3.4 Kamakura Period End of Regime

The Hōjō clan ruled during much of the Kamakura Period. For the most part, it was relatively peaceful; however, in a turn-about, the peace was disturbed by Emperor Go-Toba who wanted to rule.

Emperor Go-Toba (1180–1239) reigned from 1183 through 1198.  Go-Toba acceded to the throne in the midst of the Genpei War. He was placed on the throne by the Minamoto (Genji), after the Taira (Heike) had abandoned Kyoto. He had been forced to abdicate and became a cloistered emperor from 1198 until 1221 but much less power than the cloistered emperors of the Heian Era.  He had had enough. He was determined to decide on lines of succession. Without consulting the shogunate, he made his announcement, and then invited a great number of potential allies to Kyoto for a great festival which would demonstrate their allegiance. Those who attended would be loyal to him; those who refused the invitation would be loyal to the shogunate.  Several days later, the Imperial Court declared Hōjō Yoshitoki, the regent, to be an outlaw, which started the Jokyu War.

The war did not turn out well for Go-Toba. In an ironic twist, the main battle was at Uji. Here the Imperial army fought their final stand at the bridge over the river Uji where the opening battle of the Genpei War was fought, 41 years earlier. While the first battle had led to Go-Toba’s eventual enthronement, this battle led to his banishment to Oki Island. Go-Toba’s sons, as well as the former emperors, Tsuchimikado and Juntoku, and the recently enthroned Emperor Chūkyō, were also banished. Emperor Chūkyō was replaced with Emperor Go-Horikawa. Go-Toba never returned but did spend his time on culturally related pursuits.

Things went relatively quietly until 1266, when Kublai Khan dispatched emissaries to Japan, essentially demanding that Japan become a vassal and send tribute. Receiving no reply, Kublai Khan dispatched an army. The Mongols made their way to Hakata Bay, and the two forces joined in combat. Things looked grim for the Japanese after that first day. Then, a miracle happened. Around nightfall, a typhoon appeared, destroying the Mongol fleet. In 1281, the Mongols returned sending a huge force. However, on August 15, a massive typhoon that lasted for two days wiped out most of the fleet. Many of the Mongol commanders had left early and the leaderless remnants of the invading force were massacred. The great typhoon created the legend of Kamikaze (Divine Wind).

The bakufu maintained defenses for 20 more years but the Mongols never returned. That was also the year when the Kamakura regime started its decline. Defense was expensive, straining finances. Samurai were disillusioned because there was no booty to distribute after the invasions and because they were no longer attached either to the shoguns, who had become figureheads, or to the Hōjō, who lived luxurious lives. The court system declined and property rights were no longer protected. The Hōjō became more despotic. Hōjō Takatoki who loved dogfighting so much he would accept dogs in lieu of taxes owed and would have the populace bow to champion dogs as they paraded around the streets in palanquins. The Hōjō even lost allies by killing them as in the Shimotsuki Incident, in which the Adachi clan was almost eliminated with 500 killed. Chaos began breaking out throughout Japan.

In 1318, Go-Daigo acceded to the throne. Go-Daigo planned to rule as emperor, and neither to abdicate nor to be a titular emperor. Emperor Go-Daigo made plans to restore the monarchy and to overthrow the shogunate. The bakufu sent Ashikaga Takauji after Go-Daigo and his supporters. Ashikaga Takauji was not only a leading general, but also ambitious and wanted to be shogun. Ashikaga Takauji changed sides and joined the emperor fighting the Hōjō. 

Meanwhile an army headed by Nitta Yoshida was moving on Kamakura. Nitta Yoshida’s forces attacked Kamakura and burnt the city. The Hōjō clan and its retainers committed mass suicide, thus ending Hōjō power and the Kamakura shogunate.

Ashikaga Takauji entered Kyoto on June 19th and Go-Daigo entered the Palace at the end of July 1333. This was the start of the Muromachi Period.