Emperor Tenji's Rokoku Water Clock: Timekeeping Revolution (+ 9 more historical events on this day!)

About this episode

This episode discusses Emperor Tenji's introduction of the Rokoku water clock and other significant historical events that occurred on this day.

A Daily Dose of History (10 Jun 2026) Today's historical events: Emperor Tenji of Japan introduces a water clock (clepsydra) called Rokoku. The instrument, which measures time and indicates hours, is placed in the capital of Ōtsu. Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the river Saleph while leading an army to Jerusalem. The Battle of Pelekanon results in a Byzantine defeat by the Ottoman Empire. Copenhagen is surrounded by the army of Frederick I of Denmark, as the city will not recognise him as the successor of Christian II of Denmark. Willem Barents and Jacob van Heemskerk discover Bear Island. Thirty Years' War: Battle of Záblatí, a turning point in the Bohemian Revolt. Signing of the Treaty of Compiègne between France and the Netherlands. Salem witch trials: Bridget Bishop is hanged at Gallows Hill near Salem, Massachusetts, for "certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcraft and Sorceries". Jacobite risings: Battle of Glen Shiel. King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) of Siam (modern day Thailand) is crowned. Information from this episode are sourced from API Ninjas Explanations from OpenAI ChatGPT API with proprietary prompts. This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios…

People in this episode

Hosts: Amalia Dupray, Montgomery Jones

Topics covered

• Japanese history
• timekeeping
• Crusades
• witch trials
• military battles
• treaties
• royalty

Keywords

• Emperor Tenji
• Rokoku
• water clock
• Third Crusade
• Bridget Bishop
• Salem witch trials
• Battle of Glen Shiel
• Thirty Years' War
• historical events

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Japan, Copenhagen, Bear Island, Gallows Hill, Massachusetts, Siam, Thailand

More episodes of A Daily Dose of History: Events on this Day in History

• Edict of Milan: Turning Point in Roman History (+ 8 more historical events on this day!) · June 13, 2026 · 7 min
• Feigned Retreat: Hungarian Victory at Augsburg 910 (+ 14 more historical events on this day!) · June 12, 2026 · 10 min
• Miracle of the Rain: Roman Triumph in Marcomannic Wars (+ 12 more historical events on this day!) · June 11, 2026 · 9 min
• Nero's Marriage to Octavia: A Political Move Gone Wrong (+ 12 more historical events on this day!) · June 9, 2026 · 9 min
• Battle of Antioch: Elagabalus vs Macrinus (+ 13 more historical events on this day!) · June 8, 2026 · 10 min
• Theodosius II's Marriage to Eudocia: Byzantine Unity (+ 9 more historical events on this day!) · June 7, 2026 · 7 min