The Imperial Court of Japan lost most of its authority during the Warring States period. When Japan was unified under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the bakufu took steps to consolidate power. One threat it sought to address was the power of Buddhist temples. In 1627, the Emperor’s historical relationship with Buddhist temples brought the Imperial Court …
The Purple Robe Incident: the Shogunate vs the Imperial Court Read More »
The word “Shogun” comes from the Japanese word “Seii Taishogun”, which roughly translates to “barbarian-quelling general”. These military dictators reigned over Japan from 1192 to 1868. Historically, the Shogun was legally under the control of the Emperor and had limited authority over the military forces in Japan. However, due to the increasingly feudal development of …
Miyamoto Musashi is perhaps the most famous swordsman in Japanese history. He is still revered as a master of martial arts. Musashi wrote “The Book of Five Rings,” a classic text on kenjutsu, martial arts, strategy, and philosophy, which is still in print over 400 years later. Born in 1584, Musashi showed a talent for …
A miko, also known as a shrine maiden, is a woman who serves the Shinto kami. Their origins date back to the prehistoric Jomon period (approximately 10,500 BCE-300 BCE) in Japan. The responsibilities and requirements to become a miko have gone through many changes over the years. However, their traditional red hakama, white kosode, and …
Most belief systems have a creation myth, and Shinto, Japan’s native belief system, is no exception. The Shinto creation myth focuses on Izanami-no-Mikoto and Izanagi-no-Mikoto, a pair of brother and sister kami who appeared after heaven and earth separated from chaos. They created the Japanese islands using a jeweled spear to stir the ocean. Izanami …
Harae is the general term for ritual purification in Shinto, which is one of the four essential elements of a Shinto ceremony. Harae rites have been practiced for centuries. The aim of harae rites is to purify pollution or wrongdoing (tsumi) and impurity (kegare) from the body. These encompass not only guilt but also negative …
Role-playing is a fundamental aspect of Tale of Ronin. Each ronin you play as possesses unique characteristics, including specific skills. The game features a total of 15 skills divided into five distinct categories. Some give an advantage in combat, while others offer passive features to aid survival in the challenging world. Certain skills are utilized …
Like many other yokai—Japanese spirits, monsters, and supernatural phenomena—the jorogumo is connected to a real animal. The jorogumo spider, known as the Joro spider internationally, is a species of golden orb-weaver spider. It’s usually small and timid. Most specimens reach only a few centimeters in length. However, their bodies are colorful, their webs are strong, …
The manga Vagabond by Inoue Takehiko is one of the world’s greatest martial art epics. It tells the story of Miyamoto Musashi, ronin, philosopher, and quite possibly the most renowned Japanese swordsman who ever lived. Musashi’s story has been told and retold many times since his death in 1645. Vagabond’s melancholy, violent take on his …
When most people think of early modern Japan, they picture a country completely closed off from the rest of the world. In reality, this was a period of great religious diversity and change in Japan that was largely influenced by outside forces. Christianity had been introduced to the country by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th …
Christian Hunts: Religious Persecution in Edo Japan Read More »