Causes of Clan Rivalries
- Power Vacuums
- After the Gempei War and the rise of the Kamakura Shogunate, power often shifted when a shogun or regent died, leading to succession disputes among samurai families.
- Land and Wealth
- Clans fought for shoen (private estates) and control of trade routes, as land ownership meant political and military strength.
- Regional Loyalties
- Samurai served local daimyō more than the central government, which encouraged independent rivalries.
- Weak Central Authority
- The Kamakura government depended on loyalty, not bureaucracy. When loyalty faded, rebellion spread.
- Influence of Regents
- The Hōjō clan, who ruled as regents after Yoritomo’s death, often clashed with other samurai families who resented their control.
Definition
Daimyō
- Regional lords who ruled local areas and commanded their own samurai armies.
Definition
Shoen
- Private estate or manor worked by peasants and controlled by samurai or temples.
Major Conflicts and Internal Divisions
- Hōjō Dominance
- The Hōjō family maintained power as regents, but their strict rule led to resentment among other clans.
- Widespread Rebellions
- Disgruntled samurai and imperial loyalists (supporters of the emperor) staged uprisings, including the Jōkyū War (1221) led by Emperor Go-Toba.
- Failure of Rewards
- After the Mongol invasions (1274, 1281), the government couldn’t pay samurai for their defense efforts, causing widespread frustration.
- Rival Power Centers
