Tag: Japan

Gishi-Wajinden

The English translation of the Gishi-Wajinden which I used in this episode can be found here. It also has some great maps of Kyushu along with the possible locations of various Yayoi polities on its main page. Enjoy!

Queen Himiko of Yamatai

A recreation of Queen Himiko from the Museum of Yayoi Culture. Source: Artanisen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mythology, Customs, and Religion

Season 2, Episode 9: Mythology, Customs, and Religion
A scale model of what Izumo Shrine may have looked like in ancient times. Source: Blue Lotus / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
The roof styles of this part of the Izumo complex are very reminiscent of Yayoi-style buildings. Source: Blue Lotus / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
No shrine in Japan is complete without massive ropes. This is Izumo Shrine’s Haiden, a building used for worship and prayer. Source: Miya.m / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
This is the Kagura of Ise Shrine, a building used for special prayers and the performance of classical dance. Public Domain.
A portion of the Naiku of Ise Shrine, a building dedicated to the worship of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Source: N yotarou / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

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

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/)
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/)

Bronze, Iron, Metallurgy, and Bells

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)

From Villages to Kingdoms

Season 2, Episode 2: From Villages to Kingdoms
Bronze spearheads from Kyushu dating to the 1-2c CE. Source: I, PHGCOM / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
A Dotaku bell unearthed in Shizuoka prefecture, which is located just to the east of Kansai. Clusters of these bells buried on hilltops throughout central Honshu may have been part of a ritual to ratify alliances between clans. Source: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Bronze swords excavated from the Yoshinogari site. Katanas are still hundreds of years away, but these would certainly get the job done. Source: Pekachu / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

The Yayoi Way

Season 2, Episode 1: The Yayoi Way
Burial Jars from the Yoshinogari Site. Public Domain.
A stone knife from the Yayoi period on display at the Nagoya City Miharashidai Archaeological Museum. Source: KKPCW / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Check out the webpage of the Yoshinogari Site for more pictures and history!

Bonus Episode: Dinosaurs of Japan

The Nipponosaurus Skeleton. Note the duck bill and Lambeosaurine crest atop its noggin. Attrib.: Momotarou2012 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Kamuysaurus compared to a human. Hi there, big fella! Image Public Domain
A skeleton of a Fukuisaurus. Note the almost ceratopsian skull which looks, to me, a bit like a rat. Attrib.: Titomaurer / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A reconstruction of Fuikuiraptor (left) facing off against Fukuisaurus (right). Attrib.: 藤谷良秀(Yoshihide Fujitani)
A reconstruction of Fukuititan, still pretty big for being on the small side of the titanosaur family! Attrib.: 藤谷良秀(Yoshihide Fujitani)
Fukuivenator Skeleton, with scale model reconstruction. Attrib.: Titomaurer / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
The elusive Fukuiraptor in all of his ambiguous glory! Its skull is strikingly Tyrannosaurid, and yet its teeth are Carchodontosaurid. Attrib.: Titomaurer / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

This will probably be the last episode on Dinosaurs I ever make but it was worth it. No ragrets.

All About Pottery!

Two vessels from the Incipient Jomon Period (11,000-7,000 BCE). Note the relative simplicity, the designs adding only a subtle accent to the overall work. Attrib: Ismoon (talk) (merci Gaspard !) / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A pot from the Middle Jōmon Period (2,500-1,500 BCE). Note the extensive applique, the texturized spaces. Attrib.: I, Sailko / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Another Middle Jōmon Vessel, this one decorated in the “flame style.” Attrib.: しんぎんぐきゃっと / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A Dogū Figurine from Tōhoku (Far Northeastern Honshu), circa 1,000-400 BCE. Attrib.: World Imaging / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Tōkyo National Museum Jōmon Exhibit – Lots of great pictures of various items which the Jōmon people used every day, including wooden baskets, pottery, Dogū

Cleveland Museum of Art Jōmon Pottery – Great virtual exhibit of Jōmon pottery from various angles, as well as helpful descriptions of their uses.

Chino City Jōmon Page – A pleasant English-language walkthrough of the Jōmon Period with lots of relevant artifacts unearthed in Nagano Prefecture.