Category: Season 6

The Golden Age of Goryeo

Season 6, Episode 12: The Golden Age of Goryeo
The Royal flag of Goryeo, featuring a phoenix. Public Domain
A painting which features depictions of Goryeo nobility. Public Domain
A celedon bowl found in a tomb dating to 1159. Source: National Museum of Korea, KOGL Type 1 http://www.kogl.or.kr/open/info/license_info/by.do, via Wikimedia Commons
A celedon teapot from the Goryeo Dynasty (early 1100s) with exquisite inlaid designs and beautifully crafted textures. Public Domain
A celedon incense burner from the 1100s with cute rabbits for feet. Source: Steve46814, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Dynasties of the North

Season 6, Episode 11: The Dynasties of the North
The Liao Dynasty’s domains at its greatest extent, around 1000 CE. Source: Gabagool, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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 Liao Dynasty’s domains in 1111, just before everything goes horribly wrong. Source: SY, 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

The Splendor of the Song Dynasty

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

Another Fujiwara Clan?

Season 6, Episode 9: Another Fujiwara Clan?
Minamoto Yoshiie holding a war fan with an attendant. Public Domain
An illustrated scroll portraying the Later Three Years War, or Gosannen War. Public Domain
Fujiwara Kiyohira, the founder of the Northern Fujiwara Clan. Public Domain

The Middling Kampaku

Season 6, Episode 8: The Middling Kampaku
A painting of Minamoto Yoriyoshi in armor drinking tea. Source: Musuketeer.3, 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

Tendai Troubles

Season 6, Episode 7: Tendai Troubles
A statue of Ryogen. Public Domain
An illustration of Ryogen during a mythical confrontation with an ogre. Public Domain
A portrait of Genshin seated while holding a mala. Public Domain
Mount Hiei, modern day. As you can see, it is quite large. Source: Moja, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

The First Novel

Season 6, Episode 6: The First Novel
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

Michinaga the Magnificent

Season 6, Episode 5: Michinaga the Magnificent
Fujiwara Michinaga as imagined by the later artist Kikuchi Yosai. Public Domain
Emperor Ichijo, under whose reign Fujiwara Michinaga ascended to the apex of political power. Public Domain
Emperor Sanjo, who frequently clahsed with the Mido Kampaku but ultimately retired from office after five miserable, frustrating years. Public Domain
The unfortunate Fujiwara Korechika, who lost nearly everything when he tried to compete with Michinaga. Public Domain

The Reign of the Regents

Season 6, Episode 4: The Reign of the Regents
A painting of Emperor Murakami, seated in his fine robes and holding a folded fan. Source: Public Domain
A drawing of Fujiwara Saneyori by Kikuchi Yosai. Source: Public Domain
A drawing of Fujiwara Morosuke, also by Kikuchi Yosai. Source: Public Domain
The tomb of Emperor Reizei. Source: Public Domain
A painting of Emperor Kazan seated and holding a mala and a vajra, symbolizing his commitment to Buddhist practice. Source: Public Domain
A painting of Emperor Ichijo, seated. Source: Public Domain

The Age of Uncertainty

Season 6, Episode 3: The Age of Uncertainty
A view of Hakata Bay from Noko Island, which the Jurchen pirates occupied as they raided northern Kyushu. Minus the large buildings and the modern ships, this is similar to what they would have seen from their base. Source: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Memorial stone marking the former location of Dazaifu Fortress. While it would still be many years before its final destruction, it would be destroyed and rebuilt many times during the Heian Period and beyond. Source: vigorous action, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons