Changes

*''Japanese'': 戦国時代 (''Sengoku jidai'')

*''Japanese'': 戦国時代 (''Sengoku jidai'')

The Sengoku Period, which translates to the Warring States Period, is generally used to describe the period of civil war starting with the beginning of the [[Onin War]], in 1467.  Scholars differ on the exact dates, however. Some take it to [[1568]], when [[Oda Nobunaga]] entered [[Kyoto]].  Others consider the end to be [[1573]], coinciding with the last [[Ashikaga clan|Ashikaga]] shogun, and the end of the [[Muromachi Period]]. Some even take it up through the first years of the 17th century and the [[Edo Period]], when the [[Tokugawa Bakufu]] united the country.

The Sengoku (lit. "warring states") period was a period civil war starting with the beginning of the [[Onin War|Ônin War]] in [[1467]].  Scholars differ on the exact dates, however. Some cite [[1568]], when [[Oda Nobunaga]] entered [[Kyoto]], as marking the end of the Sengoku period, while others consider the end to be [[1573]], coinciding with the last [[Ashikaga clan|Ashikaga]] shogun, and the end of the [[Muromachi period]]. Others still cite [[1600]] ([[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] victory at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]]), [[1603]] (the establishment of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]), or [[1615]] (the defeat of the [[Toyotomi clan]] in the [[Osaka Campaigns]]), as marking the end of war, and the beginning of the ''Pax Tokugawa''.

This period of chaos overlaps with the end of the [[Muromachi Period]] and the [[Azuchi-Momoyama Period]].

This period of chaos overlaps with the late Muromachi period, and with the entirety of the [[Azuchi-Momoyama period]].

==History==

==History==

The Sengoku Period is characterized by the rise of the [[daimyo]] in the countryside, while the power [[Ashikaga Shogunate]] in the capital waned.  As the shogunal court grew more insular, the [[shugo]] in the provinces lost their authority. Local lords--sometimes the previous vassals of the shugo--rose to fill the void, becoming the new daimyo. In the mid-16th century, samurai constituted roughly 7-8% of the population; this has been contrasted with a figure of members of the "feudal class" comprising only 0.25% of the population of medieval England.<ref>[[Albert M. Craig]], ''The Heritage of Japanese Civilization'', Second Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 59.</ref>

The Sengoku period is characterized by the rise of the ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' in the countryside, while the power of the Ashikaga shogunate in the capital waned.  As the shogunal court grew more insular, the ''[[shugo]]'' in the provinces lost their authority. Local lords - sometimes the vassals of the ''shugo'' - rose to fill the void, becoming the new ''daimyô''. In the mid-16th century, samurai constituted roughly 7-8% of the population; this has been contrasted with a figure of members of the "feudal class" comprising only 0.25% of the population of medieval England.<ref>[[Albert M. Craig]], ''The Heritage of Japanese Civilization'', Second Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 59.</ref>

Lesser houses would enter into vassalage under these new local powers, entering into a new age of feudalism. Disputes regarding resources or territories could lead to armed conflict between local lords and their allies.     

Lesser houses would enter into vassalage under these new local powers, entering into a new age of feudalism. Disputes regarding resources or territories could lead to armed conflict between local lords and their allies.     

During this period, there would be many more changes. Portuguese would land at Tanegashima, eventually bringing guns and Christianity to Japan.

During this period, there would be many more changes. Portuguese would land at [[Tanegashima]], eventually bringing [[teppo|guns]] and [[Christianity]] to Japan. As the ''daimyô'' grew stronger, many invested heavily in the expansion of the productive capacities of their territories, building irrigation networks or other public works in order to increase the amount of rice or other commodities produced, and thus increasing tax revenues, in order to fuel their military efforts.<ref>[[Eiko Ikegami]], ''Bonds of Civility'', Cambridge University Press (2005), 35.</ref>

In these tumultuous times, some of the local daimyo became even more ambitious, looking to install their own rule over the country.  Three of these daimyo would eventually succeeed in uniting the country--[[Oda Nobunaga]], [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].

In these tumultuous times, some of the local ''daimyô'' became even more ambitious, looking to install their own rule over the country.  Three of these ''daimyô'' would eventually succeed in uniting the country--[[Oda Nobunaga]], [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].

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