shogun japan

By Stephanie Cameron
  • 520 BCE

    Introduction of Zen Buddhism

    A new branch of Buddhism that influenced the samurai’s focus on discipline and meditation
  • Period: 793 to 1185

    Heian period

  • Period: 794 to 1184

    Rise of the Samurai Class

    Samurai became the dominant warrior class, holding power and social prestige.
  • 1180

    Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes the first shogun

    Established Japan’s first military government and began the shogunate system
  • Period: 1180 to 1185

    Genpei War

  • Period: 1183 to 1333

    Kamakura period

  • Period: 1247 to 1281

    The Mongol Invasions of Japan

    Mongol forces tried to invade Japan but were defeated, partly due to “divine winds
  • Period: 1334 to 1573

    Muromachi

  • 1336

    Ashikaga Shogunate begins

    Ashikaga Takauji took power, marking a new shogunate after the fall of Kamakura rule.
  • Period: 1466 to 1477

    Onin War and the start of the Sengoku Period

    A civil war between powerful daimyō that plunged Japan into chaos for over 100 years
  • 1549

    Arrival of Christian missionaries (Francis Xavier)

    Christianity was introduced to Japan, leading to cultural exchange and later suppression.
  • 1572

    Oda Nobunaga unifies much of Japan

    Powerful warlord who began Japan’s unification using advanced military tactics.
  • Period: 1573 to 1582

    Oda Nobunaga unifies much of Japan

  • Period: 1574 to

    Azuchi-Momoyama

  • Toyotomi Hideyoshi completes Japan’s unification

    Finished the unification process and implemented strict social rules.
  • Period: to

    Tokugawa (Edo)

  • Period: to

    Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun (start of Edo period)

    Began the Tokugawa Shogunate, a time of peace, order, and isolation
  • Period: to

    Bushido code becomes central to samurai life

    The samurai code of honour and loyalty guided behaviour and social expectations.

  • Opening of Japan (end of isolation)

    Western nations forced Japan to open trade, leading to the fall of the shogunate.
  • Period: to

    Sakoku – Japan’s isolation policy

    Japan closed itself off to foreign contact, banning Christianity and trade with most nations