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==Geography & Major Sites==
==Geography & Major Sites==
The city is situated in a valley and its surrounding mountains. The main portion of the city is organized around [[Wakamiya-oji|Wakamiya-ôji]], a major boulevard which runs roughly directly north-south, from [[Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine]], nestled up against the mountains, to the beach in the south. Buddhist temples, other sites, and residential neighborhoods are scattered across the surrounding mountains.
The city is situated in a valley and its surrounding mountains. The main portion of the city is organized around [[Wakamiya-oji|Wakamiya-ôji]], a major boulevard which runs roughly directly north-south, from [[Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine]], nestled up against the mountains, to the beach in the south. Buddhist temples, other sites, and residential neighborhoods are scattered across the surrounding mountains. The sacred island of [[Enoshima]] lies a short distance to the southwest.
Two of the most famous sites in the city are Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, and the Kamakura Daibutsu (or, Great Buddha). Tsurugaoka was one of the chief patron shrines of the [[Minamoto clan]] (the clan of the first three Kamakura shoguns), and is dedicated to the warrior deity [[Hachiman]]. It was relocated by Yoritomo in [[1180]] to its current site at the northern end of Wakamiya-ôji, where it formed the core of the medieval city of Kamakura, around which the shogunate administrative offices, as well as the residences of the shogun and his chief retainers, were organized. The Daibutsu is easily of the most famous and widely-recognizable sights in all of Japan. The second-largest bronze Buddha statue in the country, it dates back to [[1252]]; it was originally located indoors, but though it has been left exposed to the elements since that hall was destroyed in a tsunami in [[1498]], the Buddha remains in its original location and has survived every natural disaster since. It is the only Buddha sculpture in the city to be designated a National Treasure.<ref name=bura>"[http://www.kamakura-burabura.com/meisyokamakuradaibutu.htm Kôtoku-in (Kamakura Daibutsu)]." Kamakura-burabura.com.</ref> Other significant temples and shrines in the city include [[Hasedera (Kamakura)|Hasedera]], founded in the 8th century, and the Shinto shrines [[Sasuke Inari Shrine|Sasuke Inari]] and [[Zeniarai Benten]].
Two of the most famous sites in the city are Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, and the Kamakura Daibutsu (or, Great Buddha). Tsurugaoka was one of the chief patron shrines of the [[Minamoto clan]] (the clan of the first three Kamakura shoguns), and is dedicated to the warrior deity [[Hachiman]]. It was relocated by Yoritomo in [[1180]] to its current site at the northern end of Wakamiya-ôji, where it formed the core of the medieval city of Kamakura, around which the shogunate administrative offices, as well as the residences of the shogun and his chief retainers, were organized. The Daibutsu is easily of the most famous and widely-recognizable sights in all of Japan. The second-largest bronze Buddha statue in the country, it dates back to [[1252]]; it was originally located indoors, but though it has been left exposed to the elements since that hall was destroyed in a tsunami in [[1498]], the Buddha remains in its original location and has survived every natural disaster since. It is the only Buddha sculpture in the city to be designated a National Treasure.<ref name=bura>"[http://www.kamakura-burabura.com/meisyokamakuradaibutu.htm Kôtoku-in (Kamakura Daibutsu)]." Kamakura-burabura.com.</ref> Other significant temples and shrines in the city include [[Hasedera (Kamakura)|Hasedera]], founded in the 8th century, and the Shinto shrines [[Sasuke Inari Shrine|Sasuke Inari]] and [[Zeniarai Benten]].
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 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>
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 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>
Following the assassination of Shogun [[Minamoto no Sanetomo]] in [[1219]], which marked the end of the Minamoto line of shoguns, and led to increased Hôjô control over the shogunate, in [[1225]] the shogunal residence and administrative offices, known as the Ôkura bakufu, were moved from their location northeast of Tsurugaoka Hachimangû to a smaller site, along Wakamiya-ôji. The new shogunal compound was known as Utsunomiya-tsuji-bakufu, and the Hôjô clan mansion - larger than the new shogunal residence - now stood in a more prestigious location, closer to Tsurugaoka Hachiman than the shogun's residence.
The city saw a number of significant religious developments over the course of the Kamakura period. 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, with Kenchô-ji being the first temple in all of Japan to be originally founded as a Zen temple, though others elsewhere in the country had been converted to Zen use from another sect. 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.
Construction began on a massive wooden Buddha statue, and a ''daibutsuden'' ("Great Buddha Hall") in which to house it, in [[1238]]. This Buddha was completed in [[1243]], but was then lost in a storm in [[1247]], being replaced in 1252 by the bronze Buddha famous today.<ref name=bura/>
Construction began on a massive wooden Buddha statue, and a ''daibutsuden'' ("Great Buddha Hall") in which to house it, in [[1238]]. This Buddha was completed in [[1243]], but was then lost in a storm in [[1247]], being replaced in 1252 by the bronze Buddha famous today.<ref name=bura/>
