- Hōjō clan
.
"See the
late Hōjō clan for the Hōjō clan of theSengoku Period ".The nihongo|Hōjō clan|北条氏|hōjō shi in the
history of Japan was a family ("shikken ", officially aregent ) of theKamakura Shogunate . However, the family had actual governmental power, many times dictatorial, rather than Kamakurashoguns , or the Imperial Court, who were merely legal symbols. The Hōjō are also known for their defiance of theMongols , and fathering the spread ofZen Buddhism andBushido , but also extreme decadence and making national decisions in secret meetings at private residences.Bloodline
The Hōjō were an offshoot of the
Minamoto 's arch enemy, theTaira of the Kammu branch, originating inIzu Province . The Hōjō gained power by supporting the extermination of their close relatives the Taira by intermarrying with and supportingMinamoto no Yoritomo in theBattle of Dan-no-ura . Just 18 years after, the Hōjō ursurped power with Yoritomo's passing.Rise to Power
Hōjō Tokimasa helped
Minamoto no Yoritomo , a son-in-law, defeat the forces of theTaira to become Japan's firstShogun .Hōjō Masako , Tokimasa's daughter was married to Yoritomo. After the death of Yoritomo, Tokimasa became Regent to the child Shogun, effectively permanently transferring control of the Shogunate to his clan. The Minamoto and even Imperial Princes became puppets and hostages of the Hōjō.Major Early Events
With the protector of the Emperor (shogun) a figurehead himself, strains emerged between Kyoto and Kamakura, and in 1221 the
Jōkyū War broke out between the CloisteredEmperor Go-Toba and the second regentHōjō Yoshitoki . The Hōjō forces easily won the war, and the imperial court was brought under the direct control of the shogunate. The shogun's constables gained greater civil powers, and the court was obliged to seek Kamakura's approval for all of its actions. Although deprived of political power, the court retained extensive estates.Several significant administrative achievements were made during the Hōjō regency. In 1225 the third regent
Hōjō Yasutoki established the Council of State, providing opportunities for other military lords to exercise judicial and legislative authority at Kamakura. The Hōjō regent presided over the council, which was a successful form of collective leadership. The adoption of Japan's first military code of law—theGoseibai Shikimoku —in 1232 reflected the profound transition from court to militarized society. While legal practices in Kyoto were still based on 500-year-old Confucian principles, the new code was a highly legalistic document that stressed the duties of stewards and constables, provided means for settling land disputes, and established rules governinginheritance s. It was clear and concise, stipulated punishments for violators of its conditions, and remained in effect for the next 635 years.As might be expected, the literature of the time reflected the unsettled nature of the period. The "
Hōjōki " describes the turmoil of the period in terms of the Buddhist concepts of impermanence and the vanity of human projects. The "Heike monogatari " narrated the rise and fall of the Taira, replete with tales of wars and samurai deeds. A second literary mainstream was the continuation of anthologies of poetry in the "Shin Kokin Wakashū ", of which twenty volumes were produced between 1201 and 1205.Fall from Power
The Hōjō were betrayed by a vassal,
Ashikaga Takauji , ordered to defeat the forces allied withEmperor Go-Daigo in 1333.List of Hōjō "Shikken"
1
Hōjō Tokimasa (1138 -1215 ) (r.1203 -1205 )
2Hōjō Yoshitoki (1163 -1224 ) (r.1205 -1224 )
3Hōjō Yasutoki (1183 -1242 ) (r.1224 -1242 )
4Hōjō Tsunetoki (1224 -1246 ) (r.1242 -1246 )
5Hōjō Tokiyori (1227 -1263 ) (r.1246 -1256 )
6Hōjō Nagatoki (1229 -1264 ) (r.1256 -1264 )
7Hōjō Masamura (1205 -1273 ) (r.1264 -1268 )
8Hōjō Tokimune (1251 -1284 ) (r.1268 -1284 )
9Hōjō Sadatoki (1271 -1311 ) (r.1284 -1301 )
10Hōjō Morotoki (1275 -1311 ) (r.1301 -1311 )
11Hōjō Munenobu (1259 -1312 ) (r.1311 -1312 )
12Hōjō Hirotoki (1279 -1315 ) (r.1312 -1315 )
13Hōjō Mototoki (?-1333 ) (r.1315 )
14Hōjō Takatoki (1303 -1333 ) (r.1316 -1326 )
15Hōjō Sadaaki (1278 -1333 ) (r.1326 )
16Hōjō Moritoki (?-1333 ) (r.1327 -1333 )Aside from the regents above, those who played an important role among the Hōjō clan are:
*Hōjō Sanetoki
*Hōjō Masako References in Media
- The
Taiheiki (Japanese: 太平記) is a Japanese historical epic, written in the late 14th century that details the fall of the Hōjō clan and rise of theAshikaga , and the period of war (Nanboku-chō ) between the Northern Court ofAshikaga Takauji inKyoto , and the Southern Imperial Court ofEmperor Go-Daigo inYoshino , which forever splintered theJapanese Imperial Family . Multiple modern films have been made based on the epic novel.-The
Triforce , fromNintendo 's exceedingly popular "The Legend of Zelda " series, also resembles the Hōjō clan's crest.ee also
*
Shogun ,
*Shikken , Hōjō hereditary post
*Tokuso , Hōjō hereditary post
*Rensho , Hōjō hereditary post
*Rokuhara Tandai , Hōjō security force, Hōjō hereditary post
*Kamakura shogun
*History of Japan
*Kanazawa Bunko
*Mongol invasions of Japan
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