Even before the Kamakura period the Japanese warrior had begun his ascent to a higher social status. During the Heian period collateral branches of the imperial line, the Minamoto and Taira clans, represented two of the greatest warrior associations. Wars and battles that broke out during the eleventh century in the Kanto area presented the local warriors and the powerful clans with the chance to continue to build up their power (Schirokauer 181). During Kamakura period the provincial warrior class had managed to consolidate political power at the expense of the nobility. Under the Minamoto clan leader, Yorimoto, the Taira clan was defeated in the Gempei War, a bakufu or "tent government" was established which demonstrated the military origins of his power - and the emperor named him shogun. The shogun had delegated power under the control of the emperor which by this time was merely theoretical and would represent an institution in Japanese politics that would last......
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Approximate Word Count: 1662
Approximate Pages: 7 (260 words per double-spaced page) |