Establishment of Samurai Government (Kamakura Shogunate, 1192)
- Minamoto Victory
- After the Gempei War (1180–1185), Minamoto no Yoritomo became the most powerful samurai leader in Japan.
- Creation of the Shogunate
- In 1192, Yoritomo was appointed shogun by the emperor, creating the Kamakura Shogunate, Japan’s first military government (bakufu).
- Shift in Power
- The shogun controlled military, land, and law, while the emperor became a figurehead.
- Feudal Structure
- Samurai pledged loyalty and service to their daimyō (regional lords) in exchange for land and protection.
- Political Stability
- This new system ended centuries of civil war and set the foundation for samurai rule that lasted for 700 years.
Definition
Daimyō
- Regional lords who ruled local areas and commanded their own samurai armies.
Definition
Bakufu
- “Government under the tent,” referring to Japan’s military-led government system.
Definition
Samurai
- Professional warriors loyal to daimyō or shogun, bound by honor and service.
Declining Power of the Emperor
- Loss of Authority
- The imperial court in Kyoto continued to exist but had no real control over Japan’s politics or military.
- Dependence on the Shogun
- The emperor relied on the shogunate for military protection and funding.
- Limited Influence
- Court nobles still performed religious and cultural duties but were removed from decision-making.
- Symbolic Role
- The emperor became a spiritual symbol, representing tradition and Shinto religion rather than governance.
- Long-Term Effect
- This separation between religious authority (emperor) and military power (shogun) shaped Japanese politics for centuries.
Definition
Feudalism
A system where land was exchanged for loyalty and military service.
Case study
Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Creation of the Kamakura Shogunate
Establishing Power
- Minamoto no Yoritomo built his base in Kamakura, far from the influence of the imperial court.
- He won support from eastern samurai, who valued his leadership and promise of land.
- The emperor granted him the title of shogun, officially recognizing his government.
- The Kamakura government created a dual system. Emperor for tradition, shogun for rule.
- Yoritomo used vassal loyalty and land rewards to maintain peace and order.
Political and Social Impact
- The Kamakura Shogunate centralized power under samurai authority for the first time.
- Land-based loyalty created a strong feudal bond between lords and samurai.
- The emperor’s role became ceremonial, marking the decline of aristocratic government.
- The success of this system inspired later shogunates like the Ashikaga and Tokugawa.
- It introduced a new model of governance that combined military strength and local administration.
Political, Legal, and Cultural Consequences
- Rise of Samurai Law
- The Joei Code (1232) created a legal system focused on land disputes and samurai behavior.
- New Social Order
- Samurai values of loyalty and discipline replaced courtly luxury and poetry as ideals of Japanese life.
- Regional Governance
- The shogunate appointed shugo (military governors) and jitō (estate stewards) to enforce law and collect taxes.
- Cultural Balance
- While Kyoto remained the cultural center, Kamakura became the heart of political and military life.
- Legacy
- The emperor’s decline allowed Japan to develop a strong feudal state, stable but decentralized.
Definition
Joei Code
- The first written legal code of the samurai government, issued in 1232 under the Kamakura Shogunate.
Case study
The Imperial Court in Decline (Late 12th–13th Centuries)
Causes of Decline
- The imperial court in Kyoto depended on taxes and donations but lost control over the provinces.
- Court nobles focused on poetry, art, and religion, while real power shifted to the samurai.
- The emperor’s family lost income as shoen estates came under samurai management.
- Attempts to regain power (like Emperor Go-Toba’s rebellion, 1221) failed against the Kamakura army.
- The emperor’s influence became purely symbolic, with limited involvement in state affairs.
Cultural Legacy
- The court continued to promote literature and art, preserving Japan’s classical culture.
- The Tale of Genji and other Heian-era traditions survived, influencing later samurai aesthetics.
- The emperor’s role as a spiritual leader tied Japan’s identity to Shinto beliefs.
- Despite losing political control, the imperial line remained unbroken, maintaining continuity and legitimacy.
- The emperor became Japan’s unifying symbol, even during samurai rule.
Common Mistake
- Overstating the Emperor’s Role: Students often assume the emperor still had political power after 1192.
- Ignoring Dual Governance: The coexistence of emperor and shogun is key to understanding medieval Japan.
- Forgetting the Feudal Element: The Kamakura Shogunate depended on land-based loyalty, not inheritance.
Exam technique
- Use Key Terms Correctly: Define shogun, bakufu, and feudalism clearly in essays.
- Explain Change: Describe how the samurai replaced the nobles as Japan’s ruling class.
- Include Both Sides: Discuss both the rise of samurai power and the decline of imperial authority for balance.
Self review
- Examine how the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate led to the decline of imperial authority in Japan.
- To what extent did the rise of the samurai transform Japan’s system of government?
- Assess the significance of Minamoto no Yoritomo’s rule in shaping Japan’s feudal political structure.
