Tag: Japan

Pax Kamakura

A portrait of Hojo Tsunetoki, author unknown. Source: Public Domain
A painting of Hojo Tokiyori, who is remembered as one of the most brilliant of the Hojo Regents. Source: Public Domain
The signature of Hojo Tokiyori, which would have appeared on official documents. Source: Public Domain
A drawing of Hojo Nagatoki, who ruled in the shadow of the retired Tokiyori. Source: Public Domain
Hojo Masamura, who served as the Shogun’s Regent after Nagatoki retired. He was the half-brother of Hojo Yasutoki. Source: Public Domain

The Reign of Hojo Yasutoki

Season 7, Episode 7: The Reign of Hojo Yasutoki
The tomb of Hojo Masako at Jufukuji Temple in Kamakura.
A drawing of Hojo Yasutoki, the third Shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate. Artist: Kurihara Nobumitsu. Source: Public Domain
Kujo Yoritsune, the fourth Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate and the first Shogun not descended from Minamoto Yoritomo. Source: Public Domain
The signature of Kujo Yoritsune, which would have appeared on some official Shogunate documents. Source: Public Domain

The Jōkyū War

Season 7, Episode 6: The Jōkyū War
A portrait of Emperor Tsuchimikado, who stayed out of the plotting that led to the Jōkyū War. Source: Public Domain
A portrait of Emperor Juntoku, who arranged his own abdication so that he could be more involved in the plot against Kamakura. Source: Public Domain
The Kondo (Main Hall) of Toji Temple, where the imperial partisan holdouts likely took shelter and prepared to commit ritual suicide. Source: Michael Gunther, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Oki Islands (red), where Retired Emperor Go-Toba was exiled after the Jōkyū War. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sado Island (red), where Retired Emperor Juntoku was exiled after the Jōkyū War. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tosa Province (red) where Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado was exiled after the Jōkyū War. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Nun Shogun

Season 7, Episode 5: The Nun Shogun
A portait drawing of Hojo Masako by artist Kikuchi Yosai. Public Domain
The steps to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. The large Ginko tree encircled by a rope on the left side marks the approximate location of Minamoto Sanetomo’s death. Source: No machine-readable author provided. Abrahami assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
A closer view of the Ginko tree. Some later accounts claimed that Kugyo hid behind this tree before he murdered his uncle, but this is considered an invention of later storytellers. Source: Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A monument honoring Minamoto Sanetomo in the Jufuku-in cemetary in Kamakura. Source: Public Domain

Meet the New Regents

Season 7, Episode 4: Meet the New Regents
The second Kamakura Shogun, Minamoto Yoriie. Although he holds a sword, the office of Shogun had been transformed into a civil government position. Artist unknown. Source: 建仁寺, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The grave marker of Minamoto Yoriie on the grounds of Shuzenji Temple in Izu. Source: No machine-readable author provided. Geomr~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Minamoto Sanetomo, the third Kamakura Shogun. Although he appears here arrayed in full battle gear, Sanetomo never led troops in battle and likely never wore armor outside ceremonial occasions. Artist: Yashima Gakutei. Source: Yashima Gakutei (八島岳亭; c. 1786 – 1868), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Another portrait of Sanetomo, here arrayed in his civilian robes which would have more closely matched his day-to-day appearance. Artist: Goshin. Source: Hannah, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A statue of Hatakeyama Shigetada, the son-in-law of Hojo Tokimasa who was executed for supposed treason against the Shogunate. Source: Koda6029, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Hojo Yoshitoki, who took over as Shikken (regent) after his father, Hojo Tokimasa, was forced into retirement. Source: wilkinson777が撮影, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Minamoto Yoritomo – The Man of the Hour

Season 7, Episode 3: Minamoto Yoritomo – The Man of the Hour
A painting of Hojo Tokimasa. Note the bearskin boots, tachi sword, and bow. Artist: Utagawa Yoshitora Source: Public Domain
The area known as Fujino, where the Fuji no Makigari took place. Note the vast expanse of forest that covers the feet of Mount Fuji looming above. Source: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An illustrated page from the Soga Monogatari (The Tale of the Soga Brothers). In this panel, they are enacting their revenge by killing Kudo Suketsune. Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige. Source: Public Domain
An illustration of the aftermath of the Soga brothers’ assassination. In the background, the base of Mount Fuji can be seen. Artist: Utagawa Yoshitora. Source: Public Domain
Soga Tokimune being held back by Gosho Goromaru. Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Source: Public Domain
A collage of images from the Fuji no Makigari procession of the Yokkaichi Festival, celebrated in Mie Prefecture. Children dressed as samurai shoot arrows into a papier-mache wild boar. Source: Hamadakko, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Seii-Tai-Shogun

Season 7, Episode 2: Seii-Tai-Shogun
When Yoritomo called Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa a “Goblin,” he was referring to mischievous Japanese spirits called “Tengu.” Pictured above is one such Tengu, menacing an elephant. Public Domain
Emperor Go-Toba, whose original coronation did not include the Imperial Regalia. Public Domain
Minamoto Michichika, the leader of the anti-Bakufu faction who ousted Fujiwara Kanezane from the office of Kampaku. Public Domain
Fujiwara Kanezane, also called Kujo Kanezane, who was removed from his position at court with Yoritomo’s consent. Public Domain

A Rough Start

Season 7, Episode 1: A Rough Start
A carving believed to portray Minamoto Yoritomo, the winner of the Gempei War who created the Kamakura Bakufu. Source: Myshkin., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A three-screen painting of Yoritomo’s procession into Heian-kyo shortly after the end of the Gempei War. Artist: Utagawa Sadahide. Public Domain
Minamoto Yoritomo’s signature, which would have appeared at the bottom of official Shogunate edicts, orders, and correspondence. Public Domain.

The Gempei War Part 4: The Final Countdown

Season 6, Episode 22: The Gempei War Part 4: The Final Countdown
Kiso Yoshinaka and his wife, Tomoe Gozen, at the Battle of Awazu. Source: Public Domain
The Minamoto-allied samurai make their way to the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani. Public Domain
The Battle of Kojima. The Minamoto horsemen are charging through the low tide to take the island fortress. Source: Public Domain
The Battle of Yashima, in which the Taira were goaded into facing the Minamoto forces in the surf. Source: Public Domain
A depiction of the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, the final battle in the Gempei War in which the Taira were unequivocally vanquished. Source: Public Domain
A satellite photo of the Shimonoseki straits which allows you to see just how narrow is the passage of water between Kyushu and Chugoku. Source: Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Gempei War Part 3: The Rise and Fall of Kiso Yoshinaka

Season 6, Episode 21: The Rise and Fall of Kiso Yoshinaka
A painting of Kiso Yoshinaka. Source: Public Domain
A painting by Katsukawa Shuntei of The Battle of Kurikara Pass. Note the oxen with torches affixed to their horns in the background. Source: Public Domain
A statue of a bull with torches tied to its horns honoring Kiso Yoshinaka’s victory at Kurikara Pass. Source: Bakkai at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Just south of Bitchu Province, which is highlighted in red above, is where the Battle of Mizushima occurred, which is when Kiso Yoshinaka’s martial luck began to run out. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
The race across Uji river between Kajiwara Kagesue and Sasaki Takatsuna. Source: Public Domain