China - A History of Japan

The Fall of the Mongols

December 5, 2022 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

After Kublai Khan’s death, the Yuan Dynasty was divided by two rival factions – one who wanted total Mongol traditional rule and one who preferred Confucian government. The economic turmoil caused by these feuding parties gave rise, in part, to the Red Turban Rebellion.

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Revenues and Expenditures

November 7, 2022 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 8, Episode 5: Revenues and Expenditures

The Toji Temple complex as it appears today in Kyoto, Japan. The Ashikaga heavily patronized the establishment in their day to enhance their reputation as rulers. Source: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Pavilion, called “Kinkaku-ji” in Japanese. Source: User:Fbjon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A closer view of Kinkaku-ji. Source: Ondraness, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A closer view of the roof ornament, the Hoo bird, which symbolized imperial authority. Source: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Dynasties of the North

November 1, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

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

October 28, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

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

The Fall of the Tang Dynasty

July 26, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 5, Episode 9: The Fall of the Tang Dynasty

A map of the major battles of the An Lushan Rebellion. Note the distances required for the loyal generals to travel in order to engage the rebel An Lushan. Source: SY, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Emperor Wuzong, who led the Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution of the 840s. Source: Public Domain

Emperor Zhaozong, the last adult Emperor of Tang China. After he was assassinated, his eight-year old son was put on the throne and then later killed as well. Source: Public Domain

Kūkai’s Big Journey

July 5, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 5, Episode 3: Kūkai’s Big Journey

A wooden statuette of Kūkai (Kobo Daishi) holding a mala in his left hand and a ceremonial vajra in his right. Source: PHGCOM, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A mandala of the Buddha surrounded by four other Buddhas and four Bodhisattvas respectively. Source: Public Domain

A large statue of Kūkai (Kobo Daishi) holding a shakujō staff as well as his mala. This statue can be seen at Shitenno-ji temple in Ōsaka. Source: Zenwort, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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

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.

Tang, Silla, and Balhae

January 14, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 4, Episode 4: Tang, Silla, and Balhae

A painting of Empress Wu Zetian from the 1700s, creator unknown. Public domain

Some of the statues of Fengxian Cave, part of the Longmen Grottos which Empress Wu commissioned and supported. Source: G41rn8, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dae Joyeong, also remembered as King Go of Balhae. Public domain

A Stele from Balhae. Source: pressapochista (a flickr user), CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Rise of the Tang Dynasty

October 26, 2020 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 3, Episode 11: The Rise of the Tang Dynasty

Sui Dynasty Provinces circa 610 CE. Note that the Liaodong peninsula in the northeast is still under Koguryo’s control and that the Xiyu States in the west are still not under Chinese suzerainty. Source: Yug / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

The Tang dynasty campaign to subjugate the Xiyu States in the mid 600s. This map is especially helpful because of its inclusion of the Silk road routes. Source: Yug / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)