#muromachiperiod

Japan's Military Rulers: The Shoguns

For nearly 700 years, shoguns held absolute power over Japan as military dictators, commanding armies and nobles through an intricate feudal system. Established in 1192 CE by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the shogunate transformed Japanese politics and remained the dominant governing force until 1868—a remarkable run of power that shaped the entire medieval and early modern Japanese experience.

Key Facts

The shogun system was founded in 1192 CE and lasted until the Meiji Restoration in 1868 CE

Three major shogunate governments ruled sequentially: Kamakura (1192-1333), Ashikaga (1338-1573), and Tokugawa (1603-1868)

Shoguns ruled through a feudal system where vassals pledged military service and loyalty to their lords in exchange for protection and land

Between 1203-1333 CE, regents governed on behalf of child shoguns or puppet rulers

The Japanese emperor remained largely ceremonial but retained the power to legitimize shoguns with their official title

Historical Context

Medieval Japan developed a uniquely decentralized power structure where the emperor, though revered, held little actual authority. Real power rested with military strongmen who could command samurai armies and control the feudal networks of lords and vassals that bound Japanese society together.

Historical Significance

The shogunate system represented one of history's longest-lasting military regimes, fundamentally reshaping Japanese governance, culture, and social hierarchy. This feudal arrangement—with its emphasis on honor, loyalty, and martial prowess—created the foundation for samurai culture and established patterns of power that would persist even after the shoguns' formal rule ended.[1]

Source: http://nihongami.blogspot.com/2020/07/1_29.html

Japanese Hairstyles: Historical Overview Part 02: Women’s Hairstyles of the Edo Period, Part 01

Hairstyle Name: Hitotsu Hyougo (一つ兵庫) lit. “First Army Warehouse”

Japanese Castles

Fortifications of one kind or another had been used in Japan since ancient times, but in the period from 1576 until 1639, a new and distinctive style of castle was constructed. Rather than being used for fighting, these were impressive structures intended to enhance the power and prestige of the person that built them. The most famous surviving example of this style of architecture is Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture.

Himeji Castle Keep

Adrian Grey (CC BY-NC-SA)

Japanese War Tales

War tales (gunki monogatari) is a genre of historical writing that developed in Japan from the Heian Period (794-1185) to the Muromachi Period (1333-1573). They form an important element in the development of the Japanese literary tradition, as they provide information about the various wars in Japan and became an important source of stories that were reused and popularized by subsequent generations of writers and dramatists.

Japanese Hairstyles: Historical Overview Part 02: Women’s Hairstyles of the Edo Period, Part 01

Hairstyle Name: Karawa-mage (唐輪) lit. “Chinese Wheel”

     As Japan welcomed trade with its neighbors, news trickled in about serious matters, such as political and military affairs, and not so serious matters, such as what beautiful women in other countries looked like. Prostitutes took this information to heart, as a beauty from the Yoshiwara once said: “If our outfits and hairstyles do not differ from those of the usual urban women, how will we look more attractive to men?” Knowing this, it’s easy to understand how the first trendsetters were prostitutes, whose houses would have at least one, if not a whole brigade, of hairdressers on the payroll. So, while noble ladies continued the tradition of “sagegami,” prostitutes experimented.