April 1185 – After the defeat of the Taira at Dannoura, Minamoto Yoritomo assumes control in Kamakura.
May 1185 – Minamoto Yoshitsune arrives in Kyoto with Minamoto Munemori and other Taira captives. He is given rewards and court titles by Go-Shirakawa but this infuriates Minamoto Yoritomo. Minamoto Yoritomo declares that anyone who accepts gifts or appointments from the Imperial Court are considered unloyal to the Minamoto family and will be punished.
June 1185 – Minamoto Yoshitsune escorts the Taira prisoners to Kamakura but is stopped at Koshigue, a small village outside of Kamakura. The prisoners are taken and interrogated in Kamakura, but Minamoto Yoshitsune is not allowed to enter the city. After interrogation the prisoners are sent back to Kyoto under Minamoto Yoshitsune’s guard, but Minamoto Yoritomo changes his mind and sends troops to catch them and kill the prisoners. Minamoto Yoshitsune goes then to Kyoto.
Sepetember 1185 – Minamoto Yoritomo orders the attack on Minamoto Yukiie’s army. Minamoto Yukiie calls on Minamoto Yoshitsune for assistance. Word (falsely) reaches Kamakura that Minamoto Yoshitsune is planning to use this opportunity to revolt against Minamoto Yoritomo, in alliance with Minamoto Yukiie. Minamoto Yoritomo orders Minamoto Yoshitsune to attack Minamoto Yukiie, but Minamoto Yoshitsune declines for reasons of health.
November 1185 – Minamoto Yoritomo sends a hundred men, led by a renegade monk (Tosabo Shoshun), to attack and kill Minamoto Yoshitsune. The attackers are defeated and Tosabo Shoshun is killed. Go-Shirakawa orders Minamoto Yoshitsune and Minamoto Yukiie to proceed to Kamakura and punish Minamoto Yoritomo. Both leave Kyoto and head west to collect men and supplies. Minamoto Yoritomo sends troops to Kyoto and forces Go-Shirakawa to cancel his previous order and the emperor issues an order for Minamoto Yoritomo to punish Minamoto Yoshitsune and Minamoto Yukiie (who had fled).
December 1185 – The Establishment of the Jito system. Stewards (jito) and Constables (shugo) are appointed in all provinces and on all land (private and public) to collect a “commissariat tax” (hyoro-mai). This tax is ostensibly to be used to support the pursuit of rebels and those who represent a threat, but in reality it is imposed to gain total control over the nation’s land. (Since Japan has a land-based economy, he who controls the land controls the country too.)
April 1186 – After declining to accept the position several times, Fujiwara Kanezane becomes Regent at the insistence of Minamoto Yoritomo until 1199. The levy of the commissariat rice tax is suspended.
June 1186 – Minamoto Yukiie is finally found, captured, and killed. Soon after, Shizuka, Minamoto Yoshitsune’s lover and companion, is captured and interrogated but she does not reveal Minamoto Yoshitsune’s whereabouts.
June 1189 – Minamoto Yoritomo finds out that Minamoto Yoshitsune is hiding in northern part of Mutsu province, Hiraizumi. He orders the local Fujiwara rulers to attack him and this order is obeyed after the third insistence. Minamoto Yoshitsune kills his wife and children and then he commits seppuku to avoid being captured. His head is sent to Kamakura for verification that it was in fact him.
September and October 1189 – Minamoto Yoritomo leads troops to conquer Mutsu and Dewa provinces in the north, the last strongholds unloyal to the Minamoto family in the country, governed by the Fujiwara clan. The provinces easily fall to the Kamakura government control.
December 1189 – Minamoto Yoritomo returns to Kamakura and spends the next year strengthening his control over the military class and over the country’s administration.
December 1190 – Minamoto Yoritomo goes to Kyoto and he sets up his headquarters in Rokuhara. He spends time discussing governmental appointments with Go-Shirakawa. He accepts several military titles, but no Imperial Court titles.
Early 1191 – The Kumonjo – Office of Administration (established in 1184) is converted into the Mandokoro with Oe Hiromoto remaining as its head. The Mandokoro is organised, a Shikken (director) presiding over a Board of Councillors. This was the highest administrative Bakufu organ.
1191 – Eisai introduces the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.
Spring 1192 – Go-Shirakawa dies. Go-Toba remains Emperor. There is no Secluded Emperor.
August 1192 – At Fujiwara Kanezane’s insistence (and at Minamoto Yoritomo’s too) Go-Toba gives Minamoto Yoritomo the title of Shogun, which Go-Shirakawa had refused to give him while he was alive.
1193 – Minamoto Yoritomo continues to distrust Minamoto Noriyori and has him assassinated.
1194 – Minamoto Yoritomo executes all the male members of the family of Yasuda Yoshisada (a loyal Minamoto supporter) after false accusations from a third person.
March 1195 – Minamoto Yoritomo attends a service in the Todaiji monastery from Nara and spends in Kyoto a few months.
November 1196 – Minamoto Michichika leads a revolt in Kyoto. Fujiwara Kanezane and his supporters are overthrown and Minamoto Michichika’s supporters are placed in power. His professed aim is to lead a return to Imperial rule and a diminution of Bakufu power but he real intent is just to remove all Fujiwara from offices.
1198 – Go-Toba abdicates and becomes Secluded Emperor. Tsuchimikado, Go-Toba’s infant son, becomes Titular Emperor until 1210. Minamoto Michichika had chosen him as Heir Apparent earlier in the year without seeking the input of Kamakura government. Minamoto Yoritomo does nothing about this demonstration of independence by Minamoto Michichika, but he announces that he will visit Kyoto in the near future (he dies before he makes the trip).
1199 – Minamoto Yoritomo dies after being thrown off a horse. Minamoto Yoriie, Minamoto Yoritomo’s eldest son and only 17 years old, succeeds his father’s offices. However Go-Toba doesn’t give him the title of Shogun until 1202 in order to stress the prerogative of the Throne. (This does not anger Kamakura Bakufu because everyone there questiones Minamoto Yoriie’s ability to govern.)
1202 – Minamoto Yoriie is appointed Shogun; the ceremonies are performed in Kamakura by the imperial envoys.
1203 – Minamoto Yoriie is forced to abdicate after becoming gravely ill and having attempted to have Hojo Tokimasa assassinated. Minamoto Sanetomo, Minamoto Yoriie’s younger brother only 11 years old, becomes third Minamoto Shogun. Hojo Tokimasa becomes Shikken (Head of the Office of Administration) and hence regent over the Shogun (a minor). Hojo Tokimasa was the real head of the government. (It is interesting to mention that the Hojo are of Taira lineage).
1204 – The Taira family in Ise uses the uncertain political climate in Kamakura as a chance to rise in revolt, but the revolt is easily put down. Hojo Tokimasa’s men assassinate Minamoto Yoriie in Izu province, where he had been living in exile.
1205 – Hojo Tokimasa conspires to kill Minamoto Sanetomo but the plot is discovered. Hojo Tokimasa is forced to resign and lives in exile in Izu under surveillance. Hiraga, the Deputy Shogun in Kyoto, is also part of the plot and he is killed by the troops sent from Kamakura. Hojo Tokimasa’s son, Hojo Yoshitoki, becomes Shikken and Regent.
1206 – Konoe Ieznae becomes Imperial Regent until 1228.
1207 – Honen Shonin is exiled from Kyoto.
1210 – Juntoku becomes Titular Emperor until 1221. Go-Toba remains as Secluded Emperor.
1213 – A large plot is uncovered to overthrow the Shogun Minamoto Sanetomo and replace him with a son of Minamoto Yoriie; many of the leaders of the plot are killed.
1219-1221 – Jokyu Era.
1219 – Minamoto Sanetomo is assassinated, thus bringing to an end the rule of Minamoto Shoguns. Fujiwara Yoritsune, Fujiwara Michiie’s infant son, then the Minister of the Left and a Minamoto descendant from Minamoto Yoritomo’s daughter, is brought from Kyoto to Kamakura. He is adopted into Masako’s house, and installed as Titular Shogun (although he is not granted the title for several years).
1221 – Kanenari (later known as Chukyo) becomes Titular Emperor. Go-Toba remains as Secluded Emperor. This state of facts lasts only for 70 days and then Chukyo is deposed.
June 1221 – Go-Toba raises an army and leads a rebellion against the Kamakura Shogunate. The rebellion is put down within a month. Both Go-Toba and Juntoku are banished; Tsuchimikado and the Emperor Kanenari are sent to distant provinces, but not put under arrest. The result is the supremacy of the Hojo regents in Kamakura. (This is known as the Jokyu no Hen – Jokyu Disturbance.)
July 1221 – The position of Deputy Shogun (Tandai) is established in Kyoto with offices maintained in Rokuhara. These offices were almost a duplicate of Bakufu offices in Kamakura and held complete control over Kyoto and all provinces west of it including, Mikawa as well.
Late 1221 – Go-Takakura becomes Secluded Emperor until 1223. Go-Horikawa (Go-Takakura’s son) becomes Titular Emperor. The Bakufu made it clear that they must approve before an Imperial Regent is chosen.
1222-1223 – Bakufu carries out a complete land survey in all provinces.
July 1224 – Hojo Yoshitoki dies. Hojo Yasutoki, his son, and Hojo Tokifusa, his brother, become co-Shikken and co-Regents. (In practice, Hojo Tokifusa preferred to let Hojo Yasutoki make the decisions).
Shinran, one of Honen’s students, founds the “True Pure Land” (Jodo Shinshu) Buddhism.
January 1226 – Hojo Yasutoki forms a Council of State (Hyojoshu) of 11 members which stay behind the Regent and advise the Shogun on all state matters. (It soon replaced the Mandokoro – Office of Administration and the Monchujo – Office of Inquery).
Fujiwara Mitora assumes the title of Shogun, and the name Yoritsune, at eight years old.
1226-1231 – Japan is shaken by six years of drought, famine, smallpox and other diseases, storms, floods, and earthquakes.
1227 – Dogen Zenji founds the Soto Zen Buddhism.
1228 – Kujo Michiie becomes Regent until 1231.
1230 – Fujiwara Yoritsune is married to one of Minamoto Yoriie’s daughters to give the impression of continuing Minamoto leadership.
July 1230 – Hojo Yasutoki announces an Act of Grace, a moratorium on payments of debt and other similar obligations. Soon after, an Imperial order is issued fixing the price of rice.
Early 1231 – An Imperial order is issued restricting expenditures and ordering the distribution of tax rice to the poor. The Bakufu issues orders to stewards (jito) and constables (shugo) to remit taxes in their provinces and undertake other measures of relief.
1232 – Go-Horikawa abdicates. His two-year-old son, Shijo becomes Titular Emperor. Go-Horikawa becomes Secluded Emperor until 1234. Kujo Yorimichi becomes Imperial Regent until 1235.
August 1232 – The Council of State (Hyojoshu) issues Joei Code (Joei Shikimoku). It was a simple digest of 51 administrative principles and regulations, used in the guidance of the gokenin serving under the Shogunate.
Winter 1232-1233 – Because of the severe hardships caused by several years of famine, a law is issued regarding the sales of human beings so that families can raise the money needed for survival.
1235 – Kujo Michiie becomes Imperial Regent again until 1237.
1236 – The monks from Mount Hiei and Kofukuji temple revolt. Many people are killed and a lot of damage is done. The Bakufu does not succeed in subduing them until near the end of the year.
1237 – Konoe Kanetsune becomes Imperial Regent until 1242.
April 1238 – The Shogun Fujiwara Yoritsune visits Kyoto. He receives numerous titles and stays in Kyoto for almost nine months.
1239 – The law allowing the sales of human beings is rescinded and the release of persons already sold is ordered.
February 1242 – Shijo dies suddenly and a succession dispute breaks out over Tsuchimikado’s son and one of Tsuchimikado’s younger brother, Juntoku. The Bakufu’s opinion is requested.
April 1242 – Tsuchimikado’s son is chosen by the Bakufu and becomes Emperor Go-Saga. (Hojo Yasutoki’s father still disliked Kamakura and he exiled Juntoku.) There is no Secluded Emperor.
1242 – Hojo Yasutoki dies and his grandson, Hojo Tsunetoki, becomes Shikken and Regent.
June 1244 – Fujiwara Yoritsune is forced to abdicate. He is replace as Shogun by his infant son, Fujiwara Yoritsugu, who is promptly married to one of Hojo Tsunetoki’s sisters.
April 1246 – Hojo Tsunetoki dies suddenly and his younger brother, Hojo Tokiyori, becomes Regent. Several outbreaks develop between supporters of the disposed Shogun Fujiwara Yoritsune and supporters of the new Regent Hojo Tokiyori.
September 1246 – Fujiwara Yoritsune is sent, under guard to live in Kyoto and is established in Rokuhara.
1246 – Go-Saga abdicates. Go-Fukakusa becomes Titular Emperor and Go-Saga becomes Secluded Emperor.
1247 – Miura Yasumura conspires against the Hojo family regency. After trying to settle it peacefully and seeing that the Miura family is arming, Hojo Tokiyori attacks and the entire Miura family is killed. From this time, the Hojo has no rivals in the east.
1249 – Hojo Tokiyori establishes a Standing Committee (Hikitsuke-shu) which investigates all suits and appeals brought to the Council of State. It consisted of the five members of the Mandokoro (Office of Administration) under a rotating chairmanship whose leader belonged to the three-member Council.
Late 1251 – A plot against the Bakufu is discovered and (correctly or not) attributed to the ex-Shogun Fujiwara Yoritsune. Hojo Tokiyori uses this as an excuse to remove Fujiwara Yoritsugu from the Shogunate.
April 1252 – Go-Saga’s son (and Emperor Fukakusa’s elder brother) Prince Munetaka, is chosen to replace Fujiwara Yoritsugu and is installed as Shogun.
1252 – The Fujiwara house splits into five houses and the post of Regent is filled in by rotation.
1253 – Nichiren founds Lotus (Hokke) school of Buddhism. (Commonly called the Nichiren School.)
1256 – Hojo Tokiyori retires on grounds of ill health to a monastery (but he continues to rule until his death in 1263). His son Hojo Tokimune becomes Shikken. But Hojo Tokimune is a minor so Hojo Nagatoki, a member of the Council of State, is appointed his guardian and Regent until 1264.
1257-1259 – Severe natural disasters plague the eastern provinces for two years. The Bakufu must shift its focus to problems of relief instead of governmental problems.
1260 – Go-Saga obliges Go-Fukakusa to abdicate. Kameyama becomes Titular Emperor. Go-Saga remains Secluded Emperor until 1272.
The Shogun, Munetaka, is married to one of Konoe Kanetsune’s daughters, a court noble and previous Imperial Regent.
Nichiren is banished from Kamakura for three years for his teachings against the Bakufu and other Buddhist schools.
1263 – Hojo Tokiyori dies. Nichiren returns to Kamakura and continues his preaching against the state and other Buddhist school. He is arrested, convicted of treason, and exiled on Sato Island.
1264 – Hojo Masamura replaces Hojo Nagatoki as Hojo Tokimune’s guardian and Regent.
July 1266 – The Shogun, Munetaka, is suspected of plotting against the Regent and he is stripped off his office by the Council of State (Hyojoshu) and sent to Kyoto. He is placed under house arrest in Rokuhara and Go-Saga is told to disown him, which he does. (However, several months later he is released, offered valuable estates, and Go-Saga is asked to accept him back in the family, which he did.)
August 1266 – Imperial Prince Koreyasu (Munetaka’s son) is sent to Kamakura and appointed Shogun until 1289.
1268 – Hojo Tokimune becomes Shikken and Regent.
1268 – Kubilai Khan sends envoys to Japan demanding that the Japanese become vassals of the Mongol state. Hojo Tokimune refuses and sends the envoys away.
1272 – Go-Saga dies. In his will he leaves the majority of his property and fortune to Kameyama instead of Go-Fukakusa (his eldest son) as custom dictated. A vicious power struggle between Go-Fukakusa’s and Kameyama’s supporters ensues. The Imperial line is divided into two branches each competing for the throne: the Senior (Jimyoin) branch represented by Go-Fukakusa and the Junior (Daikakuji) branch, represented by Kameyama.
1274 – Kameyama abdicates. His son, Go-Uda, becomes Titular Emperor. Kameyama becomes Secluded Emperor.
Nichiren is released from exile from the Sado Island and returns to Kamakura, where he continues his teachings.
November 1274 – The first invasion of Mongol, Chinese, and Koryo armies (Bunei War). They conquer Tsushima and Ikishima Islands, and then land on Kyushu Island near Hakata but they meet the Japanese forces gathered by the Shogunate. A storm destroys the enemy fleet and those who can, flee back to Korea.
May 1275 – Khubilai Khan sends further envoys to Japan to demand its submission to the Monogol state. The envoys are executed in October 1275 and the defence preparations in Kyushu continue for an expected second invasion.
June/August 1281 – The second invasion by Mongol, Chinese, and Koryo armies (Koan War). They land again on Kyushu Island near Hakata and they meet again the Japanese resistance who prepared well by building a protective wall along the coast. After a month of fighting, a storm destroys the Mongol fleet and the remainder of the attacking army flees to Korea. The Samurai developed a style of formation combat and depended more on the sword as a primary weapon in battle.
1284 – Hojo Tokimune dies. His son, Hojo Sadatoki, (14 years old) becomes Regent. One of his first tasks is to attempt to fulfil the demands from the warriors for compensation for their expenses and rewards for their successes during the Mongol invasions. But all of the Bakufu resources had been spent in Japan’s defence so there was virtually no money to distribute.
1286 – Complaints against the Bakufu or the Imperial Court for compensation or reward from the Mongol invasions are forbidden to be appealed directly to Kamakura or Rokuhara.
1287 – Go-Uda abdicates and becomes Secluded Emperor. Fushimi, Go-Fukakusa’s son, becomes Titular Emperor.
1289 – The Imperial Prince Hisaakira is appointed Shogun until 1308.
1290 – The Hojo family impose a compromise on the two competing lines of the Imperial family. The senior and junior lines now alternate in the succession to the throne.
1294 – The Bakufu decrees that no further claims for reward or compensation of the 1274 and 1281 Mongol invasions will be granted.
Khublai Khan dies and Japan finally is allowed to relax its defence.
1297 – In recognition of its continually mounting financial difficulties, the Bakufu decrees another Act of Grace (tokusei) which, among the many severe provisions, sets a maximum rate of interest and demands a partial cancellation of debts. Moneylenders and merchants are hurt and find ways to work around the laws. Eventually the Act proves unworkable and is amended within a year. (Thus leaving the warrior class indebted, impoverished, and unsatisfied.)
1298 – Fushimi abdicates and becomes Secluded Emperor. Go-Fushimi, his son, becomes Titular Emperor until 1301.
1301 – Hojo Sadatoki resigns from the office and enters religious life. His cousin, Hojo Morotoki, becomes Titular Regent until 1316. Hojo Sadatoki’s son, Hojo Takatoki, is too young to take the office. (Hojo Sadatoki will rule from behind the scenes until his death in 1311.) Go-Nijo (of the Junior line) becomes Titular Emperor until 1308. Fushimi remains Secluded Emperor.
1308 – Hanazono (of the Senior line) becomes Titular Emperor until 1318. Fushimi remains Secluded Emperor. The Imperial Prince Morikuni is appointed Shogun until 1333.
1316 – Hojo Takatoki is installed Shikken and Regent until 1333. (But by this time the power of the Hojo family has passed. In fact, in later years, Hojo Takatoki’s sanity is questioned. Numerous people all around the country look for an excuse to overthrow the Hojo family.)
1318 – Go-Daigo (of the Junior line and Go-Uda’s son) becomes Titular Emperor until 1339. Hanazono becomes Secluded Emperor.
1321 – The Office of Ex-Emperors (the Secluded Emperors) is abolished and many Imperial land holdings are taken over and given to the public treasury.
1326 – Go-Daigo names his son as Heir Apparent. This was contrary to the Bakufu’s demand that he named one of Go-Fushimi’s sons. Go-Daigo and his supporters recognise that the system of alternating Emperors has to stop and the decision of legitimacy has to be settled. To do this they realize that the Hojo family regency has to be overthrown.
May 1331 – Kamakura sends thousands of troops to Kyoto after one of Go-Daigo’s confidants informs the Bakufu that Go-Daigo is privy to many conspiracies against the Hojo family. Nikaido leads these troops.
September 1331 – Emperor Go-Daigo revolts against the Bakufu. He flees the capital and takes refuge in a temple on Mount Kasagi but is captured by the troops sent from Kyoto.
Late 1331 – Go-Daigo is exiled to Oki Island off the East Coast of Japan. Hojo Takatoki installs the prince Kogon (the senior line) as Emperor until spring 1333. All Imperial lands are taken over by the government. (Later, even the kuge, the court aristocracy, lost their lands and lived a meagre life at the mercy of the Shogunate.)
Spring 1333 – Go-Daigo escapes exile and resumes his revolt, this time at the head of a large uprising, which includes many powerful military leaders unhappy with the Hojo family rule.
June / July 1333 – Ashikaga Takauji (originally sent by the Kamakura government to defeat Go-Daigo) deserts to Go-Daigo’s side and captures Kyoto. Nitta Yoshisada leads an army of dissatisfied warrior families and defeats the Hojo famiiy in Kamakura.
To be continued: Muromachi (Ashikaga) Period
