Podcasts about thewest

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Paul Kingsnorth, author and anti-globalist activist, joins Federalist Executive Editor Joy Pullmann to discuss his conversion to Christianity and the intellectual war against globalization in the modern digital era. He also warns against international conformity, overpowered government, and the erasure of simple local culture. You can find Kingnorth's book Against the Machine here. If you care about combating the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.  

This episode we kick off a series of episodes following the famous monk Xuanzang, aka the Tripitaka Master of the Law, Sanzang Fashi.  Known in Japanese as Genjo, and founder of the Faxiang school of Yogacara Buddhism, also known as the Hosso school, it was brought back to the archipelago by students who studied with the master at his temple north of the Tang capital of Chang'an.  He was particularly famous for his travels across the Silk Road to India and back--a trip that would last 16 years and result in him bringing back numerous copies of sutras from the land of the Buddha, kicking off a massive translation work.  It also would see his recollections recorded as the Record of the Western Regions, which, along with his biography based on the stories he told those working with him, give us some of the best contemporary information of the various places along the Silk Road in the 7th century. Part 1 focuses on Xuanzang's journey out of the Tang empire, braving the desert, and somehow, against the odds, making it to the country of Gaochang. For more, check out the blogpost page:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-120 Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is Episode 120:  Journey to the West, Part 1 The monks from far off Yamato were enthralled.  They had journeyed across the waves on a foreign vessel, traversed a greater distance than they probably thought possible growing up in the archipelago, and had finally arrived at the capital of the Great Tang Empire, Chang'an.  They had then been sent north, to a temple where they met others from Yamato. They had come to study the Law, the Dharma, with some of the most famous teachers of the Tang dynasty, and there were few more famous than the Tripitaka Master Genjou himself.   Everyone in the monastery knew his story—he had traveled all the way to India, the birthplace of the Buddha, and returned with copies of the sutras in Sanskrit, which he and the other monks were translating. In between sessions of meditation, sutra readings, and various lectures, the students would gather round the feet of the master as he recounted his journeys.  The stories themselves were fantastic stories, telling of far off cities and people.  There were stories of bandits, and meetings with kings.  The students must have thought about how it mirrored what they, themselves, had gone through—their own Journey to the West. Last episode we talked about Tukara and what that mysterious placename might mean—and where it could be referring to.  For that we traveled all the way to the end of the Silk Road.  In this episode and continuing into the next, we are going to travel that same road with a different perspective, as we take a look at one of the most famous travelers of the Silk Road:  the monk Xuanzang, or Genjou in Japanese.  And as I hinted at in the introduction, if you're at all familiar with the famous Journey to the West, well, this and the following episodes will explore the actual history behind that story, and how intertwined it is with the history of the archipelago. For those who don't know, Xuanzang was a monk, born Chen Hui near present-day Luoyang in Henan.  He is known by many names, but one of his most famous comes from the title “Sanzang Fashi”, aka “Tripitaka Master of the Law”, from which we get the simplified name in some English sources of just “Tripitaka”.  Sanzang, or “Tripitaka”, literally translates to “Three baskets” or “Three storehouses”, referring to the Buddhist canon.  It is quite fitting, given Xuanzang's incredibly famous Journey to the Western Regions and, eventually, to India, where he journeyed to obtain the most accurate version of the Buddhist scriptures to ensure that they had the most accurate versions.  On his journey, Xuanzang apparently took detailed records of the trip, and his   “Records of the Western Regions”  provides a lot of what we know of the towns and cultures that existed there back in the 7th century – even if not all of it was experienced firsthand and  may have come through translators and second or third-hand sources. In addition, Xuanzang's biography and travelogue add a lot more information to his journey, even if they weren't necessarily written by him, but instead by his fellow monks based on his recitations to them  combined with various records that they had access to at the time.  As such, it isn't always the most reliable, but it is still highly detailed and informative.  Xuanzang would return to China and teach for many years, translating the works that he had brought back, and founding a new school of Yogachara Buddhism, known as Faxiang in Chinese, but “Hossou” in Japan.  The Hossou school was particularly popular in the 8th and 9th centuries, having been transmitted by Yamato students who had actually studied at the feet of the venerable teacher.  These included the monk Doushou, who travelled over to the continent in 653.  In 658, there are two others who came over, named Chitatsu and Chiitsu. They had travelled to the Tang court in the 7th month of that year, where they are said to have received instruction from none other than Xuanzang himself.  If this indeed was in 658, it would have been only 6 years before Xuanzang's death. Their journey had almost not happened.  The year previous, in 657, envoys were sent to Silla to ask that state to escort Chitatsu to the Tang court, along with Hashibito no Muraji no Mimumaya and Yozami no Muraji no Wakugo, but Silla refused.  They must have relented, however, as they apparently were escorting at least the monks a year or so later. Chitatsu and Chiitsu would eventually return to Yamato, as would Doushou.  Doushou is also said to have been introduced to a student of the second patriarch of the Chan, or Zen school as well.  He would return to teach at Gango-ji, the later incarnation of Asukadera, spreading the Hossou teachings from master Xuanzang. In fact, Xuanzang's impact would be felt across Asia, and much of the Buddhist world.  He would continue to be known in Japan and in the area of China, Korea, and beyond.  Japanese translations of his journeys were made between the 8th and 10th centuries from texts that had come from Xuanzang's own monastery. Nine centuries after his death, during the Ming Dynasty, Xuanzang would be further immortalized in a wildly popular novel:  Journey to the West.  The “Journey to the West” is an incredibly fantastical retelling of Xuanzang's story.  In it, Xuanzang is sent on his task by none other than the Buddha himself, who also provides three flawed traveling companions.  There is  Zhu Bajie, aka “Piggy”—a half human half pig who is known for his gluttony and lust.  Then there is Sha Wujing, aka “Sandy”—a man with a red beard and blue skin who lived in a river of quicksand.  Despite a rather frightful backstory, he was often the straight man in the story.  And then there is the famous Sun Wukong, aka “Monkey”, the most famous of the three and often more famous than Xuanzang himself.  In fact, one of the most famous English versions of the story is just called “Monkey”, an abridged telling of the story in English by Arthur Waley in 1942. “Journey to the West” is perhaps the most popular novel in all of Asia.  It has spawned countless retellings, including numerous movies and tv series.  The character of “Monkey” has further spun off into all sorts of media.  Of course, his addition was all part of the novel, but nonetheless, that novel had an historical basis, which is where we really want to explore.  Because for all of the magic and fantasy of the Ming novel, the real story is almost as fascinating without it. We are told that Xuanzang was born as Chen Hui—or possibly Chen Yi—on the 6th of April in 602 CE in Chenliu, near present-day Luoyang.  Growing up, he was fascinated by religious books.  He joined the Jingtu monastery and at the age of thirteen he was ordained as a novice monk.  However, he lived in rather “interesting times”, and as the Sui dynasty fell, he fled the chaos to Chengdu, in Sichuan, where he was fully ordained by the age of 20. Xuanzang was inspired reading about the 4th century monk Faxian, whom we mentioned back in Episode 84.  Faxian had visited India and brought back many of the earliest scriptures to be widely translated into Chinese.    However, Xuanzang was concerned, as Faxian had been, that the knowledge of the Chinese Buddhist establishment was still incomplete.  There were still works that they knew about but didn't have, and there were competing Buddhist theories in different translations of the texts.  He thought that if he could go find untranslated versions of the texts then he could resolve some of the issues and further build out the corpus of Buddhist knowledge. Around the age 25 or 27, he began his journey.  The exact date is either 627 or 629, based on the version that one reads.  That has some importance for the events that his story tells, as some of the individuals whom he is said to have met are said to have died by 627 CE, meaning that either the dates of the journey are wrong or the dates we have in other sources are wrong.  As you can imagine, that's rather important for an accurate history, but not so much for our purposes, as I think that we can still trust the broad brush strokes which paint an image of what the Silk Road was like at the time. For context, back in Yamato, this was around the time that Kashikiya Hime—aka Suiko Tenno—passed away, and Prince Tamura was placed on the throne, passing over Prince Yamashiro no Oe, the son of the late Crown Prince, Umayado, aka Shotoku Taishi.  Whoever was on the throne, Soga no Emishi was actually running things, and the Soga family were heavily involved in the establishment of Buddhism in the archipelago.  This is relatively around the time of Episode 103. When Xuanzang took off to the West, his intentions may have been pure, but truth be told, he was breaking the law.  Tang Taizong had come to power in 626, and the routes along the Tarim Basin were under the control of the Gokturks, whom the Tang were fighting with.  As such, travel to the Western Regions was strictly controlled.  Xuanzang and several companions had all petitioned Emperor Taizong for permission to leave, but the Emperor never replied. So Xuanzang did not have permission to leave—but he decided to head out, anyway.  His companions, however, lost their nerve, and so he set out alone. Of course, he didn't simply set off for the West.  At first he went city to city, staying at local Buddhist monasteries and sharing his teachings.  To all intents and purposes, this probably seemed like normal behavior for a monk, traveling from monastery to monastery, but it was actually taking him towards the western border. And it was going well until he reached Liangzhou—known today as Wuwei.  Li Daliang, governor of Liangzhou, enforced the prohibition that "common" people were not permitted to go to the regions of the western tribes.  Word had spread about Xuanzang, and when the governor caught wind of what was going on, he called Xuanzang into an audience to find out what he was planning to do.  Xuanzang was honest and told him he was going to the West to search for the Dharma, but the governor ordered him to return to Chang'an instead. Fortunately, there was a Buddhist teacher, Huiwei, who heard about all of this this and decided to help Xuanzang.  He had two of his own disciples escort Xuanzang to the west.  Since the governor had told him not to go, this was illegal, and so they traveled by night and hid during the day until they reached Guazhou. In Guazhou, the governor, Dugu Da, was quite pleased to meet with Xuanzang, and either hadn't heard about the order for him to return to Chang'an or didn't care.  From there, Xuanzang's path was largely obstructed by the deep and fast-flowing Hulu river.  They would have to travel to its upper reaches, where they could go through Yumenguan--Yumen Pass--which was the only safe way to cross, making it a key to the Western regions. Beyond Yumenguan there were five watchtowers, roughly 30 miles apart.  These watchtowers likely had means to signal back and forth, thus keeping an eye on the people coming and going from Yumen Pass.  Beyond that was the desert of Yiwu, also known as Hami. Xuanzang was not only worried about what this meant, his horse died, leaving him on foot.  He contemplated this in silence for a month.  Before he continued, though, a warrant arrived for his arrest.  They inquired with a local prefect, who happened to be a pious Buddhist.  He showed it to Xuanzang, and then ended up tearing up the document, and urged Xuanzang to leave as quickly as possible. Yumenguan lies roughly 80-90 kilometers—roughly 50 miles or so—from the town of Dunhuang, the last major outpost before leaving for the Western Regions.  Dunhuang had a thriving Buddhist community, and the paintings in the Mogao caves are absolutely stunning, even today—one of the most well-preserved of such collections, spanning the 4th to the 14th century.  However, at this point, Xuanzang was a wanted man, and stopping in at Dunhuang might very well have curtailed his journey before it had even begun.  Instead, he would likely need to find a way to sneak across the border without alerting anyone and then, somehow, sneak past five watchtowers, each 30 miles or so apart, with no water except what he could carry or steal at each point. At this point, one of Xuanzang's escorts had traveled on to Dunhuang, and only one remained, but Xuanzang wasn't sure his remaining companion was up to the strain of the journey, and he dismissed him, deciding to travel on alone.  He bought a horse, and he fortunately found a guide--a "Hu" person named "Shi Pantuo".  "Hu" is a generic term often translated simply as "foreigner" or "barbarian" from the western lands, and the name "Shi" referred to Sogdians from Tashkent.  The Sogdians were a people of Persian descent living in central Eurasia, between the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers.  That latter was also known as the Oxus river, hence another name for the region: Transoxiana.  Sogdiana appears as early as the 6th century BCE as a member of the Achaemenid Empire, and the region was annexed by Alexander the Great in 328 BCE.  It continued to change hands under a succession of empires. The Sogdian city-states themselves were centered around the city of Samarkand, and while they did not build an empire themselves, the Sogdians nonetheless had a huge impact on cultures in both the east and the west.  Sogdians became famous as traders along the silk roads, and they built tight knit communities in multiple cities along the route.  Families kept in touch over long distances, setting up vast trading networks.  In fact, there were even Sogdian communities living in Chang'an and elsewhere in the Tang Empire.  The Sogdian An Lushan would eventually rise through the ranks of the Tang dynasty court—but that was almost a century after Xuanzang's travels. There are many material items that the Sogdians helped move across the silk road, but perhaps one of the most striking things were a style of patterned textiles.  Sassanid Persia was known for its silk textiles, often woven in images surrounded by a border of pearl-shapes:  Small circles in a circular pattern around a central figure, often duplicated due to the way the fabrics were woven.  This pearl-roundel pattern was especially taken up by the Sogdians, and their fashion sense made it popular across Eurasia.  Large pearl roundel designs were used on caftans, popular throughout the Gokturk qaghanate, and the Tang court would eventually pick up the fashion of these foreigners—generally classified as “hu” by those in Chang'an.  With a round neck, closing at the side, this western-style caftan-like garment eventually found its way into Japan as the people of the Japanese archipelago adopted Tang dynasty clothing and fashion.  In fact, Japan boasts one of the most impressive collections of silk road artifacts at the Shosoin repository of Todaiji temple in Nara, and it includes clothing and fabric that show the influence of Sogdian and Turkic merchants.  The Shosoin collection contains multiple examples of those pearl roundel patterns, for example, and you can even buy reproductions of the design today in Nara and elsewhere.  The garments themselves would continue to influence the fashion of the court, indeed giving rise to some of the most popular court garments of the Nara period, and the design continued to evolve through the Heian period until it was almost unrecognizable from its origins. Sogdians were so influential that their language—an Eastern Iranian language known simply as “Sogdian”—was the lingua franca, or the common tongue, through most of the Silk Road.  If you knew Sogdian, you could probably find a way to communicate with most of the people along way.  Today, Sogdian is extinct, with the possible exception of a single language that evolved from a Sogdian dialect. Sogdians are often known in Sinitic sources by their names—by the time of the Tang dynasty, it was common practice to give foreigners, whose names didn't always translate well into Chinese dialects, a family name based on their origin.  For the Sogdians, who were quite well known and numerous, they weren't just classified with a single name, but rather they were divided up by seven names based on where they were from.  So the name “Shi”, for instance, indicated that someone was from the area of Tashkent, while the name “An” referred to a Sogdian who was descended from people from the Bukhara, and so on.  This was a practice that went at least as far back as the Han dynasty. So, returning to the story, Xuanzang's new Sogdian guide's name is given as “Shi Pantuo”.  The name "Pantuo", which would have likely been pronounced more like "b'uan d'a" at the time, is likely a version of the name "Vandak", which was indeed a very common Sogdian name meaning something like “servant” and was often used to indicate things like religious devotion, which could be related to his status as a devout Buddhist, though it also might just be coincidental.  Xuanzang was so happy with his guide's offer to help, that he bought him clothes and a horse for his troubles. And so they headed out towards Yumenguan, the Jade Pass or Jade Gate, so called because of the caravans of jade that would head out from the Middle Country ever since the Han dynasty.  In fact, the Jade Gate was originally established as part of the western end of the Han dynasty “Great Wall”.  This was not necessarily the famous Ming Dynasty wall that most people are familiar with, but the Han Dynasty wall would have been impressively high enough, with regular patrols and beacon towers.  So if you tried going over the wall, someone was likely to see you and give chase.  There is also the issue that if you had any amount of supplies you have to bring those as well—this isn't just hopping a fence.  The wall was augmented by natural features—mountains and deep and fast-flowing rivers, for example, which made walls unnecessary.  And then there was also the fact that in many places, it was just open wilderness, which was its own kind of barrier.  Trying to go off the beaten path meant wandering through uncharted territory, which someone like Xuanzang was probably not prepared to do.  It isn't like he had GPS and Google Maps to help him find his way, and if you got lost in the desert, then who knows what might happen to you. By the way, this was true even in relatively settled places, like the Japanese archipelago, up until modern times.  While there were some areas where it was relatively flat, and you could navigate by certain landmarks, if you left the roads and trails you might easily find yourself lost without access to food or shelter.  Maps were not exactly accurate.  The safest way to travel was to stick to the more well-traveled routes. Unfortunately, that meant going through the Yumen Gate itself.  There was a garrison where the road left the territory of the Tang Empire , and that garrison would be responsible for checking the papers of anyone coming into or leaving the empire.  Xuanzang, of course, didn't have the proper papers, since he didn't have permission to be there.  Fortunately, he had a guide, who seemed to know the area, and that would allow him to bypass the official checkpoint, which Xuanzang recalls seeing off in the distance.  Together, Xuanzang and Vandak snuck past the Yumen gate, and traveled several miles up the river.  There, they found a spot where the river was only about 10 feet across, near a grove of trees, and so they chopped down a few of them and made an impromptu bridge for them and their horses to cross. From that point on, until they reached Yiwu, they would have to get past the watchtowers.  Not only were these watchtowers garrisoned with men of the Tang army, but they were also the only place to get fresh water.  The travelers would need to sneak in at night to steal water from the watchtowers without getting caught. The farther they traveled, the more Vandak seemed to be getting cold feet.  Normally, this wouldn't have been an issue had they been normal travelers, but in trying to avoid the watchtowers they were making themselves into fugitives.  If they were caught they could both be killed.  He protested several times that they should just go back, and at one point Xuanzang seemed worried that Vandak was contemplating how much easier this would be for him if he just killed the old monk.  Finally, Xuanzang told Vandak that he should leave, and solemnly swore that if he was caught he wouldn't rat out Vandak for his help.  Vandak, who had been worried about just such a scenario, nonetheless took Xuanzang's word and the two parted ways. From that point on, Xuanzang recounted that the trail through the desert was marked by nothing but skeletons and horse droppings.  He thought at one point he saw an army in the desert, but it turned out to be a mirage.  Finally, he saw one of the watchtowers he had been warned about.  Not wanting to get caught, he lay down in a ditch and hid there until the sun went down. Under cover of darkness, he approached the tower, where he saw water.  He went to have a drink, and maybe wash his hands, but as he was getting out his water bag to refill it and arrow whizzed through the air and he almost took an arrow to the knee.  Knowing the jig was up, he shouted out: "I'm a monk from the capital!  Don't shoot!" He led his horse to the tower, where they opened the door and saw he really was a monk.  They woke up the captain, who had a lamp lit so he could see whom it was they had apprehended.  Right away it was clear that this traveler wasn't from around those parts—not that anyone really was, it seems. The Captain had heard of Xuanzang, but the report that had been sent said Xuanzang had gone back to Chang'an.  Xuanzang, for his part, showed a copy of the petition he had sent to the Emperor--one that he hadn't actually heard back from.  He then told the captain what he planned to do.  The captain was moved, and decided to look the other way.  He gave him a place to stay for the night and then showed him the way to the fourth watchtower, where the captain's brother was in charge, and would give him shelter. Sure enough, Xuanzang made it to the fourth watchtower, but he wasn't sure if he could entirely trust the captain, so again he tried to just secretly steal the water, but again he was caught.  Fortunately, the captain there was also sympathetic.  He let Xuanzang stay and then actually told him how to get around the fifth watchtower, since the captain there might not be as lenient.  He also told Xuanzang about an inconspicuous oasis where he could get water for himself and his horse. Reinvigorated, Xuanzang had another challenge to face.  Beyond the watchtowers was a long stretch of desert.  It was a journey of several hundred miles, and it started poorly.  First off, he missed the oasis that the captain of the fourth watchtower had indicated he could use without anyone firing arrows at him.  Then, he dropped his water bag, such that he was left with nothing.  He thought of turning back, but he continued, chanting mantras to himself.   He was dehydrated and exhausted, but he continued onward.  Some days into his journey, his horse suddenly changed course of its own accord.  Despite his efforts, it kept going, eventually coming to a pasture of grass around a pond of clean, sweet water.  That ended up saving him, and he rested there for a day, before traveling on.  Two days later, he arrived at Yiwu, aka Hami.  He had made it.  He was free. Or at least, he was until he returned to the Tang empire.  After all, Xuanzang did plan to come back, and when he did, he would have to face the music.  That was a problem for future Xuanzang.  Of course, he was also a lone traveler.  He might be free, but he was far from safe.  He was now entering the Western regions, and he would need to be on the lookout. The people of Hami, also known as Yiwu, were known to the Han dynasty as members of the Xiao Yuezhi—the kingdom or coalition that once controlled much of the northern edge of the Tarim basin.  They had been displaced by the Xiongnu, and the area would go back and forth between different hegemons, so that by the time of the Sui and early Tang dynasties they were under the sway of the Gokturks.  Still, as close as it was to the Tang borders, they no doubt had contact, and indeed, Xuanzang was given lodging at a monastery with three other monks who were “Chinese”, for whatever that meant at the time. If you've heard of Hami today you may know it for something that it was famous for even back in the 7th century:  their famous melons.  You can sometimes find Hami melons in stores to this day. Regarding the melons and other such fruits and vegetables—the area of Hami is a fairly arid land.  Hami does get some water from the Tianshan mountains, but in order to have enough for agriculture they instituted a system that is still found today in Hami, Turpan, and other parts of the world, including arid parts of northwest India and Pakistan through the middle east to north Africa.  It is called a Karez, or in Persian it is called a Qanat, and it is thought to have originated in ancient Persia around the first millennium BCE and spread out through the various trade routes. The idea is to basically create underground aqueducts to take water from one place to another.  This would keep them out of the heat and dry air above ground to allow them to continue to flow without losing too much to evaporation.  To do that, however, required manually digging tunnels for the water.  This would be done by sinking wells at regular intervals and connecting the wells to each other with tunnels.  But it wasn't enough for the tunnels to be connected, they had to also slope slightly downwards, but not too much.  You want enough flow to keep the water clear, but if it flows too quickly or creates waves, the water might erode the underground channels in ways that could cause problems, such as a collapse.  All in all, they are pretty amazing feats of engineering and they can carry water a great distance.  Many are under 5 km, but some are around 70 km long. These karez would have been the lifelines of many towns, creating a reliable oasis in the desert.  Rivers were great, but the flow could vary from floods to a mere trickle, and the karez system provided relatively constant flow.  This allowed for agriculture even in the dry areas of the Western Regions, which helped facilitate the various kingdoms that grew up in this otherwise inhospitable region. While eating his melons in Hami and chatting it up with his fellow eastern priests, Yiwu was visited by an envoy from the neighboring kingdom of Gaochang.  Now Hami, or Yiwu, sits at the eastern edge of the Turpan-Hami basin, aka the Turfan depression, a large desert, much of which is actually so low that it is below sea level.  In fact, the basin includes the lowest exposed point in the area of modern China at Ayding Lake, which is 158 meters below sea level.  From Yiwu to Gaochang, you would follow the edge of the mountains west, to an area near a small break in the mountain range.  Follow that break northwest, and you would find yourself at the city of Urumqi, the current capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in modern China. Xinjiang covers much of the area known in ancient times as the “Western Regions” that remains within the modern political boundaries of the PRC. The envoy from Gaochang heard about Xuanzang, and reported back to his lord, King Qu Wentai, who immediately sent a retinue out to escort the Buddhist monk across the desert to his city.  They included multiple horses for Xuanzang, so he could change at regular intervals.  His own horse was left behind, to be brought along later.   After six days on the road, they came to the city of Paili, and since the sun had already set, Xuanzang asked to stop for the night, but the escorts urged him on to the Royal City, which was not much farther on. And so he arrived around midnight, which means he likely couldn't immediately take in the size of the city.  Gaochang was an immense walled city, and even today, ruined as it is, the site of it is quite formidable, and it is so well preserved it is considered a UNESCO world heritage site.  Perhaps since wood was relatively scarce, this is why so much of the construction was made of brick and earthworks.  Fortunately, this means that many of the walls remain, even today—eroded and crumbling, but still towering over those who come to see them.  In places they have also been rebuilt or reinforced.  And in a few, very rare instances, you can still see some of the traces of paint that would have once been so prevalent throughout a city like this.  At this time in history, Gaochang, also known as Karakhoja, was under the command of the Qu family.  The population was largely Han Chinese, and it had often been overseen or at least influenced by kingdoms in the Yellow River basin.  But it was also the home of Turks, Sogdian merchants, local Turfanians, and more.  It was even called “Chinatown” by the Sogdians, and yet attempts to further sinicize the region had provoked a coup only a couple of decades earlier.  Even though he showed up in the middle of the night, Xuanzang is said to have been welcomed by the ruler of Gaochang, Qu Wentai, as he entered the city.  Perhaps this is why the escorts had been pushing so hard—the King himself was awake and waiting for Xuanzang to make an appearance.  The King and his attendants came out with candles in their hands, and they were ushered behind curtains in a multi-storey pavilion.  The king apparently grilled him through the night, asking about his journey until it was almost daybreak, at which point Xuanzang requested rest.  He was finally shown to a bedroom that had been prepared for him and allowed to sleep. The next day king assembled the leading monks of his kingdom before his guest.  These included the monks Tuan Fashi and Wang Fashi.  Tuan Fashi had studied in Chang'an for many years, and he knew his Buddhist scholarship. And Wang Fashi was a superintendent, and it was his duty to look after Xuanzang and butter him up with the hope that he might stay and provide the king with the prestige of having such an esteemed monk.  They put him up at a monastery next to the royal palace—the “daochang”, aka “dojo” in Japanese, which would be a whole different diversion. Ding Wang suggested that this might be the same as the Chongfu Monastery mentioned in a colophon on a 7th century copy of the Sutra of Perfection of Wisdom for Benevolent Kings. It was found by a German expedition at a site in the Turfan basin in the early 20th century, and now sits in the possession of Shitenno-ji, in Osaka—rather appropriate given that Shitenno-ji was around at the same time all of this was happening.  The colophon is attributed to a “Xuanjue”, and a “Xuanjue” from Gaochang, in the Turpan basin, was associated with helping Xuanzang in his later years.  Perhaps this Xuanjue first met Xuanzang during this first trip to Gaochang. Qu Wentai tried his best to dissuade Xuanzang from continuing on.  This may be simple platitudes from his biographers, but it also may have been genuine.  Having a learned foreign monk from the Tang dynasty staying at the palace monastery would likely have added to Qu Wentai's prestige by association, and it would have potentially brought more individuals to the city of Gaochang. Speaking of which, all of this first part of the journey—up to Gaochang—comes primarily from Xuanzang's biography by the monk Huili.  Xuanzang's own “Records of the Western Regions” didn't include much on it, probably because by the time that he returned to the Tang empire, Tang Taizong had annexed Yiwu and Gaochang, so all those were now considered part of the empire, rather than foreign regions to the West. After staying a month at Gaochang, Xuanzang decided it was time to continue his journey.  Disappointed though Qu Wentai may have been that his guest would be leaving, he nonetheless outfitted him handsomely.  He provided goods, including coins, as well as 24 letters to the 24 countries that he would pass along the road, adding a roll of silk to each as a sign that they came from the King of Gaochang.  He also gave him food, a small retinue, and horses to help carry everything.  Letters of introduction would have been important across the Silk Road.  There was, after all, no way to contact someone ahead of time, unless you sent runners. Merchant communities, in particular, would often be connected across long distances through regular caravans, which carried letters to their relatives, facilitating communication across vast distances.  Merchants who were bringing in a caravan of goods would know that there was a friendly community waiting to help them when they arrived, and would likely even have an idea of what was happening and what to bring. For someone traveling alone, however, having a letter of introduction would have been important, as they didn't necessarily have access to those communities by themselves.  The letters would provide introduction and let people know who you were and may even ask for assistance on your behalf.  It may seem a small thing, but it was the kind of gesture that was likely a great help to a traveler like Xuanzang.  Remember, he was not on an official mission from the Tang court—almost expressly the opposite, as he had not been given permission to leave.  So he wouldn't have had anything identifying him, and after Gaochang he likely couldn't count on being able to communicate with his native tongue. And so he was sent on his way.  As he left the city of Gaochang, the king and others accompanied Xuanzang about 10 li, or about 3 or 4 miles, outside of the city.  As they watched him head off, who could have known if he would complete his quest?  Or would he just end up another ghost in the desert? Next episode, we'll pick up Xuanzang's story as he strikes out for Agni and beyond.  Until then thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

What if you could plan your weekend to perfection, despite unpredictable weather patterns? Tune in as meteorologist Steve Pelletier shares invaluable insights on the latest weather forecasts for the Northeast this Thursday, July 11th, 2024. From DC to Boston, brace for near 90-degree temperatures while the Poconos, Catskills, and Berkshires offer a cooler respite. Steve discusses a forthcoming frontal system poised to bring showers and thunderstorms on Friday, setting the stage for a clear and sunny weekend. Discover how these weather shifts will influence your weekend activities and the return to hot conditions early next week.Thinking about traveling? Stay ahead of delays and disruptions with Steve's comprehensive analysis of aviation conditions nationwide. While Atlanta and Charlotte enjoy fair weather, showers and thunderstorms loom over the Carolinas and coastal Virginia. Texas sees a dichotomy with heavy rains in Houston and Austin, contrasting with dry and hot conditions in Dallas-Fort Worth. The West Coast remains dry from Southern California to Seattle, and South Florida experiences its usual scattered showers. Don't miss Steve's expert recommendations to keep your travel plans smooth and hassle-free.morePost-Tropical Cyclone Beryl to bring severe thunderstorms, heavy rainand flooding to parts of the Northeast, northern Mid-Atlantic, and NewEngland tonight......Scattered flash flooding possible across the eastern Mid-AtlanticFriday......Dangerous heat and record high temperatures to continue for much of theWest through the end of the work week...Beryl continues to make its trek through the Lower Great Lakes and towardthe Northeast this afternoon as a Post-Tropical Cyclone. Thunderstormsforming both ahead of an approaching cold front nearing the Mid-Atlanticand along/north of a warm front stretching from northern New York State toNew England will be capable of containing intense rainfall rates, which islikely to produce numerous areas of flash flooding. A Moderate Risk (level3/4) of Excessive Rainfall remains in effect from northern New York tonorthern Vermont and New Hampshire, where the greatest chances forwidespread flash flooding exists. Additionally, tornadoes and damagingwinds are possible across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States until latetonight. Residents and visitors in these regions are reminded to stayweather aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings.The aforementioned cold front entering the Mid-Atlantic tonight isforecast to stall along the East Coast to end the work week, with anincrease in thunderstorm coverage on Friday. At least a few inches ofrainfall are forecast to impact areas from coastal South Carolina tosouthern New Jersey, including much of the eastern Mid-Atlantic. A SlightRisk (level 2/4) of Excessive Rainfall has been issued for this region onFriday to highlight the potential for scattered flash flooding. Not onlywill this frontal boundary increase rainfall chances, but dangerous heatexperienced across the East will greatly abate for the end of the week.Extreme and record-breaking heat will continue throughout much of theWest, with the focus beginning to shift out of the Pacific Northwest andtowards the High Plains, while remaining in the Southwest. Highs areforecast to soar into the upper 90s and triple digits for these locations,with 110s and 120s possible in the typically hot desert/interior valleylocations of California, Arizona, and Nevada. Dozens of daily hightemperature records are forecast on Thursday and Friday from the WestCoast to the High Plains. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisoriesremain in effect for much of the western United States in order to furtherhighlight the dangerously hot temperatures. This level of heat for ma

Can you handle the heat? Brace yourself for a sizzling weather update with meteorologist Steve Pelletier as we navigate the intense conditions gripping the nation this Wednesday, July 10th, 2024. We'll unpack the remnants of Burrell, a low-pressure system now hovering over Ohio and the eastern Great Lakes, and its impact on regions from New York to DC and all the way up to Boston. Expect soaring temperatures ranging from 90 to 97 degrees, accompanied by oppressive heat index values hitting up to 110. With an excessive heat warning in effect and the likelihood of heavy downpours and thunderstorms, flight delays are almost a given, particularly in the afternoons and evenings. Your safest bet for air travel? Mornings, without a doubt.But that's not all. From improving skies in Atlanta by Thursday to stormy forecasts in New Mexico and Arizona, Steve paints a comprehensive picture of the national weather landscape. The West Coast remains dry, while the Midwest, particularly Chicago and Minneapolis-St Paul, braces for delays due to incoming storms. Stay hydrated, wear light clothing, and take it easy in the heat. Tune in for essential tips on navigating these challenging conditions and prepare yourself for the weather ahead. Steve Pelletier has you covered, ensuring you stay informed and safe until his next update!Her's more ...Post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl to bring heavy rain and flooding to partsof the Midwest, eastern Great Lakes, and Northeast tonight and Wednesday......Dangerous heat and record high temperatures to continue for much of theWest into Thursday......High humidity in the East will support heat indices of 100-110F fromthe Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday and Major to ExtremeHeatRisk...Post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl will continue its northeastward trek intoWednesday, with an associated precipitation shield extending to itsnortheast ahead of a warm front. Both severe weather and flash floodingare possible through parts of the Midwest/Ohio Valley this evening.Tornadoes are possible with severe weather and heavy rainfall could causesmall river and roadway flooding, especially in urban areas. Rainfalltotals of 2-4 inches, with locally higher amounts, are expected. OnWednesday, Beryl will continue northeastward through Ohio and into Ontarioand rainfall will increase over northern areas of New York into NewEngland. Thunderstorms could be severe in some areas with some tornadopotential. The flash flooding threat will be greater over parts ofnortheastern New York into northern Vermont/New Hampshire, especially inhillier areas. Elsewhere, showers and some thunderstorms are possible overparts of New Mexico, along the Gulf Coast, and into theSoutheast/Mid-Atlantic.In the West, the intense heat will continue for at least a few more days,with temperatures well above normal and reaching or exceeding daily recordhighs over many locations from Mexico to Canada west of the Rockies.Excessive heat warnings or heat advisories are in effect for much of thearea outside the high mountains, even including the foothills.Temperatures well into the 100s/110s will be commonplace, resulting in awidespread Major to Extreme HeatRisk. In addition to the record high dailytemperatures, the early morning lows are also expected to set recordsacross large portions of the West over the coming two mornings. Themulti-day length and record warm overnight temperatures will continue tocause heat stress to anyone without adequate cooling and hydration.Elsewhere, temperatures will be cooler than average along the path ofPost-Tropical Cyclone Beryl thanks to overcast skies and rain. Ahead ofits path, the East Coast will see another day of warm/hot temperatureswell into the 90s from the Mid-Atlantic southward through the Caro

What if you could perfectly plan your weekend activities with the most accurate weather forecast? Join meteorologist Steve Pelletieri as he navigates the weather happenings for this first weekend of July. We'll guide you through the movements of a weather front advancing from the Ohio Valley to the Eastern Seaboard, potentially bringing showers and thunderstorms from central North Carolina all the way to coastal Maine and Massachusetts. Learn how this front will influence your weekend plans with drier conditions and nearly perfect temperatures in the 80s and 90s from DC to Boston through Monday.Don't miss our crucial updates on Hurricane Beryl, now downgraded to a tropical storm, as it heads toward Mexico's coast near Brownsville. We'll also cover what's happening across the rest of the nation, from dry conditions on the West Coast to rain in the central U.S., and offer vital travel insights, including potential aviation delays around Atlanta. We'll share what you need to know to make your weekend enjoyable and free from weather-related surprises. Secure your plans with the latest updates from Steve Pelletieri, your trusted weekend weather guide.Here is more ...Intense heat is expected to persist for much of the West Coast into theweekend......Oppressive heat and humidity along the Eastern Seaboard but cooler thannormal in the mid-section of the country......Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain possible for portions of theMid-Atlantic states on Saturday, then across the south-central PlainsSunday into early Monday......Beryl is forecast to re-intensify over the southwestern Gulf of Mexicoon Saturday and threaten the western Gulf Coast of the U.S. through theweekend...A relatively slow-moving weather pattern is forecast across the U.S. as wehead into the weekend.  This pattern, which features a strong ridge ofhigh pressure aloft in the western U.S. and a weaker ridge over the EastCoast, will sustain a heatwave for much of the West Coast states whileoppressive heat and humidity will continue along the Eastern Seaboard anddown into the Southeast and the Deep South.  The most intense heat will befound over the interior low-elevations of the West Coast and into theDesert Southwest where high temperatures into the 110s will be commonacross the Central Valley of California on Saturday.  Widespreadtemperature records are expected to be tied or broken.  The only placeswhere relief from the heat can be found will be the cooling effects of thePacific Ocean near the coast and the naturally cooler higher elevations. Locally higher temperatures into the 120s are possible in the typical hotspots of the Desert Southwest.  The triple-digit heat will expandnorthward into the Pacific Northwest and parts of the central Great Basin,with widespread highs reachng into the 90s and low 100s.  The duration ofthis heat is also concerning as these record-breaking temperatures areforecast to linger into next week.  Heat impacts can compound over time,therefore it is important to remain weather aware and follow the advice oflocal officials. Heat Watches and Warnings are in effect for much of theWest. This level of heat throughout parts of the Mojave Desert andSacramento/San Joaquin valleys of California could pose a risk to anyoneif proper heat safety is not followed. It is imperative to stay hydrated,out of direct sunlight, and in buildings with sufficient air-conditioningwhen possible. It is also equally as important to check on the safety ofvulnerable friends, family, and neighbors.Last but not least, interests along the western Gulf Coast should payclose attention to the future progress of Tropical Storm Beryl, currentlytraversing the Yucatan Peninsula.  Beryl is forecast to emerge into theopen waters of

Born in Dublin, Ireland but grew up in West Africa. I started writing in 2006. I first came acrossthe Dyatlov Incident whilst researching Soviet military history (another area of interest for me). Mybook “Mountain of the Dead” was the first book published in the West (in 2013) on the DyatlovIncident after a research visit to Russia in 2012. More recently, I wrote the introductory chapter foranother Dyatlov book “The Dyatlov Incident: Not a Cold Case” by Dyatlov researcher HenningKuersten.Additionally, I have appeared on the Discovery Channel (including the Unexplained Files series) inconnection with the Dyatlov Incident and filmed in Lithuania for the Unexplained Files episode.In early 2018, after discussions with Yury Kuntsevich of the Dyatlov Foundation, I raised funds in theWest to help Yury Kuntsevich and Russian Lawyer Leonid Proshkin to make an application to havethe Dyatlov case reopened in Russia.My two websiteshttp://www.dyatlov-pass-incident.com/http://www.keithmccloskey.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/night-dreams-talk-radio--2788432/support.

On this episode of "The Federalist Radio Hour," contributing editor at The American Conservative Michael Warren Davis joins Emily Jahinsky to talk about the decline of Western civilization and the potential for its rebirth through Christianity. You can find Davis' book, After Christendom, here.If you care about combatting the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.

Voddie Baucham, the founding dean and a senior lecturer in the School of Divinity at the African Christian University, joins Emily Jashinsky to discuss how sexual activists used civil rights movement tactics to advance their false ideology and explain why Christians should care. You can find Baucham's book, It's Not Like Being Black: How Sexual Activists Hijacked the Civil Rights Movement, here. If you care about combatting the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.  

In this episode, we delve into the Tucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin interview, analyzing Putin's statements regarding the United States, NATO, and Ukraine. We scrutinize whether Putin's assertions hold truth and sincerity or are merely fabrications. Why does Putin shift blame onto the United States and NATO? Drawing from our extensive coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict since its inception, we offer our insights as discerning evaluators of Putin's remarks. All of this and more on this episode of Tucker Carlson Vladimir Putin Interview Breakdown | Our ThoughtsOur XOur Facebook

In the late 18th century, tens of millions of buffalo lived in North America. By the mid-1880s, they were on the brink of extinction. For the white settlers who sought to “conquer” the American west, and the Native people whose way of life depended on them, the plight of the American Buffalo was more than a story of one species of animal. As Dayton Duncan writes in the prologue of his new book Blood Memory,  the buffalo has “emerged as an embodiment of the nation's contradictory relationship with the natural world: venerated and mercilessly destroyed, a symbol of both a romanticized frontier and the callous conquest of a continent.” In this episode, Dayton joins us for a conversation about the Buffalo (aka American Bison) and how the story of one animal can tell us so much about American history.   Dayton Duncan is an Emmy award-winning writer whose most recent collaborations with filmmaker Ken Burns are the book Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo (Alfred A. Knopf, 2023) and the new documentary The American Buffalo, which premieres on your local PBS station on Monday, October 16, 2023 (check your local listings).   If you enjoyed this episode, check out our previous conversation with Dayton Duncan in RTN #229 on Benjamin Franklin.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Have you ever had that feeling you were not born into the correct time? It could be you're an old soul, or culuture is moving to fast for you, or you just want simpler times. The real deal is God made you for the time you are born into and have a place at making change.

In Winnett, the only town in the least populated county in Montana, out-of-state absentee land ownership poses a threat to the future of ranching and the preservation of the region's intact prairie ecosystem. To keep people on the land and build a vibrant future for Winnett's main street, the rancher-led nonprofit Winnett ACES is furthering economic and environmental sustainability for Petroleum Co. through local grassroots organizing.

It is one of the longest units of the National Park System in the country. "It," of course, is the Oregon National Historic Trail, which stretches more than 2,100 miles from Missouri to Oregon. It's been estimated that between 1840 and 1860 some 300,000-400,000 men, women, and children embarked on the four-month-long trip to head to the West Coast.  A new book, “Exploring The Oregon Trail, America's Historic Road Trip,” can help you explore sections of the trail, or the entire trail if you have the time. It was written by Kay and David Scott, longtime national park travelers and park lodging experts.

This week Kev talks about internet challenges and cell phones in today's ranching world.Please visit our sponsorswww.davishatting.comwww.organiccowboy.comwww.patreon.com/mantzcreekhorses

If we have learned anything during the pandemic, it's that the supply chain is at risk whenever there is a disaster. It's especially at risk when a geopolitical foe is in control of life saving products such as medicine. That is the situation the West finds itself in with China and now, central and south America are looking to step into the gap. to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/us-drug-supply-chain-alternative-to-china-might-run-through-canada-latin-america/ar-AAYtEl1?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=29cf24f4ce154433985803dcabfb0657

Afghanistan is currently in the grips of not only a food shortage that is bordering on famine but now, the UN for the first time is recognizing publicly that Afghanistan is in the grips of an insurgency and that the Taliban are going to be hard pressed on numerous fronts. The UN also goes on to discuss how the Taliban is not a reliable partner for negotiation and that there are many members of Al Qaeda within the country still and within the taliban government. (commercial at 10:32)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/un-taliban-faces-threat-from-islamic-state-new-resistance/ar-AAY1mMb?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=91856f0390734eb59055ff313f33bd61

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Spencer Klavan, host of the "Young Heretics" podcast, joins Federalist Culture Editor Emily Jashinsky to discuss how Western history informs what we think about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

While #VladimirPutin may have lost his mind, so has much of #TheWest, where many concern themselves with trivial issues while major problems go unchecked. Read the text of this audio blog at https://wwcorrigan.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-west-woke-to-its-demise.html. #Russia #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brendan-corrigan/message

In this episode, Biden over-promises and under-delivers. The geriatric despot where help is never help.

Merry Christmas!!!!Today Kevin talks about having an emotional connection to your horse and what it really means.

Born in Dublin, Ireland but grew up in West Africa. I started writing in 2006. I first came acrossthe Dyatlov Incident whilst researching Soviet military history (another area of interest for me). Mybook “Mountain of the Dead” was the first book published in the West (in 2013) on the DyatlovIncident after a research visit to Russia in 2012. More recently, I wrote the introductory chapter foranother Dyatlov book “The Dyatlov Incident: Not a Cold Case” by Dyatlov researcher HenningKuersten.Additionally, I have appeared on the Discovery Channel (including the Unexplained Files series) inconnection with the Dyatlov Incident and filmed in Lithuania for the Unexplained Files episode.In early 2018, after discussions with Yury Kuntsevich of the Dyatlov Foundation, I raised funds in theWest to help Yury Kuntsevich and Russian Lawyer Leonid Proshkin to make an application to havethe Dyatlov case reopened in Russia.My two websiteshttp://www.dyatlov-pass-incident.com/http://www.keithmccloskey.com/

On this special episode of the Restump Podcast we're pleased to bring you a chat with the ever generous and knowledgeable, the West Australian Sport's Jordan McArdle. Jordan attends more community football than anyone in his endeavours to bring insightful content to the public and we're extremely grateful he has donated some of his time to share it with us.So, if you're a draft enthusiast, particularly of the Freo fan variety, click play and have a listen to what we believe is an informative, entertaining and enjoyable chat ahead of next week's 2021 AFL Draft. Apparently the Chief was at lunch and didn't get the call up in time so on this occasion, it's a couple of Big Macs talking a draft over a draught. 

Water is in short supply these days, especially in the West. But conservationists, experts, and others are addressing the issue with innovative ideas for capturing and containing water. Jeff Hampton is one of those concerned and creative folks. He joins Russell and Alan to talk about ways to manage our life-sustaining resource—water.

Why tell a tall tale when the truth is so crazy it's barely believable? In this episode, Russell and Alan confirm that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. When you're out on the range, on the back of  a horse, in the cockpit of an airplane, you're living adventures guaranteed to be told around the campfire for decades to come. So, grab a seat, roast some marshmallows, and give a listen as two cowboys tell true tales from the range.

This year, we celebrate the 17th annual National Day of the Cowboy. Last year, we interviewed founder Bethany Braley, who is dedicated to preserving cowboy culture and heritage. Here's the special reprise of our interview with her. Hats off to you, Bethany!

Many of us have heard about the Pony Express, founded in 1860. But did you know this “start-up” mail delivery service only operated for 18 months? Expert Jim DeFelice, author of “West Like Lightning,” joins Russell and Alan to sort through the fact and fiction associated with the legendary Pony Express. [True or False: Buffalo Bill Cody rode for the Pony Express. Listen for the answer!]

In this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author John Sedgwick about his book From The River To The Sea. John takes us back in time and shares a story of two men whose destinies seemed to be cosmically entwined. General William J, Palmer and William Barstow Strong would fight for over a decade in their race to build their railroads and make it to the Pacific. Intrigue abounds, spies are used, coded messages and high dollar lawyers to find whatever loopholes could give one an edge over the other. This is a rip-roaring ride through history, you better hold on.

Doris Daley is a renowned cowboy poet, emcee and humorist—or as she prefers, a “western poet.” Her 20-year performance career includes appearances with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Saskatchewan Opera Company. Doris joins Russell and Alan from Alberta, Canada to share her wordsmithing and love of the West. It's a cowboy celebration of National Poetry Month.

Sometimes nothing lifts the heart and soul like a good western tune. Jim Jones has plenty of them—and plenty have won prestigious awards. He joins Russell and Alan to talk about his career as a solo musician and a member of the trio The Cowboy Way and as an author of western novels. He even has his guitar within reach. Give a listen!

Mark Bedor returns to the ranch to talk all things western. Mark is the host and director of the TV show, “Today's Wild West,” a half-hour magazine show that combines his experience as a television news anchor and reporter with his love of the West. Winner of a 2021 Western Heritage Award, “Today's Wild West” airs on over 70 PBS channels.

Arizona author Nancy E. Turner started college when her children were full-grown. After earning a triple major in creative writing, music and studio art from the University of Arizona, Turner went on to become a bestselling author of many novels. She joins Russell and Alan to talk about her new novel “Light Changes Everything,” which Publisher's Weekly describes as a “satisfying, immersive, and often heart-pounding tale of one indomitable young woman's frontier life, touched by tragedy and hope.”

In honor of Women's History Month, award-winning author and historian Jan Cleere joins Russell and Alan to discuss her new book Military Wives in Arizona Territory: A History of Women Who Shaped the Frontier. Most of these women journeyed from the East and knew little of the hardships and challenges waiting in the Arizona Territory. But these brave, bold women persevered and left a legacy that endures today.

He's an author, songwriter, storyteller, performer, cowboy, college prof, and Arizona's own state historian. As the Arizona Historical Foundation's executive director says, “His homespun wit and unassuming demeanor often serve as a smokescreen to his incisive talents in the scholarly arena.” You're in for a treat because you're about to meet Marshall Trimble.

Few westerners know hats better then master hatter Jimmy Harrison, fondly known as Jimmy “the hat man.” He's been shaping and cutting down hats since he was young and in rodeo with his buddies. Eventually, he became the owner of Double H Custom Hat Company in Darby, MT and Wickenburg, AZ, where he creates and manufacturers hats for customers worldwide. Jimmy joins Russell and Alan to share the secrets of cowboy hat making.    

On a ranch, the unexpected is just part of life. You might say it's the expected. From quirky individuals who move in as neighbors to horse wrecks and pickup wrecks, the unanticipated flavors ranch life with the kick of a habanero pepper flavoring hot sauce. Russell and Alan share stories that they'll never forget, and neither will you!  

Dude ranching has been part of the western experience since the turn of the 20th century. Many of today's dude ranches have stayed in the family for generations. Russell and Alan chat with Bryce Albright who, like Russell, grew up in a dude ranching family and is now the executive director of the Dude Ranchers' Association in Cody, WY.

Award-winning artist Diana Madaras is equally well known for her bold, colorful Southwest art as for her generous charitable giving. Diana owns Madaras Gallery in Tucson, Arizona, which features her work, and is president of the non-profit Art for Animals Foundation, a charity she founded in 1999 to help abused, injured, and orphaned animals. Voted Tucson's Best Visual Artist nine times, she has been featured in national magazines, as well as  television shows produced by NBC, CBS and PBS affiliates. Diana joins Russell and Alan at White Stallion Ranch, where she frequently sets up her easel and paints.