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who ruled the kamakura period

by Dr. Benedict Treutel Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Minamoto Yoritomo

When was the Kamakura period?

The Kamakura period (鎌倉時代, Kamakura jidai, 1185–1333) is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shōgun, Minamoto no Yoritomo.

Where did the Kamakura shogunate rule?

The Kamakura Shogunate ruled from Kamakura city, which is located in the Kanto region. The period is said to have begun in the year 1185 when the Minamoto clan emerged victorious during the Genpei War. This marked the end of the Taira clan’s political rule and control.

What was the Kamakura code of the law?

In 1232, the shikken Hojo Yasutoki issued a legal code called the "Goseibai Shikimoku," or "Formulary of Adjudications," which laid out the law in 51 articles. The greatest crisis of the Kamakura Era came with a threat from overseas.

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What was Kamakura period known for?

The period is known for the emergence of the samurai, the warrior caste, and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan. During the early Kamakura period, the shogunate continued warfare against the Northern Fujiwara which was only defeated in 1189.

Who invaded Japan during the Kamakura period?

The Mongol InvasionsThe Mongol Invasions The Kamakura period saw one of the greatest threat to Japan's existence, the two Mongol invasions of Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281 CE.

What is the Kamakura period called?

Kamakura period, in Japanese history, the period from 1192 to 1333 during which the basis of feudalism was firmly established. It was named for the city where Minamoto Yoritomo set up the headquarters of his military government, commonly known as the Kamakura shogunate.

What type of government was the Kamakura shogunate?

The Kamakura shogunate (Japanese, Kamakura bakufu 鎌倉幕府) was a feudal samurai government from 1185 (or 1192, when it was formally recognized) to 1333. The term "Bakufu" as a form of government was, however, coined in the late Edo period (1603 - 1867).

Who overthrew the Kamakura government?

Emperor Go-DaigoThe Kamakura shogunate was overthrown in the Kenmu Restoration under Emperor Go-Daigo in 1333, re-establishing Imperial rule until Ashikaga Takauji overthrew the Imperial government and founded the Ashikaga shogunate in 1336.

Who moved the capital to Kamakura?

Minamoto no Yoritomo, shogun of Japan from 1192-1199 CE and founder of the Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333 CE) selected Kamakura as a safe place for his new capital in 1192 CE. The site was well protected by mountains on three sides and the sea on the fourth side.

When did the Kamakura period end?

1185 – 1333Kamakura period / Period

What were the major events of the Kamakura period?

Kamakura Period Timeline1180 - 1185. The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.1183 - 1198. Emperor Go-Toba reigns in Japan.1183 - 1198. Reign of Japan's Emperor Go-Toba.1185. Battle of Dannoura where the Minamoto defeat the rival Taira. ... 1185 - 1333. ... 1191. ... 1192 - 1333. ... 1192 - 1199.More items...

What is the meaning of Kamakura?

Kamakura. / (ˌkæməˈkʊərə) / noun. a city in central Japan, on S Honshu: famous for its Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a 13th-century bronze, 15 m (49 ft) high.

Does Japan still have a shogun?

A series of three major shogunates (Kamakura, Ashikaga, Tokugawa) led Japan for most of its history from 1192 until 1868. The term “shogun” is still used informally, to refer to a powerful behind-the-scenes leader, such as a retired prime minister.

Who was the first shogun to rule in Japan in the Kamakura shogunate?

The samurai leader Minamoto Yoritomo gained military hegemony over Japan in 1185. Seven years later he assumed the title of shogun and established the first shogunate, or bakufu (literally, “tent government”), at his Kamakura headquarters.

Who is the current shogun of Japan?

Prince Tokugawa Yoshinobu (徳川 慶喜, also known as Keiki; October 28, 1837 – November 22, 1913) was the 15th and last shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan....Tokugawa Yoshinobu.Prince Tokugawa Yoshinobu 徳川 慶喜MonarchKōmei MeijiMember of the House of PeersIn office1902 - 1910BornOctober 28, 1837 Edo19 more rows

How did the Kamakura shogunate affect Japan?

achievements and influence The shogunate appointed its own military governors, or shugo, as heads of each province and named stewards to supervise the individual estates into which the provinces… Later Kamakura shoguns lost real power to the Hōjō family while remaining rulers in name.

When did the Mongols invade Japan?

1274 – 1281Mongol invasions of Japan / Period

What were the major events of the Kamakura period?

Kamakura Period Timeline1180 - 1185. The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.1183 - 1198. Emperor Go-Toba reigns in Japan.1183 - 1198. Reign of Japan's Emperor Go-Toba.1185. Battle of Dannoura where the Minamoto defeat the rival Taira. ... 1185 - 1333. ... 1191. ... 1192 - 1333. ... 1192 - 1199.More items...

What did Minamoto Yoritomo do for Japan?

Minamoto no Yoritomo (源 頼朝) (May 9, 1147 – February 9, 1199), was a Japanese warrior and clan leader who founded the bakufu, a system of feudal lords which governed Japan for seven centuries, and became the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan.

What was the Kamakura period?

Updated February 09, 2019. The Kamakura Period in Japan lasted from 1192 to 1333, bringing with it the emergence of shogun rule. Japanese warlords, known as shoguns, claimed power from the hereditary monarchy and their scholar-courtiers, giving the samurai warriors and their lords' ultimate control of the early Japanese empire.

When did the Kamakura era begin?

Unofficially, the Kamakura Era began in 1185, when the Minamoto clan defeated the Taira family in the Genpei War. However, it was not until 1192 that the emperor named Minamoto Yoritomo as the first shogun of Japan — whose full title is "Seii Taishogun ," or "great general who subdues the eastern barbarians" — that the period truly took shape.

How did the Hojo Shikkens try to hang on to power?

The Hojo shikkens tried to hang on to power by allowing other great clans to increase their own control of different regions of Japan. They also ordered two different lines of the Japanese imperial family to alternate rulers, in an attempt to keep either branch from becoming too powerful.

Where did Minamoto Yoritomo rule?

Minamoto Yoritomo ruled from 1192 to 1199 from his family seat at Kamakura, about 30 miles south of Tokyo. His reign marked the beginning of the bakufu system under which the emperors in Kyoto were mere figureheads, and the shoguns ruled Japan. This system would endure under the leadership of different clans for almost 700 years until ...

What was the change in Kamakura?

One important change was the increasing popularity of Buddhism, which had previously been limited primarily to the elites in the emperors' court.

What type of Buddhism did Japanese people practice?

During the Kamakura, ordinary Japanese people began to practice new types of Buddhism, including Zen (Chan), which was imported from China in 1191, and the Nichiren Sect, founded in 1253, which emphasized the Lotus Sutra and could almost be described as "fundamentalist Buddhism.".

What changes did society have in Japan?

Society, too, changed radically, and a new feudal system emerged. Along with these changes came a cultural shift in Japan. Zen Buddhism spread from China as well as a rise in realism in art and literature, favored by the ruling warlords of the time.

Why was the city of Kamakura named?

It was named for the city where Minamoto Yoritomo set up the headquarters of his military government, commonly known as the Kamakura shogunate. After his decisive victory over the rival Taira family at the battle of Dannoura (1185), Yoritomo created his own military administration ( bakufu) to serve beside the imperial court.

What was the turning point in Japanese history?

The 12th and 13th centuries marked a turning point in Japanese history and in the history of Japanese Buddhism. Late in the 12th century the imperial regime centred at Heian collapsed, and a new hereditary military dictatorship, the shogunate, established its headquarters at…

What was the main reason for the collapse of the Bakufu?

The revolt of the emperor Go- Daigo against the Kamakura shogunate in 1331 and ensuing factional struggles led to the collapse of the bakufu in 1333. Kamakura culture was largely defined by the rise of the warrior class, which held martial skills and the ideals of duty, loyalty, and bravery in the highest regard.

When did Minamoto Yoritomo establish the Bakufuby?

The establishment of the bakufuby Minamoto Yoritomo at the end of the 12th century can be regarded as the beginning of a new era, one in which independent government by the warrior class successfully opposed…

What was the Japanese attack on the Mongols?

Two invasion attempts by the Mongols in 1274 and 1281 were thwarted by Japanese warriors with the aid of the “divine wind” ( kamikaze) of typhoons that decimated the enemy fleet. The financial strain imposed by the defense efforts against the Mongol attacks, however, exacerbated internal weaknesses in the regime.

When was the Kamakura period?

Definition. The Kamakura Period or Kamakura Jidai (1185-1333 CE) of medieval Japan began when Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199 CE) defeated the Taira clan at the Battle of Dannoura in 1185 CE. The period is named after Kamakura, a coastal town 48 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of Tokyo which was used as the Minamoto clan 's base.

Who had the real power in Kamakura?

In this arrangement, much copied throughout the Kamakura period, the regent shogun had the real power and the shogun was a mere puppet. Hojo Masako had retired to a convent when her husband had died, but her reinvolvement in politics earned her the nickname the 'nun shogun.'.

What was the best protection for the city of Kamakura?

Kamakura, protected on three sides by mountains and the sea on the fourth side, was a perfect choice for a military-minded leader. Extra protection was provided by earth fortification walls and two wooden castles: Sugimoto and Sumiyoshi. These defences would come in handy when the city was under siege in 1333 CE at the end of the Kamakura period. The fortifications did their job, but the army of Nitta Yoshisada (l. 1301-1337 CE) circumvented them by going around a cape at low tide and attacking the city from the beach. The city went into decline after the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate, but the 1252 CE Kotokuin Temple continues to pull in visitors thanks to its massive bronze statue of Amida Buddha which is 11.3 metres tall (or 37 ft), excluding the high stone base.

What were the two Zen sects?

It was during the Kamakura period that two significant new sects of Zen Buddhism were developed: the Jodo Sect (aka Pure Land), founded c. 1175 CE by the priest Honen (1133-1212 CE), and the Jodo Shin Sect (aka True Pure Land), founded in 1224 CE by Shinran (1173-1263 CE), the pupil of Honen. Both sects simplified the religion and stressed that simply chanting the Buddha's name ( nembutsu) - multiple times for Jodo and a single sincere invocation in the case of Jodo Shin - would permit the person to be reborn in the Amida Buddha's Pure Land paradise. In addition, this enlightenment and advancement to heaven was open to all regardless of their social status.

What is the most famous story of the Kamakura Shogunate?

The period would produce much martial-themed histories and collections of short stories, the most famous work being The Tale of the Heike ( Heike monogatari) which first appeared c. 1218 CE and tells of the struggle to establish the Kamakura shogunate.

Where was Kamakura located?

Kamakura, the coastal town located on Sagami Bay which gave its name to the period, is 48 kilometres from what would become Tokyo (Edo). It was the base of the Minamoto clan, and it became the capital after Minamoto no Yoritomo sought to distance himself from the former capital at Heiankyo (Kyoto) and any civil servants and officials that might continue to entertain loyalties to the previous regime. The imperial court remained at Heiankyo where titles were dispensed, certain taxes collected, and civilian judicial disputes were settled.

When was Minamoto no Yoritomo & the Taira?

Minamoto no Yoritomo & the Taira. During the preceding Heian period (794-1185 CE), the court of the Japanese emperor was still important and still considered divine but it had become sidelined by powerful bureaucrats who all came from one family: the Fujiwara clan.

The Mongol Invasions

In 1274 the great Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who from 1259 ruled China as Emperor, invaded Japan, having had his demands for Japanese recognition of his sovereignty rejected.

The Imperial Succession Dispute

What was to become both the overwhelming and underlying crisis of the era was triggered by the death of the emperor Go-Saga in 1272.

Go-Daigo and the Fall of the Bakufu

In 1318, Go-Daigo of the younger brother (Kameyama) line, became Emperor: the first non-child Emperor since Kameyama himself. With the backing of his father, the retired Emperor Uda, he (1) made clear his intention to actually reign, and (2) nominated his son as his successor.

What was the Kamakura period?

The Kamakura period (1185-1333 , called "Kamakura jidai" in Japanese) describes one distinct period in Japanese history in which the bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) was located in the city of Kamakura. The Kamakura bakufu joined the Imperial Court and took a central role in a country-wide rule;

What year did the Kamakura period begin?

There are many theories about in what year the Kamakura period truly began, of which the 1192 theory, the year MINAMOTO no Yoritomo was made Shogun (Seii taishogun (literally, "great general who subdues the barbarians")), is the orthodox view, but in addition, theories include: the 1180 theory, focusing on Yoritomo raising his army and leading his gokenin (lower-ranking warrior vassals) into battle to destroy the Taira clan, and also establishing the Samurai Dokoro (Board of Retainers, which oversaw rewards for service); the 1183 theory, in which the key moment is the official recognition of the shogunate's right to control Eastern Japan (everything along the Tokaido and Tosando highways) proclaimed by the imperial court in the tenth month; the 1185 theory, which focuses on Yoritomo's use of his struggle to destroy his younger brother MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune as a pretext to usurp the right to appoint and control the offices of shugo (provincial governor) and jito (estate steward); the 1190 theory, in which it was Yoritomo's visit to the capital and subsequent court appointments to Gon Dainagon (Deputy Major Counselor) and Ukone Taisho (Commander of the Guardsmen of the Right) that is considered the decisive moment; and a handful even believe it wasn't until 1196 that the Kamakura period truly began.

What was the name of the system created after Yoritomo died?

After MINAMOTO no Yoritomo died, an administrative system was created by the Hojo clan to fill the role of Shogunal advisor to the Imperial Court; they also arranged the system so that even if Yoritomo's bloodline died out, the Kamakura bakufu system could continue, and to serve as the bakufu's legal basis created the Goseibei Shikimoku (Formulary of Adjudications), the first set of laws governing the warrior class, which was to became the legal foundation of medieval society in Japan.

What happened to the Gokenin during the reign of Tokimune Hojo?

The bakufu did try to save such financially ruined gokenin by ordering two rounds of debt forgiveness, the 1284 Koan Tokusei ("benevolent rule," a euphemism for the mass forgiving of debts) and then the 1297 Einin Tokusei, but as they could not provide sufficient rewards and yet were reluctant to allow merchants to loan money to gokenin, the bakufu's efforts only ended up exacerbating disgruntlement among the goken in, inviting further chaos and disorder. This situation allowed Emperor Godaigo, making full use of discontent among the warriors, to successfully overthrow the bakufu.

What was the end result of the Jokyu Rebellion?

The end result of the Jokyu Rebellion, in which Retired Emperor Gotoba and others tried to overthrow the bakufu, was the triumph of the bakufu over the court-- this rebellion ushered in a new era, one of the political ascendancy of the bakufu over the court. Many gokenin were awarded land in western Japan for their service putting down the rebellion, and thereby the bakufu extended their control beyond the eastern provinces, where their power had been concentrated, into the western provinces as well.

What happened to the Imperial Court after the Jokyu Rebellion?

Also fall of the Imperial Court after the Jokyu Rebellion resulted in losing its ability to solve the imperial succession crisis and consequently it entangled the bakufu without any choice. The bakufu, as concerning the system of the alternate enthronement of the two rival imperial lines, adopted a policy of making recommendations concerning the imperial succession and mediating between the daikakuji and jimyoin lineages without being drawn in too deeply to successional disputes, but in the end, after a long period of confusion over the succession, the imperial court made a new request for the bakufu to intervene, while the faction on the losing end of this dispute, nursing newfound dissatisfaction against the bakufu because of the results of this intervention, ended up making a request of their own, leading to a vicious circle that conflicted ever deeper with the bakufu's hands-off policy. As a result, when the policy eventually reached the point of refusing to consider descendants of Emperor Godaigo, himself a scion of the Daikakuji lineage, as candidates for the throne, Emperor Godaigo was able to harness the long-festering resentment among warriors towards those who supported this policy--the nobility and the bakufu--and cooperate with them to launch a coup d'etat, which then developed into a full-scale rebellion against the bakufu.

What was the Bakufu?

The bakufu was established as an extension of the private household administration of Yoritomo (Lord Kamakura) and as such, did not count as a public institution according to the standards of the day. Consequently, those sent out by the bakufu into the provinces as governors and so forth were warriors from one of the Minamoto clan's home provinces or otherwise engaged in a master-servant relationship with Yoritomo (as gokenin, his vassals); the bakufu never achieved control over all the country's warriors, ruling instead through its close allies and retainers. By contrast, the Taira clan had invested much of its political power in the Imperial Court, and had sought to rule through the court. But after the Mongol invasions, the bakufu assumed the right to mobilize all the warriors in the country, and with this achieved de facto control over the entire country.

What was the Kamakura period?

The Kamakura Period. The Kamakura period was a time in Japanese history that marks the rule of the Kamakura Shogunate. It was established officially in the year 1192 in Kamakura by the very first Shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo. The period was relatively known as the time when the samurai warriors caste emerged, as well as the establishment ...

Why did the Kamakura government fall?

It became fatal to the Kamakura government since they only ended up spending without gaining profits. With that, a lot of their loyal men who fought for the Kamakura, waited for rewards that their government couldn’t pay. This caused a lot of financial issues as well as the decrease in loyalty among the powerful lords. These were some of the reasons for Kamakura’s fall.

How did the Jokyu disturbance affect the emperor?

By redistributing the acquired land during the Jokyu disturbance, they were able to receive loyalty from every powerful individual throughout the country. The emperor and every remaining governmental office in Kyoto practically lost all of their effective power.

How long did the Hojo rule?

Despite this, the new regime proved to be stable enough to have lasted a total of 135 years. There was a total of nine Shoguns and sixteen regents.

Why did Hojo Yoshitoki choose the Shoguns?

This was to keep the purity of their bloodline and to provide authority to the rule. This succession continued for over a century.

What was the culture of the Kamakura era?

Culture during the Kamakura Era. The cultural life during the Kamakura period combined elements that related to the court, warrior, and popularity. It was marked by the court’s continuous cultural predominance. This also includes the creation of a unique cultural warrior style that displayed the warrior values of Dori or Musha no Narai.

What happened in 1333?

In the year 1333, the Kamakura period ended with the destruction and fall of the Shogunate. This also included the quick re-establishment of the country’s imperial rule under Emperor Go Daigo.

Who took Kamakura?

At the same time another warlord loyal to the emperor, Nitta Yoshisada, attacked Kamakura and took it. About 870 Hōjō clan, including the last three Regents, committed suicide at their family temple, Tōshō-ji, whose ruins were found in today's Ōmachi.

What system did the Kamakura Shogunate rule?

The Kamakura shogunate functioned within the framework of the Heian system of Imperial rule.

How long did the Shogunate last?

The new regime nonetheless proved to be stable enough to last a total of 135 years, 9 shōguns and 16 regents. With Sanetomo's death in 1219, his mother Hōjō Masako became the shogunate's real center of power. As long as she lived, regents and shōguns would come and go, while she stayed at the helm.

Why did the Kamakura Shogunate keep a watch?

For two further decades the Kamakura shogunate maintained a watch in case the Mongols attempted another invasion. However, the strain on the military and the financial expenditures weakened the regime considerably. Additionally, the defensive war left no gains to distribute to the warriors who had fought it, leading to discontent. Construction of defensive walls added further expenses to the strained regime.

What was the Kamakura Shogunate?

The Kamakura shogunate ( Japanese: 鎌倉幕府, Hepburn: Kamakura bakufu) was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333.

When was the Kamakura Shogunate overthrown?

The Kamakura shogunate was overthrown in the Kenmu Restoration under Emperor Go-Daigo in 1333 , re-establishing Imperial rule until Ashikaga Takauji overthrew the Imperial government and founded the Ashikaga shogunate in 1336.

Where did Minamoto no Yoritomo go?

Minamoto no Yoritomo's goes to Kyoto at beginning of the Kamakura Shogunate. Historically in Japan, the power of civilian government was primarily held by the ruling Emperor of Japan and their regents, typically appointed from the ranks of the Imperial Court and the aristocratic clans that vied for influence there.

What year did the Kamakura period begin?

There are many theories about in what year the Kamakura period truly began, of which the 1192 theory, the year MINAMOTO no Yoritomo was made Shogun (Seii taishogun (literally, "great general who subdues the barbarians")), is the orthodox view, but in addition, theories include: the 1180 theory, focusing on Yoritomo raising his army and leading his gokenin (lower-ranking warrior vassals) into battle to destroy the Taira clan, and also establishing the Samurai Dokoro (Board of Retainers, which oversaw rewards for service); the 1183 theory, in which the key moment is the official recognition of the shogunate's right to control Eastern Japan (everything along the Tokaido and Tosando highways) proclaimed by the imperial court in the tenth month; the 1185 theory, which focuses on Yoritomo's use of his struggle to destroy his younger brother MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune as a pretext to usurp the right to appoint and control the offices of shugo (provincial governor) and jito (estate steward); the 1190 theory, in which it was Yoritomo's visit to the capital and subsequent court appointments to Gon Dainagon (Deputy Major Counselor) and Ukone Taisho (Commander of the Guardsmen of the Right) that is considered the decisive moment; and a handful even believe it wasn't until 1196 that the Kamakura period truly began.

Where did the Kamakura period take place?

The Kamakura bakufu joined the Imperial Court and took a central role in a country-wide rule; it took its name from its location, in the city of Kamakura in Sagami Province .

What was the name of the system created after Yoritomo died?

After MINAMOTO no Yoritomo died, an administrative system was created by the Hojo clan to fill the role of Shogunal advisor to the Imperial Court; they also arranged the system so that even if Yoritomo's bloodline died out, the Kamakura bakufu system could continue, and to serve as the bakufu 's legal basis created the Goseibei Shikimoku (Formulary of Adjudications), the first set of laws governing the warrior class, which was to became the legal foundation of medieval society in Japan.

What was the end result of the Jokyu Rebellion?

The end result of the Jokyu Rebellion, in which Retired Emperor Gotoba and others tried to overthrow the bakufu, was the triumph of the bakufu over the court-- this rebellion ushered in a new era, one of the political ascendancy of the bakufu over the court. Many gokenin were awarded land in western Japan for their service putting down the rebellion, and thereby the bakufu extended their control beyond the eastern provinces, where their power had been concentrated, into the western provinces as well.

What happened to the Gokenin during the reign of Tokimune Hojo?

The bakufu did try to save such financially ruined gokenin by ordering two rounds of debt forgiveness, the 1284 Koan Tokusei ("benevolent rule," a euphemism for the mass forgiving of debts) and then the 1297 Einin Tokusei, but as they could not provide sufficient rewards and yet were reluctant to allow merchants to loan money to gokenin, the bakufu 's efforts only ended up exacerbating disgruntlement among the goken in, inviting further chaos and disorder. This situation allowed Emperor Godaigo, making full use of discontent among the warriors, to successfully overthrow the bakufu.

What was the Kamakura Bakufu?

The bakufu didn't interfere with the Imperial Court in Kyoto or with the shoen and public territories in rural areas, instead creating a dual system of government ( bakufu and Court) under which it had the power to appoint warriors (as opposed to Court noblemen) to the key positions, including the jito, that controlled the countryside.

What happened to the Imperial Court after the Jokyu Rebellion?

Also fall of the Imperial Court after the Jokyu Rebellion resulted in losing its ability to solve the imperial succession crisis and consequently it entangled the bakufu without any choice. The bakufu, as concerning the system of the alternate enthronement of the two rival imperial lines, adopted a policy of making recommendations concerning the imperial succession and mediating between the daikakuji and jimyoin lineages without being drawn in too deeply to successional disputes, but in the end, after a long period of confusion over the succession, the imperial court made a new request for the bakufu to intervene, while the faction on the losing end of this dispute, nursing newfound dissatisfaction against the bakufu because of the results of this intervention, ended up making a request of their own, leading to a vicious circle that conflicted ever deeper with the bakufu 's hands-off policy. As a result, when the policy eventually reached the point of refusing to consider descendants of Emperor Godaigo, himself a scion of the Daikakuji lineage, as candidates for the throne, Emperor Godaigo was able to harness the long-festering resentment among warriors towards those who supported this policy--the nobility and the bakufu--and cooperate with them to launch a coup d'etat, which then developed into a full-scale rebellion against the bakufu.

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Minamoto No Yoritomo & The Taira

The Kamakura Shogunate

  • Minamoto no Yoritomo made himself the first shogun, in effect military dictator, of Japan, a position he would hold from 1192 CE to 1199 CE. He would, therefore, be the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333 CE). The position of shogun was the first to offer an alternative system of government to that of the Japanese imperial court. The ...
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The Kamakura Government

  • The shogunate government, also known as bakufu, which means 'tent government' in reference to its origins as a title held by a commander in the field, was based on the feudal relationship between lord and vassal. The former gave lands - confiscated from defeated warlords belonging to families rival to the shoguns - to the latter in return for military service. In the case of a shogu…
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Kamakura

  • Kamakura, the coastal town located on Sagami Bay which gave its name to the period, is 48 kilometres from what would become Tokyo (Edo). It was the base of the Minamoto clan, and it became the capital after Minamoto no Yoritomo sought to distance himself from the former capital at Heiankyo(Kyoto) and any civil servants and officials that might continue to entertain lo…
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The Economy

  • The Kamakura period was generally a good one for the Japanese economy, with trade continuing with China, where gold, mercury, fans, swords, timber, and lacquerware were exchanged for Chinese silk, brocades, perfumes, porcelain, tea, and copper coinage. Coinage was used more frequently, as were bills of credit, sometimes with the unfortunate consequence that people, esp…
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Religion

  • It was during the Kamakura period that two significant new sects of Zen Buddhism were developed: the Jodo Sect (aka Pure Land), founded c. 1175 CE by the priest Honen (1133-1212 CE), and the Jodo Shin Sect (aka True Pure Land), founded in 1224 CE by Shinran (1173-1263 CE), the pupil of Honen. Both sects simplified the religion and stressed that simply chanting the Budd…
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The Mongol Invasions

  • The Kamakura period saw one of the greatest threat to Japan's existence, the two Mongol invasions of Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281 CE. Kublai Khan (r. 1260-1294 CE) had sent a letter to the Japanese government warning of this consequence if they did not pay tribute, but both the shogun and emperor ignored the demand. Fortunately for Japan, when the two invasion fleets e…
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Decline & The Ashikaga Shogunate

  • The disaffection caused by the necessity to keep Japan on a war footing was exploited by Emperor Go-Daigo (r. 1318-1339 CE) who sought to return to the good old days of the emperors before Minamoto no Yoritomo had started the shoguns. The emperor made two attempts to grab power, one in 1324 CE and another in 1331 CE. Neither was successful, and he was exiled for hi…
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History of Japan Kamakura Period 1192-1333 鎌倉時代

  • During the Kamakura period: 1. the provincial warrior class consolidated political power at the expense of the nobility. 2. Japan was ruled by a hereditary military Shogun, and the political power of the Court was destroyed 3. the Mongols tried to invade Japan, putting an enormous strain on the country economically 4. the resumed trade with China g...
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The Mongol Invasions

  • In 1274 the great Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who from 1259 ruled China as Emperor, invaded Japan, having had his demands for Japanese recognition of his sovereignty rejected. But only a day after landing a fierce storm hit and, not wanting to be stranded should things go wrong, his troops returned to their ships and left with great loss of life due to shipwreck. After even more p…
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The Imperial Succession Dispute

  • What was to become both the overwhelming and underlying crisis of the era was triggered by the death of the emperor Go-Saga in 1272. Emperors usually officially reigned for a very short time before placing a boychild on the throne and retiring to really rule from behind the scenes not only free of the constrictions of courtly decorum and ritual but free to exercise the power bestowed o…
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Go-Daigo and The Fall of The Bakufu

  • In 1318, Go-Daigo of the younger brother (Kameyama) line, became Emperor: the first non-child Emperor since Kameyama himself. With the backing of his father, the retired Emperor Uda, he (1) made clear his intention to actually reign, and (2) nominated his son as his successor. In doing so he threw down a double gauntlet to the Bakufu in that he (1) made clear his wish to take over th…
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1.Kamakura period - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period

25 hours ago Japan. See all related content →. Kamakura period, in Japanese history, the period from 1192 to 1333 during which the basis of feudalism was firmly established. It was named for the city where Minamoto Yoritomo set up the headquarters of his military government, commonly known as the Kamakura shogunate. After his decisive victory over the rival Taira family at the battle of …

2.Kamakura period | Japanese history | Britannica

Url:https://www.britannica.com/event/Kamakura-period

22 hours ago The Kamakura Period (. 鎌倉時代. ) The Kamakura period (1185-1333, called " Kamakura jidai" in Japanese) describes one distinct period in Japanese history in which the bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) was located in the city of Kamakura. The Kamakura bakufu joined the Imperial Court and took a central role in a country-wide rule; it took its name …

3.Kamakura Period - World History Encyclopedia

Url:https://www.worldhistory.org/Kamakura_Period/

17 hours ago

4.Kamakura Period Japan History | Japan Experience

Url:https://www.japan-experience.com/plan-your-trip/to-know/japanese-history/kamakura-period

15 hours ago

5.Videos of Who Ruled The Kamakura Period

Url:/videos/search?q=who+ruled+the+kamakura+period&qpvt=who+ruled+the+kamakura+period&FORM=VDRE

34 hours ago

6.Kamakura period — Encyclopedia of Japan

Url:https://doyouknowjapan.com/history/kamakura/

3 hours ago

7.Kamakura Period (1185 – 1333) | Japan Module

Url:https://www.japanpitt.pitt.edu/timeline/kamakura-period-1185-1333

34 hours ago

8.The Kamakura Period - The End of Tyranny and the Start …

Url:https://katanasforsale.com/the-kamakura-period/

9 hours ago

9.Kamakura shogunate - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_shogunate

32 hours ago

10.The Kamakura Period - Japanese Wiki Corpus

Url:https://www.japanese-wiki-corpus.org/history/The%20Kamakura%20Period.html

1 hours ago

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