Tag: Japan

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)

From Villages to Kingdoms

July 30, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on 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

July 27, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on 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

July 6, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 1 Comments Off on 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)
Paleoartist Hattori Masato’s reconstruction of Kamuysaurus, seen here exhibiting both two-legged and four-legged movement. Attrib.: Art by Masato Hattori, published by Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Tomohiro Nishimura, Ryuji Takasaki, Kentaro Chiba, Anthony R. Fiorillo, Kohei Tanaka, Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig, Tamaki Sato & Kazuhiko Sakurai / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
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)
Paleoartist Tamura Nobu’s reconstruction of Fukuivenator, feathers and all. Attrib.: Nobu Tamura email:nobu.tamura@yahoo.com http://spinops.blogspot.com/ http://paleoexhibit.blogspot.com/ / 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!

June 22, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on 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.

The Ainu and Ryukyuan Peoples

June 18, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on The Ainu and Ryukyuan Peoples

This episode was difficult to research but I felt it was important to include both the Ainu and Ryukyuan peoples in the narrative where possible because they are far too often overlooked. Here are some public domain/creative commons photos to help with visualization:

A Group of Ainu people, taken in 1904, Author Unknown
An Ainu Family, photo taken in 1904 – Gerhard Sisters / Public domain
An Ainu Marriage Celebration – munechika tanaka / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Ainu Mother and child, 1904 – Public Domain
Five Men Wearing Ryukyuan Dress – year unknown (between 1868-1912) – Public Domain
A traditional Ryukyu home featuring Shisa (Lion Dog) protectors – attrib.: I, 倶楽部オータム / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

The Paleolithic and Jōmon Periods

June 15, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on The Paleolithic and Jōmon Periods

The first episode is now live! IT LIVES!

I got to read a lot of academic articles for this, which was fun. I wish I could go into more detail regarding plant husbandry and Jōmon religion, but a lot of it is still speculation. It’s probably fair to assume a bit of overlap between the Ainu and the Jōmon regarding rituals and cultural practices but, again, there’s still a lot we don’t know for sure about this period.

Sannai-Maruyama Site Official Webpage – Explore the site I mentioned in the podcast from the comfort of your screen! Lots of great photos and information!

Jōmon Archaeological Sites – A fantastic page featuring loads of photos and information of various Jōmon sites throughout Japan!

Hope you enjoyed the episode!