The Middling Kampaku
Fujiwara Michinaga brought his clan to the absolute apex of its power. Unfortunately for his son and heir Yorimichi, the only way to go was down.Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
21 Okt 202119min
Tendai Troubles
Tendai Buddhism was on the rise during the later Heian Period, and its internal conflicts were growing more intense. Could anyone heal the rifts that grew between Enryakuji and Miidera, or were the two temples doomed to eternal conflict?For drawings and paintings of Ryogen and Genshin, check out the supplemental post!Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!
18 Okt 202116min
The First Novel
We set court politics aside in this episode to explore the life and work of Murasaki Shikibu, the eleventh-century lady-in-waiting who penned a work which is considered by many scholars to be the world's first novel: The Tale of Genji. For artistic renditions of Murasaki Shikibut and Sei Shonagon, check out the supplemental post! Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platf...
14 Okt 202116min
Michinaga the Magnificent
Under the leadership of Fujiwara Michinaga, the Fujiwara clan reached the absolute peak of its political power. In a time of chaos and uncertainty, he ruthlessly brought every potential rival under his authority and established a supremacy which would last long after he was gone. To see some drawings and paintings of the emperors and kuge featured in this episode, check out the supplemental post! Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes &...
11 Okt 202121min
The Reign of the Regents
The Fujiwara Regents of the late 900s accumulated a vast amount of political power and clout. In this episode, we return to the narrative and follow the misadventures of the Fujiwara leaders as they tightened their grip on power. For images of the Emperors who reigned and the Regents who governed in this episode, check out the supplemental post! Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many ot...
7 Okt 202119min
The Age of Uncertainty
We continue our survey episodes this week by taking a closer look at the state of the clergy and the samurai in the later Heian Period. Big changes are coming for both Buddhism and the warrior caste which will eventually change the nation forever. For pictures of Hakata Bay as well as the monument marking the place where Dazaifu Fortress once stood, check out the supplemental post! Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, A...
4 Okt 202119min
The Age of Hunger
Life in the later Heian may have been a near-constant party for the aristocratic nobility, but what was it like for those on the bottom rungs of Heian society? In this episode we will explore the lives of the common folk who made the lavish lifestyle of the nobles possible through their backbreaking labor. For pictures of pig iron, the special bellows used to refine iron sand, and two swords that date to the Heian Period, check out the supplemental post! Support the show My latest novel, "C...
30 Sep 202120min
The Age of Entertainment
The first of three survey-style episodes describing life in the later Heian Period. In this episode, we will explore the flowering of Japanese culture that occurred among the nobility of the later Heian Period, as well as their relationships with aesthetics, romance, marriage, and architecture. For pictures of Shinzen-Zukuri architecture and Heian-style kimonos, check out the supplemental post! Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & N...
27 Sep 202118min
