Tag: Japan

The First Child Emperor

August 2, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on The First Child Emperor
Season 5, Episode 11: The First Child Emperor
A portrait of Emperor Seiwa, the first child Emperor. His ascension marks the first appointment of a regent who was not a member of the Royal family. Fujiwara Yoshifusa served as Sesshō, a regent who governs on behalf of a child. Source: Public Domain
The kami Hachiman, here portrayed sitting upon a lotus blossom in his syncretized form as a Boddhisattva. In his left hand he holds a mala bracelet for keeping track of mantra recitation, and in his right hand he holds a shokujō, a staff wielded by traveling Buddhist priests to protect themselves from wild animals. Source: Public Domain
The Iwashimizu-Hachimangū Shrine in modern-day Kyoto. It probably looked much different in its original construction, and has been rebuilt many times over the centuries. Source: Public Domain
A portion of the Isaniwa Shrine on Shikoku Island, a fine demonostration of the Hachiman-zukuri style I mentioned in today’s episode. While at first glance the object in the center appears to be two buildings, it is actually a single structure with two tandem roofs. Source: Public Domain

The Rise of the Fujiwara

July 22, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on The Rise of the Fujiwara
Season 5, Episode 8: The Rise of the Fujiwara
The Fujiwara Clan crest: two hanging Wisteria blossoms (The “Fuji” part of Fujwara literally means Wisteria). Source: Mukai, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fujiwara Otsugu, sitting here with his Koto, a type of floor harp. Source: Kikuchi Yōsai, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Emperor Junna. Source: PatrickWhat, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Emperor Nimmyo. Source: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Taira and Minamoto Clans

July 19, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on The Taira and Minamoto Clans
Season 5, Episode 7: The Taira and Minamoto Clans
The crest of the Taira Clan: a butterfly. Source: Júlio Reis and Misogi, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
The crest of the Minamoto Clan: three flowers over bamboo leaves. Source: 百楽兎, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Map of Japan with the Kantō region highlighted. Members of the Taira Clan settled throughout the region early on, though that will change by this season’s end… Source: TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Tale of Two Courts

July 15, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 5 Comments Off on A Tale of Two Courts
Season 5, Episode 6: A Tale of Two Courts
Emperor Saga, painted much later in the 1400s. Source: 日本語: 不明（伝小野篁）English: Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Map of Japan with Yamato Province highlighted. This is where Emperor Heizei and his allies found themselves isolated as Sakanoue Tamuramaro closed all the paths that led to neighboring provinces. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

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!