Kamakura period: Difference between revisions

== Shogunate and Hōjō Regency ==

 

Once Minamoto Yoritomo had consolidated his power, he established a new government at his family home in Kamakura. He called his government a ''bakufu'' (幕府, tent government), but because he was given the ancient high military title ''[[shōgun|Sei-i Taishōgun]]'' by [[Emperor Go-Toba]], the government is often referred to in Western literature as the shogunate. Yoritomo followed the [[Fujiwara clan|Fujiwara]] form of house government and had an administrative board {{nihongo|[[Mandokoro]]|政所}}, a board of retainers {{nihongo|[[Samurai-dokoro]]|侍所}}, and a board of inquiry {{nihongo|[[Monchūjo]]|問注所}}. After confiscating estates in central and western Japan, he appointed [[jitō|stewards]] for the estates and [[shugo|constables]] for the provinces. As ''shōgun'', Yoritomo was both the steward and the constable general. The Kamakura shogunate was not a national regime, however, and although it controlled large tracts of land, there was strong resistance to the stewards. The regime continued warfare against the [[Northern Fujiwara]], but never brought either the north or the west under complete military control. However, the 4th leader of the Northern Fujiwara [[Fujiwara no Yasuhira]] was defeated by Yoritomo in 1189, and the 100-year-long prosperity of the north disappeared. The old court resided in [[Kyoto]], continuing to hold the land over which it had jurisdiction, while newly organized military families were attracted to Kamakura.