Month: August 2020

Bonus: Excerpts From Chinese Philosophy

August 31, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 2, Episode 11: BONUS – Excerpts from Chinese Philosophy

Analects of Confucius (Kong Fuzi)

The Tao te Ching

Special thanks to Professor Anne Kinney for giving permission to use her translation of the Han Feizi.

Queen Himiko of Yamatai

August 27, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

A recreation of Queen Himiko from the Museum of Yayoi Culture. Source: Artanisen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mythology, Customs, and Religion

August 24, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 2, Episode 9: Mythology, Customs, and Religion

A scale model of what Izumo Shrine may have looked like in ancient times. Source: Blue Lotus / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

The roof styles of this part of the Izumo complex are very reminiscent of Yayoi-style buildings. Source: Blue Lotus / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

No shrine in Japan is complete without massive ropes. This is Izumo Shrine’s Haiden, a building used for worship and prayer. Source: Miya.m / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

This is the Kagura of Ise Shrine, a building used for special prayers and the performance of classical dance. Public Domain.

A portion of the Naiku of Ise Shrine, a building dedicated to the worship of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Source: N yotarou / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Three Philosophies of Ancient China

August 20, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 2, Episode 8: Three Philosophies of Ancient China

A depiction of Confucius from the later Tang Dynasty. Public Domain.

Xian’guting taoist temple in Weihai, Shandong province, China. Source: Popolon / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

A statue of Shang Yang, famous contributor to the philosophy of Legalism. Source: Taken by Fanghong / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

East Asian Trade

August 17, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 2, Episode 7: East Asian Trade

Knife Money, objectively the coolest form of legal tender ever created. These knives come from the Yan State. Source: PENG Yanan (Neo-Jay) / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

A map of the silk road, which connected the far east and the far west and encouraged trade and idea exchange. Source: Kelvin Case / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

A coin bearing the image of Roman Emperor Constantius II, found in the Xinjiang region of China. Public Domain.

The Kingdoms of Korea

August 13, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 2, Episode 6: The Kingdoms of Korea

Heaven Lake atop Baekdu Mountain, located in modern-day North Korea, where the mythical founder of Gojoseon was born. Source: Bdpmax / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

The Korean Peninsula during the early Han Dynasty. Source: Historiographer at the English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

After the 108 BCE conquest of Gojoseon. The southernmost purple commandery is Lelang, which would later be divided and Daifung Commandery created. Source: Xakyntos / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

The Mandate of Heaven, Part 2

August 10, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

A Map of the Zhou states during the Warring States Period. Source: Philg88 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

A portion of the famous Terracotta Army buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The horses behind the soldiers are pulling a chariot which did not survive excavation. Source: Ovedc / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

The figures of the Terracotta Army were originally painted using locally available pigments. This recreation gives some idea what they may have looked like shortly after they were finished. Source: Charlie / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

A map of the Han Dynasty’s expansion throughout its history. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

This map shows the Han Dynasty and its western protectorates in the wider theater of East and Central Asia. Public Domain.

A mural painting on the wall of a tomb dating to the later Eastern Han Dynasty period. Public Domain.

The Mandate of Heaven, Part 1

August 6, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

A jade ornament of a plumed bird dating to around 1200 BCE, near the end of Shang Dynasty rule. Source: Vassil / CC0

A Map of the approximate territory claimed by the Zhou Dynasty. Note the general proximity to the Korean Peninsula. Source: Territories_of_Dynasties_in_China.gif: Ian Kiu / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

A map of the Zhou states around the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

A Temple of Confucius in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, originally built in 1684 CE, reconstructed in 1976 CE. Though many temples and statues are dedicated to the person of Kong-fuzi, none were built in his lifetime. Source: Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

Bronze, Iron, Metallurgy, and Bells

August 3, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Han Dynasty Era bronze scale armor. Source: Gary Lee Todd / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

A bronze mirror from the Eastern Han Dynasty Period. The mirror’s face is polished and reflective, while the back displays this impressive pattern. Public Domain.

Close-up of a Han ceramic model featuring crossbow-wielding soldiers in the guard tower. Source: PericlesofAthens / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

A Dotaku bell from the Yayoi. I love this image because you can clearly see some of the artwork in the panels of the bell. Animals, birds, and other images probably had distinct meaning for the Yayoi people which is lost to us today. Public Domain.

A Dotaku featuring some stylish swirls on its outer edge. Source: I, Sailko / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)