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Tomoe Gozen - A fearsome Japanese Female Warrior of the 12th Century

Tomoe Gozen - A fearsome Japanese Female Warrior of the 12th Century

In most societies of the past, it was the men who were usually engaged in the bloody business of war. Nevertheless, there are also historical records of women who managed to make a name for...
Illustrations of Muramasa blades for the game 'Muramasa: The Demon Blade'

The Curse of the Samurai Muramasa Blades

In Nitobe Inazo’s 1899 work exploring the way of the samurai, Bushido, the Soul of Japan , the sword is dubbed as the ‘Soul of the Samurai’. As swords were so highly revered, the swordsmith’s work...
47 Ronin

47 Ronin: The Samurai Warriors that Sought to Avenge the Death of their Master

The Japanese samurai are arguably among the greatest warriors known in history. Their code of conduct was romanticized and popularized at the end of the 19 th century in Bushido: The Soul of Japan, a...
Rare ritual jars found buried under ancient ruins in Japan

Rare ritual jars found buried under ancient ruins in Japan intended to purify, bring eternal youth

Japanese archaeologists have made a surprising discovery beneath ancient ruins in Japan. An arrangement of coin-filled clay pots aligned to the cardinal directions have been found buried beneath the...
An artist rendering of how the burial mound of Asuka originally looked

Moat ruins found in Japan may be part of a burial mound for an ancient emperor

Archaeologists in Japan have unearthed a huge stone-paved moat in Asuka, Nara Prefecture, which they believe is part of a burial mound for an ancient emperor. The finding adds to a string of...
Prehistoric Okinawa

9,000-year-old human remains may shed light on prehistoric Okinawa

Human bones as old as 9,000 years have been unearthed on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Researchers hope they will help elucidate what people’s lives and burial practices were like in the...
Shipwreck in Japan from Mongol Invasion

Shipwreck found in Japan believed to be from 13th century Mongol invasion

During the 13th century, the Mongols, led by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, attempted two major invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 AD. However, on both occasions, a massive typhoon...
The legend of Heikegani: the Samurai ghost crabs

The legend of Heikegani: the Samurai ghost crabs

Heikegani is a species of crab native to Japan, with a shell that bears a pattern resembling a human face. According to Japanese folklore, the Heikegani crabs contain the souls of the Heike samurai...
Pyramid-shaped tomb in Japan - Asuka

The discovery of a pyramid-shaped tomb in Japan that adds to mystery in Asuka

Several months ago, archaeologists in Japan discovered that a large mound in the village of Asuka in Nara Prefecture contains a pyramid-shaped tomb underneath. According to a report in the Japan...
The holy egg at the Kunigami Shrine for healing haemorrhoids

The ancient Japanese shrine dedicated to curing haemorrhoids

Japan is known for having its fair share of unique and unusual ancient shrines and associated festivals, from the Mama Kannon temple dedicated to breasts to the Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the...
Takenouchi

The Takenouchi Manuscripts and the Story of Humanity Never Told

The Takenouchi manuscripts are a set of mysterious documents that were rewritten by a man named Takenouchino Matori 1,500 years ago in a mixture of Japanese and Chinese characters, transcribed from...
Ten Magnificent Ancient Structures of Asia

Ten Magnificent Ancient Structures of Asia

By Daniel Cameron , Epoch Times Featured below are just a few of the countless magnificent ancient structures that Asia has to offer. 1. Tibet: Potala Palace Construction of the Potala Palace started...
The mythological Kappa

Are mummified remains of unidentified creature proof of the mythological Kappa?

In ancient Japanese folklore, the Kappa is a water demon that inhabits rivers and lakes and devours disobedient little children. While some believe the legend originated from sightings of the...
Ancient Chinese artifacts have extremely rare iron compound

Ancient Chinese artifacts found to have extremely rare iron compound

A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports has revealed that the unusual coating on ancient Chinese tea bowls, known as Jian tea ware, is actually an extremely rare form of iron oxide,...
Masuda No Iwafune - Japan Asuka

The mysterious monoliths of Asuka Nara and the Rock Ship of Masuda

The village of Asuka is located in the Takaichi District of the Nara Prefecture in Japan. Asuka is an ancient land with historical interest. It has its origins in the Tumulus Period (250-552 AD),...
Himiko - Japan

Remains of building in Japan may be palace of ancient shaman Queen Himiko

Archaeologists in Japan have uncovered the remains of an ancient building that they believe was the palace of the shaman Queen Himiko , who is said to have ruled Yamatai in 3 rd century AD. Scholarly...
Japan Burial Method - Leprosy

Unique burial method in Medieval Japan may be linked to social stigma against leprosy

A new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, has revealed that a unique burial method performed during the 15 th to 18 th centuries in eastern Japan may be associated with social stigma against...
Magic Mirror - Japan

The magic mirror of shaman Queen used in ancient Japanese rituals

An experiment conduced earlier this year on a replica of an ancient bronze mirror held at Kyoto’s National Museum revealed that the original may have been used as a so-called magic mirror to conjure...
2500 years old rice - Japan

Archaeologists discover 2,500-year-old rice – will we ever resurrect it?

Archaeologists have uncovered eleven grains of brown rice at a former rice paddy at the Akitsu archaeological site in Goze, Japan. They are believed to date back around 2,500 years. This is not...
Ancient dagger artefact link between Japan and northern China

Ancient dagger artefact suggests link between Japan and northern China

Archaeologists in Japan were astonished to discover the molds for a dagger dating back nearly 2,500 years which bears a striking resemblance to artefacts found in remote areas of northern China. The...

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