Beanie level: Fan club president

SHOGUN EPISODE 2: PART 1

SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

HISTORY & DRAMA INTERTWAINED

Taiko’s Death Scene:
{Taiko} I wish we’d taken Joseon (Korea) together. I could have given you Japan.
{Lord Toranaga} Let it be a gift from your son.

The Taikō, Nakamura Hideoshi, is based loosely on TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI (1537-1598).
Lord Yoshii Toranaga – TOKUGAWA IEYASU (1543-1616).

GEOPOLITICS: Japan, Korea, and China. (Pic 1) The Beginning of the Edo Period for Japan (1600-1868), the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) for Korea, and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) for China.
At this point. Korea and China are allies, like a father (China) and son (Korea) relationship.
In 1592, JAPAN INVADED KOREA. This is known as the IMJIN WAR in Korea, in China it’s called the WANLI KOREAN CAMPAIGN.

-Lord Kiyama ukon Sadanaga of the Council of Regents is loosely based on KONISHI YUKINAGA (1558-1600). The Christian general who spearheaded the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592

-ADMIRAL YI SUN-SIN (1545–1598). The greatest admiral in Korea’s history, a national hero whose naval victories were instrumental in repelling Japanese invasions of Korea.

Admiral Yi died November 1598 in the battle of Noryang at age 53.
Admiral Yi Trilogy: movies
1. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
2. Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022)
3. Noryang: Deadly Sea (2023)

-GENERAL CHEN LIN (1543-1607) A General and Navy Admiral of Ming, China. He is considered a hero in both Korea and China for helping win the Imjin war with Korea and defeating the Japanese army alongside Korean forces. Today, his descendants are spread across South China and Korea.

Videos: “The Imjin War” by The Shogunate channel. From Japan’s perspective.
“The First Invasion Of Korea.” ((1592–1593)
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk9DSwjINXE&ab_channel=TheShogunate
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHpl7uoXwq4&ab_channel=TheShogunate
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-hKwuR3O2M&ab_channel=TheShogunate
Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elISRYUK42k&ab_channel=TheShogunate
“The 2nd Invasion of Korea.”(1597–1598)
Part 5: Conclusion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed6L1NnlkLg&ab_channel=TheShogunate
The Death Of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Taiko):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0SJ0bQdh0c&ab_channel=TheShogunate

“A Dream Within A Dream”(The Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s death poem).

As the dew appears
As the dew disappears
Such is my life, that Naniwa
Is a dream within a dream.

tsuyu to ochi / tsuyu to kienishi / waga mi kana / naniwa no koto wa / yume no mata yume

JAPANESE TRADITION OF JISEI:

In Japan, there is a traditional poem known as jisei or death poem. With origins in Zen Buddhism, such poems are written by authors, often samurai or monks, as they approach their final days. These poems highlight themes of impermanence and transience, concepts central to Zen Buddhism.
The poems often express a sense of acceptance and peace towards death, and they can serve as a reminder of the impermanence of all things and the importance of living fully in the present moment.

From Episode 1: Pieterzoon, a Christian is sentenced to death by boiling.

{Yabushige} The barbarian took a long time to die. He was stronger than most Christians.
(Looks at Omi). Give me a poem about him.
{Omi} His eyes…were just the end of hell..all pain, articulate.
(Yabushige smiles in approval)
Gee, who is calling whom a barbarian?

QUOTE FROM THE BOOK:

“There was no dignity for either the sufferer or the torturer. It removed the dignity from death, and without that dignity, what was the ultimate point of life?”

(Book 1, Chapter 4, Page 82)
Omi watches Pieterzoon’s torture in the cauldron of boiling water. The samurais do not fear death, but the thought of an undignified, dishonorable end is intolerable to them. There is no honor in a man being tortured to death, and nothing dignified about the job of torture.

“Only by living at the edge of death can you understand the indescribable joy of life.”

(Book 5, Chapter 56, Page 954)
Feeling like they are always on the edge of death, samurai are better able to appreciate life’s pleasures and tranquil moments because they know how quickly things can change. Those who have not faced death do not have the same sense of life’s exhilaration.

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    My husband and i are looking forward to watching this-I really appreciate the historical context you provide!

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      I’ll tag you, too, Ally!<3

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      My wife and I will be watching also- and a few other shows on Hulu when I take up a temporary subscription again- which will be very soon.

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      @ally-le and @oldawyer

      This show is R16: I’m sure we are all older than that. LOL
      The rating for violence, offensive language, and content that may disturb is explained here. I’m sure you already have an idea from the book, but just in case. So far, the pilot episode is the most brutal, if you call it that. I couldn’t handle “Game Of Thrones,” but I can with “Shogun.”

      1. Cruelty

      In one scene, a prisoner is thrown into a pot of boiling water, and they scream in immense pain. The scene goes on to show close-ups of the character’s painful torture. We also see other characters reaction from hearing the prisoner’s screams. This may be shocking for viewers. (pilot episode)

      2. Offensive language

      Offensive language is frequent throughout the show. Offensive language is used to express characters’ frustration or to insult each other.
      -Blackthorne and Rodrigues are sailors, and they do get into it when they are together.

      3. Sexual themes

      In a brief scene, two characters become intimate while being watched. We hear moaning and characters embrace. Nothing in detail is shown, but we do briefly see a female’s breasts.
      -From what I heard, the violence in the book is more brutal and frequent. (pilot episode)

      https://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/find-a-rating/quick-takes/shogun-season-1/

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      Thank you and to echo @seeker, thank you, so interesting. Especially because the three countries have so much history. Showing the intertwining stories, along with how beautiful the show is. This is great.

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      Thank you as always, kiara! Your efforts are illuminating and much appreciated 👏🏽

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      Thanks for posting and tagging. Very helpful and informative.

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    This really elevates our appreciation of the drama. Thank you for your hard work.

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    What an impressive and useful compilation of information. Thank you so much Kiara.

    A note on Admiral YI: His incredible victory at the Straits of Myeongryang still stands as the single greatest example of a far smaller force defeating a larger one in the History of Naval warfare. It all the more incredible when you realize that the Japanese Navy had achieved a serious level of skill in Naval Warfare in no small part through have to face Yi in twenty previous battles.

    The Japanese never forgot Admiral Yi. After wiping out the Russian Navy at the Straits of Tsushima in 1903 Admiral Togo was treated to a celebratory banquet. At that banquet the celebrants compared him to Yi and to Horatio Nelson- and he stopped them and told them that it was OK to compare him to Nelson but that neither he nor Nelson were in the same company as Admiral Yi.

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      Thank you so much for sharing!
      I never tire of hearing about Admiral Yi. 🙇‍♀️

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SHOGUN EPISODE 1 PART 2.

HISTORY & DRAMA INTERTWINED
(CONTAINS SPOILERS)
I haven’t read the book or watched the 1980 version of Shogun. Everything, including the background history, is new to me.I am enjoying learning new things. Please feel free to provide feedback on this episode or point out any errors that I may have made.

Shōgun: The military leader and de facto ruler of the country. The term originally meant “the barbarian-subduing great general” and was given to the general sent by the emperor to fight the Ainu people in northern Japan. However, with the establishment of the samurai government at the end of the 12th century, the title was revived and took on a new political meaning as the leader of the military class.

Samurai: Feudal Japan’s warrior class, enact a culture of war, duty, ruthlessness, and discipline. They are trained to be fierce fighters, who remain impassive in the face of pain and death. Their highest ideals are enshrined in an honor code called bushido, which dictates obedience to one’s lord, unflinching bravery, and above all the avoidance of shame and loss of face.

THE Emperor and Japan’s capital:
The reigning emperor of Japan is Go-Yōzei (1571-1617)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Y%C5%8Dzei, who currently resides in the capital city of Kyoto (this is the “imperial capital,” the home of the emperor). Legally, the shogun answered to the emperor, but, as Japan evolved into a feudal society, control of the military became tantamount to control of the country. The emperor remained in his palace in the capital, chiefly as a symbol of power behind the shogun.
The first “capital of the shogunate” was Kamakura (1185-1333), the stronghold of the Minamoto clan. The decline of Minamoto led to the rise of the Ashikaga (or Muromachi) clan, who moved their capital to the imperial city of Kyōto (1333-1603). In 1603 Ieyasu Tokugawa moved the capital, to Edo (modern Tokyo). The Edo Period lasted for nearly 260 years until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when the Tokugawa Shogunate ended and imperial rule was restored. The Emperor moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo. Thus, Tokyo became the capital of Japan.

Clan Crest: Tokugawa clan.
The Tokugawa crest was a circle in closing three leaves of the awoi (a species of mallow, found in Central Japan) joined at the tips, the stalks touching the circle (see Pic 1 and 2). This gilded trefoil is gleaming on the property of the shogun and mausoleum even now in Japan.

Shogun’s Language Confusion:
John Blackthorne and all of his translators speak English in Shogun even though they refer to it as Portuguese, which has caused some confusion. This is because, in-universe, the lingua franca used by John Blackthorne and the Catholic priests is Portuguese, but the show replaces it with English. Therefore, every time a character is speaking in English in Shōgun, they are supposed to be speaking in Portuguese within the story.

EPISODE 1: ANJIN – The pilot of the pilot episode.😀

THE YEAR IS 1600.

FOR DECADES, PORTUGUESE CATHOLICS HAVE RICHLY PROFITTED FROM TRADE IN JAPAN.

THEY HAVE KEPT ITS WHEREABOUTS HIDDEN FROM THEIR SWORN ENEMIES – THE EUROPEAN PROTESTANTS.

IN OSAKA, THE REIGNING TAIKO HAS DIED, LEAVING BEHIND AN HEIR TOO YOUNG TO RULE. FIVE WARRIOR LORDS ARE NOW TRAPPED IN A BITTER STRUGGLE.

Episode Guide:https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/shogun/viewers-guide/episode-guide/episode-1
-A Mysterious Barbarian Ship
-The Council of Regents
-What did Tadayoshi do wrong?
-The Jesuits in Japan
-Burei Uchi “License to kill”
-The Cauldron
-Iberian Pilots and Storms
-Seppuku
Episode Podcast and Transcript:https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/shogun/viewers-guide/podcast-episode-1

(There are so many details in this episode alone but I need to keep moving to catch up with the show).
Here are a few to start with. I’ll add the rest later.

“SAND”

1. The Opening Credits 😲🤔 :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX8BOLwDPfU&t=1s&ab_channel=FXNetworks

2. The first scene: Lead and Line (Pic 3)

{pilot} Captain, I was unable to take any celestial declinations due to–
{captain} The clouds
{pilot} Yes, the clouds. However, white sand. By the mark, ten. Ten fathoms. White sand in the tallow.

Celestial navigation: uses natural celestial bodies (such as the Sun, the Moon and stars) as navigation beacons to calculate the position of the observation point.
Navigating by the Stars: Introduction to Celestial Navigation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V0S8vLj4_E&ab_channel=RiggingDoctor
Leadline: this tool is so simple and reliable that its design hasn’t changed much in thousands of years. It consists of a lead weight attached to a rope that is marked at measured lengths. The bottom of the lead is concave, or cupped inward. Filling this space with something sticky, such as tallow (animal fat) or grease, is called “arming the lead” and is used to bring up bottom samples, such as sand, gravel, or mud, to show what was on the sea floor in that spot.
https://www.thepirateking.com/historical/lead_line.htm

3. Blackthorne/Anjin drew a map on the sand, revealing Spain and Portugal’s alliance and their division of the world. (Map Pic 4)
{Anjin/Blackthorne} – your country falls into the Portuguese half so it belongs to them.
{Lord Toranaga} – Did he really say “belongs”to them?
{Lady Mariko} – Yes, Lord.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V25XthYt2M&t=1s&ab_channel=WarStoriesinKino
“Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)”
An alliance between Spain and Portugal. It settled disputes about the ownership of lands discovered by Columbus and others. Pope Alexander VI had (1493) approved a line of demarcation stretching between the poles 100 leagues (about 500 km) west of the Cape Verde islands. All to the west was Spanish, to the east Portuguese – an award disregarded by other nations. Portuguese dissatisfaction led to a meeting at Tordesillas in north‐west Spain where it was agreed to move the papal line to 370 leagues (about 1850 km) west of Cape Verde. The pope sanctioned this in 1506. It was modified by the Treaty of Zaragossa (1529), which gave the Moluccas (Spice Islands) to the Portuguese.

4. SYMBOLS and MOTIFS from Book 1:
The Erasmus
Named for a famed Dutch Enlightenment philosopher, the Erasmus is a Dutch ship trying to find a route to Japan so that the Netherlands can set up trade without going through the Spanish and Portuguese. The Erasmus represents Blackthorne’s love for the sea, his desire for freedom, and his ambition for conquest—Blackthorne hopes to use the Erasmus to take the valuable Black Ship and its cargo. When Blackthorne becomes pivotal to Toranaga’s plans, he burns the ship in exchange for Blackthorne’s life.

BATHING
Bathing is a cleansing, meditative ritual that is important to the Japanese. When the book begins, Blackthorne rarely bathes; few of the English do. By the time he becomes hatamoto, he sees the European custom of bathing infrequently as barbaric. His former uncleanliness revolts him, as does the stink of his old shipmates.

Karma
Toranaga and many other samurai in the novel believe in the Buddhist doctrine of karmic reincarnation—that they will be reborn into another form forty days after death. The deeds of one’s life determine one’s karma. The accumulation of bad karma leads to rebirth in a lesser form.

Crucifix
This symbol of Christianity represents faith, conflicts between Christian sects, and priestly hypocrisy. Mariko’s crucifix is a cherished symbol of her faith—the purest of the novel’s religious symbols. Conversely, the ornately decorated crucifix that Blackthorne breaks in front of Father Sebastio—a symbol of Catholic outward showiness, which is one of the things Protestants decry—symbolizes Blackthorne’s hatred of the Jesuits.

Toranaga’s Falcons
Toranaga loves falconry—the process of finding the birds as babies, raising them, training them, and eventually breaking them to sit on his fist and hunt for him. He views the process of grooming Blackthorne, Yabu, Mura, and others as analogous to his treatment of the falcons. Some of his subordinates are well trained and subservient. Others, like Blackthorne, require more pressure and care before they will do as he commands. The analogy between the falcons and Toranaga’s vassals frames Toranaga as a hunter, both literally and figuratively.

5. QUOTE FROM THE BOOK.

“It’s a saying they have, that a man has a false heart in his mouth for the world to see, another in his breast to show to his special friends and his family, and the real one, the true one, the secret one, which is never known to anyone except to himself alone, hidden only God knows where.”

(Book 2, Chapter 10, Page 173)
Rodrigues has been around the Japanese long enough to understand the importance they place on hiding their feelings—though because of his bias, he ignores the fact that the Europeans often hide their motives and thoughts as well. The novel doubles down on this standard racist anti-Asian trope: Japanese character…[Read more]

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      I love this, because I go in blind, but I am learning so much from the episodes and your accompaniment. Also, the unmitigated Gall and Audacity of Spain, Portugal, and the Pope to split the world amongst them. Well colonizers are going to colonize.

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        Imagine discovering that your country belongs to another nation. Fortunately, the treaty was not taken seriously by other countries. Lord Toranaga is unlikely to let this go.

        The Catholics aren’t portrayed in a positive light. The novel’s author was British, so I expected some bias and truth.
        I’m not Catholic, but I grew up in a Christian home, so I’m taken aback by the way these Christian characters behaved, but I understand that this was a dog-eat-dog era. The one who is devoted to her religion is Lady Mariko.

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        This is a better video clip by FX. They just posted it an hour ago. lol
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClmWZX28ARg&ab_channel=FXNetworks

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      @oldawyer,

      I heard “Joseon” in the characters’ conversations, so I guess it’s just the English translation that used modern Korea.

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      This review is spot on. Thank you for sharing!

      At first, I was hesitant to watch SHOGUN because Hollywood has a reputation for not respectfully portraying diverse cultures. Additionally, I had heard that the story was brutal and violent. However, I decided to give it a chance and watched the pilot episode. To my surprise, the showrunners had put in great effort to achieve cultural authenticity and sensitivity, and the violence has been shown sparingly (so far). After listening to the writers and Hiroyuki Sanada talk about their approach, I have even more appreciation for the show.

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        I really like the fleshing out of “bushido” here.

        I’m taken with all the clan crests and wonder – did the Joseon ruling families have crests? They must have, right? If not, why not?

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          Yes, the valued principle of honor, the act of seppuku, is demonstrated from a samurai’s perspective, explaining why they don’t fear death. The cultural and religious clash, East meets West, is well done in this series.
          Christians from the West view suicide as a sin, a cowardly act (like when the captain killed himself). I supposed he’s not going to the best place upstairs, either. Death in a Buddhist culture is part of the cycle of life. With death comes rebirth. The next episode’s title, “Servants of Two Masters,” could apply to Christian converts like Lady Mariko.

          A quote from the book.

          “To serve is duty, duty is samurai, samurai is immortality.”

          (Book 1, Chapter 7, Page 112)
          Yabu (Yabushige in this series) contemplates becoming completely loyal to Toranaga. The samurai code of service makes obedience to one’s lord is indistinguishable from duty. Treating one’s duty with seriousness guarantees positive karma and a desirable immortality. Yabu’s problem is the realization that whom he serves matters less for karma than the fact that he serves a lord honorably.

          The clan crest helped me identify the followers of each daimyō. I noticed that Toda Hiromatsu (Hosokawa Fujitaka) wore the Toyotomi crest (the taiko’s clan) if I see correctly, while serving Lord Toranaga. I wonder if Toranaga hasn’t earned his complete trust yet since he still carries his old Lord’s crest or maybe because he was a vassal of the taiko and a friend of Toranaga. The conversation between them seems like between old friends who fought in many battles together.
          {Toranaga} Sorry, friend. If we go to war now, 4 armies against 1, I will lose. I must remain here.
          {Hiromatsu} You are a prisoner to your enemies, days from death — and you want me to look into a barbarian ship?
          {Toranaga} I wonder if you made a mistake, Hiromatsu. Siding with me instead of those bureaucrats who want me dead.
          {Hiromatsu} (jokingly)The thought has crossed my mind.

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          The Yi family’s clan crest was a plum blossom. Clan crest was more common during the Three Kingdoms era and Goryeo than in Joseon.

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SHOGUN

EPISODE 1 PART 1: Historical Background.

In Japan, during “the Civil War Era,” also known as the “Sengoku Era,” there was a period when power had been fragmented among numerous samurai. During this time, three powerful warlords tried to unify the country under their rule. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

THE 3 GENERALS THAT UNITED JAPAN:(Pic 1)

1. Oda Nobunaga:1534-1582 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga
2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi:1537-1598 – (the Taikō in episode 2): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi
3. Tokugawa Ieyasu:1543–1616 – (Yoshii Toranaga):https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu

IF A BIRD DOESN’T SING

“If a bird doesn’t sing, kill it.

If a bird doesn’t sing, make it.

If a bird doesn’t sing, wait for it.”

This is a famous Zen parable about a fictional account of a Zen master asking the three most powerful warlords of the Sengoku or Warring States period (Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu) what they would do if a hototogisu or cuckoo didn’t sing. It was a parable which illustrates the character of each of these three different types of leaders.

Oda Nobunaga was known for his fierceness and cruelty and thus would answer, “Kill it.”

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the most cunning and would therefore coyly say, “Make it.”

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the most diplomatic and patient so he would most likely say, “Wait for it.”

There is a saying in Japanese, “Oda Nobunaga makes the pie and Toyotomi Hideyoshi bakes it, but Tokugawa Ieyasu is the one who gets to eat it.”

The evolution of every martial artist is much like the philosophies of these famous Japanese Daimyos. Whichever Daimyo style we identify the most with depends on where we are in our development.

The beginner usually wants to “kill it”, the intermediate person wants to “force it” but an expert is willing to “wait for it.”
https://aikidocenterla.com/blog/2646

THE LEGEND: Get to know Lord Yoshii Toranaga, based loosely on Tokugawa Ieyasu and played by the magnetic Hiroyuki Sanada. (Pic 2)

OSAKA, the YEAR 1600: Osaka Palace (Pic 3 and 4). The palace was created for the show. The one below it is the original.

Yoshii Toranaga is a powerful bushō from a feared lineage. When we meet Toranaga, he is isolated and outnumbered by his enemies in Osaka. But little does anyone realize that Toranaga is a brilliant strategist and a master of the long game.

Toranaga was given to his father’s rival as a hostage when he was a young boy — he grew up surrounded by enemies, far from his family. Even though he was raised as his station demanded, with the comforts and the training of a samurai, his childhood taught him to keep his true feelings hidden.

A natural leader of men, Toranaga won his freedom as a boy when he began commanding his captor’s army in battle. Small victories became large ones, and soon Toranaga became the lord of his own domain.

a. bushō – A warlord. Literally “military general.” These samurai lords had the military power to unify their territory independently. Some ruled over an area of just a few counties, while others had several large fiefdoms under their control. In Japanese the term is mainly used for the warlords who fought their wars in the Sengoku period.

FALCONRY: Lord Toranaga and his beloved falcon Tetsuko (real name Shogun) Pic 5.

It is fitting that the powerful warlord Toranaga makes his first appearance in a falconry scene. Tokugawa Ieyasu was known to be particularly fond of falcon hunting. Ieyasu’s official diary, Tōshōgū gojikki, is full of references to falconry. One reference tells us the following: “It seemed as if falconry was his second nature. From his youth to his old age, whenever he had time, he went hunting”.

Falconry was an ancient custom dating back to the emperors of ancient times. In the Sengoku period, falconry took on a special significance for the warlords. By practicing falconry, the warlords were not only perpetuating an ancient tradition.

They presented games to their loyal vassals and falcons to other warlords, thus cementing their alliances. Ieyasu used falconry as a way to keep fit himself, and train his vassals. Falconry was a useful pastime to foster cooperation among the samurai involved. Falcon hunts usually developed into spectacular feasts, with the participating samurai all dressed in hunting garb. Above all, it demonstrated the military prestige of the samurai class.

To be continued…..

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SHOGUN

Everything you need to know about this show is at FX’s website: https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/shogun/viewers-guide

THE WORLD OF SHOGUN: History Backstory and Location.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz9Ijf_PXlI&ab_channel=FXNetworks
(click on picture of the map #3 and alliances chart #4 for details)

TIMELINE and HISTORY: Explore the era of Shogun.

1467 – Start of the War of the Ōnin era, the country is plunged into chaos
1552 – Oda Nobunaga becomes the new head of the Oda Clan
1568 – Nobunaga enters Kyoto. Ashikaga Yoshiaki is declared Shōgun
1573 – Nobunaga banishes Yoshiaki
1582 – Akechi Mitsuhide attacks Nobunaga, who commits seppuku. Hideyoshi defeats Mitsuhide
1584 – War between Hideyoshi and Ieyasu
1586 – Ieyasu makes peace and submits to Hideyoshi
1587 – Hideyoshi subdues Kyushu, issues an edict expelling the Jesuits
1592 – Hideyoshi invades Korea
1597 – Second invasion of Korea
1598 – Hideyoshi forms a Council of Regents and dies of illness. Leyasu becomes head of the Council, but tensions within the Council grow

(To be updated on every episode)

CHARACTERS and BACKSTORY: Historical counterparts included.
https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/shogun/viewers-guide/characters

HOW AUTHENTIC IN SHOGUN?

“Every detail in Shōgun is important, down to the gestures the characters make. The series hired gesture experts to make sure the series was as close to the times as possible. This all came to be with the book that started it all. Shōgun is a work of historical fiction that was a significant part of introducing the West to Japanese culture.”

The Making of Shōgun – Chapter One: Honoring Authenticity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EkbeLiFkEs&t=96s&ab_channel=FXNetworks

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    Apparently each episode comes with a companion podcast. I caught some details I missed from the Vulture recaps
    https://www.vulture.com/article/shgun-series-premiere-recap-episode-1-anjin.html

    https://www.vulture.com/article/shogun-recap-episode-2-servants-of-two-masters.html

    Thanks for the above!!

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      Thank you for sharing!
      The amount of information about this show can be overwhelming, but it is very much appreciated.
      I did my research until I stumbled upon the website, and all the information aligned. Now, I am just going to sit back and enjoy the experience. I am impressed and feel slightly guilty that everything is provided to us, but it saves time, which I genuinely appreciate.

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        Thank you. This really helps to elevate the viewing experience. Now I can peacefully watch and know that most of my questions would be answered. 😃 Kiara, Blue – really appreciate your spending the time to research and sharing it. ♥️👌😊

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      We could start a weekly discussion on episodes that are airing. We can share more information about each episode and discuss our thoughts and insights about what we learn about Japanese culture. I have discovered much new vocabulary from watching the pilot episode. What are your thoughts on this idea?

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        Absolutely. If you could just tag us it will be great. I might not watch episodes right away and don’t want to miss posts. 🙏🏽

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          Ok then :). I’ll start tomorrow with episodes 1 and 2; then, we get together during the weekends for the new episodes.

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            I am thinking about getting a free Hulu trial after all the episodes finish airing. Meanwhile, I will enjoy reading your historical notes. Please feel free to tag me.

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    Fanatastic!!!

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    Interesting !! This is the first I’ve heard of a Western produced series hiring a essentially decorum experts for a show

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      May it be a trend! I hope you’ll give it a shot.

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        I really hope it will be a trend!! We (I) can definitely see the benefits and the results of having decorum training and a decorum coach on the filming set for the cast of Chinese costume dramas, so if the practice can also be incorporated into Western produced shows, I see it as only a benefit and not a disadvantage.
        Haha my list of things “to watch” when it comes to Western content is forever growing 😅

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          I hope Disney learns a lesson from FX’s approach to filmmaking. Mulan was a disappointment. I think it’s important to allow the characters to speak in their native language and to hire advisors and experts from their respective countries who genuinely understand their culture. It was heartening to see the international cast working together in harmony and taking pride in their work. At a time when the world is so divided, it’s beautiful to see such unity.

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    Thanks for all the info! 😘

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SHŌGUN

Premiering today, February 27, on FX and Hulu, the highly anticipated, 10-episode limited series Shōgun is an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling 1975 novel—a sprawling story set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war.

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    It’s sort of a (hopefully more culturally appropriate??) reboot as well, from the 1980s version
    https://youtu.be/D_U1Gupe6iY?si=tslspZ50TUXnXsrO

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      Thank you!

      Yes, hopefully, more culturally appropriate.🙏 But I have very little faith when it comes from a Western lens.
      The reviews are good, but mostly from Western critics.

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        Right?? That’s why I am also hesitant about the new “Airbender” Netflix series

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          Airbender was good, it will never be the cartoon, but it was good. Also Avatar is western, it is a purely American cartoon,eastern influence, but American.

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            I know, but even if it’s inspired, it should hopefully do it’s due diligence and be accountable and accurate to the thing that it is saying that it is getting it’s influence from—in this case, it’s a whole continent’s culture.
            When the west gets upset and offended that they are only being portrayed and stereotyped at colonizing white folks by a lot of Asian content, it is the same when the West gets stereotyped as X or Y. It goes both ways and both sides need to be accountable. That’s just imho

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            *as

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      I had it on my watchlist but now I’ll wait for go-ahead from you and Kiara.

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        I plan to read more about it before trying it. I know very little about this era in Japan.

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          There’s an actual book series that the tv series is based off of smile 😊
          “Series” only because the novel author couldn’t feel like he could put everything into a single book, because it would be too long. Maybe you can look around to see where you can borrow it? Maybe the library? 98% of the time I will borrow books from the library to read and to determine if it has re-reading value before I actually commit to buying them
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shōgun_(novel)

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            The book was also mentioned by @elinor and @snowflower, but I’m talking about Feudal Japan (1185-1603) in history, like Goryeo’s Musin Jeonggwon (1170-1270), where the military lords were in power. “Age Of Warriors” is based on this era.
            I just need some background history before watching.

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    I still have my battered 1976 paperback copy of Shogun, with an extensive list of characters I wrote in ballpoint pen inside the back cover and end pages because that was the only way I could keep track. I’m not sure I’ll watch this – I haven’t read the book since then, but some scenes still pop up vividly in my memory (and nightmares) from time to time. It opened a door to another world.

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      I remember parts of the 80s version, but they are mostly scary. I do not want to be traumatized again…

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        This is the first time I’ve heard of the book and the 80s series.

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          I have not read the book. I remember the older TV show. It was very brutal and too much for me. The new one seems to have better production values (obviously), but I suspect that the brutality will be even more unbearable.

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      I read that the author’s daughter is heavily involved in the show. I watched samurai shows when I was little and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Their weapons and the way they fight but it also scared the heck out of me.

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    I still have nightmares from the 80s series, so I am not watching this.

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    @kiara, the book is fictional but based on real historical events and people. It is set around 1600. In actual history, this was the period right before the Togugawa shogunate was established.

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      So is is set at the end of the feudal period.

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      I did a lot of reading, so I got to know all the characters and their respective historical counterparts.

      THE COUNCIL OF REGENTS:
      Yoshii Toranaga – Tokugawa Ieyasu
      Ishido Kazunari – Ishida Mitsunari
      Kiyama Ukon Sadanaga – Konishi Yukinaga and Takayama Ukon
      Sugiyama – Maeda Toshie
      Ohno Harunobu – Otani Yoshitsugu

      Yaechiyo (the heir) – Hideyori

      John Blackthorne – William Adams
      Toda Mariko – Akechi Tama aka Hosokawa Gracia
      Usami Fuji
      Toda Hiromatsu – Hosokawa Fujitaka
      Kashigi Yabushige
      Kashigi Omi
      Toda Hirokatsu (Buntaro) mariko’s husband – Akechi Tama

      Interestingly, these Japanese historical figures existed during the Imjin War—the two unsuccessful Japanese invasions of Korea. I was wondering why some names sound familiar.
      Konishi Yukinaga, who led the invasions of Korea, is part of the Council of Regents in this series.
      Now I’m ready to watch the show.

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        I know these names from a book about the Japanese invasion of Joseon 1592-98. The death of Hideyoshi Toyotomi was good news for Joseon, but it created a power vacuum in Japan. His heir was just a child, so a struggle ensued, with Tokugawa gaining power in the end. If you are watching, please report on the level of violence.

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          I finished Episode 1: @seeker, @bebeswtz.

          The pilot episode is called Anjin, which means pilot in Japanese (as in ship pilot and not TV series pilot episode).
          This is an epic show that is intriguing to a newbie like me who is very much interested in this genre and Asian history. Medieval times in most countries/continents were brutal. It’s no different in Japan. The set, costumes, great cinematography, and Japanese characters speak their language, adding a classic and authentic feel. The story is mostly good in introducing the characters and motives so far. There is much to discuss, but I’ll wait to avoid spoilers. I am curious about what’s next, but I won’t have time to watch the second episode until tomorrow.

          Level of violence: Execution is brief and quick on screen. The Samurais don’t seem to torture people, unlike what we see in almost every sageuks.

          29:57 – A peasant is beheaded in a village. (very brief)

          38:13 – 38:24 Flashback to one of Blackthorne’s crew in a boiling cauldron. (Death by boiling, medieval times method of execution).

          39:37 – 41:00- 41:0 Sex scene followed by Blackthorne’s back-side nude scene, front is covered.

          1:06:13 – Flashback to a father committing seppuku (honorable suicide), and his baby boy is killed with him (offscreen).

          Let me know if you’ll give it a shot and if we want a weekly discussion on the an-wall.

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            The boiling cauldron scene in the older series made me wimp out.

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            Thank you for a perfect review with trigger points. Yes I will like to give this a go as I am very interested in the period. It would be awesome if we can have a weekly discussion. However I won’t be able to watch the episode over the weekend. So most probably I’ll be able to watch on mon-tues.

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            Echoing the sentiments of @seeker , thank you for the mini-cap of Ep. 1 @kiara , especially all the things to look out for. I think I’ll be okay for the most part until it gets too graphic/gory for me, so thank you for pointing out the trigger points. I definitely intend to try it out, but time is always the issue with content watching, isn’t it? LOL

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            @seeker,

            I’ll tag you when I post info on the show and some historical background.

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            Thank you! ♥️🙏

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            @bebeswtz,

            Yes, taking time to sit down and watch it is the thing. It’s easier to log on to DB for a few minutes at a time than to take an hour or so to watch a show, especially when it’s as intense and full of details.
            I’ll probably watch as much as I can handle.

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“ETERNAL BROTHERHOOD” dropped today.
@gikata, @jillian,@zindigo,@wonhwa
Episode 1-8 @iQIYI
https://www.iq.com/play/eternal-brotherhood-episode-1-12pouin9j2o?lang=en_us

OST by Yuning – “Old Friends”❤

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    Thanks for the tag! 😘

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    Finally something in this drought! Now we just need TPOB to escape the dungeon too…

    There’s not much of LYN so far – you can tell this was filmed a while ago just by his tiny screentime alone *sigh* But otherwise it’s not half bad and song is great too (major doomed vibes aside). Could’ve give us a bit more bromance to balance out all the heavy politics though, or at least LYN’s char family life – his marriage seems to be a hoot)))

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      YES! I don’t know what to expect since it was filmed before AJTL.

      Exactly, more bromance, please! I love the Ost, but it reminds me of his other brothers from Liudao Hall. 😂I’m only on the second episode and need to finish work before I can fully pay attention to the show.

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        I fully expected royal mess because according to YN himself they filmed 48 episodes worthy of footage… but final cut is only 24. Yikes. It’s not really noticeable – yet? – but it will be at some point.

        This song is even more sad imo. It sounds so… defeated and “worst has already happened”. If I didn’t know the context, from his delivery I’d thought it’s a serenade for a long dead lover)))

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    What a beautiful song! Are you watching the show right now?

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    Keep me posted if this is good or not!

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“Dimples are proof that even the smallest imperfections can be absolutely adorable.”
1. Honey Lee
2. Shin Min-ah
3. Jung Ryeo-won
4. Oh Yeon-seo
5. Han Ji-min

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“FLOWER THAT BLOOMS AT NIGHT”

MAIN CAST SAYING GOODBYE 😢

HONEY LEE:
“I am deeply grateful that we were able to safely conclude filming and receive so much love from viewers until the end. The love from the viewers alone made it all worthwhile and rewarding.
It’s hard to believe it’s already over, but I am grateful for the love and support.”

LEE JONG WON:
“While waiting for two episodes of the drama each week, I sometimes wondered, ‘Did I do well?’ But when I actually watched it, memories from the filming process came flooding back, and I watched it while smiling the whole time.
It was my first historical drama, and from the day I was cast until the last day of filming, and even until the drama concluded, I don’t think I can forget a single moment. Every moment was joyful and precious.”

KIM SANG JOONG:
“I think ‘Knight Flower’ will be remembered as a delightfully refreshing drama. Every moment is stuck in my mind, from the time we started filming until now.
‘Flower That Blooms at Night’ (literal title of ‘Knight Flower’) has now become a flower that blooms during the day as well. I hope everyone welcomes spring like a fragrant flower.”

LEE KI WOO:
“I think that ‘Knight Flower,’ which is my first-ever historical drama since my debut 20 years ago, will have a very positive impact on my future as an actor. ‘Knight Flower’ gave me the interest and courage to try new things, and I think its fragrance will linger for a long time,” adding, “Thank you for watching and supporting ‘Knight Flower.’”

PARK SE HYUN:
“I am grateful that the viewers loved and adored Yeon Sun so much. Thanks to the viewers’ love, I was able to wrap up the drama happily.
I believe ‘Knight Flower’ will be remembered for a long time as a drama that can be revisited whenever times get tough. Just as Yeon Sun found happiness by meeting Yeo Hwa, I hope someone as wonderful as Yeo Hwa appears in your lives.”

https://www.soompi.com/article/1643466wpp/knight-flower-stars-thank-viewers-and-say-goodbye-after-finale

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“FLOWER THAT BLOOMS AT NIGHT”
The little show that could. ❤️😍😄😢
Congrats to the cast and crew! 💃🎶🔥
Eps 11 – 15.4%
Eps 12 – 18.4%

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FLOWER THAT BLOOMS AT NIGHT: Episode 12

“The King’s Tea Party”

Lord Seok: There is a story about a monkey that drowned trying to pluck the moon from a lake. Why do you not see you are nothing but…an impudent monkey?

“MONKEY REACHING FOR THE MOON’S REFLECTION” is a Buddhist story/parable/poem in which five hundred monkeys hold onto each other’s tails and attempt to seize the reflection of a moon in a well; they fail when the branch from which they are hanging breaks. The monkeys stand for unenlightened people who cannot distinguish between reality and illusion.

THREE BUDDHIST COMMENTARIES ON THIS THEME

1. The great Zen revivalist of the Edo period Hakuin Ekaku.

The monkey is reaching
For the moon in the water.
Until death overtakes him
He’ll never give up.
If he’d let go the branch and
Disappear in the deep pool,
The whole world would shine
With dazzling pureness.

2. The Soto Zen Master Dōgen Zenji.

Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water.
The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken.
Although its light is wide and great,
The moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide.
The whole moon and the entire sky
Are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

3. The third is a line from Nagarjuna.

“Those who grasp at the notion, “I will be free from grasping and Nirvana will be mine,” have a great grasp on grasping.”

https://loveofwisdomblog.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/monkey-reaching-for-the-moon/

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    While I am not watching the show, loved these parables. This is something I hadn’t heard before. Thanks for sharing.

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      I am glad you enjoyed it :). I learn something new from every drama; sometimes, I forget to post it on my wall.

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MANE OF GLORY, Man Bun Edition.
1. Kim Woo-bin
2. Kim Ji Hoon
3. Lee Seo-jin
4. Kim Bum
5. Kim Jae-wook

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MANE OF GLORY. 3 Kingdom Era (Shilla -Hwarang).
1. Park Hyung-sik (Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth.
2. Noh Young-hak (King’s Dream)
3. Kim Nam-gil (Queen Seon Deok)
4. Lee Seung-hyo (Queen Seon Deok)
5. Ryu Jin (right) – (Seodongyo)

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MANE OF GLORY. The Classic Edition, 3 Kingdom Era (Baekje).
1. Lee Seo-jin (Gyebaek)
2. Cha In-pyo (Gyebaek)
3. Jo Hyun-jae (The King’s Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang)
4. Jo Hyun-jae (Ballad of Seodong)
5. Kam Woo-sung (King Geunchogo)

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MANE OF GLORY. The Classic Edition, 3 Kingdom Era. (Gorguryeo)
1. Song Il-kook: Jumong.
2. Lee Tae-gon: Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror.
3. Jung Kyung-ho: Ja Myung Go.
4. Bae Yong Joon: The Legend.

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    I actually liked BYJ’s real life mane of glory in the latter years of his career before he retired from showbiz

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      Same, he didn’t cut his mane after Legend. His voice was divine. I miss him.

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        Yea, for me, he’s definitely one of the veteran actors I don’t think of often—maybe because he’s out of sight, and therefore, out of mind— but in the random moments that he does come to mind, it makes me realize that I actually do miss him and his screen presence

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        What’s remarkable about BYJ is no matter what role he plays, his presence is felt – and his voice is one such attribute.

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    Thank you for this series kiara. It really is eye-opening in the best way possible. 😊❤

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    More favs!

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MANE OF GLORY. The Royal Guard film Edition.
1. Cho Seung-woo: The Sword with No Name (2009)
2. Zo In-sung: A Frozen Flower (2008)
3. Ju Jin-Mo: Musa: The Warrior (2001)
4. Jung Woo Sung: The Warrior (2001)

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    There are a remarkable number of royal guards with great manes of glory.

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      It has been raining sageuks in Dramaland, and we had none that stood out like the older sageuks.

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        I agree – there has definitely been a shortage of great manes of glory recently in k-drama land (and honestly, of great historical shows period). However, c-drama land has been filling that void pretty effectively on both fronts.

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    Jung Woo-sung’s mane of glory in Musa was particularly glorious. It was so long and beautiful. 🙂

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MANE OF GLORY Part 6. Yoo Yeon Seok
Mr Sunshine (2018)

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MANE OF GLORY. The Royal Guard Edition. Song Jae Rim
“The Moon Embracing The Sun” (2012)

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MANE OF GLORY. The Royal Guard Edition. Kwak Dong Yeon
Love In The Moonlight (2016)

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    Poor Kwak Dong-Yeon! He suffered because his costume was very thick and they filmed in Summer! But this wig was the best!

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      To this day I have no idea why his wig was so good.
      I had a theory while watching the court ladies found him handsome because he was the one man around wearing his hair (somewhat) down.
      Loved this character. So funny and dramatic!

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    This one is the best yet!

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    Love seeing him in that role! Mane of Glory is a great idea!

    Your “mane of glory” series is terrific! I like Yoo Yeon-Seok in Mr. Sunshine, Yoo Ah-In in Sungkyunkwan Scandal and JiSoo in Moon Lovers SHR.

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    Ask and you shall receive! Just as amazing as I remembered.

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MANE OF GLORY Part 5. Yoo Seung-ho
1. Warrior Baek Dong Soo (2011)
2. Arang and the Magistrate (2012)
3. The Magician (2015)

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MANE OF GLORY Part 4. Jang Hyuk
1. Chuno (2010)
2. Shine or Go Crazy (2015)
3. My Country: The New Age (2019)

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    I want to say it for all four posts:

    Mane of glory maketh Glorious Men and shooketh the heart of any girl in any timeline. ❤

    Thank you for coming up with this wonderful series. 👏 🫰

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    Ah, The Man With The Fan!

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    Jang Hyuk <3 I miss him! T.T

    I'm also glad you included a photo from Tell Me What You Saw, one of his modern dramas. <3

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