Shogun

Kanji shogun

Sakanoue Tamuramaro

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Taira no Masakado 01

Taira no Kiyomori Portrait by Fujiwara Tamenobu and Takenobu

Minamoto no Yoritomo

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Dai Nihon Rokujūyoshō, Izu Hōjō Sagaminokami Tokimasa by Yoshitora

Shogun was a title given to the military dictators of Japan who ruled the country from the late 12th century until the mid-19th century. The term "shogun" is short for "Sei-i Taishōgun", a title originally used to designate the commander of the expeditions against the Ainu people, but it eventually came to mean the military governor who ruled in place of the emperor. The shogunate system, known as bakufu in Japanese, was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo following his victory in the Genpei War (1180–1185) and was officially recognized by the emperor in 1192. This marked the beginning of the Kamakura Shogunate, the first of several shogunates that would govern Japan.

History

The history of the shogunate in Japan is divided into several periods, corresponding to the dominance of specific clans and the shogunates they established.

Kamakura Shogunate (1185–1333)

The Kamakura Shogunate was founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo. It was characterized by a feudal system in which the power was shared between the shogun and the samurai lords, known as daimyos. The Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 were significant events during this period, showcasing the samurai's military prowess.

Muromachi Shogunate (1336–1573)

After the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate, the Muromachi Shogunate, also known as the Ashikaga Shogunate, was established by Ashikaga Takauji. This period was marked by the Onin War, leading to a century of conflict and the division of Japan into warring feudal states during the Sengoku period.

Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573–1603)

Though not officially a shogunate, the Azuchi-Momoyama period was dominated by powerful daimyo who unified Japan, leading to the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Notable figures include Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Tokugawa Shogunate (1603–1868)

The Tokugawa Shogunate, also known as the Edo period, was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara. It was characterized by a strict social order, economic growth, and a policy of national isolation (sakoku), which lasted until the arrival of Commodore Perry and the "black ships" in 1853, leading to the opening of Japan to the West and the eventual fall of the shogunate in the Meiji Restoration.

Structure and Governance

The shogun was the supreme military leader of Japan, with the emperor serving a largely ceremonial role. The shogunate was a feudal system that relied on the loyalty of vassal lords (daimyos) who controlled their own lands and samurai warriors. The shogun's government was based in the shogun's capital, first in Kamakura, then in Kyoto during the Muromachi period, and finally in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Tokugawa period.

Cultural Impact

The shogunate periods were times of significant cultural development in Japan, including the emergence of Zen Buddhism, the tea ceremony, and the art of the samurai. The isolationist policies of the Tokugawa Shogunate also preserved Japanese traditions that continue to influence Japanese culture today.

End of the Shogunate

The Tokugawa Shogunate came to an end with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which restored imperial rule to Japan and initiated a period of rapid modernization and industrialization. The abolition of the shogunate marked the end of feudal Japan and the beginning of the modern era.