Season 6, Episode 13: Emperor Shirakawa’s Loophole
A depiction of Emperor Shirakawa in monk’s habit. It would become common to portray retired emperors wearing religious clothing to reflect their status as holy rulers. Public Domain
Emperor Toba, also wearing monk’s habit. Public Domain
Yelu Bei, older brother of the Liao Emperor, fleeing the Kingdom of Dongdan for asylum in Song China. Source: Public Domain
Khitan hunters using falcons on their hunt. Source: Public Domain
Liao Phoenix and Dragon Crowns. The Khitan had access to truly impressive skilled metalworkers. Source: Aldermanseven, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fudong Temple, made entirely from wood and still standing nearly a thousand years after it was built. Source: Gisling, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The state of Kara Khitai, situated in Central Asia. It is also called the Western Liao Empire. Source: SY, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Jurchen tribal leader Wanyan Aguda, who became Emperor Taizu of the Jin Dynasty. source: Public Domains
The domains of the Jin Dynasty, comfortably situated between Song china, the state of Western Xia (Xi Xia) and Goryeo. Source: User:Ian Kiu, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Chengling Pagoda, built by the Jin Dynasty between 1161 and 1189. Source: Rolf Müller (User:Rolfmueller), CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Season 6, Episode 10: The Splendor of the Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty at its greatest extent, around 1111 CE. Source: China – Song Dynasty – cs.svg: User:Mozzanderivative work: Kanguole, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Earliest known written formula for gunpowder, which the Song would use mostly for explosive weapons. Public Domain
A famous painting, “Along the Qingming River, which features a cross-section view of Kaifeng during that city’s heyday. Open the image in a new tab to see a larger version and zoom in to see some incredibly fine details. Public Domain
The Song Domains after the invasion and conquest of the Jin Dynasty. Kaifeng and the other great metropolises of the north would never be rejoined with the Song Empire. Source: China – Southern Song Dynasty – cs.svg: User:Mozzanderivative work: Kanguole, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A painting of Abe Sadato, son of Abe Yoritoki. Sadato continued to evade and outmaneuver the Minamoto warband until the Kiyohara clan became involved in 1062. Public Domain
Japan with Mutsu Province highlighted in red. This was where the Former Nine Years War took place. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Murasaki Shikibu from the late 1500s. Public Domain
A portion of an illustrated scroll of The Tale of Genji. This particular copy is from the 1100s. Public Domain
The back of a 2000 yen note from the Bank of Japan. On the left is Genji Hikaru and peeking from behind a screen on the right is Murasaki Shikibu. Public Domain
A painting of Murasaki Shikibu staring at the moon for inspiration as she pens another chapter. Note that she is wearing purple, a reference to her pseudonym. Public Domain
A landscape portrait, once again featuring the purple-clad Murasaki Shikibu gazing at the moon. Public Domain
Sei Shonagon, author of The Pillow Book, peaks from behind a sliding screen. Public Domain
Sei Shonagon, as imagined by later artist Kikuchi Yosai. Public Domain
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