[Japan-Roots FAQs] Kamakura | Grasp Japanese history

Q1. Why did Kugyo assassinate Minamoto no Sanetomo?

The vengeful monk, Kugyo, murdered his uncle Sanetomo. Ultimately, this act served as revenge against the Hojo clan for eliminating his father, the second shogun Minamoto no Yoriie.

Q2. What exactly is Shikken Seiji?

It established the shogun as a mere figurehead. Therefore, the Hojo clan held the actual decision-making power in politics and trials as the Shikken (regent).

Q3. Why couldn’t the Kyoto court defeat the shogunate?

The charismatic nun, Hojo Masako, successfully united the eastern warriors. Consequently, their overwhelming military force decisively crushed the imperial army.

Q1. When did Zen Buddhism enter Japan?

The scholarly monk, Saicho, introduced elements of it during the early Heian period. However, it firmly established itself as an independent sect during the Kamakura period.

Q2. What is the biggest difference between Zen and other Buddhist sects?

Zen prioritizes meditation practices like Zazen over scripture study or complex rituals. Therefore, masters transmit enlightenment directly to disciples without relying on words.

Q3. What does “Furyu Moji” mean?

Words cannot express the true essence of enlightenment. Consequently, this teaching emphasizes understanding through actual experience rather than fixating on written scriptures.

Q1. Why did Kamakura samurai favor Zen?

Its emphasis on self-discipline and logical truth-seeking perfectly matched the meritocratic samurai spirit.

Q2. What is the main difference between Eisai’s Rinzai sect and Dogen’s Soto sect?

The diplomatic monk, Eisai, attracted elites and the shogunate using Koan (riddles). In contrast, The strict philosopher, Dogen, preached pure sitting meditation, spreading widely among local commoners.

Q3. What was revolutionary about Honen’s teachings?

The radical preacher, Honen, eliminated the need for severe training or study. Surprisingly, his doctrine promised equal salvation to anyone simply by chanting the Nenbutsu.

Q1. What happened to Shinran after his exile?

The devoted disciple, Shinran, did not return to Kyoto immediately after his pardon. Instead, he lived alongside farmers in the Kanto region to spread his teachings.

Q2. What is the main difference between Jodo-shu and Jodo Shinshu?

Honen’s Jodo-shu emphasizes repetitive chanting for salvation. Conversely, Shinran’s Jodo Shinshu argues that true faith guarantees instant salvation. Therefore, chanting merely expresses gratitude.

Q3. Why did the shogunate suppress them?

They rejected the existing Buddhist order and criticized government policies. Furthermore, The fierce prophet, Nichiren, aggressively attacked other sects, inviting severe backlash.

Q1. Why did the Mongols bother crossing the sea to attack Japan?

Subjugating Japan aimed to economically isolate their main target, the Southern Song dynasty. Additionally, it boosted the personal authority of The Mongol emperor, Kublai Khan.

Q2. How did Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan differ in their attitudes toward Japan?

The founding conqueror, Genghis Khan, ignored Japan completely. However, Kublai obsessively demanded submission from neighboring countries to solidify his rule over China.

Q3. Was Hojo Tokimune ignoring the state letter a diplomatic blunder?

Samurai ethics strictly forbade submission. Therefore, rejecting the demands guaranteed an inevitable conflict, regardless of any official reply from The resolute regent, Hojo Tokimune.

Q1. Why did Hojo Tokimune execute the envoys?

This brutal act demonstrated a unified national resolve to fight. Consequently, it completely eliminated any remaining room for diplomatic negotiations.

Q2. Who paid for the construction of the stone defense wall?

The shogunate forcibly collected funds as a mandatory duty. Surprisingly, this taxation targeted not only Kyushu vassals but also non-samurai estates like temples and noble manors.

Q3. Was the counter-invasion plan serious?

Surviving written orders prove its authenticity. Therefore, this aggressive stance reveals the shogunate intended to strike enemy bases rather than merely defending.

Q1. Ultimately, what was the biggest factor in Japan’s victory during the Genko?

The successful stone wall defense at Hakata Bay and delayed enemy coordination stalled the invasion. Finally, a direct typhoon hit decisively crushed the Mongol fleet.

Q2. Why did Takezaki Suenaga commission the “Mongol Invasion Scrolls”?

The desperate warrior, Takezaki Suenaga, needed visual proof of his battlefield exploits to claim adequate rewards from the shogunate. Additionally, it served as a glorious family heirloom.

Q3. Why did the Kamakura shogunate decline despite winning?

Defensive wars yield no new territories. Therefore, the shogunate’s inability to reward its warriors and temples utterly destroyed the vassals’ loyalty.

Q1. Why did Shoen increase in the first place?

To encourage harsh land development, the government granted permanent private ownership and tax-exempt privileges for newly cultivated lands. Consequently, these private manors rapidly multiplied.

Q2. What is the main difference between Shugo and Jito?

A Shugo acted as a provincial governor handling military and police duties. Conversely, a Jito functioned as an on-site supervisor managing taxes and land within individual Shoen.

Q3. Why did the status of women decline?

The national emergency of the Mongol invasions required maximizing military strength. Therefore, families concentrated wealth and authority exclusively in the hands of combat-ready men.

Q1. Why did samurai desire land so much?

Agriculture dominated the economy. Therefore, land rights provided almost the only reliable source of income to feed and sustain their clans.

Q2. Who was higher in status, the Jito or the Shoen lord?

Legally, the aristocrat lord owned the land. However, armed Jito seized effective control on the ground. Since the shogunate backed these officials, absentee lords could not intervene.

Q3. What should we be careful about when reading historical documents?

Always consider the author. The ruling class wrote most documents to suit their own convenience. Therefore, imagining the unwritten perspective of the common people is essential.

Q1. Why are picture scrolls important in historical research?

Written records heavily favor the elite class. Surprisingly, picture scrolls vividly depict the unwritten realities of commoners, including their clothing and daily labor.

Q2. Did Japan not mint its own money during this period?

The Japanese government completely abandoned coin minting. Instead, massive imports of Chinese Song dynasty coins circulated widely as a trusted, reliable currency.

Q3. Why did markets form in front of temples?

Temples naturally attracted large crowds. Furthermore, secular authorities could not interfere in these religious “sanctuaries,” providing a safe environment for economic transactions.

Q1. Why did the Kamakura vassals defect?

Defensive wars yielded no new lands. Consequently, impoverished warriors received insufficient rewards, totally destroying their trust in the shogunate.

Q2. What is the Ryoto Tetsuritsu system?

It forced an alternating imperial succession between two rival royal lineages. The shogunate orchestrated this compromise. However, it only prolonged the political chaos.

Q3. Does history move by systems or individuals?

Both interact continuously. Major transformations occur when the decisive actions of key figures perfectly align with the structural limits of a failing social system.

Q1. Why did Emperor Go-Daigo try to overthrow the shogunate?

The shogunate’s forced settlement barred his children from the throne. Therefore, The rebellious monarch, Emperor Go-Daigo, panicked over his lineage’s survival and resolved to destroy the shogunate.

Q2. Were the “Akuto” merely criminals?

They were not simple robbers. Rather, these highly skilled, anti-establishment warriors openly defied authorities and acted as the primary military force for the overthrow.

Q3. What does the name “Go-Daigo” mean?

It literally means “The Later Daigo.” He idealized the past Emperor Daigo, who ruled directly without regents. Consequently, he aimed to resurrect that absolute imperial power.

Q1. Why did Ashikaga Takauji betray the shogunate?

The pragmatic general, Ashikaga Takauji, harbored deep grievances against the Hojo clan. Ultimately, he abandoned the dying shogunate to join the winning side purely out of calculated self-interest.

Q2. What was the Kenmu Restoration?

This new regime restored absolute power to the emperor while still utilizing samurai military strength. Therefore, powerful warriors like Takauji received extensive lands and official titles.

Q3. Who was the strongest among Kusunoki Masashige, Ashikaga Takauji, and Nitta Yoshisada?

Direct comparisons are difficult. However, The brilliant tactician, Kusunoki Masashige, excelled in guerrilla warfare, Takauji possessed unmatched political instincts, and The fierce vanguard, Nitta Yoshisada, unleashed explosive breakthrough power.