justin.david.hebert

Saichō’s Big Journey

July 1, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 5, Episode 2: Saichō’s Big Journey

Saichō depicted with some green tea leaves. Source: Yoshiaki Utagawa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Guoqing Temple Monastery atop Tiantai Mountain. It has been rebuilt and rennovated many times since Saichō studied Buddhism here in 804. Source: Siyuwj, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Lecture Hall at Enryaku-ji Temple, which has been rebuilt many times over the years. Source: 663highland, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ordination Hall at Enryaku-ji. The ability to ordain their own monks was critical in ensuring the denomiation’s independence from the Nara Schools. Source: 663highland, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

You can read the Lotus Sutra for yourself by downloading it from the Society for the Promotion of Budhism (Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai) by clicking here.

Another Fresh Start

June 28, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 5, Episode 1: Another Fresh Start

A good video featuring many of Japan’s traditional construction techniques. Some of these methods would have been used to construct the new capital, Heian-kyō

Part of the Kamo Shrine, which was built to the northeast of Heian-kyō to protect the city from demons. Source: Bariston, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A miniature model that recreates the Rajōmon – the main city gate for Heian-kyō. It is the basis of this season’s logo. Note the moat that borders the city outside of the wall. Source: Wikiwikiyarou, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

Nara Folk Tales – BONUS

March 8, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 4, Episode 17: Nara Folk Tales – BONUS

Visit the Japanese Historical Text Initiative!

Special thanks to the Association for Asian Studies for granting permission for me read aloud from Tales of Earth and Wind: A Translation of Fudoki, with Introduction and Commentaries!

Selections from the Man’yoshu – BONUS

March 1, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 4, Episode 16: Selections from the Man’yoshu – BONUS

Visit this site to see more of the Man’yoshu’s poetry!

Check out 1000 Poems from the Manyoshu on Amazon! (not an affiliate link)

Emperor Kammu’s Big Moves

February 22, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

This site has a great rundown of the Battle of Subuse with diagrams and illustrations – http://emishi-ezo.net/Conquest/Subuse.html

Season 4, Episode 15: Emperor Kammu’s Big Moves

Emperor Kammu, artist unknown. Source: Public Domain

A scale model reconstruction of Nagaoka-Kyo’s palace and courtyard. Source: Public Domain

All that remains of Nagaoka-kyo today: a solitary pilar which serves as a memorial monument to the short-lived capital. Source: Public Domain

Miniature scale model of Heian-kyo as it existed in former times. Today it is the city of Kyoto. Source:Public Domain

Tōhoku Troubles

February 18, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 4, Episode 14: Tōhoku Troubles

A map of Japan with the Tohoku region highlighted. While today it is composed of six prefectures, in the Nara Period it had only two administrative divisions: Dewa and Mutsu. Source: TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons