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Minamoto Yoritomo, chose
not to rule from the Imperial capital of Kyoto. He preferred to distance
himself from the court and feeling more secure at his base in Kamakura
made this the new military capital. Yoritomo now controlled much of
Japan, and was finally proclaimed Shogun,
1192. Theoretically, the post was under the emperor, but a shogun
could deploy armies without the Emperor's  permission.
The emperor was largely powerless before the shogun and so Kamakura
became the true court of government, while Kyoto remained as the imperial
court, without power.
This was the beginning of the era of shoguns a feudal period to be
ruled by the bushi (militaristic samurai). In
this era, new Buddhist sects are founded: Jodo-shin-shu,
Nichirenite and Zen,
which was taken up by the military class.
Yoritomo died in 1199, and his successors died soon after. The house
of Minamoto finally perished when the third shogun Minamoto-no-Sanetomo,
was assassinated in 1219. A power struggle ensued between Emperor
Gotoba, and Hojo Masako, Yoritomo's
widow. Masako had the support of many clans and finally the Hojo defeated
the imperial army. After this, the emperors were totally under control
of the Kamakura shogunate.
The Hojo, a family of Taira descent, ruled Japan as shikken
(hereditary regents) from 1199 to 1333. For more than 100 years the
Hojo maintained their rule.
Mongol Invasion: 1274/1281
Kubla Khan, the new leader of the Mongols had over run China, and
now set his sights on Japan. The first attack, 1274, comprised a fleet
of some 600 ships with thousands of soldiers. Severe storms wrecked
the fleet while it gathered in Hakata Bay
with losses of around 13,500 men.
A second attempt in 1281, utilised a much larger army, around 4,000
vessels (many with cannon) and 100,000 soldiers. This time Japan had
prepared with a fortified coastal wall at Hakata Bay. The invasion
was held off for 7 weeks and then on the brink of a Japanese defeat,
a typhoon over swept and annihilated the Mongol fleet. The typhoon
was dubbed Kamikaze (divine wind).
The Mongol invasions were a serious drain on Hojo resources, and they
were unable to reward vassals for their support. Government become
inept and the time was ripe for a new power. |
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