Nara Period
The Nara period was a time of powerful court nobles, ambitious monks, and dramatic power struggles centered on Japan’s first permanent capital.
The Hayato Rebellion: Otomo no Tabito’s Campaign in Southern KyushuExplore the Hayato Rebellion of 720, where Otomo no Tabito led a campaign in southern Kyushu, resulting in over 1400 captives and beheadings.
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Otomo no Tabito: From Hayato Campaigns to the Plum Blossom BanquetExplore the life of Otomo no Tabito, a military leader and poet, whose famous Plum Blossom Banquet inspired the modern era name Reiwa.
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The Rebellion of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu: Unraveling the Motives Behind the 740 Battle of Itabitsu RiverExplore why Fujiwara no Hirotsugu led over 10,000 troops in rebellion against the court in 740, culminating in the Battle of Itabitsu River.
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The Failed Coup of Tachibana no Naramaro: Why the Plot Against Fujiwara no Nakamaro Collapsed in 757Explore the 757 plot by Tachibana no Naramaro to overthrow Fujiwara no Nakamaro, thwarted by internal betrayal and arrests before it could unfold.
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Fujiwara no Nakamaro: From Empress Dowager Komyo’s Trust to His Fall in 764Explore the life of Fujiwara no Nakamaro, a key Nara period figure, from his rise to power under Empress Komyo to his downfall in 764.
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Kibi Makibi: Scholar, Diplomat, and Strategist of the Nara PeriodExplore the life of Kibi Makibi, from his studies in Tang China to his role in the Fujiwara no Nakamaro Rebellion and his rise to the position of Right Minister.
Read More »- The Fall of Fujiwara no Nakamaro: The Emi no Oshikatsu Rebellion of 764
Explore why Fujiwara no Nakamaro, once the most powerful court official, was defeated in just 8 days during the Emi no Oshikatsu Rebellion in 764.
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The Oracles of Usa Shrine: Why Dokyo Could Not Become EmperorExplore the 769 AD event where an oracle from Usa Shrine challenged Dokyos ambitions and influenced imperial succession in Nara, involving Wake no Kiyomaro.
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Dōkyō: From Imperial Healer to Fallen MonkExplore the rise and fall of Dōkyō, who ascended to unprecedented power as a monk and faced downfall after the death of Empress Shōtoku and the Usa Hachiman Oracle Incident.
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Wake no Kiyomaro: The Oracle of Usa Hachiman and the Move to Heian-kyoDiscover how Waki Kiyomaro influenced the imperial succession and contributed to the founding of Heian-kyo after the Oracle of Usa Hachiman incident.
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