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| The monarch Go-Daigo’s plan to restore power in the monarchy provided a catalyst for the Kamakura Shogunate’s Fall. In 1321 Godaigo got his father to renounce the political power held by retired monarchs. Godaigo revived the monarchical records office and attracted able administrators who reasserted the royal prerogative of adjudicating lawsuits. Shogunate tried to force him to abdicate in favor of his cousin’s line in 1331, he called all the loyalists in Japan to revolt… he was forced to move to an island, his cousin was placed at the throne…revolt didn’t work |
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| (1333–1336) is the name given to both the three year period of Japanese history between the Kamakura period and the Muromachi period, and the political events that took place in it. The restoration was an effort made by Emperor Go-Daigo to bring the Imperial House and the nobility it represented back into power, thus restoring a civilian government after almost a century and a half of military rule. The attempted restoration ultimately failed and was replaced by the Ashikaga shogunate (1336–1575). This was to be the last time the Emperor had any power until the Meiji restoration of 1867. The many and serious political errors made by the Imperial House during this three year period were to have important repercussions in the following decades and end with the rise of the Ashikaga dynasty. |
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| The period of Northern and Southern Courts - Nanbokucho to 1392 |
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spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.
During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in Yoshino.
Ideologically, the two courts fought for fifty years, with the South giving up to the North in 1392. However, in reality the Northern line was under the power of the Ashikaga shoguns and had little real independence. |
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| During Japan’s middle ages, he switched sides many times. He was first on the Kamakura side (against Kyoto, or imperial powers). Then he switched to the imperial side, the side that wants more power to the monarchy. He attacked Kamakura and the Hojo family and subjects all committed suicide. He brought Go-Daigo back from exile but returned him to exile when he had to share war spoils with aristocrats. He placed his cousin on the throne and lived in Kyoto to supervise the monarch. He claimed his descent from Minamoto Yoritomo (to legitimize his rule) and had himself named shogun in 1338. His rule and Go-Daigo back in exile did not bring peace. |
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| Japan’s Middle ages. Go-Daigo’s sons established a rival southern imperial court. The court of the Ashikaga family and Go-Daigo allowed men to fight on either side of rival courts depending on their own interest. Takauji’s grandson, he brought an end to rival courts by promising to alternate rule between the two descendants. (he broke the promise later because he wanted his son to rule monarchy after him). He brought men under his control as warriors (but had some troubles with warrior leaders under rival Ashikaga branch). In 1402, he received the title, “king of Japan” from Ming emperor. His reign marked the high point in Ashikaga rule. |
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| Ashikaga/Muromachi Bakufu |
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| The period of time from 1338-1573, where the Ashikaga family (a.k.a Muromachi) governed as the Shogunate. The Ashikaga shoguns tried to rule Japan through family ties and marriages with Shugo (title for military governor). Most Shugo were from Ashikaga family, the rest lived away from the capital. Ashikaga preferred Zen sect of Buddhism and Takauji set up official temple in each province to console Go-Daigo’s spirit and raise shogun’s prestige. Ashikaga also established a hierarchy of priests that promoted the Zen sect. This period ended when the Oda Nobunaga drove the last Ashikaga shogunate, Yoshiaki, out of Kyoto. |
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| 1467-1600. Began with the Onin conflict in 1467-1477. Breakdown of public authorities, estates vanished, and Buddhist temples lost power and income. Succession disputes increased, giving military lords chances to exploit sides at their own interest. Onin conflict began with two chief Shugo fighting over 2 different rival claims to the shogun. War broke out in Kyoto (arson). Then battles shifted towards the provinces where local based leagues (ikki) rose to try and obtain higher titles. Military men determined to create a new hierarchy also rose. Unlike Shugo who depended on the shogun, new leaders, Daimyo relied on nothing other than military force. Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 brought civil war to close. |
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| In midst of Sengoku, military men who did not depend on the shogun rose. They had their own military force to rely on. They constructed their domains in favor of natural defense (rivers and mountains) ignoring provincial boundaries; their domains were smaller than shugo’s but more secure. They acquired territory (territory came with men) through conquest, alliance, or marriage. Samurai retained had to go through oath of loyalty in return for land/stipend. They often issued laws to maintain order on their land. |
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| Conqueror born to obscure lineage. He wiped out his kin and brought wandering (masterless) samurai to his retainer. He was first helping the Ashikaga, wanting to install Ashikaga Yoshiaki as shogun. But Yoshiaki was recalcitrant so he drove him out, bringing Ashikaga rule to an end. He destroyed Buddhist temple’s military, economic, and political power, (burned temples and massacred monks) ending power of Buddhist establishment in Japan. He had new economic and social policies; ex: stabilize exchange rate of different coins and collected tax registers to gauge land worth and assert authority. |
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| Late 1500’s. Also came from obscure background. Nobunaga was attacked so he committed suicide. He was Nobunaga’s avenger. Nobunaga controlled central Japan but Northern and Western Japan still had independent warlords. He controlled them and became a single ruler of Japan. He looked to monarch to legitimize his rule. He rebuilt Kyoto court, took Fujiwara name (also claimed descent from sun god), and appointed himself as retired regent. He gained wealth through controlling commerce in Osaka and Sakai. He issued currency (gold coins). He had Daimyo pay for projects and military service on demand. He instituted a nationwide land survey and fix a name to every plot, made samurai wear two swords (to distinguish them from others), etc… Invaded Korea. |
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| Late 1500 to early 1600. Came from obscure background, was a supporter of Hideyoshi. He strengthened his retainers’ devotion and loyalty by making them dependent on rewards. He left his kin alive and honored them as his relatives and relied on his advisors and generals. He fought battles he knew he could win and he built an administrative system based on ideas of his peers. He won over most of his rivals. |
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a. Family (clan) that served the retired monarchs in Japan
b. Family fought against the Taira family for control of court
c. They were one of the four great clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period — the other three were the Fujiwara, the Taira, and the Tachibana. |
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a. Victor against the Inland Sea Pirates
b. Hereditary clan that were rivals of Minamoto clan
c. The Oda clan in the time of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) claimed descent from the them, by Taira no Chikazane, a grandson of Taira no Shigemori (1138-1179). |
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a.War between the Taira and Minamoto clans
b.Resulted in the Kamakura shogunate (Minamoto Yoritomo)
c.Lasted 5 years between 1180-1185
d.Battle for dominance over imperial court, and by extension, Japan |
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a.First of the Kamakura shoguns
b.Married Hojo Masako, most famous woman in pre-modern Japan
c.Received formal confirmation of his authority |
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a.Period from 1180-1333
b.Military dictatorship headed by shoguns
c.Draws its name from the capital of the shogunate
d.Political rise of the warrior class
e.Time of relative peace |
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a.Were regents of the Kamakura shogunate
b.Came from Hojo Masako’s (Minamoto Yoritomo’s wife) clan line
c.Family helped Yoritomo secure his position |
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| Around 1200 in Kamakura… She was Yoritomo’s wife, and exercised authority in his name, also promoted Hojo Interests… When he died she held together a coalition of housemen and allies who pledged loyalty to him. Numerous people were killed who threatened her power. She presented herself as the incarnation of Yoritomo’s ideals. Although she enriched her husbands legacy, she did it in ways that supported the HOJO |
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| After the Taira had been defeated, Yoritomo found new ways to perpetuate his claim to govern japan. To rein in lawlessness and reward his followers, Yoritomo began to replace Taira supporters on estates by appointing estate stewards and making them responsible for keeping the peace and continuing to forward the income owed Kyoto. Just as estate personnel remained administratively distinct from provincial governors, so did they remain independent of military governors. Each one received benefits and rights called Shiki, guaranteed by kamakura not Kyoto, therefore they remained loyal. |
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| A title, commonly translated as "Governor," given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan. The position gave way to the emergence of the daimyō (feudal lords) in the late 15th century, as they began to claim power over lands themselves, rather than serving simply as governors on behalf of the shogunate. |
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After the decay of the ritsuryō system in Japan, a feudal system of manors developed. Landowners or nameholders commended shares of the revenue produced (called shiki) to more powerful leaders often at the court, in order to be exempted from taxes and to subvert the Chinese-style "equal fields" system, whereby land was redistributed after certain periods of time. In the Kamakura period a hierarchy of nameholder, manor stewards (jitō), shugo (military provincial governor), and the shogun in Kamakura had evolved. These were completely free from interference from the government, which therefore had no say or control of what occurred within the shōen's boundaries.
By the end of the Heian period virtually all Japanese land had become this and continued to be through the Ōnin War until the Sengoku period marked the defeudalization of Japanese society. |
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| a system of “alternate residence” the Shogunate imposed on the Daimyo. Every other year, each Daimyo was expected to make a carefully coordinated from their homes to the city of Edo. In an effort to make the trip more costly and burdensome, they were ordered to travel only by land, carrying a set number of items as well as a vast number of (somewhat useless) retainers. This was intended to divert the Daimyo’s attention from accruing excessive power. Travel consumed 65% of each domain’s income. |
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| a feudal system that dominated the Edo period of Japan that stressed partnership between the military government (Shogun/Bakufu) and the domain (led by the Daimyo). Villages were granted some degree of autonomy, so long as they remained loyal to the Shogunate. The Shogun monopolized foreign relations and trade, yielding massive profits. While the Emperor was still the legitimate ruler of Japan, he retained close contact with the Bakufu and delegated many of his responsibilities to them. |
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| Also known as the Tokugawa period, it was the age of Shogun rule. Characterized by a long and lasting peace, great economic prosperity, and a stable balance between central and local governments. The status system, based on Confucian ideals, was determined by specialization (weapon prowess, artisanal skills, etc). Warriors rose to the top ranks, farmers in the middle, and merchants at the bottom. |
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| During Edo, the city’s economy flourished and it became one of the nation’s greatest cities. Was significantly weakened by a series of rebellions sparked to expel foreigners, which prompted the Emperor to move to Tokyo. |
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| Initially an obscure fishing village, Nagasaki rose to prominence upon the arrival of the Portuguese to its ports in 1543. The Japanese soon forged a close trade relationship with Portugal, with the added bonus of the Portuguese serving as trade intermediaries between Japan and China (who were still quite hostile toward one another). During the Sengoku period, the city effectively became a Portuguese Jesuit colony and a refuge for Christians suffering elsewhere in Japan. Frightened of their growing influence, Hideyoshi encouraged the persecution of missionaries and other Jesuits while allowing traders to continue their work uninhibited. Upon taking over, the Tokugawa family banned Catholicism and enacted a campaign of persecution against remaining Christians. |
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| Man-made island that served as a Dutch trading post from 1641 until 1853. Located in the bay of Nagasaki, it was one of the few remaining trade sites linking Japan and Europe during the Sakoku (closed door period). |
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| Aristocrat, official, mother and writer who lived at a time when the role of women in Japan was in transition. As a young girl, Meishi served as a maid to the the monarch Kogon’s mother, Kogimonin. Sometime before 1331, while Meishi was fulfilling official public functions, she started a romance with Kogimonin’s nephew. Her nephew, Kinmune, belonged to Saionji, a powerful branch of the Fujiwara. After Go-Daigo dethroned Kogon, their marraige was seen as the unification of two aristocratic opponents of Go-Daigo’s rule. Subsequently, they were both arrested for plotting against Go-Daigo. Years later, she wrote memoirs of her romance and time as an official. |
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| (1222-1282) Born in a fishing village northeast of Tokyo, he later became the most notorious figure in Japan’s religious history. As a young monk, he became convinced that the Lotus Sutra was the ultimate teaching that embodied the ultimate truth. He then set out to discredit the other Pure land and Zen sects blaming natural disasters and foreign invaders on them. He was exiled twice but eventually pardoned. |
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* Served as Japan’s chief market and commercial hotspot.
* Site of rising urban culture that paralleled Edo and Kyoto
* A large portion of the population was merchants and bunraku, kabuki, and ukiyo-e were prominent |
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* Warrior elite
* Hierarchy within the samurai class was strictly defined in the Edo Period
* Within the Tokugawa Period the role of samurai as warriors declined and they increasingly became bureaucrats and administrators
o They were still encouraged to practice the fighting arts but it was more of an art than a practical necessity in the time of peace
* Samurai were given a fixed stipend of koku depending on their status level within the hierarchy and were restricted to castle towns
* They could not own land.
* The theoretical obligations a samurai had to his lord were outlined by the shogunate under Confucian wording…solidifies shogunates power.
* The concept of bushido was solidified |
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* Samurai > Peasants > Artisans > Merchants
o Eta and Hinin were outside of this hierarchy on the very bottom
* The Imperial family and aristocratic families were above the samurai
* Peasants were more esteemed than artisans and merchants because they were actually productive in the Confucian view.
o Peasants did agriculture which benefited everyone
o Merchants only made money and were the leech of society
* It is also notable that priests and monks did not fit into this hierarchy. |
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