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
The “Tatara” device used to refine iron sands into pig iron. The two bellows on either side needed to be constantly kept in motion for the process to work. Source: Tosaka, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The finished product of the Tatara – Tamahagane, or Pig Iron. As you can probably guess, it still has a long way to go before it is ready for the battlefield. Source: Loulasedna, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The “Mikazuki Munechika,” a tachi sword forged by the Yamashiro School sometime in the late 900s. Source: Sanjō Munechika, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The final battles of Taira Masakado after his 939 consolidation of Kantō. Original Map Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Taira Masakado’s spooky daughter Takayasha-hime, holding a bell and a sword. The frog in the upper left corner, next to Masakado himself, is a verbal pun as the word KAERU can mean “frog” or “to return.”
Season 5, Episode 15: Sugawara Michizane’s Revenge
The Dazaifu-Tenmangu Shrine, which features a beautiful cypress thatched roof and delicate decorative inlays. Source: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The “Flying Plum” Tree on the grounds of Dazaifu-Tenmangu Shrine. This is allegedly the plum tree which Sugawara Michizane wrote his famous poem to, and according to legend the tree flew to Dazaifu from Kyoto in order to be with its master. Source: Created by David Chart, 7 March 2004
The local specialty of the Dazaifu-Tenmangu shrine – a baked plum treat called an Umegaemochi! Source: Public Domain
The pagoda standing at Daigo-ji temple, the complex for which Emperor Daigo was posthumously named. Source: Public Domain
