Medieval Japan

Introduction: Welcome to the Medieval World!

Hello everyone! Let's explore the world of "Medieval Japan" together. When you hear "the Middle Ages," you might immediately imagine warriors with swords fighting in battle. That's exactly right! The major theme of this era is "the process by which the center of political power shifted from the aristocracy to the samurai."
You might feel overwhelmed at first by the complex titles and intricate human relationships, but don't worry. If we break them down one by one and compare them to modern systems, you’ll definitely be able to master them. This is a frequently tested area on the Common Test, so let’s focus on the key points to study efficiently!

1. The Establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate: The Rise of the Samurai Leader!

Minamoto no Yoritomo, who defeated the Taira clan at the end of the Heian period, established the Kamakura Shogunate in 1192 (though 1185 is now considered the more likely date by many historians). Why Kamakura? Because for the samurai of the Eastern provinces—Yoritomo’s base of support—it was a location that was easy to defend and unified.

[Important] Go-on and Hōkō (Grants and Service)

The secret to the Kamakura Shogunate’s strength lay in the "give-and-take" relationship between the Shogun and his vassals (gokenin).
・Go-on (Grants): The Shogun guaranteeing the vassals' land or granting them new territory. It provided the security of having one’s property officially recognized: "This land is yours!"
・Hōkō (Service): The vassals serving the Shogun through military service (fighting in wars) or guard duty. The expression "Iza Kamakura!" (To Kamakura!) comes from this obligation to answer the Shogun's call to arms.
If we compare this to a modern company, it’s like an employment contract: "I pay you a salary (Go-on), so you work hard for me (Hōkō)."

The Regency Politics of the Hōjō Clan

After Yoritomo passed away, actual power was seized by the Hōjō clan, the family of his wife, Masako. They did not take the title of "Shogun," but instead ruled from the position of "Shikken" (Regent), acting as supporters of the Shogun.
・The Jōkyū War (1221): Retired Emperor Go-Toba attempted to overthrow the Shogunate, but his forces were soundly defeated. As a result, the Shogunate's influence spread rapidly across Western Japan.
・Goseibai Shikimoku (1232): The first legal code for samurai, created by Hōjō Yasutoki. Its purpose was to clarify the standards for judicial trials. The name might sound intimidating, but just remember it as: "A set of rules for the samurai, by the samurai, and of the samurai."

[Key Points]
・Keep in mind that throughout the Kamakura period, the Hōjō clan led politics as Regents.
・Remember that the Rokuhara Tandai was established after the Jōkyū War to keep a close eye on Kyoto.

2. The Mongol Invasions and the Decline of the Kamakura Shogunate

In the latter half of the 13th century, the world's most powerful force at the time, the Mongol Empire (Yuan dynasty), attacked Japan (known as the Genkō).

Why was the Shogunate in a pinch?

The samurai fought desperately and, aided by typhoons, managed to drive back the Mongol forces. However, a major problem arose afterward.
"We won the war, but there is no new land to distribute!" In previous wars, they could take the enemy's land and divide it among the victors, but since this was a defensive war, there was no enemy territory to seize.
They provided Hōkō (risking their lives to fight), but could not receive Go-on (rewards). Samurai who felt this injustice lost faith in the Shogunate. This was the biggest reason for the Shogunate's collapse.

[Did you know?] Tokuseirei (Debt Cancellation Acts)
To save samurai struggling with poverty, the Shogunate issued the Einin Tokuseirei, which essentially "wiped away their debts." It helped temporarily, but afterward, no one would lend money to samurai, causing the economy to fall into even greater chaos. A classic case of good intentions having the opposite effect... a tragic piece of history.

3. The Establishment of the Muromachi Shogunate and the Strife of the Northern and Southern Courts

After the Kamakura Shogunate fell, Emperor Go-Daigo began the Kenmu Restoration. However, because his policies ignored the interests of the samurai, the project failed quickly. This is when Ashikaga Takauji stepped up.

Two Emperors, Two Imperial Courts

Ashikaga Takauji installed a different Emperor in Kyoto, while Emperor Go-Daigo fled to Yoshino in Nara. This resulted in the Northern and Southern Courts period, where two emperors existed simultaneously for about 60 years.
This situation was resolved by the 3rd Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. He is also famous for building the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).

The Structure of the Muromachi Shogunate: The Rise of the Shugo Daimyo

The Muromachi Shogunate was weaker than the Kamakura Shogunate and needed the cooperation of the Shugo (provincial constables), who were the leaders of the various regions. These Shugo gradually began to exert control over their local territories, evolving into Shugo Daimyo.

[Common Mistake]
・In the Kamakura period, "Shugo" were mainly responsible for military and police duties.
・In the Muromachi period, "Shugo" evolved into something like "Daimyo," eventually controlling the land and taxes of their regions.
Make sure you understand this shift!

4. Exchanges with East Asia and Economic Development

The Middle Ages was also a period when trade with overseas countries became extremely active.

Kango Trade (Japan-Ming Trade)

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu initiated trade with China (the Ming dynasty). To prove that their trade ships were official, they used tally cards called Kango. This was necessary because pirates known as the "Wokou" were running rampant, and they needed a way to distinguish official ships from pirates.

Industrial Power-up

Agriculture also evolved during this era: ・Double cropping: Growing two crops a year in the same field (such as rice and wheat).
・Teiki-ichi (Periodic markets): Markets held at fixed locations several times a month.
・Monetary economy: Coins imported from China, such as "Song coins" and "Ming coins," began to be used all over Japan.

[Key Points]
As the economy develops, people begin to organize. Guilds of people in the same profession were called "Za," and village self-governing organizations were called "Sō." These are key terms that frequently appear on tests!

5. The Dawn of the Sengoku (Warring States) Period

In 1467, the Ōnin War broke out in Kyoto, triggered by a dispute over the Shogun's succession. It lasted for 11 years, leaving Kyoto in ruins. The authority of the Shogunate collapsed completely.

A World of Gekokujō

A climate of Gekokujō—"those below overthrowing those above"—spread, where anyone with talent could topple their superiors. Japan plunged into the Sengoku period. Instead of Shugo Daimyo, Sengoku Daimyo (Warring States lords) appeared, controlling land through sheer strength.

[Did you know?: Medieval Culture]
・Kamakura Culture: Powerful and rustic (e.g., the Kongōrikishi statues at Tōdai-ji's Nandaimon gate).
・Muromachi Culture: A mix of aristocratic elegance and samurai strength (e.g., Kinkaku-ji/Ginkaku-ji, Noh theater, and the tea ceremony).
Many of the "traditional arts" of Japan as we know them today were formed during this Muromachi period.

Conclusion: Summary of this Lesson

Finally, let's review the key points from this article!

1. The Kamakura period was a contract-based society of "Go-on and Hōkō"!
2. The Genkō (Mongol invasions) caused a lack of land to grant, which triggered the Shogunate's collapse!
3. During the Muromachi period, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu unified the Northern and Southern Courts and promoted overseas trade!
4. After the Ōnin War, Japan entered the "Sengoku period," an age where only strength mattered (Gekokujō)!

If you focus on "who controls the land and how different parties are connected to achieve that," the Middle Ages becomes much easier to understand. It might feel difficult at first, but try to enjoy it as a story. Good luck with your studies, I'm cheering for you!