The Mark of Empire

This award-winning title returns for a second season with Singapore scholar and curator Peter Lee expanding his exploration into East Asian empires building on season one’s Southeast Asian kingdoms. He will cast the spotlight on the history of South Korea and Japan, revealing their rise and fall and the relevance to our survival and prosperity in this diverse region today.

How do legacies of the past shape some of Asia’s most modern nations today? Singaporean scholar and curator Peter Lee travels to Japan and South Korea to seek out epic legends and vibrant traditions of four distinct peoples in East Asia.

He embarks on a journey of adventure and discovery as he learns more about the traditions and identities under the mighty Tokugawa Shogun during Edo-period Japan. Up north in Hokkaido, he goes on a search for wild bears in their legendary natural landscapes. And as he makes his way down south, Peter traces the history of the small but vibrant Ryukyu Kingdom that emerged 600 years ago. In neighbouring South Korea, Peter meets the Korean musicians reviving Joseon-era music into radio-worthy pop, and discovers how much of the nation’s cultural footprint was shaped by this legendary period in Korean history.

Awards and Accolades: 

World Media Festival 2021 -

Documentaries: History

New York Festivals TV and Films Awards 2021 -

History & Society (Win-Silver)

Host: Peter Lee

Episodes: 4 x 60 mins

Languages: English

Production year: 2022