Oda Nobunaga ~ The king of the Warring State Period ~

  In the middle of 15th century, the power of Muromachi shogunate ("bakufu") declined. So Japan went into the fighting ("sengoku") period which lasted for about hundred years. In many parts of the country, generals who wanted to unify the Japan appeared and fought with some neighboring generals. They were called "sengoku daimyo", had the territory. A one of them was Oda Nobunaga. He succeeded in unifying Japan.

Contribution



a picture of Oda Nobunaga

   Oda Nobunaga (A.D.1534 - 1582) was born in Owari as a son of Oda Nobuhide. Owari was a place-name, and it was in present Aichi prefecture. In 1551, he came into his father's inheritance and tried to unify the Owari province. By 1159, he unified almost all it. This later, he expanded his territory steadily for about twenty years. Finally he became a person like the king of Japan.
  Oda Nobunaga contributed to three big things. First one was to have unified almost parts of Japan. Second one was to have taken over the culture and lifestyles of European countries actively. Last one was to have built the new political and economic system. To achieve first one, he organized corps which had a  teamwork, used his brain, won a lot of battles. To achieve second one, he allowed missionaries who came to Japan to mission people Christianity to stay in Japan, and learned about different cultures and lifestyles from them. To achieve last one,  he developed the castle towns as the center and basis of local economies, allowed people to do economic activity freely and not to pay some money when they went through checkpoints.
  Now, Japan may need a person like Oda Nobunaga.

Secrets

  Oda Nobunaga was known as not only a reformer but also a cruel and severe man because he attacked Enryaku-ji which was a one of the powerful temples and burnt it in 1571. But he could hold his family (especially daughters) dear. It was said that he chose their marriage partners among his reliable lieges.
Also, he had a wide circle of friends, joined the festival and danced with the people. It was said that he was friendly with the people.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu ~ the man who could top Tenno ~

In 1333, the Kamakura shogunate which Minamoto no Yoritomo founded were destroyed by Emperor Go-Daigo. Instead of Hojo clan, Emperor Go-Daigo ruled the country. Because he didn't give samurais rewards for their contribution to destroying the Kamakura shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji who was leader of samurais was against him. Takauji put Yutahito who was brother of Emperor Kogon forward as Emperor Komyo. The Imperial Court of Japan (Chotei) was divided into two parties Northern Court ( Hokucho ) and Southern Court ( Nancho ). Ashikaga Yoshimitsu stopped the both fighting each other, the both were reconciled.

shogunate = a political organization started by samurai ( fighter ) , "bakufu"
Emperor Go-Daigo (A.D.1288 - 1339) = the 96th emperor of Japan
Ashikaga Takauji (A.D.1305 - 1358) = the founder of the Muromachi shogunate,
                                                             his grandson was Yoshimitsu
Emperor Kogon (A.D.1313 - 1364) = the 1st of Northern Court
Emperor Komyo (A.D.1322 - 1380) = the 2nd of Northern Court

Contribution



the picture of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu



  Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (A.D.1358 - 1408) was the 3rd shogun of the Muromachi (Ashikaga) shogunate. He ruled over the country from 1368 to 1408 as shogun or shogun's father. He was a one of the most powerful persons during the Muromachi period of Japan. Muromachi is a place-name; it was in Kyoto of Japan.

  He contributed to two things. One was to have created a solid political foundation of Muromachi shogunate. Other was to have restored the relation between Japan and China. To achieve the former, Yoshimitsu stopped the Northern and Southern Courts fighting each other, unified into one Court. And he attacked his lieges who obey shogun in order not to rebel him. To achieve the latter, he sent his lieges to China many times to trade with China.

  After he died, the power of Muromachi Shogunate gradually declined.  

Secrets

  Ashikaga Yoshimitsu had many children. Three of them were Yoshimochi, Yoshitugu, and Yoshinori. Yoshimochi was the 4th shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, but was against his father, Yoshitugu that Yoshimitsu was partial to was killed by his brother Yoshimochi. Yoshinori was the 6th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, tried to be a politician like his father. But he was killed by a one of his lieges Akamatsu Mitsusuke. Yoshimitsu's children couldn't become politician like Yoshimitsu.

  It was said that Ashikaga Yoshimtsu tried to get the authority of emperor of Japan ( Tenno ). Recently, this theory is not so believed, but he was likely to put his son Yoshitugu forward as emperor of Japan, rule over the country as the father of the emperor. So he might be assassinated (killed) by someone. Yoshimochi or court nobles might be suspect. 

Minamoto no Yoritomo ~ the first samurai king of Japan ~

  Heian period can be divided into three periods. The first when Tenno ruled over Japan lasted from the end of 8th century to the beginnings of 10th century. The second when Fujiwara clan assumed a right to themselves lasted from 10th century to the middle of 11th century. The third when Tenno returned to power lasted from the middle of 11th century to the end of 12th century. Samurai class appeared at the second period as regional powerful family with weapon. After that, they were gradually strong and they involved in politics. At the end of Heian period, two samurai clans Taira clan and Minamoto clan struggled each other for supremacy. The winner was Minamoto clan and the leader was Minamoto no Yoritomo.





the informed image of Minamoto no Yoritomo
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Minamoto_no_Yoritomo.jpg



  History  &  Contribution

 Minamoto no Yoritomo ( A.D. 1147 - 1199 ) was born as the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo. After his father died, he commanded his family and pulled down Taira clan who assumed a right to themselves. In 1192, he founded shogunate in Kamakura ( the present Kamakura city of Kanagawa prefecture ) and became the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate. He ruled only a few years ( from this time to his death ).
  In 1959, civil war Heiji Rebellion broke out. Minamoto no Yoshitomo struggled with Taira no Kiyomori who was leader of Taira clan. But Yoshitomo lost the field, was assassinated by someone while running away. After this war ended, Yoritomo was exiled to Izu (the present Izu Peninsula ), Kiyomori was appointed as the
Daijo Daijin and his family assumed a right to themselves.
  Yoritomo became the new head of the Minamoto clan and grew up in exile. In 1179, he married Hojo Masako who was a daughter of powerful clan in Izu, Hojo Tokimasa. Next year, he raised an army against Taira clan, he set up a capital at Kamakura in the east. From this to 1185, Minamoto clan and Taira clan fought each other, the former won in Dannoura.
  In 1192, Minamoto no Yoritomo was appointed the Seii-taishogun, founded the first shogunate in Kamakura. The long era when samurai class ruled the country started at this time.

  Secrets

  The great samurai Minamoto no Yoritomo died in 1199. It is said that he fell from a horse and so he died. But some scholar support the theory that Minamoto no Yoritomo was assassinated by someone, and that the assassin was his supporter Hojo clan. Indeed, they cleared Yoritomo's sons Minamoto no Yoriie who was the second shogun and Minamoto no Sanetomo who was the third shogun from the political community. After that, both of them were killed.
  I don't believe that though Minamoto no Yoritomo was the leader of samurai, he died of a fall from the horse. What do you think?

Emperor Kammu ~ man who built the millennium capital ~




the picture of Emperor Kammu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Kammu

   Emperor Kammu may not be much known to us. But he was a one of the greatest person because he improved Japanese politics in some way.

  History  &  Contribution

 

  Emperor Kammu (A.D. 737-806) was the 50th emperor of Japan and a Japanese politican in Heian age. He reigned from 781 to 806. He had a strong leadership and attempted to reform the Japanese political institution to rid the malady of the Buddihism politics. He has moved the capital of Japan twice. First, he moved it from Nara (Heijo-kyo) which many big temples were in to Nagaoka ( Nagaoka-kyo ) in 784. Nagaoka was in the present Kyoto prefecture. Ten years later (794), He moved it from Nagaoka to Heian-kyo which were in the northeast of Nagaoka. He prohibited big temples from moving to Heian-kyo. 
  In addition to reforming the political institution, Emperor Kammu attempted to put the Ezo (the present Tohoku district ) under control. He has put down the rebellion many times. But he couldn't accomplish his mission easily. Finally, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro who was appointed shogun  by Emperor Kammu suppressed almost the rebellion "Emishi", built the castle "Izawajo". Conquering the "Emoshi" was taken over by his sons, Emperor Heizei, Emperor Saga, and Emperor Junna.

  Secrets

  Emperor Kammu and his father Emperor Konin weren't by nature persons who could be emperor. But because Tenmu-descendent princes died, Tenchi-descendent Prince Shirakabe (Emperor Konin ) could ascend the throne. After Konin became emperor, Kammu's brother Prince Osabe whose mother was Tenmu-descendent Emperor Shomu's daughter Princess Inoe was appointed as the crown prince. But they were cleared from the political community. So Emperor Konin's son Yamabe ( Emperor Kammu ) ascended the throne after his father died.
  Emperor Kammu suffered badly from ghosts of Prince Osabe, Prince Inoe and his brother Prince Sawara who also cleared from the political community. One after another his family circle died due to epidemics. So he moved the capital of Japan from Nagaoka-kyo to Heian-kyo shortly.