Tag: Heian

The First Shōgun

July 8, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on The First Shōgun
Season 5, Episode 4: The First Shōgun
An ink drawing of Sakanoue Tamuramaro, the Seii-Tai-Shōgun credited with subduing the Emishi of Tōhoku early in the Heian Period. Source: Public Domain
The reputed grave of Emishi leader Aterui, located near Ōsaka. Source: Public Domain

Kūkai’s Big Journey

July 5, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on Kūkai’s Big Journey
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 Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on Saichō’s Big Journey
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 Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on Another Fresh Start
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