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The Kamakura shogunate was the first of three [[shogunate]]s 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]].

The Kamakura shogunate was the first of three [[shogunate]]s 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 [[Heian period|Imperial period]], including tax structures and the system of ''[[shoen|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. Shogunal retainers are believed to have numbered only around 2,000 in the period from 1185-[[1221]], and around 3,000 afterwards.

This first shogunate left much intact from the preceding [[Heian period|Imperial period]], including tax structures and the system of ''[[shoen|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. Shogunal retainers are believed to have numbered only around 2,000 in the period from 1185-[[1221]], and around 3,000 afterwards. The total population of the archipelago may have been around 9.75 million in 1300.<ref>Robert Tignor, [[Benjamin Elman]], et al, ''Worlds Together, Worlds Apart'', vol B, Fourth Edition, W.W. Norton & Co (2014), 410.</ref>

The Imperial Court retained considerable power during this period, with some scholars describing the Kamakura period as one of dual governance. While the shogunate appointed military governors (''[[shugo]]'') and stewards (''[[jito|jitô]]'') to the [[provinces]], the Court continued to appoint civil governors (''[[kokushi]]''), who also worked to govern these regions and to collect taxes; the Court also continued to exercise more direct control over the areas around Kyoto. Powerful Buddhist temples, [[retired emperor]]s, and [[kuge|court nobles]] also continued to wield considerable wealth and influence.

The Imperial Court retained considerable power during this period, with some scholars describing the Kamakura period as one of dual governance. While the shogunate appointed military governors (''[[shugo]]'') and stewards (''[[jito|jitô]]'') to the [[provinces]], the Court continued to appoint civil governors (''[[kokushi]]''), who also worked to govern these regions and to collect taxes; the Court also continued to exercise more direct control over the areas around Kyoto. Powerful Buddhist temples, [[retired emperor]]s, and [[kuge|court nobles]] also continued to wield considerable wealth and influence.

==References==

==References==

*Albert M. Craig, ''The Heritage of Japanese Civilization'', Second Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 35-41.

*Albert M. Craig, ''The Heritage of Japanese Civilization'', Second Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 35-41.

 

[[Category:Kamakura Period]]

[[Category:Kamakura Period]]

[[Category:Political Institutions]]

[[Category:Political Institutions]]