Tag: China

Peninsular Entanglements

October 22, 2020 justin-david-hebert Asuka, Season 3, Yamato Comments Off on Peninsular Entanglements
Season 3, Episode 10: Peninsular Entanglements
A decorative roof tile from Koguryo, time period unknown. Source: Public Domain
A mural from a Koguryo tomb. Note that the bird at the center has three legs- this is a common spiritual symbol in Taoism which shows that Koguryo was adopting some aspects of Chinese culture. Source: Public Domain
A diagram from the First Koguryo-Sui War, which ended in a draw between the nations. Source: Qiushufang / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A map of the second Koguryo-Sui War, which ended in a dramatic defeat for the Sui Dynasty but also a costly victory for Koguryo. Source: Qiushufang / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

A Brief History of Buddhism

October 15, 2020 justin-david-hebert Asuka, Season 3, Yamato Comments Off on A Brief History of Buddhism
Season 3, Episode 8: A Brief History of Buddhism
Dharmarajika stupa near Taxila, Pakistan. Originally built circa 300 BCE, it displays a classic semi-hemispherical design typical of Indian stupas. Source: Sasha Isachenko / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Sanchi Stupa, dated to around 125 BCE, is the first known stupa to feature decorative reliefs. It is located in north-central India, in Madhya Pradesh. Source: Kevin Standage (kevinstandage1@googlemail.com) INDIAN TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)
The Indo-Greek Buddhists carved their temples out of nearby caves. These pillars mark the entrance to Cave 17 in the Nasik Caves. Source: Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
A standing Buddha carved into the walls of Cave 17 of the Nasik Caves. Source: Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Seated Buddha from the Indo-Greek Kingdom. Note that rather than a more asiatic-style robe, he wears a toga. Source: PHGCOM / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A Statue of Athena recovered from the Indo-Greek Kingdom. Source: Uploadmo / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
The many statues of Longmen Grottoes in Henan, China, which began construction during the late 400s and continued, on and off, through the late 600s. As you can hopefully see from the presence of tourists, some of these statues are quite large! Source: WikiLaurent / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda of Xi’an, China. The original was built from rammed earth during the reign of Emperor Gaozong in 652 CE, but it collapsed after fifty years and was rebuilt during the reign of Empress Wu Zitan near the end of Japan’s Asuka Period. Source: Alex Kwok / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Unification and Collapse in China

September 24, 2020 justin-david-hebert Kofun, Season 3, Yamato Comments Off on Unification and Collapse in China
Season 3, Episode 2: Unificiation and Collapse in China
The three kingdoms of China in 262 CE. Looks neat and tidy enough here, but the next image should give a better idea of how chaotic this period actually was. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A time-lapse map showing the various warring states during and after the Han Dynasty’s Decline. Source: Three Kingdoms fan / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
The Jin Dynasty at its beginning in 280 CE. This is during what we now call the Western Jin Dynasty. Source: Ian Kiu / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A Yue ware bowl from the Jin Dynasty period. Source: PHGCOM / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A type of funerary urn called a Hunping Jar. This one features many Buddhist figures. Public Domain
The Eastern Jin Dynasty Period. Source: Javierfv1212 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
China in 402 CE, the Eastern Jin barely holding onto what they can. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Three Philosophies of Ancient China

August 20, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on Three Philosophies of Ancient China
Season 2, Episode 8: Three Philosophies of Ancient China
A depiction of Confucius from the later Tang Dynasty. Public Domain.
Xian’guting taoist temple in Weihai, Shandong province, China. Source: Popolon / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A statue of Shang Yang, famous contributor to the philosophy of Legalism. Source: Taken by Fanghong / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

East Asian Trade

August 17, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on East Asian Trade
Season 2, Episode 7: East Asian Trade
Knife Money, objectively the coolest form of legal tender ever created. These knives come from the Yan State. Source: PENG Yanan (Neo-Jay) / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
A map of the silk road, which connected the far east and the far west and encouraged trade and idea exchange. Source: Kelvin Case / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A coin bearing the image of Roman Emperor Constantius II, found in the Xinjiang region of China. Public Domain.

The Kingdoms of Korea

August 13, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Kingdoms of Korea
Season 2, Episode 6: The Kingdoms of Korea
Heaven Lake atop Baekdu Mountain, located in modern-day North Korea, where the mythical founder of Gojoseon was born. Source: Bdpmax / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
The Korean Peninsula during the early Han Dynasty. Source: Historiographer at the English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
After the 108 BCE conquest of Gojoseon. The southernmost purple commandery is Lelang, which would later be divided and Daifung Commandery created. Source: Xakyntos / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

The Mandate of Heaven, Part 2

August 10, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Mandate of Heaven, Part 2
A Map of the Zhou states during the Warring States Period. Source: Philg88 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A portion of the famous Terracotta Army buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The horses behind the soldiers are pulling a chariot which did not survive excavation. Source: Ovedc / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
The figures of the Terracotta Army were originally painted using locally available pigments. This recreation gives some idea what they may have looked like shortly after they were finished. Source: Charlie / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A map of the Han Dynasty’s expansion throughout its history. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
This map shows the Han Dynasty and its western protectorates in the wider theater of East and Central Asia. Public Domain.
A mural painting on the wall of a tomb dating to the later Eastern Han Dynasty period. Public Domain.

The Mandate of Heaven, Part 1

August 6, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Mandate of Heaven, Part 1
A jade ornament of a plumed bird dating to around 1200 BCE, near the end of Shang Dynasty rule. Source: Vassil / CC0
A Map of the approximate territory claimed by the Zhou Dynasty. Note the general proximity to the Korean Peninsula. Source: Territories_of_Dynasties_in_China.gif: Ian Kiu / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
A map of the Zhou states around the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A Temple of Confucius in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, originally built in 1684 CE, reconstructed in 1976 CE. Though many temples and statues are dedicated to the person of Kong-fuzi, none were built in his lifetime. Source: Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

Bronze, Iron, Metallurgy, and Bells

August 3, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on Bronze, Iron, Metallurgy, and Bells
Han Dynasty Era bronze scale armor. Source: Gary Lee Todd / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A bronze mirror from the Eastern Han Dynasty Period. The mirror’s face is polished and reflective, while the back displays this impressive pattern. Public Domain.
Close-up of a Han ceramic model featuring crossbow-wielding soldiers in the guard tower. Source: PericlesofAthens / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A Dotaku bell from the Yayoi. I love this image because you can clearly see some of the artwork in the panels of the bell. Animals, birds, and other images probably had distinct meaning for the Yayoi people which is lost to us today. Public Domain.
A Dotaku featuring some stylish swirls on its outer edge. Source: I, Sailko / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Meanwhile in China and Korea

June 25, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on Meanwhile in China and Korea
A bone flute excavated from a Jiahu site Attrib.: Cangminzho / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A map of the Shang Dynasty, Public Domain
A good example of Jeulmun Pottery. While simpler in construction than its Jomon counterparts, its design and texture are still very complex. Attrib.: Ismoon (talk) 08:14, 18 June 2018 (UTC) / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A larger example of a Jeulmun Pot. Here you can more clearly see the “comb marks” near the rim that give the aesthetic its name. Attrib.: Asfreeas at Korean Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)