Lecture | Samurai at War, Samurai as Patrons with Dr. Morgan Pitelka

Presented by the Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan and special thanks to Teaism.

The samurai (侍) remain some of the most popular figures from Japanese history and culture, appearing everywhere from the recent FX/Hulu miniseries Shōgun to other media like the Ubisoft video game Assassin's Creed Shadows. Rising to power in the late 12th century and lasting until their abolition in early Meiji era (1868-1912), the samurai are often remembered primarily as a warriors serving their daimyō (大名; lord).

In this talk, Dr. Pitelka will go beyond the battlefield to explore the tension between the reputation of the samurai as fierce warriors and their record as devoted patrons of the arts.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear Dr. Pitelka during his time in DC!

Following the talk, we invite you to stay and enjoy a cup of green tea generously provided by Teaism.

is the Bernard L. Herman Distinguished Professor of Japanese History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a specialist in the medieval and early modern periods. His publications include Reading Medieval Ruins: Urban Life and Destruction in Sixteenth-Century Japan (2022), Spectacular Accumulation: Material Culture, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Samurai Sociability (2016), and Handmade Culture: Raku Potters, Patrons, and Tea Practitioners in Japan (2005). He is the Chair of the American Advisory Committee to the Japan Foundation, the Coeditor of the Journal of Japanese Studies, and a regular consultant on documentaries, films, and other media related to traditional Japanese culture.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required for security purposes. Program begins at 6:30PM. Doors open 30 minutes prior. No admittance after 7:00 PM or once seating is full. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat

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