Changes

*''Dates: [[1185]]-[[1192]]''

*''Dates: [[1185]]-[[1192]]''

*''Japanese:'' 鎌倉時代 ''(Kamakura jidai)''

*''Japanese:'' 鎌倉時代 ''(Kamakura jidai)''

==Culture==

==Culture==

Numerous significant religious developments took place in the period. The monk [[Nichiren]] established and spread his [[Lotus Sect]] school of Buddhism in the 13th century; figures such as [[Ippen]] and [[Kuya|Kûya]] spread their teachings during this time, too, with a variety of popular and millenarian Buddhist movements, including the [[Ji sect]], emerging as well. Much of these developments were tied into a widespread belief that the decline and eventual fall of the Heian period marked the entry into the period of ''[[mappo|mappô]]'' (lit. "end of the law"), a period in the grand cosmic cycle during which the religious laws governing the universe begin to fall out of order, and the ability to achieve salvation wanes. Worship in [[Amida]] Buddha, including especially belief in the practice of ''[[nenbutsu]]'', grew considerably in popularity at this time, as popular movements grew asserting that one needed not devote oneself fully to a proper Buddhist/monastic life of meditation, restraint, prayer, and ritual practice in order to achieve salvation, but rather that one could be saved by Amida, simply for chanting his name and expressing true faith. [[Zen]] was also introduced in this period - specifically, by the monk [[Eisai]], who returned from China in [[1191]], introducing [[Rinzai]] Zen along with powdered [[tea]] and other [[Song Dynasty]] cultural practices. [[Dogen|Dôgen]] then introduced [[Soto Zen|Sôtô]] Zen a few decades later, in [[1227]]. Zen received patronage from the [[Hojo clan (Hojo Regents)|Hôjô clan]], regents to the shoguns, and quickly became well-established, with Kamakura becoming a major center of Zen practice.

Numerous significant religious developments took place in the period. The monk [[Nichiren]] established and spread his [[Lotus Sect]] school of Buddhism in the 13th century; figures such as [[Ippen]] and [[Kuya|Kûya]] spread their teachings during this time, too, with a variety of popular and millenarian Buddhist movements, including the [[Ji sect]], emerging as well. Much of these developments were tied into a widespread belief that the decline and eventual fall of the Heian period marked the entry into the period of ''[[mappo|mappô]]'' (lit. "end of the law"), a period in the grand cosmic cycle during which the religious laws governing the universe begin to fall out of order, and the ability to achieve salvation wanes. Worship in [[Amida]] Buddha, including especially belief in the practice of ''[[nenbutsu]]'', grew considerably in popularity at this time, as popular movements grew asserting that one needed not devote oneself fully to a proper Buddhist/monastic life of meditation, restraint, prayer, and ritual practice in order to achieve salvation, but rather that one could be saved by Amida, simply for chanting his name and expressing true faith. [[Zen]] was also introduced in this period - specifically, by the monk [[Eisai]], who returned from China in [[1191]], introducing [[Rinzai]] Zen along with powdered [[tea]] and other [[Song Dynasty]] cultural practices. [[Dogen|Dôgen]] then introduced [[Soto Zen|Sôtô]] Zen a few decades later, in [[1227]]. Zen received patronage from the [[Hojo clan (Hojo Regents)|Hôjô clan]], regents to the shoguns, and quickly became well-established, with Kamakura becoming a major center of Zen practice.

Samurai administrators appointed to the provinces, as well as those situated within Kamakura, generally lived in fortified compounds known as ''yakata''. These were strictly conglomerations of wooden structures, often including some in the ''[[shinden-zukuri]]'' style of the Heian period, surrounded with moats, and looked little like the [[castles]] of the [[Azuchi-Momoyama period|Azuchi-Momoyama]] and [[Edo period]]s. The [[Asakura clan]] fortress at [[Ichijodani castle|Ichijôdani]] is a representative example.<ref>Gallery labels, National Museum of Japanese History.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/11737400955/in/dateposted-public/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/11737415975/in/dateposted-public/]</ref>

Samurai administrators appointed to the provinces, as well as those situated within Kamakura, generally lived in fortified compounds known as ''yakata''. These were strictly conglomerations of wooden structures, often including some in the ''[[shinden-zukuri]]'' style of the Heian period, surrounded with moats, and looked little like the [[castles]] of the [[Azuchi-Momoyama period|Azuchi-Momoyama]] and [[Edo period]]s. The [[Asakura clan]] fortress at [[Ichijodani castle|Ichijôdani]] is a representative example.<ref>Gallery labels, National Museum of Japanese History.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/11737400955/in/dateposted-public/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/11737415975/in/dateposted-public/]</ref>

The [[Mongol Empire]] launched two invasions of Japan, in [[1274]] and [[1281]]. Though both were unsuccessful, gaining no territory at all beyond landfall, efforts to defend against these invasions - and, in particular, efforts to strengthen preparations for defense against a third invasion which never came - severely weakened the shogunate. When [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] raised forces against the shogunate in [[1333]], in an effort to restore Imperial power, it fell fairly quickly. This [[Kemmu Restoration]] did not last long, however, as Go-Daigo's lead general, [[Ashikaga Takauji]], turned on him and established his own shogunate, the [[Ashikaga shogunate]], in [[1336]], marking the beginning of the [[Muromachi period]].

The [[Mongol Empire]] launched two invasions of Japan, in [[1274]] and [[1281]]. Though both were unsuccessful, gaining no territory at all beyond landfall, efforts to defend against these invasions - and, in particular, efforts to strengthen preparations for defense against a third invasion which never came - severely weakened the shogunate. When [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] raised forces against the shogunate in [[1333]], in an effort to restore Imperial power, it fell fairly quickly. This [[Kemmu Restoration]] did not last long, however, as Go-Daigo's lead general, [[Ashikaga Takauji]], turned on him and established his own shogunate, the [[Ashikaga shogunate]], in [[1336]], marking the beginning of the [[Muromachi period]].