Kamakura Japan

1
Kamakura Japan

• The Triumph of Samurai

2
The Rise of Military andProvincial Forces

• The court conflicts drew in supporters from
  militarily strong clans from outside of Heian
• the Hogen conflict between a retired and a
  reigning emperors caused the conflict between the
  taira clan and Minamoto clan
• The Tairas victory was followed by the Minamoto
  clans revenge led by Yoritomo (the Gempei War,
  1180-1185) who soon killed his brother,
  Yushitsune
• Yoritomo became the first shogun who established
  Bakufu (tent government) in Kamakura in the east

3
The Kamakura System

• Shogun being appointed by the emperor, with the
  power to appoint local military protectors and
  land stewards, while the imperial provincial
  government continue to function
• The military protector in charge of local
  security, while land stewards in charge of
  managing absentee landlords estate and collecting
  tax
• Shoguns power of appointment was the foundation
  of vassalage similar to European feudal system
  loyalty to the shogun was rewarded with land
  (wealth) and power in the given localities
• The differences the power-sharing with Heian
  aristocracy a centralized feudal system no
  formal contractual tradition no land title to
  the stewards, which would change later

4
Heian v. Kamakuraco-existence and conflict

• Heian aristocracy and Kamakura warriors shared no
  common political and cultural identities, but
  Bakufu chose to work within the imperial system,
  instead of replacing it
• Gradual encroachment of land stewards military
  protectors at the expense of imperial control
  land proprietors
• Heian-Kamakura clash in 1221 under Emperor
  Go-Toba

5
The Hojo Regents

• After Yoritomos death in 1199, Bakufu was under
  the control of his widow, Masako, while the
  shogun became a puppet,
• The conflict among the Hojo members was a
  reflection of the Fujiwaras with much bloodshed
  Masakos father was eventually removed by the
  daughter
• The Joei Code of 1232 clarifying the boundaries
  of power in the given offices such as the
  stewards, defining land rights of warriors and
  inheritance (womens rights compared to that of
  China)

6
Mongol Invasion the Collapse ofCentralized
Feudalism

• In 1274 and 1281, Khubilai Khan invaded Japan,
  Bakufu resisted vigorously, but the attempts were
  largely stopped by kamikaze, the divined wind
• Japanese preparation for war lasted until 1312,
  which increased shogunates power vis-à-vis
  Kyoto, but alienated samurai, who didnt have
  their rewards, as they would in domestic conflict
• Bushdo, the way of warriors the myth and
  reality in Kamakura Japan royalty betrayal,
  honor and treachery, selfless and selfishniess

7
The Kenmu Restoration1333-1336

• Emperor Go-Daigo took advantage of a weakend
  Bakufu, allied with anti-Hojo warriors led by
  Ashikaga Takauji, a Minamoto lineage, finished
  Kamakura regime
• Ashikaga Bakufu in Heian and the conflict between
  Ashikaga and Go-Daigo,
• Continuous civil war up to 1600