The Story of the Japanese 00557 [Early Kamakura Period] Overview of the Early Kamakura Period
In 1192, Yoritomo was appointed Seii Taishogun, and the Kamakura period truly began in earnest. The Kamakura period is generally considered to be divided into three eras.
・The era of the Minamoto Shoguns
・The era of the Regent (Shikken) government
・The era of Tokuso autocracy
Among these, I would like to summarize the era of the Minamoto Shoguns under the title of the "Early Kamakura Period." The era of the Minamoto Shoguns refers to the period when the following three Minamoto Shoguns reigned:
・1st: Minamoto no Yoritomo: In office 1192–1199
・2nd: Minamoto no Yoriie: In office 1202–1203
・3rd: Minamoto no Sanetomo: In office 1203–1219
While it is a bit arbitrary to draw the line at 1219, the year Sanetomo died, I would like to define the "Early Kamakura Period" as lasting until 1224, the year Hojo Yoshitoki died.
The Emperors of this era were as follows:
・82nd Emperor Gotoba: Reigned 1183–1198
・83rd Emperor Tsuchimikado: Reigned 1198–1210
・84th Emperor Juntoku: Reigned 1210–1221
・85th Emperor Chukyo: Reigned 1221
・86th Emperor Go-Horikawa: Reigned 1221–1232
The strong-willed Retired Emperor Gotoba attempted to overthrow the Kamakura Shogunate, leading to the Jokyu War, but he was defeated, and the power dynamic between the Imperial Court and the Shogunate was completely reversed. The three retired emperors—Gotoba, Tsuchimikado, and Juntoku—were all exiled, and Emperor Chukyo was deposed, marking the most humiliating event in the history of the Imperial family. From Emperor Go-Horikawa onward, the Imperial family was forced into a position of complete subservience to the Kamakura Shogunate.
To understand the Kamakura period, it is necessary to focus not only on the power relationship between the Emperor and the Shogun but also on the power relationship between the Shogun and the Regent (Shikken). The Regents of this era were the following two men:
・1st: Hojo Tokimasa: In office 1203–1205
・2nd: Hojo Yoshitoki: In office 1205–1224
We will examine how these two men stripped the Shogun of his authority and how they eliminated influential figures among the gokenin (vassals). While the frequency may be lower than during the Genpei War, this was a volatile era marked by ongoing warfare and assassinations. I intend to describe these events by focusing as much as possible on the personalities of each individual gokenin.