Refine your search

The results of your search are listed below alongside the search terms you entered on the previous page. You can refine your search by amending any of the parameters in the form and resubmitting it.

Select all Deselect all Add selection to lightbox
Large Small
Thumbnails per page
'The Tale of the Heike' is a Japanese epic account of the conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans over control of Japan which occurred near the end of the 12th century CE, known as the Genpei War (1180-1185). The tale is often described as a Japanese 'Iliad', and has been translated into English multiple times.<br/><br/> The Genpei War occurred during the late Heian Period, and ultimately saw the fall of the Taira clan and the rise of the Minamoto clan. Minamoto no Yoritomo, clan leader, then established the Kamakura shogunate, which would rule over Japan for roughly 150 years. The Kamakura shogunate began the suppression of the emperor's power and the rise of samurai influence and power.
Akasagarbha Bodhisattva (Sanskrit: Chinese: Xukongzang Pusa; Japanese pronunciation: Kokuzo Bosatsu) is a bodhisattva who is associated with the great element (<i>mahabhuta</i>) of space (<i>akasa</i>).<br/><br/> Akasagarbha is considered one of the eight great bodhisattvas. His name can be translated as 'boundless space treasury' as his wisdom is said to be boundless as space itself.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
Yashima Gakutei was a Japanese artist and poet who was a pupil of both Totoya Hokkei and Hokusai. Gakutei is best known for his kyoka poetry and surimono woodblock works.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
Yashima Gakutei was a Japanese artist and poet who was a pupil of both Totoya Hokkei and Hokusai. Gakutei is best known for his kyoka poetry and surimono woodblock works.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
The Siege of the Sanjo Palace was the primary battle of the Heiji Rebellion (January 19 - February 5, 1160).<br/><br/> In the Siege of Sanjo Palace, Nobuyori and his Minamoto allies abducted the former emperor Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Emperor Nijo and set fire to the Palace.
Minamoto no Yoritomo (May 9, 1147 – February 9, 1199) was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. He ruled from 1192 until 1199.
<i>Bugaku</i>, a court dance accompanied by <i>Gagaku</i> music, is a Japanese traditional dance blending Buddhist and Shinto elements that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years.<br/><br/> In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements.<br/><br/> The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6m by 6m.
Fudo Myoo is a boddhisattva – a popular deity in Japanese Buddhism – who is generally represented with a fearsome face appearing in a wreath of flames. This symbolizes the immense effort humans have to make to battle passions and worldly desires.<br/><br/> Kirikane is a decorative technique used for Buddhist statues and paintings, using gold leaf, silver leaf, platinum leaf cut into lines, diamonds and triangles.
Born SatÅ Norikiyo (ä½è—¤ 義清) in Kyoto to a noble family, Saigyo lived during the traumatic transition of power between the old court nobles and the new samurai warriors. After the start of the Age of MappÅ (1052), Buddhism was considered to be in decline and no longer as effective a means of salvation.<br/><br/> These cultural shifts during his lifetime led to a sense of melancholy in his poetry. As a youth, he worked as a guard to retired Emperor Toba, but in 1140 at age 22, for reasons now unknown, he quit worldly life to become a monk, taking the religious name En'i (円ä½). He later took the pen name, 'SaigyÅ' meaning Western Journey, a reference to Amida Buddha and the Western paradise. He lived alone for long periods in his life in Saga, Mt Koya, Mt Yoshino, Ise, and many other places, but he is more known for the many long, poetic journeys he took to Northern HonshÅ« that would later inspire BashÅ in his Narrow Road to the Interior.<br/><br/> He was a good friend of Fujiwara no Teika. Some main collections of SaigyÅ's work are in the SankashÅ«, Shin Kokin WakashÅ«, and Shika WakashÅ«. He died in Hirokawa Temple in Kawachi Province (present-day Osaka Prefecture) at age 72.
HÅjÅ Tokiyori (北æ¡æ™‚é ¼, June 29,1227 – December 24,1263) was the fifth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura Shogunate in Japan.<br/><br/> He was praised for his good administration. He worked on reforms mainly by putting various regulations in place. He worked toward resolving land disputes of his vassals. In 1249 he set up the legal system of Hikitsuke or High Court.<br/><br/> There are a number of legends that Tokiyori traveled incognito throughout Japan to inspect actual conditions and improve people's lives. He has been described as 'Japan's Harun al-Rashid' by Okakura Kakuzo in 'The Book of Tea'.
Nichiren (February 16, 1222 – October 13, 1282) was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myoho-Renge-Kyo in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo as the essential practice of the teaching. Various schools with diverging interpretations of Nichiren's teachings comprise Nichiren Buddhism.<br/><br/> Utagawa Kuniyoshi (æ­Œå· å›½èŠ³, January 1, 1797 - April 14, 1862) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting. He is associated with the Utagawa school.<br/><br/> The range of Kuniyoshi's preferred subjects included many genres: landscapes, beautiful women, Kabuki actors, cats, and mythical animals. He is known for depictions of the battles of samurai and legendary heroes. His artwork was affected by Western influences in landscape painting and caricature.
T. Enami (Enami Nobukuni, 1859 – 1929) was the trade name of a celebrated Meiji period photographer. The T. of his trade name is thought to have stood for Toshi, though he never spelled it out on any personal or business document.<br/><br/> Born in Edo (now Tokyo) during the Bakumatsu era, Enami was first a student of, and then an assistant to the well known photographer and collotypist, Ogawa Kazumasa. Enami relocated to Yokohama, and opened a studio on Benten-dÅri (Benten Street) in 1892. Just a few doors away from him was the studio of the already well known Tamamura KozaburÅ. He and Enami would work together on at least three related projects over the years.<br/><br/> Enami became quietly unique as the only photographer of that period known to work in all popular formats, including the production of large-format photographs compiled into what are commonly called "Yokohama Albums". Enami went on to become Japan's most prolific photographer of small-format images such as the stereoview and glass lantern-slides. The best of these were delicately hand-tinted.
Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft). An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about 100 km southwest of Tokyo. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol and icon of Japan and is frequently depicted in art and photographs. It is one of Japan's ‘Three Holy Mountains’ along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku.<br/><br/> Fuji is nowadays frequently visited by sightseers and climbers. It is thought that the first ascent was in 663 by an anonymous monk. The summit has been thought of as sacred since ancient times and was forbidden to women until the Meiji Era. Ancient samurai used the base of the mountain as a remote training area, near the present-day town of Gotemba.<br/><br/> Hokusai (1760-1849) was first and foremost a ‘ukiyo-e’ (floating world) painter of the Edo period. This painting is from his well-known series of woodblock prints titled, ‘36 Views of Mount Fuji’. In this illustration, Hokusai’s signature appears in the cartouche at the top-left of the picture.
Nichiren (February 16, 1222 – October 13, 1282) was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myoho-Renge-Kyo in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo as the essential practice of the teaching. Various schools with diverging interpretations of Nichiren's teachings comprise Nichiren Buddhism.
Emperor Ojin became the crown prince at the age of four. He was crowned (in 270) at the age of 70 and reigned for 40 years until his death in 310. He supposedly lived in two palaces both of which are in present day Osaka. ÅŒjin is traditionally identified as the father of Emperor Nintoku, who acceded after ÅŒjin's death.<br/><br/>ÅŒjin has been deified as Hachiman DaimyÅjin, regarded as the guardian of warriors. The Hata Clan considered him their guardian Kami. The actual site of ÅŒjin's grave is not known, but he is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Osaka.<br/><br/> The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as ÅŒjin's mausoleum. It is formally named Eega no Mofushi no oka no misasagi.
With some 2000 religious sites - 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and architecture, Kyoto is one of the best preserved and most culturally distinguished cities in Japan.<br/><br/> Among the most famous temples are Kiyomizu-dera, a magnificent wooden temple supported by pillars off the slope of a mountain; Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion; Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion; and RyÅan-ji, famous for its rock garden. The Heian JingÅ« is a Shinto shrine, built in 1895, celebrating the Imperial family and commemorating the first and last emperors to reside in Kyoto.<br/><br/> Three special sites have connections to the imperial family: the Kyoto Gyoen area including the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Sento Imperial Palace, homes of the Emperors of Japan for many centuries; Katsura Imperial Villa, one of the nation's finest architectural treasures; and Shugaku-in Imperial Villa, one of its best Japanese gardens.<br/><br/> The 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto' are listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. These include the Kamo Shrines (Kami and Shimo), KyÅ-Å-Gokokuji (TÅ-ji), Kiyomizu-dera, Daigo-ji, Ninna-ji, SaihÅ-ji (Kokedera), TenryÅ«-ji, Rokuon-ji (Kinkaku-ji), JishÅ-ji (Ginkaku-ji), RyÅan-ji, Hongan-ji, KÅzan-ji and the Nijo Castle, primarily built by the Tokugawa shoguns. Other sites outside the city are also on the list.
With some 2000 religious sites - 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and architecture, Kyoto is one of the best preserved and most culturally distinguished cities in Japan.<br/><br/> Among the most famous temples are Kiyomizu-dera, a magnificent wooden temple supported by pillars off the slope of a mountain; Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion; Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion; and RyÅan-ji, famous for its rock garden. The Heian JingÅ« is a Shinto shrine, built in 1895, celebrating the Imperial family and commemorating the first and last emperors to reside in Kyoto.<br/><br/> Three special sites have connections to the imperial family: the Kyoto Gyoen area including the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Sento Imperial Palace, homes of the Emperors of Japan for many centuries; Katsura Imperial Villa, one of the nation's finest architectural treasures; and Shugaku-in Imperial Villa, one of its best Japanese gardens.<br/><br/> The 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto' are listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. These include the Kamo Shrines (Kami and Shimo), KyÅ-Å-Gokokuji (TÅ-ji), Kiyomizu-dera, Daigo-ji, Ninna-ji, SaihÅ-ji (Kokedera), TenryÅ«-ji, Rokuon-ji (Kinkaku-ji), JishÅ-ji (Ginkaku-ji), RyÅan-ji, Hongan-ji, KÅzan-ji and the Nijo Castle, primarily built by the Tokugawa shoguns. Other sites outside the city are also on the list.
The komusÅ (虚無僧 komusÅ, Hiragana ã“ã‚€ãã†; also romanized komusou or komuso) were a group of Japanese mendicant monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism who flourished during the Edo period of 1600-1868.<br/><br/> KomusÅ were characterized by a straw basket (a sedge or reed hood named a tengai or tengui) worn on the head, manifesting the absence of specific ego. They were also known for playing solo pieces on the shakuhachi (a type of Japanese bamboo flute). These pieces, called honkyoku ('original pieces') were played during a meditative practice called suizen, for alms, as a method of attaining enlightenment, and as a healing modality.<br/><br/> The Japanese government introduced reforms after the Edo period, abolishing the Fuke sect. Records of the musical repertoire survived, and are being revived in the 21st century.
Kanji are the logographic traditional Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana, katakana, Indo-Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet (known as 'rÅmaji'). The Japanese term 'kanji' literally means 'Han characters' or 'Chinese characters' and is the same written term used in the Chinese language to refer to the character writing system. The Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra was an encyclopedic collection of Prajnaparamita texts, usually attributed to Nagarjuna, translated into Chinese by Xuanzang and his assistants.
Nichiren (February 16, 1222 – October 13, 1282) was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myoho-Renge-Kyo in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo as the essential practice of the teaching. Various schools with diverging interpretations of Nichiren's teachings comprise Nichiren Buddhism.
Emperor Ojin became the crown prince at the age of four. He was crowned (in 270) at the age of 70 and reigned for 40 years until his death in 310. He supposedly lived in two palaces both of which are in present day Osaka. ÅŒjin is traditionally identified as the father of Emperor Nintoku, who acceded after ÅŒjin's death.<br/><br/>ÅŒjin has been deified as Hachiman DaimyÅjin, regarded as the guardian of warriors. The Hata Clan considered him their guardian Kami. The actual site of ÅŒjin's grave is not known, but he is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Osaka.<br/><br/> The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as ÅŒjin's mausoleum. It is formally named Eega no Mofushi no oka no misasagi.
Ogawa Kazumasa (September 29, 1860 - September 6, 1929), also known as Ogawa Kazuma or Ogawa Isshin, was a Japanese photographer, chemigrapher, printer and publisher of the Meiji era. He was a pioneer in photomechanical printing and photography, and was born into the Matsudaira samurai clan, where he studied English and photography at the age of 15.
Ogawa Kazumasa (September 29, 1860 - September 6, 1929), also known as Ogawa Kazuma or Ogawa Isshin, was a Japanese photographer, chemigrapher, printer and publisher of the Meiji era. He was a pioneer in photomechanical printing and photography, and was born into the Matsudaira samurai clan, where he studied English and photography at the age of 15.
T. Enami (Enami Nobukuni, 1859 – 1929) was the trade name of a celebrated Meiji period photographer. The T. of his trade name is thought to have stood for Toshi, though he never spelled it out on any personal or business document.<br/><br/> Born in Edo (now Tokyo) during the Bakumatsu era, Enami was first a student of, and then an assistant to the well known photographer and collotypist, Ogawa Kazumasa. Enami relocated to Yokohama, and opened a studio on Benten-dÅri (Benten Street) in 1892. Just a few doors away from him was the studio of the already well known Tamamura KozaburÅ. He and Enami would work together on at least three related projects over the years.<br/><br/> Enami became quietly unique as the only photographer of that period known to work in all popular formats, including the production of large-format photographs compiled into what are commonly called "Yokohama Albums". Enami went on to become Japan's most prolific photographer of small-format images such as the stereoview and glass lantern-slides. The best of these were delicately hand-tinted.
T. Enami (Enami Nobukuni, 1859 – 1929) was the trade name of a celebrated Meiji period photographer. The T. of his trade name is thought to have stood for Toshi, though he never spelled it out on any personal or business document.<br/><br/> Born in Edo (now Tokyo) during the Bakumatsu era, Enami was first a student of, and then an assistant to the well known photographer and collotypist, Ogawa Kazumasa. Enami relocated to Yokohama, and opened a studio on Benten-dÅri (Benten Street) in 1892. Just a few doors away from him was the studio of the already well known Tamamura KozaburÅ. He and Enami would work together on at least three related projects over the years.<br/><br/> Enami became quietly unique as the only photographer of that period known to work in all popular formats, including the production of large-format photographs compiled into what are commonly called "Yokohama Albums". Enami went on to become Japan's most prolific photographer of small-format images such as the stereoview and glass lantern-slides. The best of these were delicately hand-tinted.
T. Enami (Enami Nobukuni, 1859 – 1929) was the trade name of a celebrated Meiji period photographer. The T. of his trade name is thought to have stood for Toshi, though he never spelled it out on any personal or business document.<br/><br/> Born in Edo (now Tokyo) during the Bakumatsu era, Enami was first a student of, and then an assistant to the well known photographer and collotypist, Ogawa Kazumasa. Enami relocated to Yokohama, and opened a studio on Benten-dÅri (Benten Street) in 1892. Just a few doors away from him was the studio of the already well known Tamamura KozaburÅ. He and Enami would work together on at least three related projects over the years.<br/><br/> Enami became quietly unique as the only photographer of that period known to work in all popular formats, including the production of large-format photographs compiled into what are commonly called "Yokohama Albums". Enami went on to become Japan's most prolific photographer of small-format images such as the stereoview and glass lantern-slides. The best of these were delicately hand-tinted.
T. Enami (Enami Nobukuni, 1859 – 1929) was the trade name of a celebrated Meiji period photographer. The T. of his trade name is thought to have stood for Toshi, though he never spelled it out on any personal or business document.<br/><br/> Born in Edo (now Tokyo) during the Bakumatsu era, Enami was first a student of, and then an assistant to the well known photographer and collotypist, Ogawa Kazumasa. Enami relocated to Yokohama, and opened a studio on Benten-dÅri (Benten Street) in 1892. Just a few doors away from him was the studio of the already well known Tamamura KozaburÅ. He and Enami would work together on at least three related projects over the years.<br/><br/> Enami became quietly unique as the only photographer of that period known to work in all popular formats, including the production of large-format photographs compiled into what are commonly called "Yokohama Albums". Enami went on to become Japan's most prolific photographer of small-format images such as the stereoview and glass lantern-slides. The best of these were delicately hand-tinted.
Nichiren (February 16, 1222 – October 13, 1282) was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myoho-Renge-Kyo in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo as the essential practice of the teaching. Various schools with diverging interpretations of Nichiren's teachings comprise Nichiren Buddhism.
HÅjÅ Tokiyori (北æ¡æ™‚é ¼, June 29,1227 – December 24,1263) was the fifth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura Shogunate in Japan.<br/><br/> He was praised for his good administration. He worked on reforms mainly by putting various regulations in place. He worked toward resolving land disputes of his vassals. In 1249 he set up the legal system of Hikitsuke or High Court.<br/><br/> There are a number of legends that Tokiyori traveled incognito throughout Japan to inspect actual conditions and improve people's lives. He has been described as 'Japan's Harun al-Rashid' by Okakura Kakuzo in 'The Book of Tea'.