Tag: Kamakura

The Genkō War, Part II

Season 7, Episode 16: The Genkō War, Part II
A portrait of Emperor Go-Daigo by artist Bunkanbo Koshin. Unlike many of the images we have of famous Japanese leaders, this piece is contemporary: it was painted in 1339, therefore we can surmise that Emperor Go-Daigo probably looked very similar to this. Source: Public Domain
The signature of Emperor Go-Daigo, which would have appeared on official documents. Source: Go-Daigo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of a samurai believed to be Ashikaga Takauji, artist unknown. Source: Public Domain
A painting by later artist Yoshitoshi of Nitta Yoshisada offering his sword to Amaterasu in exchange for causing the tide to recede. Source: Public Domain
A statue of Kusunoki Masashige which currently sits in front of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Source: David Moore, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
A painting by Yoshitoshi of Hojo Takatoki fighting Tengu (goblin-like creatures). Source: Public Domain

The Genkō War, Part I

Season 7, Episode 15: The Genkō War, Part I
The memorial stone which marks the location of Akasaka Fortress, which was burned down in 1331. Source: I, KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The memorial stone marking the location of Kami-Akasaka (Upper Akasaka) Fortress, which was destroyed in early 1333 after its water supply was cut off. Source: I, KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A scale model of Chihaya Fortress. The original fortification was destroyed long after the Genko War concluded. Source: Wikiwikiyarou, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A dramatic painting by Utagawa Yoshikazu imagining the siege of Chihaya Fortress, created in the 1800s. The real structure was not a fully-developed stone castle, but a large well-made fort. Note the Hojo clan crest on the banner in the center bottom of the piece. Public Domain

The Twilight of the Kamakura Bakufu

Season 7, Episode 14: The Twilight of the Kamakura Bakufu
A painting of Emperor Go-Uda, who acted as sitting Emperor from 1274-1287
Emperor Fushimi, who reigned as Tenno from 1287-1298. Public Domain
Emperor Go-Fushimi, who reigned as sitting Emperor from 1298-1301. Public Domain
Emperor Go-Nijo, who sat upon the Chrysanthemum Throne from 1301-1308. Public Domain
Emperor Hanezane, who served as Tenno from 1308-1318. Public Domain
Emperor Go-Daigo, whose determination to rule outright as Emperor brought about the Genko War. Public Domain

The Mongols Are Gone… Or Are They?

Season 7, Episode 13: The Mongols Are Gone… Or Are They?
A contemporary portrait of Kublai Khan created by an artist named Araniko. Public Domain
The Yuan Dynasty at its greatest extent under Kublai Khan, in 1294. Source: Yuen_Dynasty_1294.png: Ian Kiuderivative work: Idh0854, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A painting by Kikuchi Yosai of the Kamikaze Typhoon which laid waste to the Yuan Dynasty Fleet. Source: Public Domain
A portrait of Nichiren, the founder of Nichiren Buddhism, who died in 1282. Artist: Fujiwara-no Chikayasu. Public Domain
A portrait of Hojo Sadatoki drawn by artist Kurihara Nobumitsu. Public Domain
Konponji Temple, where Nichiren taught and worked during his exile on Sado Island. Source: Torbenbrinker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Mongol Invasions of Japan

Season 7, Episode 12: The Mongol Invasions of Japan
A copy of the original letter sent to Japan by Kublai Khan. Remember that Japanese is read from the top down and right-to-left. Public Domain
A portrait of Hojo Tokimune, who was the Shikken (Shogun’s Regent) during both Mongol Invasions. Public Domain
A map illustrating both invasions. Source: Qiushufang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Stoneware bombs from the invasions. The lumpy bits on the outside are barnacles. Source: 震天動地, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An illustration of Samurai boarding a Mongol vessel. Public Domain
Another such illustration of Japanese ships hunting for unobservant Mongol craft. Public Domain
A map of Sakhalin Island, which is the central body of land. Directly west is northern Manchuria. Public Domain

Kamakura Buddhism

Season 7, Episode 9: Kamakura Buddhism
A statue of the Buddha Amida currently housed in the Tokyo National Museum. Source: Public Domain
The famous Kamakura Buddha Daibutsu statue, which is depicting Buddha Amida. Source: Dirk Beyer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Honen, who founded the Jodo-shu school. Source: Public Domain
A painting of Honen preaching to the crowds in Heian-kyo. Notice that several different social classes are present. Source: Public Domain
A statue of Shinran (founder of Jodo-shinshu) in modern-day Kyoto. Source: User:Gakuro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A drawing of Myoe, one of the monks who opposed Pure Land teachings. Source: Public Domain
Hogan-ji Temple in modern-day Kyoto, the largest Jodo-Shinshu temple in the world. Source: 663highland, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Eisai, who founded the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Source: Public Domain
A statue of Ippen, who founded the Jishu (Time Sect) school. Source: Utudanuki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Nichiren, who founded the Nichiren sect. Source: Public Domain
A dramatic depiction of Nichiren’s exile. Source: Public Domain

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