Royal childbirths were events of critical importance for Japan’s imperial house and court. They required numerous rituals and objects to ensure the safety of the mother, the newborn, and those involved in the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care. The Japan America Society of Chicago’s online seminar will examine the material culture associated with an imperial consort’s birth of a prince in the late Heian period, with focus on women’s roles in such rituals and objects. The imperial consort to be discussed is Taira no Tokushi (a.k.a. Kenreimon’in), and the baby is the future Emperor Antoku. Speaker Naoko Gunji, Assistant Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will investigate how and why these women actively contributed to the safe childbirth rituals in medieval Japan.

Hours: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Chicago time

Cost: $0 - $20

Link: https://jaschicago.org/event/material-culture-of-royal-childbirth-in-medieval-japan/