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[[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] established himself in Kamakura in [[1180]] as he called his banners to war against the [[Taira clan]]. Once the dust settled in 1185, he made the city the seat of his new shogunate.
[[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] established himself in Kamakura in [[1180]] as he called his banners to war against the [[Taira clan]]. Once the dust settled in 1185, he made the city the seat of his new shogunate.
During the Kamakura period, the city saw a number of significant religious developments. The [[Hojo clan (Hojo Regents)|Hôjô clan]], regents to the shoguns, heavily patronized [[Zen]] Buddhism, and Kamakura joined Kyoto as one of the chief centers of Zen practice in the country. The monk [[Nichiren]] also founded his [[Nichiren Buddhism|Lotus Sect]] school of Buddhism in Kamakura in the 13th century.
The core of the city was fairly small, and remains so today; major samurai residences and offices were located in close proximity to one another, and to the Hachiman Shrine, and all of this was only a short distance from the beach. This geography factored significantly in the events of the [[1213]] [[Wada Conflict]], in which [[Wada Yoshimori]] launched attacks against shogunal regent [[Hojo Yoshitoki|Hôjô Yoshitoki]]. Since their residences were located in such proximity to one another, it was impossible for Wada to hide his military preparations from the Hôjô; by the time he launched his attack, various top-ranking members of the Hôjô clan had already taken refuge within the shrine, or fled otherwise. Still, the attack took place, with Wada seeking to destroy the homes of the Hôjô regent, the shogun [[Minamoto no Sanetomo]], and chief Hôjô retainer [[Oe no Hiromoto|Ôe Hiromoto]]; his forces were pursued down the main boulevard to the beach, and then back up into the city, before being defeated.<ref>Karl Friday, ''Samurai Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan'', Routledge (2004), 1-5. </ref>
During the Kamakura period, the city saw a number of significant religious developments. The [[Hojo clan (Hojo Regents)|Hôjô clan]], regents to the shoguns, heavily patronized [[Zen]] Buddhism, and Kamakura joined Kyoto as one of the chief centers of Zen practice in the country. The major temples of Kenchô-ji and Engaku-ji were founded in [[1253]] and [[1282]] respectively. Each features gardens designed by [[Muso Soseki|Musô Soseki]], and houses a number of [[National Treasures]] and [[Important Cultural Properties]]. The monk [[Nichiren]] also founded his [[Nichiren Buddhism|Lotus Sect]] school of Buddhism in Kamakura in the 13th century.
The city saw considerable violence again in the 1330s, as forces loyal to the shogunate, and to [[Emperor Go-Daigo]], battled over control. The city fell to Imperial forces led by [[Nitta Yoshisada]] in [[1333]], and before the end of the year, the shogunate officially fell, and the last Hôjô regent, [[Hojo Takatoki|Hôjô Takatoki]] committed suicide. Takatoki's son, [[Hojo Tokiyuki|Hôjô Tokiyuki]], then retook the city, however, in [[1335]], holding it for only a brief time before [[Ashikaga Takauji]] took it from him later that year.
The city saw considerable violence again in the 1330s, as forces loyal to the shogunate, and to [[Emperor Go-Daigo]], battled over control. The city fell to Imperial forces led by [[Nitta Yoshisada]] in [[1333]], and before the end of the year, the shogunate officially fell, and the last Hôjô regent, [[Hojo Takatoki|Hôjô Takatoki]] committed suicide. Takatoki's son, [[Hojo Tokiyuki|Hôjô Tokiyuki]], then retook the city, however, in [[1335]], holding it for only a brief time before [[Ashikaga Takauji]] took it from him later that year.
