Kamakura shogunate

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  • Dates: 1192-1333
  • Japanese: 鎌倉幕府 (Kamakura bakufu)

The Kamakura shogunate was the first of three shogunates to govern Japan. Based at Kamakura, roughly 30 miles southwest of the villages that would later develop into Edo and then Tokyo, the Kamakura shogunate was founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo following his victory over the Taira clan in the Genpei War of 1180-1185.

This first shogunate left much intact from the preceding Imperial period, including tax structures and the system of shôen, or private estates. The bakufu was a rather small government, with only three offices: one administering and enforcing shogunate policy, one overseeing shogunal retainers, and one which dealt with judicial matters. Shôen holders continued to enjoy their tax exemptions, collecting and keeping taxes within their own lands, and taxes likewise continued to be collected in much the same way as they had been under the Heian court, with a portion of the taxes going to the shogunate and its retainers, and the remainder going to the Imperial Court.

Kamakura Shoguns

Preceded by:
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Kamakura Shogunate
1192-1333
Succeeded by:
Muromachi shogunate

References

  • Albert M. Craig, The Heritage of Japanese Civilization, Second Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 35.