

Historian Wang Gungwu reflects on how political legacies have shaped Hong Kong and Singapore, two of Asia’s economic ‘tigers’.

Art

How a residency in Ireland changed everything for this artist

The Macau-born, New York-based artist makes ceramic sculptures, paying tribute to her late mother and Macau’s architectural history.

Trip Inspiration

From devil-mouth caves to deer-filled parks, these sites deserve more love

From ancient temples in Bali to royal tombs in Korea, Asia’s World Heritage sites reveal rich histories beyond the spotlight.

The lavish stonework and proximity to other landmarks have long drawn tourists to the 17th century Ruins of Saint Paul, in Macau. Photo: Ronan O’Connell
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How Chinese new year cards went from elites’ greetings to bribery instruments

Wishing someone a happy new year was a highly formal affair among people of status in imperial China and some cards were even collected.

In imperial China, wishing someone a happy new year was anything but casual. Among people of status, it was a highly formal affair, governed by etiquette, hierarchy and a good deal of social anxiety. Photo: Sina
Singapore

In his Singapore book launch, Wang Gungwu recounts own journey through history

Wang says in his book that there are no borders between civilisations and that the past provides the ‘guideposts to the future’.

TV shows and streaming video

Mostly unseen footage shows the crazy year building world’s first Disneyland

The new documentary Disneyland Handcrafted on Disney+ reveals just how fragile the creation of California’s Disneyland was.

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Science

Composite tool find puts China in tech revolution up to 160,000 years ago: paper

Team says discovery of 2,600 stone tools, including hafted tools, reshapes understanding of human evolution in eastern Asia.

A new paper published in Nature Communications says the presence of hafted stone tools among discoveries in China shows “an understanding of how to enhance tool performance”. Image: Handout
Food and Drinks

What is makhan malai, Lucknow’s favourite winter street food?

Known by many different names across northern India, makhan malai is made from hand-churning milk and cream into an airy froth.

Art

‘Love letter to my sons’: artist explores motherhood in Hong Kong exhibition

‘No Man’s Land’ reflects how Marian Ang feels about motherhood, as viewed through paintings about her grandmother, family items and more.

Macau

His mother stuffed zebras. He broke the biggest story in Macau’s history

Having moved from colonial conflicts in Africa to the mean streets of the Pearl River Delta, Gonçalo César de Sá has witnessed Macau’s modern history.

Journalist Gonçalo César de Sá at his home in Macau. Photo: Eduardo Leal
Asian cinema: Chinese films

Review | Gezhi Town: Chinese war drama with Xiao Zhan dares to entertain

Civilians try to fend off Japanese soldiers in this thrilling drama that focuses on character dynamics rather than patriotic grandstanding.

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Xiao Zhan in a still from Gezhi Town (category IIB, Mandarin), co-starring Peng Yuchang and Zhou Yiran, and directed by Kong Sheng.
My Life

He planned to only stay in Macau for a year. Now he runs the literary festival

The Mozambique-born journalist once chose Stanley Ho for his magazine’s cover instead of Gong Li, and later bought the Portuguese Bookshop.

Tourism

Exhibition of love letters from history, from spies to poets and royalty

The London exhibition includes a letter from Oscar Wilde’s lover asking Queen Victoria for a pardon and King Edward VIII’s abdication letter.

Editor's Letter

This week in PostMag: the many layers of Macau

This issue explores the profiles, places and passions that capture Macau’s past and present – from off-duty chefs to indefatigable storytellers.

The Ruins of Saint Paul’s in Macau feature on the cover of the January 25 print edition of PostMag. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Was Chinese princess sent to marry a Malaysian sultan a real person?

Hang Li Po’s 15th-century marriage allegedly sealed Malacca and China’s friendly relations. Proof of her existence is scant. Does it matter?

Malaysian singer and model Dewi Seriestha is seen in a poster for “Teater Muzikal Puteri Hang Li Po”, a stage production that ran at the Encore Melaka theatre in Malacca, Malaysia, in October 2024. Photo: Instagram/encore_melaka
From our archives

In pictures: Hong Kong’s coldest days from the 1970s to 2010s

It doesn’t happen often, but Hong Kong occasionally experiences frost and ice during cold snaps, as these images from our archives capture.

Chinese culture

World’s first Chinese rosewood cello stars in Hong Kong exhibition

Made over six months from a 200-year-old piece of Chinese rosewood, or huanghuali, the cello is now on show at Sheung Wan’s Liang Yi Museum.

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