In 1192 the emperor gave Yoritomo the title Sei Tai Shogun, meaning barbarian conquering great general. The Shogun became the real power in Japan ruling in the emperor's name. This new form of government was called bakufu, which meant tent government as generals gave commands from their tents during wartime.
After Yoritomo's death two of his sons ruled Japan in turn. The second son, however, was assassinated in 1219. Power then passed to Yoritomo's wife's family, the Hojo. Japan finally had a ruler, but they were only a figurehead. Shogun and Hojo are rulling on behalf on the original shogun. During the Nara Period, political development was marked by a conflict between the imperial family and the Buddhists, and between the imperial family and the Fujiwara family. From 858 to around 1160, Japan was ruled by the Fujiwara family who ruled under the titles Sessho and Kampaku. At the end of the Heian period the four most powerful families were the Minamoto family, the Taira family, the Fujiwara family, and the Tachiba family. Emperor Go-Daigo had come to the throne in 1318, and in 1333, he overthrew the Kamakura shogunate. In 1338, Ashikaga Takauji was appointed as Shogun by the new Emperor. In 1358, Ashikaga died and Ashikaga Yoshiakira succeeded him as Shogun. The Ashikaga shogunate ruled from 1336 to 1573.The Muromachi period ended in 1573 when the 15th and last shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, was driven out by Oda Nobunaga. Info from http://www.localhistories.org/japan.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Japan |