General History of China

中国通史

2013 · Ended · 1 season · 100 episodes · Documentary · China

Channel CCTV-6 · Starring Xu Tao, 赵述仁

Tracing Chinese civilization from its prehistoric origins to the fall of the Qing dynasty, this sweeping 100-part documentary explores the rulers, wars, philosophies, religions, cultural achievements and social transformations that shaped one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations. Through archaeological evidence, historical records and expert commentary, the series presents a chronological account of China’s dynasties, peoples and institutions across thousands of years of history.
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Episodes

100 episodes · January 2013
  1. Episode 1: 1. China RoadJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    An introduction to the long development of Chinese civilization, tracing the ideas, institutions, cultural traditions and historical forces that shaped China’s distinctive path from antiquity to the end of imperial rule.
  2. Episode 2: 2. The Earliest ChineseJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Archaeological discoveries reveal the prehistoric peoples who lived across ancient China and the gradual formation of communities, cultures and shared traditions that would contribute to later Chinese civilization.
  3. Episode 3: 3. The Rise of AgricultureJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The episode explores the origins of farming in ancient China, including the domestication of millet and rice, the growth of settled communities and the social changes produced by agricultural life.
  4. Episode 4: 4. The Origins of CivilizationJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Early cities, ritual centers, crafts and systems of social organization illuminate the transition from Neolithic cultures to complex civilization in the lands that became China.
  5. Episode 5: 5. The Age of Early StatesJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Competing regional societies developed fortified settlements, political hierarchies and ritual authority, laying the foundations for the earliest states recorded in Chinese history.
  6. Episode 6: 6. The Xia DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Archaeology and ancient texts are examined in the search for the Xia, traditionally regarded as China’s first dynasty, with particular attention to the Erlitou culture and debates over its identity.
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  1. Episode 7: 7. The Rise and Fall of the Shang DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Shang dynasty emerges as a powerful Bronze Age kingdom before internal weakness and military defeat bring its rule to an end at the hands of the Zhou.
  2. Episode 8: 8. Shang CivilizationJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Oracle bones, bronze vessels, royal tombs and sacrificial practices reveal the political order, religious beliefs, warfare and artistic achievements of Shang civilization.
  3. Episode 9: 9. King Wu's Conquest of ShangJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Zhou campaign against the last Shang king culminates in the Battle of Muye, establishing a new dynasty and introducing the enduring political idea of the Mandate of Heaven.
  4. Episode 10: 10. The Regency of the Duke of ZhouJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Serving as regent for the young King Cheng, the Duke of Zhou suppresses rebellion, consolidates Zhou rule and helps shape political and ritual institutions revered by later generations.
  5. Episode 11: 11. The Decline of the Zhou Royal HouseJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The authority of the Zhou kings weakens as regional lords grow more powerful, leading to the fall of the Western Zhou and the fragmented political order of the Eastern Zhou.
  6. Episode 12: 12. The Struggle for Supremacy in the Spring and Autumn PeriodJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Powerful states and ambitious rulers compete for leadership while alliances, reforms and warfare transform the political landscape of the Spring and Autumn period.
  7. Episode 13: 13. ConfuciusJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The life and teachings of Confucius are explored, from his search for ethical government to the development of ideas about ritual, virtue, education and social responsibility.
  8. Episode 14: 14. Reforms Among the Warring StatesJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Rival states adopt sweeping military, administrative and economic reforms as rulers seek stronger governments and armies during an age of intensifying competition.
  9. Episode 15: 15. The Seven Warring StatesJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The seven major powers struggle for survival and supremacy through diplomacy, strategy and mass warfare, setting the stage for Qin’s eventual conquest of its rivals.
  10. Episode 16: 16. The Hundred Schools of ThoughtJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Philosophers including Confucians, Daoists, Mohists and Legalists offer competing answers to the disorder of their age, creating a rich intellectual legacy for Chinese civilization.
  11. Episode 17: 17. The Rise of the State of QinJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Through geography, military organization and the reforms of Shang Yang, Qin develops into the most centralized and formidable of the Warring States.
  12. Episode 18: 18. Qin Shi Huang Unifies ChinaJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The king of Qin conquers the rival states, becomes China’s First Emperor and imposes far-reaching systems of administration, law, measurement, writing and imperial control.
  13. Episode 19: 19. The Chu-Han ContentionJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    After the fall of Qin, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang battle for control of China in a dramatic civil war that ends with the founding of the Han dynasty.
  14. Episode 20: 20. The Parallel System of Commanderies and KingdomsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The early Han balances centrally administered commanderies with semi-autonomous kingdoms, creating tensions that test the new dynasty’s ability to maintain unity.
  15. Episode 21: 21. The Rule of Wen and JingJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Emperors Wen and Jing reduce taxes and state burdens, encourage recovery and strengthen the Han through cautious government, producing an era remembered for stability and prosperity.
  16. Episode 22: 22. Emperor Wu of HanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Emperor Wu expands Han power, confronts the Xiongnu, centralizes authority and promotes Confucian state ideology, while the costs of warfare place heavy demands on the empire.
  17. Episode 23: 23. Confucian Learning During the Two Han DynastiesJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Confucian classics become central to education, scholarship and government as Han thinkers interpret ancient texts and establish traditions that influence imperial China for centuries.
  18. Episode 24: 24. The Reign of Emperors Zhao and XuanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Following Emperor Wu’s expensive campaigns, the Han court pursues recovery, administrative reform and more restrained government under Emperors Zhao and Xuan.
  19. Episode 25: 25. Wang Mang's ReformsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Wang Mang seizes the throne and launches ambitious reforms intended to restore ancient institutions, but resistance, economic disruption and rebellion bring his Xin dynasty to collapse.
  20. Episode 26: 26. The Restoration of Emperor GuangwuJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Liu Xiu reunifies the realm after years of rebellion, restores the Han dynasty as Emperor Guangwu and rebuilds imperial government from a new capital at Luoyang.
  21. Episode 27: 27. The Silk RoadJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Diplomacy, conquest and long-distance trade connect Han China with Central Asia and lands farther west, carrying goods, technologies, religions and cultures across Eurasia.
  22. Episode 28: 28. The Pure Critiques and the Partisan ProhibitionsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Scholar-officials criticize corruption and eunuch power at the Eastern Han court, provoking political purges that deepen factional conflict and weaken the dynasty.
  23. Episode 29: 29. The Yellow Turban RebellionJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Religious movements, social distress and resentment of the Han government erupt into the Yellow Turban uprising, accelerating the breakdown of imperial authority.
  24. Episode 30: 30. The Three KingdomsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The collapse of the Han gives rise to the rival states of Wei, Shu and Wu, whose rulers and generals compete through warfare, diplomacy and shifting alliances.
  25. Episode 31: 31. Zhuge Liang Governs ShuJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    As chief minister of Shu Han, Zhuge Liang seeks to stabilize the state, improve administration, develop the southwest and pursue campaigns against the stronger kingdom of Wei.
  26. Episode 32: 32. The Unification Under Western JinJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    he Sima family replaces Wei, conquers Shu and Wu and briefly reunites China under the Western Jin before court conflict and rebellion undermine the dynasty.
  27. Episode 33: 33. The Spirit of the Wei and Jin PeriodsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Amid political turmoil, scholars and artists cultivate personal expression, philosophical debate and unconventional lifestyles that define the celebrated cultural spirit of the Wei and Jin.
  28. Episode 34: 34. Rule by the Great Aristocratic ClansJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Powerful hereditary families dominate politics and society during the era of division, shaping court government, official appointments and relations between northern émigrés and southern elites.
  29. Episode 35: 35. Emperor Wu of Liang's GovernmentJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Emperor Wu presides over a long reign marked by cultural patronage, Buddhist devotion and administrative ambition, but court weakness and rebellion ultimately devastate the Liang dynasty.
  30. Episode 36: 36. Emperor Xiaowen's ReformsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Northern Wei emperor moves the capital to Luoyang and promotes sweeping cultural and political reforms intended to integrate his dynasty with the traditions of the Central Plains.
  31. Episode 37: 37. Emporer Wu of Northern ZhouJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Emperor Wu strengthens the Northern Zhou, curbs rival institutions and conquers Northern Qi, bringing northern China closer to reunification before his sudden death.
  32. Episode 38: 38. The Rise and Fall of the Chen DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The final southern dynasty struggles to preserve stability and independence until internal weakness and the military power of Sui bring the Chen dynasty to an end.
  33. Episode 39: 39. Buddhism in the Wei and Jin PeriodsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Buddhism spreads and adapts across a divided China, influencing philosophy, art, ritual and monastic life while becoming deeply rooted in Chinese society.
  34. Episode 40: 40. The Restoration of UnityJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    After centuries of division, Yang Jian founds the Sui dynasty, defeats rival regimes and reunifies China through centralized institutions and large-scale reconstruction.
  35. Episode 41: 41. Emperor Yang of Sui: Achievements and FailuresJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Emperor Yang expands canals, capitals and imperial projects, but costly wars, forced labor and rebellion turn spectacular ambition into the rapid collapse of the Sui.
  36. Episode 42: 42. The Reign of ZhenguanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Emperor Taizong and his ministers establish a respected model of Tang government based on political consultation, military success, legal order and restrained rule.
  37. Episode 43: 43. Empress Wu ZetianJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Wu Zetian rises from imperial consort to become China’s only female emperor, using political skill, administrative reform and patronage to secure her extraordinary rule.
  38. Episode 44: 44. The Prosperous Kaiyuan EraJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Under Emperor Xuanzong, the Tang reaches a height of wealth, cultural achievement and international influence before complacency and court tensions threaten the flourishing empire.
  39. Episode 45: 45. The An Lushan RebellionJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    A frontier commander’s revolt plunges the Tang into years of war, causing immense destruction and permanently weakening central authority.
  40. Episode 46: 46. The Predicament of the Middle and Late TangJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Regional military governors, eunuch influence, fiscal strain and court factionalism erode Tang power as the dynasty struggles to govern an increasingly divided empire.
  41. Episode 47: 47. Chang'an: Metropolis of the WorldJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Tang capital is presented as a vast, cosmopolitan city where officials, merchants, diplomats, monks and travelers from across Asia meet.
  42. Episode 48: 48. The Rise and Fall of the Tibetan EmpireJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Tibetan Empire expands across the plateau and Central Asia, alternately fighting and negotiating with Tang China before internal conflict brings its imperial power to an end.
  43. Episode 49: 49. DunhuangJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The oasis city of Dunhuang preserves the artistic and religious legacy of the Silk Road through its caves, manuscripts, murals and centuries of cultural exchange.
  44. Episode 50: 50. The Tang Dynasty's Foreign RelationsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Envoys, merchants, monks and armies connect the Tang with neighboring states and distant regions, making the dynasty a central power in a broad Asian world.
  45. Episode 51: 51. Religion During the Tang DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Buddhism, Daoism and foreign faiths flourish in Tang China, shaping art and society while also becoming entangled in debates over wealth, authority and state control.
  46. Episode 52: 52. The Five Dynasties and Ten KingdomsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Following the Tang collapse, short-lived northern dynasties and competing southern kingdoms divide China until new political and military forces prepare the way for reunification.
  47. Episode 53: 53. Emperor Taizu of SongJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Zhao Kuangyin founds the Song dynasty, reunifies much of China and limits military power through institutions designed to place civil government above the generals.
  48. Episode 54: 54. The Chanyuan TreatyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    After years of conflict, Song and Liao negotiate a landmark peace that stabilizes their frontier and creates a lasting diplomatic relationship between rival empires.
  49. Episode 55: 55. Governing the Realm with the Scholar-OfficialsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Song expands examinations, schools and civil administration, creating a government in which educated scholar-officials exercise unprecedented influence.
  50. Episode 56: 56. Wang Anshi's ReformsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Wang Anshi introduces controversial policies to strengthen state finances, defense and rural society, dividing the Song court between reformers and their opponents.
  51. Episode 57: 57. The Jingkang CatastropheJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Jurchen armies capture the Northern Song capital and its emperors, ending the dynasty’s rule in the north and forcing the court to rebuild in the south.
  52. Episode 58: 58. War and Peace Between Song and JinJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Southern Song and Jin alternate between fierce warfare and negotiated peace as each seeks security, legitimacy and control of the contested frontier.
  53. Episode 59: 59. The Southern Song's Refuge in the SoutheastJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Driven from northern China, the Song establishes a new center in the prosperous southeast, where commerce, maritime activity and urban culture support a resilient dynasty.
  54. Episode 60: 60. The Dreamlike Splendor of the Eastern CapitalJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The bustling life of Northern Song Kaifeng is reconstructed through markets, festivals, entertainment and urban scenes immortalized in art and literature.
  55. Episode 61: 61. Neo-Confucianism During the Song DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Song thinkers reinterpret Confucian tradition through new discussions of morality, human nature and the cosmos, culminating in a philosophy that reshapes education and government.
  56. Episode 62: 62. Song Dynasty CultureJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Printing, scholarship, painting, literature, science and urban life illustrate the extraordinary cultural creativity of the Song era.
  57. Episode 63: 63. The Rise of KhitanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Khitan peoples unite under Abaoji, found the Liao dynasty and build an empire that combines steppe traditions with institutions suited to ruling agricultural lands.
  58. Episode 64: 64. The Founding of Western LiaoJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    After the fall of the Liao in the east, Yelü Dashi leads Khitan followers westward and establishes a powerful new state in Central Asia.
  59. Episode 65: 65. Wanyan AgudaJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Jurchen leader Wanyan Aguda unites his people, rebels against Liao domination and founds the Jin dynasty, transforming the balance of power in northern China.
  60. Episode 66: 66. The Rise and Fall of the Jin DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Jin conquers the Liao and Northern Song, rules a vast multiethnic realm and then faces internal strain and the devastating advance of the Mongols.
  61. Episode 67: 67. Liao and Jin CultureJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The cultural achievements of the Khitan Liao and Jurchen Jin reveal societies that blended their own traditions with the institutions, religions and arts of neighboring peoples.
  62. Episode 68: 68. The Rise and Fall of Western XiaJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Tangut state builds a distinctive empire along the northwestern frontier, develops its own script and culture, and survives between powerful neighbors until the Mongol conquest.
  63. Episode 69: 69. The Rise of the MongolsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Temüjin unites the Mongol tribes as Genghis Khan and creates a military empire whose campaigns transform Eurasia and threaten every state in northern China.
  64. Episode 70: 70. Kublai KhanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Kublai Khan completes the conquest of the Southern Song, establishes the Yuan dynasty and governs China as ruler of a vast, multiethnic Mongol empire.
  65. Episode 71: 71. Imperial Progresses Between the Two CapitalsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Yuan court moves seasonally between Dadu and Shangdu, reflecting the dynasty’s effort to balance steppe traditions with the administration of China.
  66. Episode 72: 72. Phagpa, Imperial Preceptor of the Great YuanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Tibetan lama Phagpa becomes an influential adviser to Kublai Khan, shaping Yuan religious policy and creating a new script intended for the empire.
  67. Episode 73: 73. The Maritime Silk RoadJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Ports, ships and merchant communities link Yuan China to Southeast Asia, India and the wider Indian Ocean through a flourishing network of maritime trade.
  68. Episode 74: 74. Marco Polo and ChinaJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The celebrated traveler’s account provides a window into Yuan China while raising enduring questions about observation, memory and the transmission of knowledge between East and West.
  69. Episode 75: 75. Emperor Shun of YuanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The last Yuan emperor confronts factional conflict, natural disasters, fiscal crisis and widespread rebellion as Mongol rule in China collapses.
  70. Episode 76: 76. Zhu Yuanzhang, Founder of the Ming DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    From impoverished beginnings and rebellion against the Yuan, Zhu Yuanzhang rises to found the Ming dynasty and creates an intensely centralized imperial state.
  71. Episode 77: 77. The Yongle Emperor Moves the CapitalJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Yongle Emperor transfers the Ming capital to Beijing, constructs the Forbidden City and reshapes the political and strategic center of the empire.
  72. Episode 78: 78. Zheng He’s Voyages to the Western OceansJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Ming court dispatches Zheng He’s enormous fleets across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, projecting imperial prestige through diplomacy, trade and maritime power.
  73. Episode 79: 79. The Grand Secretariat SystemJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Ming grand secretariat evolves into a powerful coordinating institution, helping emperors manage the bureaucracy despite the dynasty’s formal rejection of the chancellorship.
  74. Episode 80: 80. The Tumu CrisisJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    A disastrous campaign against the Oirats ends with the capture of the Ming emperor, creating a succession crisis and exposing serious weaknesses in court and military leadership.
  75. Episode 81: 81. Wang Yangming's Philosophy of MindJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The philosopher Wang Yangming teaches that moral knowledge is rooted within the mind and must be united with action, challenging established interpretations of Neo-Confucian learning.
  76. Episode 82: 82. Maritime Frontiers and Foreign TradeJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
  77. Episode 83: 83. Zhang Juzheng's ReformsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The grand secretary Zhang Juzheng strengthens finances, administration and imperial authority through ambitious reforms, but his program faces reversal after his death.
  78. Episode 84: 84. The Jesuits Come to ChinaJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Jesuit missionaries enter late Ming China and build relationships through astronomy, mathematics, cartography and scholarship, opening a complex new era of cultural exchange.
  79. Episode 85: 85. The Market Towns of JiangnanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Commercial towns, specialized crafts and regional markets transform the prosperous Jiangnan region into one of the most dynamic centers of the late imperial economy.
  80. Episode 86: 86. Silver CapitalJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The influx and circulation of silver reshape taxation, trade and everyday life in Ming China, tying the empire more closely to emerging global economic networks.
  81. Episode 87: 87. The Chongzhen EmperorJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The final Ming emperor struggles against rebellion, fiscal collapse, factional conflict and external threats as the dynasty moves toward catastrophe.
  82. Episode 88: 88. Entering and Ruling the Central PlainsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Manchus cross the Great Wall, seize Beijing and begin the difficult process of conquering and governing China under the new Qing dynasty.
  83. Episode 89: 89. The Consolidation of the Qing DynastyJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Early Qing rulers suppress resistance, rebuild administration and adapt imperial institutions in order to secure their authority over a vast and diverse realm.
  84. Episode 90: 90. The Recovery of TaiwanJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Qing defeats the Zheng regime in Taiwan and incorporates the island into the empire, reshaping maritime defense and cross-strait administration.
  85. Episode 91: 91. The Great Enterprise of UnificationJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Through warfare, diplomacy and frontier administration, the Qing expands and consolidates a multiethnic empire across Inner Asia and the Chinese heartland.
  86. Episode 92: 92. The Grand CouncilJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Created to handle urgent military affairs, the Grand Council develops into the Qing emperor’s most efficient instrument for confidential decision-making and centralized rule.
  87. Episode 93: 93. Incorporating the Poll Tax into the Land TaxJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    A major Qing fiscal reform merges head taxes with land taxes, simplifying collection and altering the relationship between population, property and state revenue.
  88. Episode 94: 94. Civil Government and the Literary InquisitionsJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    The Qing sponsors scholarship and cultural projects while also prosecuting writings considered politically dangerous, revealing the close connection between learning and imperial control.
  89. Episode 95: 95. Reluctant Self-StrengtheningJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    After military defeats, Qing officials adopt Western weapons, industry and technical knowledge while attempting to preserve the dynasty’s traditional political and cultural foundations.
  90. Episode 96: 96. The Opium WarJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Commercial conflict, opium smuggling and diplomatic confrontation lead to war with Britain, exposing Qing military weakness and beginning a new era of unequal foreign pressure.
  91. Episode 97: 97. The Taiping Heavenly KingdomJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    A vast religious rebellion establishes the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and wages a devastating civil war that transforms Qing politics, society and regional military power.
  92. Episode 98: 98. The First Sino-Japanse WarJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Conflict over Korea ends in a decisive Japanese victory, revealing the limits of Qing reform and triggering a profound crisis over China’s future.
  93. Episode 99: 99. Reform and RevolutionJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Intellectuals, officials and activists pursue constitutional reform, modernization and revolution as the Qing struggles to respond to domestic crisis and foreign pressure.
  94. Episode 100: 100. The End of Imperial RuleJanuary 21, 2013 · 45 min
    Revolution spreads across China, forcing the abdication of the last Qing emperor in 1912 and bringing more than two thousand years of imperial government to an end.

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Credits

Film and series details

EPISODE LENGTH
45 minutes
FIRST AIRED
January 21, 2013
LAST AIRED
January 21, 2013
PRODUCTION COMPANY
CCTV-6 China Movie Channel 电影频道节目中心 (CMC)

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