[Kamakura period]
From 1185 to 1333 is called the Kamakura period. Kamakura period is the first era of samurai government.
Minamoto no Yoritomo, heir to the chieftainship of the Minamoto clan, formed a basis for the government. In 1185, he placed Shugo (military commissioner) and Jito (lord of the manor) around the country. In 1192 he was appointed by the emperor as a Shogun (military leader). In this way, Kamaura Shogunate was established in Kamakura. In the mean time he defeated adversaries such as Taira and Fujiwara clan.
After Yoritomo died, Hojo clan held power as regent instead of Minamoto clan.
Both imperial court and Shogunate had political power. In 1221 the imperial court launched a fight against Shogunate to restore the power. But it was defeated and lost power.
In 1274 and 1281 the Yuan dynasty invaded Hakata, western Japan. Shogunate deployed troops and made them fight with Yuan troops. As a result, Yuan's invasion failed. But Shogunate couldn't provide reward for samurai. Shogunate betrayed samurai's trust in it. In addition, samurai was in poverty.
Emperor Go-Daigo tried to overthrow the Shogunate but failed. Subsequently, many samurai - Ashikaga Takauji, for example revolted against the Shogunate. Finally, Shogunate was fallen.
[Kemmu restoration]
After Shogunate was overthrown, Emperor Go-Daigo took helm. His political reform is called Kenmu restoration (1333-1336).
[Muromachi period]
*Nanbokucho period*
But Ashikaga Takauji provoked revolt against Emperor Go-Daigo. Takauji enthroned Emperor Komyo in Kyoto and promulgated a legal code Kemmu Shikimoku to found a new Shogunate in 1336. Emperor Go-Daigo escaped from Kyoto into Yoshino and asserted that he was the true heir to the throne. Thus, two Emperors existed. Kyoto court is called Northern Court (Hokucho). Yoshino court is called Southern Court (Nancho). Both courts fought each other fiercely. In 1392 both courts finally established a unity.
Shogunate was in stable period. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third Shogun, built a huge mansion called "Hana no gosho" in Muromachi in Kyoto and relocated Shogunate there. So, we call this Shogunate "Muromachi Shogunate." Yoshimitsu developed a system of Shogunate and traded with Ming Dynasty.
When Ashikaga Yoshimasa was the eighth Shogun, power of Shogunate weakened. Instead, some Shugo Daimyos, leading vassals of the Shogunate who ruled their provinces, expanded their influence. Against the backdrop of the political environment, disputes about succession of Shogunate and two powerful Shugo caused a nationwide war called Onin war from 1467 to 1477.
(To be continued)
A brief outline of Japanese history (1)
A brief outline of Japanese history (2)
A brief outline of Japanese history (3)
A brief outline of Japanese history (4)
