Japanese History: The Heian Period Pt. 2 (The Golden Age of the Fujiwara)

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Small correction regarding the Akô Incident (15:47): Fujiwara no Mototsune did not **resign** from the post and wait for a second appointment, he **politely declined** the original appointment and then waited for a second invitation to come from the emperor -- this was the customary thing at the time. Apologies!

[@harushinonomiya]

This was a period of great cultural achievements in Japan.

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

It was indeed!

[@lucanic4328]

I'm really loving this series. It is well made, from the editing to the narration, and despite the long episode it felt perfect. Great job! I'm looking forward to see the next episodes, especially when the Muromachi period will be covered. Even if the scope of the series is to use and present "lower" educational history sources, it is extremely useful for people who could not access the language. Thank you for this series!

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you so much! I'm looking forward to the middle ages as well. And yeah, honestly, I think the "lower-level" educational sources often times tend to be best for building a strong base of understanding (upon which you can later build with more in-depth sources!)

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Photo sources: AQOS_ぽん太さん: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/122010?title=懐かしい廃校の教室&searchId=1434288676 k*********************p：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/799370?title=京都%20大覚寺&searchId=1097482811 サラダ水：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2369001?title=五重塔と月&searchId=2772427765 ryo1：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2152138?title=秋の富貴寺&searchId=3130472355 shikema：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/1459830?title=富貴寺の紅葉&searchId=1742991652 Buffalo: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/3031032?title=富貴寺の紅葉&searchId=3130472355 Buffalo: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/3031027?title=富貴寺の紅葉&searchId=3130472355 かいくう：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/1475810?title=醍醐寺五重塔と桜&searchId=819441402 自然：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/4240251?title=京都%E3%80%80醍醐寺%E3%80%80伽藍%E3%80%80五重塔%E3%80%80紅葉&searchId=819441402 acsunifu23：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/3132936?title=奈良%20圓成寺%20春日堂と白山堂&searchId=3635892846 acsunifu23：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/3132937?title=奈良%20圓成寺%20春日堂と白山堂&searchId=3635892846 スナイパー：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2037689?title=京都%20浄瑠璃寺_17&searchId=1153946657 スナイパー：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2037675?title=京都%20浄瑠璃寺_07&searchId=1153946657 スナイパー：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2037682?title=京都%20浄瑠璃寺_10&searchId=1153946657 スナイパー：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2037670?title=京都%20浄瑠璃寺_06&searchId=1153946657 スナイパー：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/3072519?title=京都晩秋・三千院_18&searchId=1113224016 ゲタゲタ：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/861846?title=三千院雪景色&searchId=2832183639 Hiro1960：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2008891?title=錦秋・京都絵巻！大原三千院の紅葉&searchId=2832183639 たかなつ@旅するびぃ：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/4230710?title=京都%E3%80%80大原三千院%E3%80%80紅葉&searchId=1132270733 しばいぬだいすき：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/2956316?title=暗雲のイメージ%203124&searchId=517870442 ☆Ken☆: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/3913264?title=京都%E3%80%80平安神宮%E3%80%80応天門&searchId=2705571693 Takacchi: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/762528?title=平安神宮応天門&searchId=3018479457 Wikiwikiyarou: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Miniature_Model_of_BurakuDen.jpg photograph.pro/jp/kyoto/kawabata/heianjingu.html AQOS_ぽん太: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/832939?title=荒波%E3%80%80海&searchId=2459415943 小帽(Hat): www.flickr.com/photos/lhat/6525807539 genki01: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/22079214?title=水田&searchId=2156960130 天晴小號: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/4939615?title=横浜市青葉区寺家町の晩秋の景色&searchId=93853824 花散歩：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/22172216?title=田舎の風景・田んぼ&searchId=379769564 花散歩：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/22143680?title=田舎の風景・田んぼ&searchId=3400421243 涼風：www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/528264?title=夕焼けに染まる水田&searchId=1825127161 しおしお：www.pakutaso.com/20130714200post-3064.html Wei Chang: www.flickr.com/photos/36237645@N03/5634133296/in/photolist-eZyA7V-9zyod3-7vd7RP-eZL6sA-dVc7N4-eZyXxe-dVhJbG-eZyH3F-a4SuM-hf2fk-aQP52i-scz7Sc-dVc9mx-9zvoDk-dVc8ap-eZz1Pi-9zSpxf-dVc9uP-bpGQ4G-f9a6MH-dVc8Cr-aNFdwe-9zyo7w-8a27GL-6jSY3H-5C3R9H-eZyS8n-36XKRD-iWbfWM-eGLPvf-6jSXo8-8KmebM-8a27Lh-f9pmTd-6jXeJU-2e3ExKc-6jXc3S-eGLPoo-24Q15sK-eGEHuM-haQL6-2fmUpRu-8a2897-HCtCN4-2frynkM-2ekCaKm-2e3ExBg-2fmUpNd-RF9vC2-9BzCs7 Iwaki City: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiramizu_Amida-do_Hall.jpg Fumihiko Ueno: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Renge_Uji,_Uji-shi,_Kyōto-fu_611-0021,_Japan_-_panoramio_(3).jpg Ktnoontea777: www.photo-ac.com/main/detail/663390?title=京都%E3%80%80渡月橋%E3%80%80嵐山&searchId=352410211 Dr.InSide: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Byōdō-in_Phoenix-Halle_09.2014.jpg Willy81234: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Byōdō-in_%26_Japanese_10_yen_coin.jpg

[@justsomedude69]

This is an insanely good series. I hope you continue.

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you! Comments like this definitely keep me going.

[@zackakai5173]

Just want to say this channel is fantastic and I hope you keep making these! I've been looking for a good Japanese history series that actually goes in-depth with the chronological, "who fucked over who" sort of history, but most content out there is either super brief or told from more of a socio-economic or cultural perspective (which is ofc totally valid, just nice to have something different!).

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you! No plans to stop at the moment, despite what the wait times between videos might suggest. I'm slowly chipping away at episode 10 as we speak!

[@Quinnie0107]

Lovely! I’ve been reading Genji Monogatari and it is so interesting to know more about the actual historical reality it was set in.

[@anabel4105]

This is SUCH a helpful video, thank you!! I really wanted to learn more about this specific era in history-within the Heian period-so this was perfect!

[@jedgrahek1426]

I've been watching this series from the start, after watching the wonderful Genpei War video (for whatever reason the algorithm is more willing to show me very long videos like that, so I probably wouldn't have found your channel without it), and just wanted to say how wonderful this series is and how great a job you've done in making it. I've long been fascinated by Japanese history, but until now have mostly focused on only the warring states period (I enjoy the Samurai Warriors games lol) and the very early ancient history, Jomon and Ainu related stuff... I've never simply read a comprehensive complete history book, and I've learned SOOOOOO much from this series, and will continue to as I keep watching it. Thank you for creating this, in this format and based on the material you've selected, it truly is a wonderful amount of knowledge and insight for anyone interested in the subject, but not quite focused on it thoroughly enough to have actually read a full serious history or taken a class or whatever. I feel like I'm getting everything worthwhile that I would from taking like a semester CC course, without all the pointless stress of taking tests and driving there and sitting with a bunch of young people lol... anyway, thank you so much for creating this, it's been a wonderful and very educational distraction from all the nonsense going on in normal contemporary life.

[@kararalmusawi2975]

your channel is best channel talking about Japan history, thanks you so much , i hope you don't delay to upload videos in channel

[@stemill1569]

amazing videos you make. because I'm playing Ghosts of Tsushima I wanted to know more about Japan of that time period. (Mongol invasion of Japan) Through luck I found your video series. After watching one video I started from the beginning. Amazing how well you deliver what you want to say. I know I'm a bit late to the party. But it's never too late to learn something new. Especially when it's that well presented.

[@eurtunwagens2359]

Excellent! Especially how you make everything you say interesting to a far away person, a Greek, like me. Keep up the good work. I sense that it is coming from your heart. I’m awaiting for the 16th part.

[@kinya642]

I’ve been waiting impatiently for the next video! Thank you for making and uploading it. I’m very excited for finally sitting down and watching it ☺️

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thanks for waiting! I hope you enjoy it. I'll try to make the next one a bit faster... I have trouble managing my hobbies sometimes 😅

[@kinya642]

@@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory i know the pain lol but please don’t abandon this awesome hobby until you finish the series or i’ll cry 😂😫

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

@@kinya642 We'll make it to the Bakumatsu even if it kills me!

[@doubtingthomas1312]

That was amazing 👏.

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😁

[@ROMBomb001]

I am addicted to your videos! Have you ever thought of starting a patreon account and making these full-time?

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you! That would honestly be the dream. I'm definitely going to be keeping the Patreon thing in mind, and if I continue to see interest in the comments *and* can think of some kind of cool additional thing I can provide for patrons, then I will definitely set one up.

[@MatZee27]

Love all the details provided

[@strawberrycheesecake5502]

I've reached the end... for now. This was althroughout super interesting to watch. I'll definitely give it a rewatch to catch more details and I'll keep an eye out for future episodes. Since you asked for questions, I've been wondering what the long, flat sticks or boxes are, that many of the men hold in the portraits? For example at: 21:30.

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thanks for watching! Those sticks are pretty ubiquitous, aren’t they? They’re called “shaku” (笏) and they originally came to Japan from China around the 6th century CE, and they were mainly used, believe it or not, as something like a memo pad or a cheat-sheet. Bureaucrats would write the steps for really complicated ceremonies and stuff on the back - how and when to move, etc. They were part of the official, legally-mandated ceremonial court attire, however, so they were also basically just an extension of one’s outfit. Different materials (ivory vs. various types of wood) and shapes (rounded vs. square tip) were indicators of rank and status, apparently.

[@strawberrycheesecake5502]

@@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory thank you for the reply. I never would have guessed that. My first guess was, that it was some sort of name tag, added by the artists from later periods, so their audience could identify who is who. But as a law student, I find the issue of too long, complex procedures very relatable, I would want a memo pad like that as well!

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

@@strawberrycheesecake5502 I was pretty surprised when I found out what they were too. They’re so… relatable (haha).

[@JiggaMan1297]

I must say I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Keep it up bro. I hope you finish it all the way till the end !!!

[@montgomerypowers7205]

Enjoying this series quite a lot. Good work.

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you! Next one coming very soon.

[@Swisswindow]

Nice work man, just finished the series. Keep on! Thank you!

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you! The support is much appreciated 🙏

[@edgardoumanzorr.6188]

Excellent as always. Thanks for your work!

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you sir! The continued support is much appreciated.

[@dusanmelentijevic2284]

Brilliant stuff man! Keep it coming!

[@kinya642]

I already wrote one comment already but only now I managed to finish the video (and of course I loved it - as always so it's not a surprise) and I'd be honored to share my thoughts. These are the people mentioned in the video that made it to my top 3: - Mototsune - dude was so petty that he'd rather give up his title completely and was like nah, I'd rather not do anything, thank you. And then he had everyone apologize to him. Amazing. Imagine this happening now with a prime minister or someone of similar rank. I don't think anyone would care. Props to Michizane for telling him to get his shit together - Fujiwara no Michinaga - his poem did it for me. You thought he'd say something sweet or maybe celebratory on his daughter's wedding party? Of course. He did celebrate - himself, presumably marrying off his yet another daughter to his nephew. Very impressive indeed. Although, I'd like to think that he meant to compare his fleeting self to the ephemeral nature of the full moon. That would certainly be more poetic. - Emperor Uda - seemingly he didn't do anything that interesting but he definitely gained my sympathy as throughout the whole video (and that lasted for quite a while as I often paused to make notes) my cat wanted attention and positioned himself several times between me and the screen blocking the view and preventing me from writing anything down. Then I thought "hey, I wonder if they kept cats in the imperial palace during Heian". I began my research and found out that 16 year-old Uda wrote an entry in his diary about a black cat that was gifted to his father, the late Emperor Kōkō. Everyday Uda fed the cat milk porridge and was convinced that his cat was superior to all others, because it caught mice faster. For some reason it made me very soft inside. Maybe it’s because I think my cat is superior too. lol Anyway, thank you again for the video! It was very interesting. I especially enjoy how you describe all the events, so that I can actually imagine their central figures as actual, real people, flesh and blood. And as I mentioned on your other video, pictures certainly help! Also don’t worry about videos being too long. I think no one here will complain about more precious information on the Japanese history. That’s why we’re here after all. Take all the time you need and if you don’t cover the insei period in the next video, that’s no loss.　すごく楽しみにしていますよ！武運を祈るぞ to you too ^^

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

That's interesting about Uda and his cat! I had no idea about that. During my research for one of the previous videos, though, I did come across the info that cats are thought to have come over to Japan from China thanks to the Kentôshi embassies. I don't remember if they were brought intentionally or if they were just stowing away on the ships, but either way I thought it was an interesting tidbit. Anyway, thanks for giving the video such an in-depth watch! 次のを楽しみにしていただいて光栄です！I'm about 8 pages into the next video's script, so I can't exactly say it's coming soon, but... it is coming haha

[@shaynedavidson7087]

Loved the episode! It met all your usual high standards!

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you as always for watching! 😁

[@alexstrongforge]

Thank You for Your work!!!!!!

[@91girlinterrupted]

Thanks for the series, you are doing spectacular and wonderful job, it’s absolutely great!

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you!! 😁

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Thank you!

[@ramirosotto]

11:02 they look like they're really into their smartphones lol

[@mattpetersen4620]

A lot of names to remember. LOL. Very well done. Bravo.

[@randomarkansan6094]

Great series.

[@lostastronaut5865]

Child Seiwa(on the chrysanthemum throne): Bow to me for I am your emporer! Fujiwara no Yoshifusa:Seiwa get down from there and go play with your temari. Child Seiwa:Yes grandfather. Fujiwara no Yoshifusa:Good now play outside while I run the country.

[@RudraDey-pb5hx]

Seiwa: one day my descendants shall over yours

[@rjs4780]

Great video!

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Thank you!

[@HyperlordB]

Heian Japan be having more incidents than Gensokyo.

[@darthcheney7447]

Good job.

[@slimelime324]

And because of this ancestral karma, now Fujiwara has to go through the endless torture of teaching Shirogane how to sing, dance, rap, play volleyball and so on.

[@hektor6766]

But at least there are games and ramen.

[@petarradmilac2067]

Veryyy good content, what is the name of intro song?

[@yurkdawg]

Wow that's interesting- the early-mid 1000's in medieval times in Europe were also awash in a feeling of end-times for humanity. (Think Y2K/Maya apocalypse fears in our time...) For them it was a concrete combination of the fall of Rome and a reading of Revelation's end-times mapping to 1000 years after Jesus's death. I suppose apocalypse ideas ebb and flow throughout time, but I cannot think how any of those western christian ideas could have possibly migrated to Japan in those years. I love this series BTW! I have to force myself not to watch too many episodes at once thus letting too many facts mix in my mind before they sink in after sleeping on it. I have found a few great sites on Japanese history but yours might just have surpassed The Shoganate as my favorite one. (Although obviously that one is focusing on a different time period.)

[@raynnaf7272]

Nice

[@dyak0]

In Europe (Frankish Kingdom) Shoguns were called Mayors of the Palace. Since the Merovingian Kings didn't have that much sacred power as Japanese Emperors, the Carolingian Mayors just ditched them for good and became Kings themselves.

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

It's interesting to see how many of these systems were shared across cultures, but the small differences in circumstance caused such drastic divergences in how their respective histories played out.

[@dyak0]

There is a theory, that in the East the state played much bigger role than in Europe, which would explain some stuff. Why? The answer is *irrigation*. If you grow rice, you need irrigation, which requires concerted effort to maintain it, so the people need the state to organize that work. In Europe people grew rye, wheat etc., didn't need irrigation and could not care less about the state. But convergences happened a lot too. Why knights appeared in Europe? Exactly the same reason as in Japan! But instead of Amish, pardon, Emishi they had Arabs. In 732 Charles Martel defeated Arabs at Poitiers using mostly peasant militia infantry, but realizing efficiency of cavalry, he started a military reform - creation of professional horsemen ("miles") who would evolve into later knights.

[@TurlasThe6]

I find the Mochizuki no Uta eerily inspiring. But, I cannot for the life of me find it anywhere in Romaji. I only remember some Hiragana and I never learned any Kanji. But I really like this poem. Any heroes out there?

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Kono yo wo (o) ba wa ga yo to zo omofu (omou) mochizuki no kaketaru koto mo nashi to omoeba

[@TurlasThe6]

@@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory MY HERO, MY SENSEI! Thank you so much, sir 😁😁

[@aariz6546]

Intro song?

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

It’s a beat I made using a sample from a song from one of the Lone Wolf and Cub movies!

[@Hilversumborn]

You can almost call this part the Fujiwara era.

[@LoneHeckler]

No masokado?!? Ugh, fine I'll wait then...

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Next episode!

[@DanielRivera-lg8wn]

When did Japanese armor start to look more Samurai?

[@BuyuudenJapaneseHistory]

Haven’t we had this conversation before? Lol. Probably in the early Heian Period, but I guess it really depends on how much “similarity” you’re looking for. I honestly think even Yayoi Period armor bears some basic resemblance in its segmentation and the way the plates are threaded together.

[@tahzib1451]

man, the sengoku period of Oda, Toyotomi and Tokugawa doesnt hold a candle to the Fujiwara, Taira and the Minamoto era

[@AkindeleAkerejah-yi2fb]

784-1984=1.2K

[@EvanLovelady2331]

Nice