Basic Human " Japan "Unalocated

Japan under the Kamakura Shogunate

Chapter 8: Japan under the Kamakura Shogunate

After the end of the Heian period, Japan entered a new period in its history, the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD). This period began with the end of the Genpei War, which marked the fall of the Taira clan and the victory of the Minamoto clan. The first ruler of the Kamakura period was Minamoto no Yoritomo, who founded the Kamakura shogunate and moved the seat of government from Kyoto to Kamakura.

The Kamakura shogunate replaced the system of government previously dominated by the noble class with a system that focused more on military power. During this time, samurai became a major force in Japanese government. Samura was a warrior trained in martial arts and loyal to his master. They were considered a higher class than the peasant and working class, and had great privileges in Japanese society.

The Kamakura shogunate also adopted a new concept in its system of government, the bakufu. Bakufu is a military system of government centered around the shogunate. This system gave great power to the shogun, the military leader who became the head of the bakufu.

During the rule of the Kamakura shogunate, Japan experienced rapid economic and trade growth. Trade with China, Korea, and other Southeast Asian regions grew, and Japan began importing many goods from abroad. In addition, cities were also flourishing, and many new trading centers were springing up all over Japan.

In the arts and literature, the Kamakura period was a period marked by Chinese cultural influences. Poems in the form of haiku began to develop at this time, and literary works such as The Tale of the Heike, which dealt with the civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans, also became popular.

However, the reign of the Kamakura shogunate was also marked by frequent conflicts and wars between samurai clans. Several rebellions occurred during this period, including the Jokyu no ran rebellion in 1221 AD, which was started by the former emperor Go-Toba and ended in the defeat of the imperial side.

In the end, the Kamakura shogunate collapsed in 1333 AD, after a rebellion by Ashikaga Takauji, a samurai who rebelled against the shogun at the time. This rebellion ended the Kamakura period and opened a new period in Japanese history, the Muromachi period.

Although the end of the Kamakura shogunate was marked by the fall of military power, its influence in Japanese history has remained considerable. The bakufu system introduced by the Kamakura shogunate continued to exist and evolve over the centuries, albeit with varying leadership.

In conclusion, the Kamakura period was an important period in Japanese history because it changed the system of government and gave great power to the samurai class. Although there were conflicts and wars, the Kamakura period also became an era of economic growth and the development of Japanese art and culture.

The Kamakura period in Japan also showed the importance of a military role in government. The bakufu system adopted by the Kamakura shogunate signifies that military and armed forces are key in maintaining stability and power. This is in contrast to the previous system of government which was dominated by a noble class trained in politics and administration.

However, the power of the samurai class in the Kamakura period was also inseparable from the conflicts and battles that occurred between the samurai clans. This suggests that power and influence in Japanese society at that time was also unstable and often depended on military capabilities.

On the other hand, the economic and trade growth during the Kamakura period also signified significant changes in Japanese society. The emerging trade centers across Japan became a symbol of economic growth and the development of cities. Trade with other countries also opened up opportunities for Japan to gain new goods and cultural influences.

In terms of art and literature, the influence of Chinese culture in the Kamakura period is very pronounced. This is reflected in Japanese fine art styles such as Zen and Wabi Sabi which have Chinese cultural roots. In addition, literary works such as The Tale of the Heike show how important history and tradition are in Japanese culture.

Overall, the Kamakura period marked a significant change in Japanese history. The new system of government, military power, economic growth and the development of art and culture became the hallmark of the Kamakura period. This period also gave rise to important figures in Japanese history such as Minamoto no Yoritomo and Ashikaga Takauji who had an important role in maintaining the stability and progress of Japan at that time.

heian and Kamakura -