Tag: Japan

The Life and Times of Emperor Kammu

July 12, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on The Life and Times of Emperor Kammu
Season 5, Episode 5: The Life and Times of Emperor Kammu
A reconstruction of the Heian Palace Daigokuden, the Main Hall. Today this rebuilt structure stands at Heian Shrine in Kyoto. Source: Saigen Jiro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
A model of Heian-Kyo featuring the Imperial Palace in the north. Source: Wikiwikiyarou, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A close up on the same model of Saiji Temple, one of only three temples allowed to be built in the new capital. Source: Wikiwikiyarou, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A memorial stone marking the location of the old palace, which has long since been lost to the ravages of time. Source: ＋－ at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

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

Nara Folk Tales – BONUS

March 8, 2021 justin-david-hebert Nara, Season 4 Comments Off on Nara Folk Tales – BONUS
Season 4, Episode 17: Nara Folk Tales – BONUS

Visit the Japanese Historical Text Initiative!

Special thanks to the Association for Asian Studies for granting permission for me read aloud from Tales of Earth and Wind: A Translation of Fudoki, with Introduction and Commentaries!

Selections from the Man’yoshu – BONUS

March 1, 2021 justin-david-hebert Nara, Season 4 Comments Off on Selections from the Man’yoshu – BONUS
Season 4, Episode 16: Selections from the Man’yoshu – BONUS

Visit this site to see more of the Man’yoshu’s poetry!

Check out 1000 Poems from the Manyoshu on Amazon! (not an affiliate link)

Emperor Kammu’s Big Moves

February 22, 2021 justin-david-hebert Nara, Season 4 Comments Off on Emperor Kammu’s Big Moves

This site has a great rundown of the Battle of Subuse with diagrams and illustrations – http://emishi-ezo.net/Conquest/Subuse.html

Season 4, Episode 15: Emperor Kammu’s Big Moves
Emperor Kammu, artist unknown. Source: Public Domain
A scale model reconstruction of Nagaoka-Kyo’s palace and courtyard. Source: Public Domain
All that remains of Nagaoka-kyo today: a solitary pilar which serves as a memorial monument to the short-lived capital. Source: Public Domain
Miniature scale model of Heian-kyo as it existed in former times. Today it is the city of Kyoto. Source:Public Domain

Tōhoku Troubles

February 18, 2021 justin-david-hebert Nara, Season 4 Comments Off on Tōhoku Troubles
Season 4, Episode 14: Tōhoku Troubles
A map of Japan with the Tohoku region highlighted. While today it is composed of six prefectures, in the Nara Period it had only two administrative divisions: Dewa and Mutsu. Source: TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Reign of Emperor Kōnin

February 15, 2021 justin-david-hebert Nara, Season 4 Comments Off on The Reign of Emperor Kōnin
Season 4, Episode 13: The Reign of Emperor Kōnin
A drawing of Emperor Kōnin. Source: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons