A Tale of Two Courts
Emperor Heizei takes the throne and things swiftly take a turn for the worse. After he abdicated and his brother Emperor Saga became Tennō, however, he would decide that he may not have been as ready ...
15 Jul 202115min
The Life and Times of Emperor Kammu
In this episode, we will take a short break from the narrative and examine the reign of Confucian problem-solver Emperor Kammu, arguably the most effective sovereign of the Heian Period.To see a few ...
12 Jul 202111min
The First Shōgun
In this episode we'll explore the career of Otomo Otomaro, who is believed to be the first Seiitai-Shōgun, as well as Sakanoue Tamuramaro and their subsequent adventures in Tōhoku. We'll also discuss ...
8 Jul 202118min
Kūkai's Big Journey
In this episode we turn our attention to another Buddhist Monk who traveled to China and returned with new Sutras, new rituals, and even founded a new sect. Kūkai brought new esoteric practices to Jap...
5 Jul 202127min
Saichō's Big Journey
In this episode, we will join Saichō, an important Buddhist reformer in the 800s, as he travels to China, returns to Japan, and proceeds to change the face of Japanese Buddhism forever. For a pictur...
1 Jul 202116min
Another Fresh Start
In 794, Emperor Kammu succeeded in moving the imperial court to the shiny new capital of Heian-Kyō. In this episode, we will explore the consequences of that decision as well as the decisions the Tenn...
28 Jun 202123min
Season 5 Announcement
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!
15 Mar 20212min
Nara Folk Tales - BONUS
In this episode, we'll explore some of the extant folk tales from the Nara Period which come from the Fudoki accounts.Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon,...
8 Mar 202123min
