#azuchi-momoyama period

[claudia1829things]

Top Favorite Episodes of "SHOGUN" (2024)

Below is a list of my favorite episodes from "SHOGUN", the F/X channel's Emmy-winning adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 novel. Created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, the limited series starred Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis and Anna Sawai:

TOP FAVORITE EPISODES OF "SHOGUN" (2024)

(1.03) "Tomorrow Is Tomorrow" - After English sailor/pilot John Blackthorne survives an assassination attempt, daimyo Lord Yoshii Toranaga realizes he must ferry his allies out of Osaka or risk certain defeat.

2. (1.09) "Crimson Sky" - Toranaga's interpreter, Lady Toda Mariko, arrives in Osaka for the fight of her life. Blackthorne and Kashigi Yabushige, who had accompanied her, scramble to save their own heads as their options dwindle.

3. (1.06) "Ladies of the Willow World" - Lady Ochiba no Kata, dowager consort of the late Taikō, returns to Osaka in order to accelerate the Regents' campaign against Toranaga. In Ajiro, Toranaga tests Lady Mariko's loyalty to his cause.

4. (1.02) "Servants of Two Masters" - Blackthorne's arrival in Osaka stirs up a hornet's nest of rivalries. Lady Mariko is trapped between her cause and her new Catholic faith when she must translate for the Protestant Blackthorne in Lord Toranaga's presence.

5. (1.07) "A Stick of Time" - Outplayed by new alliances in Osaka, Toranaga is forced to carve out a new deal with a long lost family member.

[naomiwielant]

Eagerly waiting for spring...

Hasegawa Tohaku - Japanese painter of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1574–1600) and the founder of the Hasegawa school of painting

[odaclan]

Not really Nobunaga-specific, but this is a general article on various aspects of tea culture in the late Muromachi to Momoyama era. Nobunaga is of course also mentioned, as one of the many great patrons of arts and tea at the time.

I feel like my articles are overly specific sometimes, so it might be nice to share something rather light to read.

[tanuki-kimono]

Edo period women obi knots, fantastic reference chart by Edo lover Nadeshico Rin.

You can see here several obi musubi favored by city women, of all class and status. Novelty knots were a fashion statement, often lauched by star onnagata kabuki actors, and spread by iki fashionistas such as geisha.

For top to bottom, left to right, you can see here:

Chidori musubi (plover knot) ちどり結び

Shôryû musubi (little dragon knot) 小龍結び

Kichiya musubi (Kichiya knot) 吉弥 結び - named after onnagata actor Uemura Kichiya I in Genroku period, who single handedly launched a new type of knots and obi fashion

Koman musubi (Koman knot) 小万結び - named after a kabuki character in play Yakko no Koman

Nagoya obi (Nagoya belt) 名古屋帯 - Azuchi Momoyama/Early Edo era silk kumihimo tied in butterfly knot

Yanoji musubi (arrow knot) 矢の字結び - created by onnagata actor Segawa Kikunojo II. Also found under the name tateya musubi 立て矢結び (standing arrow knot)

Yoshio musubi (Yoshio knot) よしお結び

Mizuki musubi (Mizuki knot) 水木結び - onnagata actor Mizuki Tatsunosuke is said to have first worn this variation of the Kichiya musubi

Rokô musubi (rôkô knot) 路孝結び - created by onnagata actor Segawa Kikunojo II

Karuta musubi (card knot) カルタ結び - created in early Edo period, looking like 3 playing cards side by side

Hitotsu musubi (single knot) 一つ結び - during Edo, was also called darari musubi だらり結び. Note that it differs from is nowadays called darari obi (worn by maiko)

Tate musubi (standing knot) 立て結び - see yanoji/tateya musubi for variations

Bunko kuzushi (unbalanced knot) 文庫くずし

Heijûrô musubi (Heijûrô knot) 平十郎結び - created by actor Murayama Heijûrô III

Sageshita musubi (falling knot) さ���下結び

(by request of @fireflybettle, hope this will help you ^^)

[mapsontheweb]

Japan map of the world, Azuchi-Momoyama Period, 16th century.

[signalburst]

Shōgun Historical Shallow-Dive: Part 1

Does everybody else's heart hurt? Good! Let's get learning. These characters and the people that inspired them all deserve their own post, but here's a quick one if you're wondering what happened. This is a shallow-dive because the history is extremely complicated, and a condensed version of just the events leading up to Sekigahara (the battle depicted in the finale) take up entire volumes of history. I'll do my best to answer questions about what happened to our three protagonists, in the show, as well as real life 🙇

One note: given I'm not a professional historian, I've got no obligation to not have biases and favourites. I've tried to keep most of them out of this, but if you want to punish yourself by trying to keep track of who's who in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, this book is the best English-language overview.

What happened to Toranaga (Tokugawa Ieyasu)?

Gif: @yocalio

I am not as strong as I might be, but I have long known and practiced patience. And if my descendants wish to be as I am, they must study patience. - from The Legacy of Ieyasu Tokugawa

In the book, Toranaga reveals that it had been his aspiration to be Shōgun from the very beginning. That was what drove his alliance with the Taiko, that was what drove his feigned alliance with the Heir.

History follows a very similar path. I re-read some chapters on the battle of Sekigahara last night, and there is no easy way to explain it, but: the result of Sekigahara (an enormous, two-day battle with 200,000 samurai and ashigaru warriors in the field) was an enormous victory for Tokugawa, Toranaga's real-life counterpart.

Years - sometimes decades - of scheming by Tokugawa had made Ishido/Ishida's Western Alliance completely fragmented. In the months leading up to the period displayed in the show, Toranaga was calling in a lifetime of marriage alliances, diplomatic advantage, defensive pacts and childhood friends who'd risen to high status. Re-reading the sources, the names of all the lords of all the important fiefs and castles makes my head spin, let alone the ones that turned out to be pivotal to Toranga/Tokugawa's victory. But it was a resounding victory, and by both the numbers and the disposition of forces, he should have lost.

Historians have a consensus that if the 'Western forces' of the Heir had have fought together with a unified command structure, they would have won, easily. But they didn't - orders from Ishido/Ishida were ignored, Toranaga/Tokugawa endured onslaughts, and the Regents' opposing armies eventually fractured and melted away. This was a last-of-an-era battle. Families were fighting on either side, every single unit that could be brought to bear was on the field. It is no exaggeration to say Sekigahara is one of the few, unambiguous battles upon which the beginning of a historical era came down to.

Toranaga/Tokugawa triumphed because he spent decades building unity of purpose and strong alliances, simultaneously sowing division amongst the Regents, who ultimately balked at being commanded by a bureaucrat like Ishido/Ishida. Whilst there was no one decisive moment of an extremely bloody, rainy, two-day battle, the fact that Ishido/Ishida's forces refused to be told what to do by someone of lower status was the main theme of their defeat. A crucial army stationed on the hill stayed still, refusing to commit to either side, until Toranaga/Tokugawa fired muskets into their ranks. They made up their mind, and attacked Ishido/Ishida's Western army. Ishido/Ishida's one trick of firing a flare to commit the reserve army didn't work. The commander ignored it. Instead of being there to fight for something, Ishido/Ishida's coalition was there to oppose someone. They all had different reasons. And ultimately, the man that brought them together didn't command enough respect to command a battle.

As our show Toranaga said, the Regents fell upon each other. He might have been a bit optimistic about how and why this would happen (they fell over each other in retreat, and it took two days of horrific combat), but it happened. Tokugawa Ieyasu was famous for richly rewarding former enemies, and most of those he defeated kept their heads. This reputation is a strong incentive for leaving the field when things start going Tokugawa's way.

The two exceptions were Ishido/Ishida, and Kiyama/Konishi, both beheaded in Osaka (Ishido, bizarrely, was upbeat about his fate, until seconds before the sword came down). Killing Ishida was the obvious move, as the man schemed and bitched so much he caused a civil war. Killing Konishi was more calculated - it opened up his trade-hub in Kyushu to being ruled by a fervent Buddhist daimyo and ally of Tokugawa.

Toranaga/Tokugawa forces soon captured Osaka Castle after the battle of Sekigahara, and with it, the Heir.

Toranaga/Tokugawa 'reluctantly' accepted the Imperial appointment of Shōgun three years later, in 1603. In 1605, he abidcated, passing the title to his most malleable and competent son, Hidetada. He was the real power behind the throne and ruled until his death in 1616.

The year before he died, he was able to fully secure his legacy. The Heir (in real life, Toyotomi Hideyori) had begun to gather daimyo to Osaka castle who were opposed to Tokugawa. Tokugawa used the flimsiest of pretexts - the opening of a shrine - to order the Heir out of the castle. He refused, Tokugawa forces besieged the castle - twice. The first one was called off because cannon fire nearly killed Ochiba no kata, and she pushed her son to sue for peace. By the second siege, there would be no peace: the Tokugawa forces defeated all oppoosition, and secured the legacy.

Toranaga/Tokugawa's descendants would rule for 250 years of internal peace and external lock-down of the country from barbarians (and Christians), except for limited trade.

The big question: did Toranaga/Tokugawa really want to be Shōgun from the start? History tells us, rather unambiguously, yes - before the campaign, he was writing his 100 Articles for ruling Japan, which would be instrumental for his family holding on to power and preventing internal strife. His plan may well have gone back to his formative, teenage years. At the very least, it is highly likely it was solidified when Toranaga/Tokugawa was a vassal of the Dictator Koroda/Oda Nobunaga - the man Mariko/Hosokawa Gracia's father assassinated, who was brutal even by the standards of the day. We don't have time for him, the Taiko, and Mariko's father today - but my opinion is that the motherfucker firmly deserved to be assassinated, and the only amazing thing is that the inspiration for Mariko's father was able to hold off for so long.

But that killing set off a chain of events that would lead to Toranaga/Tokugawa becoming sole ruler of a unified Japan. So much of history is contingent on individual actors and random events. It didn't have to happen. It was extremely unlikely. But, through patience (and by my reckoning, a lot of luck), he made the world he wanted to see. Whether that was worth the price in lives is for the reader to decide.

But by all accounts, Toranaga/Tokugawa died very satisfied in the knowledge that his legacy was secure, his realm was unified, and, finally, at peace.

What happened to Mariko (Hosokowa Gracia)?

Gif: @yocalio

As is probably obvious, Mariko's purpose was fulfilled before the conclusion of the show. As is also probably obvious, her historical counterpart - Hosokowa Gracia - did not have an affair with an English sea pilot (😢). She did, however, change Japanese history, and tipped the balance of noble support towards Toranaga/Tokugawa. Her death had meaning.

The framing of her marriage to Buntaro and exile after her father's successful assassination of a brutal dictator is almost exactly correct. She was one of the most desirable, valued and accomplished young noblewomen of the day. The stain of the name Akechi would haunt her for the rest of her life. Real life Buntaro, Hosokowa Tadaoki, genuinely sent her away for two years to save her life. The Hosokowa family even went so far as to pretend that she had died, to save her from the Taiko's vengeance. Whilst her marriage was an unhappy one (though not, as far as is known, abusive), she was beloved by the head of the Hosokowa clan, the show's Hiromatsu. They went to extraordinary lengths to keep her safe.

Her main comfort in her life was her faith. It's perhaps here that we get the strongest through-line from Hosokowa Gracia to Mariko - unafraid, intelligent, and fierce.

She first came to learn about Christianity from her Christian maid, who extolled the virtue of the faith, and the opportunities for intellectual stimulation theological discussion could bring. In 1587 (five years after her father assassinated the dictator, three years after she returned from exile), she decided to take action on it. She snuck out of Osaka Castle and visited the main church in Osaka - she had lively conversations with the elderly Father-Visitor, and was an excellent pupil of both Portuguese and Latin theological texts. I don't know if you guys have ever tried to read those things, but even in translation, they are torturous. This woman was extremely intelligent.

As a noble woman of the Taiko's court, she knew he was about to issue an edict outlawing Christianity. Being the (excuse the language) absolute fucking badass that she was, she had her maid (baptismal name Maria) baptise her before the edict was issued, transforming from Hosokowa Tama to Hosokowa Gracia. Even though she had to keep her faith a secret due to the Taiko's edict, she found a way to hold on to it. She had a special sake cup made with the Hosokowa mon emblazed on the lip, which, on very close inspection, was actually a Christian cross.

During this time of her religious conversion and education, a primary source from a Jesuit priest says that 'I have never disputed with a woman of such clear judgement, and such definite knowledge.' She was known for being fiercely intelligent, and this is commented on in many European letters and journals that have remained from the Catholic church's time in Japan.

Her relationship with her husband - like Buntaro, a senior retainer of Toranaga/Tokugawa - was frosty. They never reconciled after her father's (Akechi Mitsuhide) rebellion, but her husband did recall her from exile when it was safe to do so, and she lived to serve a very similar purpose to Mariko in the book and show. By virtue of not being an interpreter, she was less close to Toranaga/Tokugawa than in the book and show, but she was still dedicated to her clan and her clan's overlord, as will become clear.

Just as in the show, Hosokowa Gracia agonized at the thought of seppuku putting her soul in mortal danger. But she perceived her duty to be to ensure death before being captured or otherwise dishonoured.

To put it bluntly, Ishido (Ishida in real life) fucked up. Before any military manouvers had begun, he went to seize hostages of friends and enemies alike throughout Osaka castle. His forces tried to forcibly seize Hosokowa Gracia from the family quarters. She gave orders for her senior retainer to kill her, her daughter, and set fire to their section of Osaka Castle, so that none could be taken and subjected to dishonour. She arranged with this samurai to stand on one side of a shoji screen, facing him. He stabbed her through the heart with a naginata. She died, satisfied in the knowledge that:

...the death was not suicide, and her soul would doubtless be spared from the torments of Hell.

Although not doing this directly on the orders of Toranaga/Tokugawa, it's highly likely she knew that she was making a statement (many of the other hostages went quietly). This furthered his cause immensely. Inspired by Hosokowa Gracia, families streamed out of Osaka Castle and other Regent-held castles by any method they could. Her example ignited a firestorm of controversy surrounding the gall of a jumped-up bureaucrat (a reputation Ishido/Ishida would never escape) forcing the death of one of the era's pre-eminent noblewomen. Although her husband was relatively unbothered by her death, her father-in-law - the book/show's Hiromatsu - was furious. Because of Hosokowa Gracia and his granddaughter's death, he immediately fortified his border castle.

He defied a large [Ishido/Ishida] army of 15,000 men with only 500 men of his own.

Many of [Ishido/Ishida's] commanders held [Hosokowa Fujitaka/Hiromatsu] in such high regard that they went through the bare motions of laying siege. On a regular basis, gunners 'accidentally' forgot to load their cannon with iron shot, and so Tanabe Castle's walls reverberated daily to the harmless booming of blank gundpowder explosions. [Ishido/Ishida's] military offensive had launched to a disastrous start.

The siege only ended because of an imperial decree (it's a long story - Fujitaka/Hiromatsu knew an oral tradition special imperial poem that risked dying with him, nobody could refuse the Emperor). More than this, any chance Ishido/Ishida had of convincing skilled and respected generals to commit to his side ended with Fujitaka/Hiromatsu's defiance. Such was the respect that he commanded, and such was the rage he felt at the death of his daughter-in-law, that he worked tirelessly to gather support for Toranaga/Tokugawa, despite his advanced years.

Mariko/Hosokowa Gracia's contribution was an inflection point to what many samurai, busho and daimyo were suspecting - that Ishido/Ishida was a snake bitch who couldn't be trusted (I believe that's the correct historical term). Her actions galvanized resistance against him, and continued to spread the wildfire that would seal his defeat on the battlefield of Sekigahara: 'Why are we taking orders from him?'

Importantly, Hosokowa Gracia's remains were gathered by a Catholic priest, and given a Christian burial in Osaka. From everything we know of her, this would have been very meaningful indeed. Just as with Mariko in the show's depiction, Hosokowa Gracia's death was not senseless or without meaning. It meant something, and continues to resonate through the centuries.

What happened to John Blackthorne (William Adams)?

Gif by @cinematic-gif-archive

The short answer: imagine an alien landed in America. It was smart enough to avoid death. It ended up chief special advisor to Obama, and they became bros. That is William Adams's life.

First things first: Blackthorne stays in Japan. 'Old Rich Blackthorne' scenes are basically fever dreams. I was worried when the episode opened with a flash-forward to an old man living in Tudor comfort. This would be a huge change from both the book, and history. The novel ends with Toranaga confirming that his plan is for Blackthorne to never leave Japan. Blackthorne finds his place there. In history, the same is true of William Adams.

In episode 10, the 'is this a flash-forward?/is this a dream?' question is answered halfway through the episode. Blackthorne drops Mariko's cross over the side with Fuji's family ashes. As soon as that's done, the aged visions of Blackthorne disappear.

For those who are more textual than visual: the episode is titled A Dream of a Dream (a play on the title of the Taiko's death poem). Concussed, grief-stricken Blackthorne is dreaming of the dream he used to have - returning to England with riches and glory, his family name secure, with every comfort Queen Elizabeth the First can offer a pirate-explorer like Sir Francis Drake or Sir Walter Raleigh. But as soon as he lets go of Mariko's cross into the water (earlier, actually, when he sincerely attempted seppuku to try and save the people of Ajiro) that dream stopped appearing. The dream he had of exploiting Japan for riches and glory was gone, replaced with the reality of the life he is left to build.

In the show and the book, Toranaga is explicit about never letting Anjin-sama/Blackthorne leave Japan. If he builds new ships, Toranaga will burn them again. He needs Blackthorne's knowledge, expertise, and - in a bizarre twist of fate - friendship. We leave him hauling his wreck from the harbour, ready to salvage the keel and spars, to build a new ship in Japan.

So how does this marry up with history? Extremely accurately. As far as we know, the historical William Adams was slightly less of a pirate/privateer than the book/show's John Blackthorne. His hatred of Catholicism was more driven by their fervent desire to kill him, which they kept up for nearly a decade. His interest in exploration, in the show and in the historical, was genuine.

The show's story very closely follows what actually happened in real life (again, sans romance... although he does have love in his life, which we'll get to). His crew were initially imprisoned, he was summoned by Toranaga/Tokugawa, and met with him many times to discuss his knowledge of the outside world, trade, and Christianity's impact in Asia. The Jesuits did pester the Council of Regents, and Toranaga/Tokugawa in particular, to execute him. Toranaga/Tokugawa refused, saying this barbarian had done nothing to harm Japan or its people. The Jesuits would not forget this.

He did train elements of Toranaga/Tokogawa's army in how to work the cannon his ship possessed - a skill he possessed, but no one else was willing to offer. He actually followed Toranaga/Tokugawa to several battles. Recent primary source evidence has revealed it was highly likely he was actually at the Battle of Sekigahara, which is a very recent development in the historiography of his life. It is just bananas insane, but it demonstrates just how useful (and likeable) Blackthorne/Adams was to Toranaga/Tokugawa.

I've read two biographies of William Adams, and he was very, very like the Blackthorne portrayed by Cosmo Jarvis. Other Europeans in Japan complained that he was arrogant and dismissive - historians see this as Adams adapting to his station in Japanese society, and being extremely frustrated with European manners and bearing in Japan.

Once Toranaga/Tokugawa became shōgun, Adams - already a samurai - was made hatamoto, and forbidden from leaving Japan. He was granted many generous cuckoos (250 of them!), an estate in Edo, a fief at the entrance to Edo bay, and rose to become Toranaga/Tokugawa's chief trade advisor. During Toranaga/Tokugawa's remaining life, he built two Western-style ships (which Tokugawa came aboard and was very pleased with - that's nice!), and took over piloting duties of Portuguese and Spanish ships making landfall in Edo, pissing off the Catholics to no end.

On Ieyasu Tokugawa's death in 1616, his holdings and fief were confirmed by the new shōgun, Ieyasu Hidetada. But his relationship with the court wouldn't be the same. My reading of the sources leads me to believe that James Clavell was right here: Toranaga/Tokugawa Ieyasu genuinely liked Blackthorne/William Adams, and wanted him around.

As more and more Europeans arrived in Japan, including the English and the Dutch, Adams served as translator for them, and - for the Enlgish - fixer whenever they did something barbaric and rude that would warrant execution. He seemed to view spending time with the (no joke) drunken, whoring, disgusting-smelling English trading factory members as an extreme annoyance. He seemed happiest at sea, and at his mansion in Edo, where he married the daughter of a merchant in 1613. Whilst her name is lost to the historical record, they had two children, Joseph and Susanna.

He wasn't a deadbeat dad - he wrote to his wife back in England, explaining that he could not return. She was a firebrand, and eventually extracted a form of life insurance from the Dutch company that had contracted Adams's piloting services. Partly she was able to do this because of a proclamation issued by Toranaga/Ieyasu Tokugawa: 'William Adams was dead the day he was made samurai, and Miura Anjin - the pilot of the fief of Miura - was born.' That sounds like a badass quote I've made up, but that's one of the English translations of Tokugawa's proclamation.

Adams kept up his maritime adventures, charting the Japanese coast, going on several trading missions to Southeast Asia (sailing to Thailand and meeting with the King of Siam, furthering his amazing ability to charm and dazzle). He struck up firm friendships with members of Tokugawa's court, fellow Japanese merchants in Edo, and the much more polite Dutch traders, despite the tensions that had grown between their two countries.

There's an important aspect of his legacy that endured for centuries. Toranaga/Tokugawa, suspicious of what he had learned of Catholic conversion and invasion of other Asian states, was already disposed to be wary of the Church. The Church in Japan would not let Adams rest, attempting to kill him, convert him, bribe him, and offer him passage home in 1614 on a Portuguese ship. In the same year Portuguese priests claimed that only Spanish miners had the skills to open up the mineral wealth of Japan. Adams warned the shōgun, again, that this was the Catholic way - first the priests, then the conquistadores.

Influenced by these reports and counsel, and because the Jesuits legitimately were conspiring to do the shit Adams accused them of (always a tough charge to defend), Toranaga/Tokugawa Ieyasu expelled all Portuguese priests in 1614, and demanded all Japanese Christians recant. Apart from this leading to the Dutch being the only nation allowed to conduct trade with Japan, this was the end of Japanese Christianity, until the country was forced open in 1855. Christianity never took root in the same way it would in places like Brazil and the Philippines. Was William Adams the only factor in this development? No. Was he a factor? Yes.

He died in 1620, after twenty contented years in Japan and Asia. His will stipulated that his estates and belongings be split evenly between his family in England and Japan. One of Adams's colleagues recorded that Ieyasu Hidetada transferred lordship of Adams's fief to his Japanese son, Joseph, as well as his katana and wakizashi. His line fell out of the historical record, but memory of and monuments to the Anjin remain in Japan.

Faring Well

Shōgun, the book, was fiction, written by a man fascinated by Japanese history, driven by a desire to bring it to the world. He was overwhelmingly successful. It was an excellent start, and even fired up some fascinating academic discussion at the time that I'd definitely recommend. The 2024 adaptation, in my view, changes many of the elements that have aged poorly, were flat-out wrong to begin with, and - like all great adaptations - adds to the work, rather than cheapening it.

Despite being based on real people, the fictional characters created for the show - Blackthorne, Toranga, and especially Mariko - feel real. That is an amazing achievement.

I hope this opens up an interest in Japanese history for some viewers. Being able to visit the places where these events took place is a truly awesome experience. Like all history, it's for individuals to judge what they think of the players.

Hiroyuki Sanada said that he admires Tokugawa Ieyasu because of his ability to bring forth 250 years of peace out of nearly 500 years of chaos. Was Ieyasu motivated by altruism, or self-interest? Does it even matter?

Anna Sawai saw in Hosokowa Gracia a moving, powerful woman, deeply committed to her faith, and to doing what she believed was right in the context of her time. As a person without faith myself, I found this portrayal of genuine belief extremely moving. The demonstration of her convictions was one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen.

And as for the English pilot, Cosmo Jarvis said he wanted to capture the restlessness of Adams, his slow transformation and growth, and the unique qualities that allowed the man to survive and thrive in an extremely deadly time. One thing he nailed that I think even James Clavell messed up was how deepy strange William Adams was. Not weird, not insane, but just a very singular individual. Biographers talk about his aloof, detached, self-aware nature being misconstrued as arrogance by Europeans who encountered him in Japan. Part of it was his annoyance at their inability to learn how to be in Japan; part of it was that he was simply built very differently. In embodying this, I think Cosmo Jarvis succeeded amazingly.

From what we can find in the historical record, William Adams and Hosokowa Gracia may not be 'great' in the sense that Tokugawa Ieyasu was 'great'. They did not build an era. To borrow a phrase from one of my favourite historical writers, whilst they may not be 'great' people, they were good people. That is vanishingly rare in the history we celebrate, and I think, for that reason alone, it's important to remember them, and the things they lived and died for.

[whencyclopedia]

Medieval Japan

The medieval period of Japan is considered by most historians to stretch from 1185 to 1603 CE. Stand out features of the period include the replacement of the aristocracy by the samurai class as the most powerful social group, the establishment of shogun military rulers and their regents, the decline in power of the emperors and Buddhist monasteries, and a stratification of feudal society into lords and vassals as well as a lasting class differentiation based on profession. The country witnessed long periods of civil wars as warlords and large estate owners (daimyo) fought for prominence and the central government struggled to unify Japan. On the other hand, there were developments in agriculture, commerce, and trade. The arts flourished, especially ink painting and performance arts. Finally, Japan's presence on the international stage became more involved with the Mongol Empire attacking Japan in the late 13th century CE and Japan invading Korea in the late 16th century CE, both campaigns ending in failure. All in all, then, a busy period of development and one which saw the population of Japan rise from around 7 million at the beginning to around 25 million at the end of it.

Medieval Time Periods

The history of medieval Japan is traditionally divided into the following periods:

Kamakura Period (1185-1333 CE)

Muromachi Period (1333-1573 CE)

includes the Sengoku Period (1467-1568 CE)

Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1600 CE)

Alternatively, the period may be divided into the following two shogunates:

Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333 CE)

Ashikaga Shogunate (1338-1573 CE)

Continue reading...

[jigen-daisuke]

//ooc: Upcoming Lupin the Third kabuki play (23/12/5 - 23/12/25, Shinbashi Enbujo, Tokyo). A new original story, set in the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

[japanese-plants]

Saddle and stirrups with reed design in maki-e lacquer, Azuchi–Momoyama period (1568-1600) 葦穂蒔絵鞍鐙 桃山時代

[famousinuniverse]

Osaka Castle,  Osaka, Japan: Osaka Castle is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. The castle and fortress are one of Japan's most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Wikipedia

[top-video-games-reviews]

Assassin's Creed Shadows: 10 BIGGEST Changes to Know

Everyone is excited for Assassin's Creed Shadows coming on November 15, 2024. It's a new chapter in the series, set in Feudal Japan. The game will mix history with modern tech for amazing visuals and a deep gaming experience.

It's made for the latest consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It uses new tech to make the game look even better.

A dark and atmospheric urban landscape inspired by Assassin's Creed, featuring towering ancient architecture blending with modern city elements, shadowy figures stealthily navigating rooftops, a vibrant moonlit sky casting dramatic shadows, lush greenery climbing over stone structures, and intricate details of historical and futuristic design intertwined.

Players will explore Kyoto and Osaka, two beautiful cities. They'll play as Yasuke and Naoe, each with special skills. This means more ways to fight and sneak around.

The game will have better stealth, a new parry system, and weather that changes how the game looks and feels. Assassin's Creed Shadows is going to change the series in exciting ways.

Secure your copy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Amazon now and get exclusive content before the release!”

Key Takeaways

Release date is set for November 15, 2024.

Game features dual protagonists Yasuke and Naoe, each with unique skill sets.

Incorporates ray-tracing global illumination and micro polygon technology for enhanced graphics.

Dynamic weather conditions and seasonal changes affect gameplay.

Settings in Feudal Japan include detailed recreations of Kyoto and Osaka.

Improvements in stealth and combat mechanics promise strategic gameplay experiences.

Available for early access through exclusive pre-order deals at the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store.

New Setting and Characters in Feudal Japan

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a big deal. It takes players to the amazing Assassin's Creed Shadows setting of Feudal Japan. This game is set in the Azuchi-Momoyama period. It's full of history and culture.

Ubisoft has added legendary figures like samurais and shinobi. This makes the game very exciting. It's all about Assassin's Creed historical immersion.

Feudal Japan Landscape and Historical Period

The game is set in a time of big change. You'll see beautiful landscapes with wooden villages and temples. Cherry blossoms add to the beauty.

Places like Kyoto and Osaka are very detailed. They make the game feel real. This is a true Japanese cultural experience.

Secure your copy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Amazon now and get exclusive content before the release!”

Main Characters: Yasuke and Naoe

Yasuke is a samurai with strength. Naoe is a shinobi who loves stealth. They work together in a special way.

This Assassin's Creed dual protagonists system makes the game different. It's like Assassin's Creed Syndicate.

Rich Cultural Immersion in Kyoto and Osaka

Kyoto and Osaka are amazing in the game. They feel real. You'll see markets, seasons, and alleys.

This makes the game feel true to Japan's history. It's educational and fun. It's all about Kyoto and Osaka in Assassin's Creed.

Historical Setting: Azuchi-Momoyama period provides a rich backdrop.

Main Characters: Yasuke the samurai and Naoe the shinobi offer unique gameplay styles.

Landscapes: Detailed cities like Kyoto and Osaka immerse players in Japanese culture.

The game focuses on being true to history and culture. It's exciting for both old and new fans. We're all waiting for its release on November 15th.

Assassin's Creed Shadows: 10 BIGGEST Changes You NEED TO KNOW

Ubisoft has made big changes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The game is set in Feudal Japan in the late 16th century. It has new stealth, combat, and world changes.

Enhanced Stealth and Combat Mechanics

The Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay focuses on better stealth and combat. It has a new stealth system that uses light and shadow. This lets players control visibility and enemy vision.

Players can now crawl and use the environment for stealth. For example, they can stab through shoji doors. This makes the stealth mechanics in Assassin's Creed more exciting.

Combat in Shadows is also improved. The game has destructible environments and posture mechanics. This makes fights more realistic and challenging.

"An Assassin's Creed scene depicting a dynamic weather system, showcasing a blend of stormy clouds and shafts of sunlight breaking through, with a silhouette of a robed assassin perched on a rooftop, overlooking a vibrant cityscape that shifts from rain-soaked streets to sunlit rooftops, emphasizing the contrast between dark ominous clouds and bright flashes of light."

Secure your copy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Amazon now and get exclusive content before the release!”

Dynamic Weather and Seasonal Changes

Shadows has a new feature: dynamic weather and seasons. The game changes with each season. This affects gameplay a lot.

For example, spring is green and good for hiding. Winter is cold and adds survival challenges. These changes affect wildlife and the game world. They make the game more varied and fun.

Open World Exploration and Expansive Maps

Shadows offers great Assassin's Creed open-world exploration. Its maps are huge and full of details. Players can explore central Japan and find many quests and secrets.

The game has many places to explore, like towns and castles. Each area is detailed and reflects Japan's history and culture. The game comes out on November 15, so players can explore these vast landscapes.

A vast, immersive landscape showcasing diverse terrains in the style of Assassin's Creed, featuring ancient ruins, bustling medieval towns, and lush forests under a dynamic sky. Character silhouettes in the distance engaging in stealthy exploration and parkour, with a mix of historical architecture and natural beauty, vivid colors highlighting the day and night cycle.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Features:

Stealth System: Dynamic light and shadow effects, prone crawling, and environmental interactions.

Combat Enhancements: Destructible environments, posture mechanics, and tactical depth.

Dynamic Weather: Seasonal changes affecting gameplay and influencing wildlife behavior.

Open World Exploration: Expansive, detailed maps with diverse regions and interactive environments.

Secure your copy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Amazon now and get exclusive content before the release!”

Conclusion

The wait for *Assassin's Creed Shadows* is almost over. It comes out on November 15, 2024. The gaming world is buzzing with excitement.

This game takes us to Feudal Japan. We'll explore Kyoto and Osaka in detail. It has new gameplay and a story with two main characters.

The game is set in the Azuchi-Momoyama period. This adds a rich history and beautiful visuals. It uses the latest tech for amazing graphics.

*Shadows* brings better stealth and combat. You'll see weather and seasons change. It's like *Assassin's Creed Origins* but even better.

Yasuke and Naoe, the main characters, have cool skills. They make the game more fun and challenging. Players will have lots of choices.

Ubisoft is working hard on the *Assassin's Creed* series. They plan to keep making games until 2030. *Assassin's Creed Shadows* is a big step forward for the series.

More news about the game is coming. Fans are getting even more excited. This game could change the *Assassin's Creed* saga and the gaming world.

Secure your copy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Amazon now and get exclusive content before the release!”

[mybeingthere]

Japanese Lacquer Combs - a special area of art.

Some 400 years ago, Japan took the simple hair comb and transformed it into an elegant beauty accessory that became a work of art. Japanese kushi (combs) became expressions of a woman's character, social class and marital status. Hair has become the field for Kanzashi (簪) - ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. The term kanzashi refers to a wide variety of accessories, including long, rigid hairpins, barrettes, fabric flowers and fabric hair ties.

The use of Kanzashi dates back to prehistoric times, originating during the Jomon period (12,000b.c.e.-300b.c.e.). During this time people would wear sticks in their hair because it was believed that a single stick had the power to ward off evil and promote good luck. Later on, during the Nara period (710c.e.-795c.e.) interaction with China brought actual intricate hair ornaments into Japan which came to be known as Kanzashi. Along with the hair accessories, the Chinese style of wearing one’s hair in a top knot became widely popularized. During the Heian period (795c.e.-1185c.e.) wearing Kanzashi was less common because women favored long free untied hair. However, during this time Kanzashi became the general term to refer to hair ornaments. Next during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573c.e.-1600c.e.) women again favored wearing their hair up, requiring the use of Kanzashi. In the Edo period (1603c.e.-1868c.e.), like many other types of clothing, Kanzashi began to be created in a large variety of styles. Most notably was the creation of Hanabira Kanzashi (Flower Kanzashi) in Kyoto, and Tsumami Kanzashi, a style of Kanzashi done in the Edo capital which is now modern Tokyo. Lastly, due to Westernization during the Meiji period (1868c.e.-1912c.e.) Kanzashi fell back out of style.

Maki-e - Japanese lacquer technique

Maki-e began in the Nara period (710-794) and developed uniquely in Japan. Maki-e is a technique in which a picture is drawn in lacquer and gold or silver powder is sprinkled on top before it dries to express the picture.

http://simitras-exquisite-things.com/.../Japanese...

[nepenthean-sleep]

Historical Fashion in The Priory of the Orange Tree

I'm not a historian, but I've spent a significant amount of time over the past decade researching historical fashions from across the world. Naturally, this colored my reading of The Priory of the Orange Tree when I first read it in 2019. I started rereading Priory this month in anticipation for the release of the sequel, and I thought it would be fun to share my ideas for the clothing styles of the various countries in the book, based on real-world historical fashion. I also wanted to use this as a moment to compare some of the fashions of Priory with those in the forthcoming A Day of Fallen Night. These are by no means definitive; they're just my personal headcanons for the book, but I thought some fans and artists would appreciate this as a reference.

To begin, Inys and Queen Sabran's court reminded me heavily of Elizabethan England, so while reading Priory, I mostly thought of the book taking place in an analogue to Earth of the mid-to-late 1500s. This colors my perception of the various clothing styles, so you will notice that most of the countries will have clothing from the same century or thereabout. This extends to Fallen Night, which takes place 500 years earlier, but only for the countries that I was able to find enough reference information on. (Trying to find fashion references for eleventh and twelfth century Europe and Africa on the internet is very difficult!) I've made (terrible; I am not a graphic designer) collages to lower the photo count in this post, but please keep in mind that this post is still image-heavy.

SEIIKI

Seiiki is based off of Edo-era Japan. In keeping with the 1500s theme, I have imagined fashions similar to those of the very early Edo period and the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. With how they are described in the text, I believe the wealthy and fashionable in Ginura would likely dress more like the fashions from the early 1700s with elaborate nihongami and extensive sea-themed accessories.

For A Day of Fallen Night, this would land us squarely in the Heian era, my personal favorite of the Japanese historical eras in terms of fashion. Now I can only imagine Princess Dumai with extremely long hair lmao.

SEPUL

Sepul is based off of Korea. We don't know much about Sepul, but for Korea, the 1500s would have been towards the beginning of the Joseon dynasty. 16th century hanbok looked more similar to the hanbok of Goryeo, as opposed to the more "classical" 18th century style of Joseon hanbok that is used today in film and re-enactments.

For Fallen Night, that puts Sepul in the middle of the Goryeo dynasty, when it followed Song dynasty fashion. However, Sepul is a queendom, and during the Silla period, Korea had three regnant queens. Because of this, I imagine that the queens of Sepul would likely dress more similar to the royalty of Silla, with their elaborate crowns and gold chains.

EMPIRE OF THE TWELVE LAKES

The Lacustrine are based off of China, and the 1500s lands us in the later half of my favorite Chinese dynasty: the Ming. We don't get to see much of the Empire, but what we do see is very lavish and grand, much like Ming dynasty hanfu itself.

500 years back lands us in the Song dynasty. One of the interesting trends of the Song dynasty was pearl makeup, something that would likely be popular in the Twelve Lakes due to the continent's general aquatic theme.

INYS

Inys is based off of England, and while reading I imagined something similar to the fashions of the 1560s and 1570s during Queen Elizabeth I's reign. I'd also imagine that Inys would be "behind" in terms of fashion compared to Mentendon, due to how Inysh society and fashion is described as more conservative.

MENTENDON

Mentendon is based off of the Netherlands, and I particularly imagined it similar to the Dutch Republic, especially in regards to the country's relationship with Seiiki. The Dutch began trading with Japan in the early 1600s, so much of my headcanon for Mentendon is based off of the Baroque era, particularly the 1630s and 1640s. Mentendon seems to be the most liberal nation of the West, so I'd imagine their fashions to be more forward-facing while still retaining a lot of the similarities to the Elizabethan era, such as the usage of lace ruffs, doublets, and kirtles. Aubrecht and Truyde are described as having long, loose, curling hair, which fits perfectly with the popular hairstyles of these decades.

YSCALIN

Spain was the inspiration for Yscalin, and I imagined something similar to the 1540s and 1550s, particularly modeled after renaissance Italy as opposed to the Tudor stylings of the English and French.

LASIA

Lasia is based off of the Kingdom of Kongo, a state that existed in present day Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1390 until 1857, when it was colonized by Portugal and made a vassal state of the Portuguese Empire. As such, it is difficult to find references for Kongolese fashion without the influence of Portuguese-style clothing. As far as I am aware, the references below are from the 1500s and 1600s and represent Kongolese clothing without European influence.

THE ERSYR

The Ersyr is based off of Iran. We don't get to see much of the Ersyr in Priory, but Chassar would likely wear Ersyri fashions even when away from home. For Iran, the 1500s puts us at the beginning of the Safavid Empire. The reference images below are from the 1570s to the 1650s.

For Fallen Night, the eleventh century would be the Abbasid Caliphate. Below are images of artwork from that era to give a general sense of the styles during that period.

If anyone has any additional information or corrections about the fashions from these time periods in this countries that they would like me to add to this post, feel free to send me an ask or a DM. Thanks for reading! Looking forward to reading A Day of Fallen Night later this week. :)

[arterartthings]

There’s been a lot of Max/Bradley ship art influx lately and so allow me to show off my own Ship art of that lovely brat

Bradley Uppercut III x Kaito „Clio” Matsuda to be more precise

Some headcanons about Kaito:

Clio is an exchange student from Japan. He studies Japanese culture anthropology and history

He comes from a very rich family with long history reaching Azuchi-Momoyama period. His relationship with his male relatives however is very strain

Clio is a half-blood- his mother was a french Romani woman, while his father is full japanese

This caused our poor boy to have a lot of complexes about his heritage from mother’s side back in elementary and high school. Mostly it was caused by his relatively darker skintone and curly hair (he actually straightens his hair to this very day).

He recently got over it and now prefers his more Roma nickname. He actually dislikes being called by his surname or real name.

He was very hated by middle school teachers for his unruliness. At some point, when they forced him to cut his hair, he purposely failed his tests and assignments as a form of protest for ridiculous standards. When Clio was allowed to grow his hair back, he rewrote all his tests near perfectly and got very good grades from then on.

He became somewhat of a hero and symbol among other students, who also started failing their tests and assignments en masse on purpose so the school would be forced to loosen restrictions on appearance (ot worked)

As you can guess, he was a delinquent with a heart of gold.

Also, although I didn’t draw it, he vapes. A lot.

Back to ship with Bradley

When Clio started attending the exchange program, his first encounter with Bradley was quite hostile. Bradley basically challenged him to prove his superiority by (inserting casual racism) showing off his karate skills. Bradley later regretted it with black eye from him.

They somewhat reconciled after Clio showed him off his ice skating skills on the rink and Bradley invited Clio to Gamma Mu Mu as their sportsman.

And Bradley had lots of issues understanding cultural differences of Clio, like him sleeping on floor mattress, spending an hour in a bathroom, eating soup for breakfast or taking off shoes upon entrance to frat house.

Clio COULD NOT stand living with other gammas (aside from Tank and Bradley). He always found a lot of their habits very annoying to bear (like leaving empty beer bottles, leaving laundry mess or not cleaning regularly).

Their romance began to grow once they started tutoring each other. Bradley was tutoring Clio in English and skateboard, while Clio tutored Bradley in Math and ice skating.

They tried to dismiss their feelings towards each other. Eventually, thinking his love is one way, Bradley confessed his love to Clio, expecting ridicule, only for him to clap back with that he also has feelings for Bradley.

They thought that nobody knows about them being gay and that they must keep it a secret. However, their love in reality was an open secret among gammas. There were so many situations where they caught the lovebirds sleeping on sofa together or that Bradley accidentally once left out a clearly love letter to Clio in the locker. But in the end, Gammas were absolutely fine with their leader being gay. In fact they made sure nobody bullied Bradley and Clio on prom night.

After graduation, Bradley has chosen to go with Clio back to Japan and find study opportunity

Now headcanons about their love

Clio os the dom, Bradley is the sub.

Clio is the one who cooks, while Bradley is the one who cleans after dinner.

Bradley doesn’t mind Clio calling him „Brad” anymore.

When sleeping, Clio always has to cuddle Bradley like a pillow all night and wriggle around their futon with him.

Clio also tutors Bradley in japanese.

Their favorite time of the year are Hanami and Christmas (they eat a lot of KFC on holidays)

Both fathers of the boys disapproved their love, but after some time (and mr. Uppercut and mr. Matsuda eventually met) they just let it fly.

Might feature doodles of them in the future

[tanuki-kimono]

Fun retro-modern furisode mixing auspicious cranes and pine, in katamigawari style patterns placement.

In old Japan, katamigawari was a way to recycle fabrics and make new clothes when you didn’t have the full tanmono (kimono fabric roll) required. It became a true fashion statement in Late Azuchi Momoyama/early Edo periods.

(pictures: 1 / 2 )

[prime-adeptus]

Fool

Hasebe realises things. It may or may not break him.

Pairing: Heshikiri Hasebe x GN!Reader

Content: Fluff, pining, Hasebe trying to keep his cool (and failing)

Note: Also posted on AO3 in my TKRB drabble collection!

Hasebe is not a worrywart.

His concern for Sayo when the tantou got hurt was because of his duty as the attendant. His consistent monitoring of the citadel funds is because of his duty as the attendant. Everything he does, from basic chores to combat in different eras is all because of his duty as the saniwa’s most trusted sword.

That’s all there is to it. He is only doing what someone like him is expected to do. Surely the same applies to what he’s doing now: accompanying you on your routine walk around the citadel because you asked. That is all. Heshikiri Hasebe does not act on personal feelings; he does what is asked of him, but if it concerns your safety…

He stops in his tracks, warmth rising to his cheeks and painting his skin in a rosy hue.

Is he—no, that can’t be. He’s loyal. Yes, that’s it. He’s loyal to you and will always come when you call for him. It is the greatest honour of all, dare he say even higher than what he’d done all the way back during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Surely his heart palpitations as he watches you laugh and smile with the younger swords is from the honour of seeing you with your guard down. Surely the way it’s as if the world has stopped when your gaze meets his is from shock.

“Hasebe, stop standing there and come join us,” you say, your voice soft and affectionate. “The tiger cubs are especially playful today.”

“Ah, I must respectfully decline… It is not my place to—”

“We’re at the citadel, Hasebe. It’s alright.” There’s an amused expression on your features and he can’t really pinpoint what has you so mirthful. Is it him? Pleasing you is his highest desire… Are you acknowledging his efforts?

Wait, what is he thinking?!

“No one can hurt us.”

“But…”

Shokudaikiri casts him a smug glance. “Fool.”

“You—!”

“If Master says it’s fine, then it’s fine,” he chuckles. “Are you declining their wish of spending time with you?”

“Of course not…!” Hasebe clears his throat. “I wouldn’t even dream of doing such a thing!”

“What’s taking you so long?” Your question is drawn out into an exaggerated whine, catching his attention once again. “Are you really going to work when I’ve given you all the day off?”

Hasebe glares at Shokudaikiri, though it must only be hilarious to the other sword if the smirk on his lips is saying anything. He parts his lips to speak, only to be pushed in your general direction by quite a strong force.

“Go, you lovestruck fool.”

Torn between telling him off and making his way to you as soon as possible, he stands frozen in his spot as his face grows even warmer. Clearing his throat once again (and huffing at Shokudaikiri to hide his flustered state), he finally walks towards where you are.

The tantou seem especially affectionate today, not just the tiger cubs. Imanotsurugi is laying his head on your lap while Taikogane talks to you animatedly. These are his comrades, his brothers-in-arms, yet he can’t help but feel… envious that they have your full attention like that. You called for him; didn’t you need him? Just as his thoughts are about to run rampant, you beam up at him, your eyes glimmering in the sunlight.

…Just what was he thinking of again?

Ah, it’s not of any importance now, he supposes. After all, you’re already patting the empty spot next to you and urging him to sit down. In such close proximity, too… Not that he doubts you (he could never), but do you even realise how much you always seem to break him?!

As much as he hates to admit it, maybe Shokudaikiri isn’t that far off. Maybe there is more to his unrivalled care and loyalty for you. Well, in any case, he’ll… think about it afterwards. You’ve asked for his company, so in return, he’ll give you his full undivided attention. And regain his composure.