Stock photo red pagoda with mt fuji as the background 110040665

Medieval Japan

By A.sealy
  • Jan 1, 1185

    Kamakura period started

    Medieval japan started with the kamakura period (1185 – 1333) this is when the bakufu was establish by Minamoto Yoritomo, bakufu is one of a line of military commanders who from 1192 until 1867 were generally the actual rulers of Japan, although nominally subordinate to the emperor.
  • Period: Nov 30, 1185 to Nov 30, 1333

    Kamakura Period

  • Dec 30, 1185

    Battle of Donnoura

    After the destruction of the Taira family at the battle of Dannoura yoritomo was granted the right to appoint his vassals, or gokenin as military governor (shugo) in the rovines and military stewards (jito) in both public and private landed estates. Shugo recruited metropolitan guards and kept strict control over subversive’s crimes. Jito collected takes, supervised the management of land estates, and maintained public order.
  • Nov 30, 1187

    1187 Myoan Eisai

    1187 Myoan Eisai
    Myoan Eisai returned from china and establish a linji lineage, which is known in japan as kinzai.
  • Nov 30, 1189

    1189 Warfare between brothers

    Yoritomo and his brother had a dispute which continued warfare after the Gempei war. Yoritomo finally destroyed the northern fujiwara family of mutsu province, which had sheltered his rebellious brother.
  • Nov 30, 1189

    1189 Buddhism in Japan

    1189 Buddhism in Japan
    Nonin, a Buddhist monk who started the first Zen school in Japan, sent two students to china, to meet with cho-on te-kuan, and ask for the recognition of Nonin as a Zen master. The recognition was approved.
  • Nov 30, 1192

    1192 Shogun Yoritomo

    Yoritomo went to Kyoto and was appointed shogun, the highest honor that could be awarded to a warrior. Later on shogun is associated with the head of a bakufu.
  • Nov 30, 1199

    1199 Death of Yoritomo

    1199 Death of Yoritomo
    Power in the bakufu passed into the hands of the Hojo family, from with Yoritomo’s wife, Masko, had come. Masakos father assumed the position of regent (shikken) for the shogun, an office that was held until 1333 by nine successive members of the Hojo family.
  • Nov 30, 1221

    1221 Jokyu Disturbance

    1221 Jokyu Disturbance
    Emperor Go-Toba, trying to restore his political power, issued a mandate to the country of the overthrow of Yoshitoki, Shogun and a distant relative of Yoritomo. However, the Hojo family dispatched a bukufu army that occupied Kyoto, and Go-Toba was arrested and banished to the island of Oki.
  • Nov 30, 1274

    1274 Mongol invasion

    1274 Mongol invasion
    In 1271 Kublai, Genghis khan’s successor, adopted the dynastic title of yuan, and shortly thereafter the Mongols began preparation for an invasion of Japan. A Mongol and Korean army of some 40,000 men set out from present –day South Korean while the army was able to occupied Kyushu they were later wiped out by a typhoon in Hakata bay, destroying more than 200ships of the invaders, and survivors returned to southern Korea. The Mongols tried again in 1281 but they were defeated. This was of crucia
  • Nov 30, 1333

    1333 Decline of Kamakura Society

    They borne virtually all the expense of military service against the Mongols, General economic conditions began to undermine the positions of the bakufu vassals. The Ashikaga, Asaki, Shonijan, Shimau families were among the most powerful among these