Episode 2 – A Kingdom Called Wa – Facing Backward Podcasts

Episode 2 is up and available for download. This week’s episode covers the period from prehistory to 538 AD. Don’t forget to check the glossary and timeline if you would like clarification or more information, or drop me a line in the comments.

Have a listen here

Sources

Totman, Conrad. A History of Japan. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2004.

National Geographic: Japanese Royal Tomb Opened to Scholars for First Time:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080428-ancient-tomb.html

Images (courtesy of the Wikimedia Foundation)

This piece dates from around 10,000 years ago, and is an early example of Jomon pottery. Note the rope-like markings around the vessel.

This pottery piece dates from the mid-Jomon period (about 6000 years ago).

Seal of Na — The golden seal given by the Han dynasty emperor Gwangwu to the King of Na, a territory in Japan. The first written record we have which mentions Japan describes this event.

This is the Daisen Kofun, the largest kofun in Japan. It is located in the port city of Sakai in modern Osaka prefecture.

1 thought on “Episode 2 – A Kingdom Called Wa”

I read recently a bit about the golden seal and a bit of history of where hanko stamps originated from. Wasn’t this area close to northern kyushu or am I thinking of something else?

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