【History】Medieval Japan: The Era of the Samurai!
Hello everyone! Let’s dive into the "Medieval" (Chusei) period of Japanese history together.
You might think, "History is just too much to memorize, I'm not a fan..." but don't worry! In a nutshell, the Medieval period was an era when "Samurai began to steer the course of society with their own power." The "samurai" you see in modern anime and movies started gaining power during this time. Read on as if you were following a dramatic story!
It might feel a bit tricky at first, but if you focus on the key points, it’s actually quite straightforward. Let’s get started!
---1. The Birth of the Kamakura Shogunate: The Dawn of the Samurai Era
Toward the end of the Heian period, samurai who had gained significant power began to stand at the center of politics. Their leader was Minamoto no Yoritomo.
Samurai Feudal Relationships: Give and Take
There was a very strong "bond" between the Shogun (the leader) and the Gokenin (vassal samurai). You can think of this like a modern "contractual relationship."
- Go-on (Favor): The Shogun granting or confirming the Gokenin's land ownership. This is the "Give" part.
- Hoko (Service): The Gokenin serving the Shogun by fighting in wars or guarding Kyoto and Kamakura. This is the "Take" part.
【Key Point!】
This relationship centered around "land" is called the feudal system. To a samurai, land was more important than life itself, so they fought desperately to protect it. There is a theory that the Japanese word "Issho-kenmei" (meaning "with all one's might") originated from the phrase "Ichijo-kenmei" (meaning "risking one's life to protect one's land").
The Political Structure of the Kamakura Period
After Yoritomo passed away, actual power was seized by his wife’s family, the Hojo clan. They ruled by taking on the position of "Shikken" (Regent).
Also, the "Goseibai Shikimoku" (Formulary of Adjudications), the first set of laws specifically for samurai, was created by Hojo Yasutoki. This clarified legal standards and allowed samurai to live their lives with clear expectations.
★Test Alert! Summary
・1185 (or 1192): Establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate
・Minamoto no Yoritomo: First Shogun
・Go-on and Hoko: The promise between Shogun and vassals
・Goseibai Shikimoku: Rules for the samurai (Hojo Yasutoki)
2. The Mongol Invasions (Genko) and the Decline of the Shogunate
The Kamakura Shogunate seemed stable, but then a major crisis hit: the Genko (Mongol Invasions).
The Mongol Empire Arrives!
The Mongol Empire, the most powerful force in the world at the time, attacked Japan twice (the Bun'ei and Koan campaigns).
The samurai struggled against the Mongols' coordinated battle tactics and gunpowder weapons (called "tetsuhau"), but with the help of typhoons, they managed to repel them.
Why did the Shogunate get weaker? (Common Pitfall!)
You might think, "They won the war, so the Shogunate should have gotten stronger, right?" Actually, it was the opposite.
【The Reason】
・Since the Genko was a defensive war against a foreign enemy, they didn't capture any new land.
・Because there was no new land, the Shogun couldn't give "Go-on" (new territory) to the samurai who had fought so hard.
・Samurai struggled with debt, and their dissatisfaction with the Shogunate exploded.
Trivia: Tokuseirei (Debt Cancellation Acts)
The Shogunate issued "orders to cancel debts" to help the struggling samurai, but this made money lenders stop lending money altogether, which actually caused even more chaos in society.
3. The Muromachi Shogunate and the Strife of the Northern and Southern Courts
In cooperation with samurai dissatisfied with the Shogunate, Emperor Go-Daigo toppled the regime. However, fighting broke out again between the samurai, and Ashikaga Takauji opened the Muromachi Shogunate in Kyoto.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku: Two Cultures
The trick to remembering the Muromachi period is to pair the Shogun with their corresponding culture!
- Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (3rd Shogun): Began Kango trade with China (Ming Dynasty). Built the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) (Kitayama Culture).
- Ashikaga Yoshimasa (8th Shogun): Wasn't great at politics, but loved the arts. Built the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku) (Higashiyama Culture).
【Memory Trick!】
・Yoshimitsu (mitsu) = He was "mitsu" (full) of power, so he built the shiny Golden Pavilion.
・Yoshimasa (masa) = "Masa" ka (Are you kidding?)—it's not silver! It's the elegant Silver Pavilion.
【Key Point!】
The Shoin-zukuri architectural style created during this era (Higashiyama Culture) is the root of modern Japanese rooms (tatami mats, alcoves, and sliding doors). It's a culture very close to our lives today.
4. Moving Toward an Era of "Gekokujo"
As the power of the Shogunate faded, the trend of Gekokujo—where the low-ranking overthrow the high-ranking through sheer ability—grew stronger. The spark for this was the Onin War, which left Kyoto in flames. This led directly into the Sengoku (Warring States) period, which would last for about 100 years.
Ingenuity of the Sengoku Daimyo
The Sengoku Daimyo (such as Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin) who emerged across the country used creative methods to strengthen their domains:
・Bunkoku-ho: Creating strict laws exclusive to their own territory.
・Jokamachi (Castle Towns): Gathering merchants around their castles to boost the economy.
Trivia: Village Autonomy
Around this time, farmers also organized themselves to protect their own villages. They were called "So," and they held meetings to decide their own rules. People in old Japan had a really strong spirit of cooperation.
5. Summary and Review of the Medieval Period
Finally, let's check the big picture to help you master this era!
- Kamakura Period: The Minamoto and Hojo clans. The era when samurai rules were solidified.
- Muromachi Period: The Ashikaga clan. The era when modern Japanese lifestyle culture (tatami, tea ceremony) was born.
- Sengoku Period: Meritocracy! The era when Sengoku Daimyo showed their unique strengths across the land.
【How to avoid common mistakes】
・Don't mix up the "Goseibai Shikimoku" (Kamakura) with "Bunkoku-ho" (Sengoku)!
・Don't forget the order of the "Kinkaku" (Yoshimitsu) and "Ginkaku" (Yoshimasa)—Gold comes first.
"History is the accumulation of the intense passions of those who lived it. If you think not just about memorizing, but about 'why did this person act this way?', it becomes much more fun. Take it one step at a time, and you'll do great. I'm rooting for you!"