Shogun Japan

  • Period: 794 to 1185

    The Heian Period

    Warlords, also known as shoguns, dominated during the Heian periods, under.mining Japan's imperial authority. Emperors rose to prominence, and samurai and daimyo controlled local territories. Japanese culture thrived as Chinese influences faded. In the 700-year-old shogunate system, authority was either acquired through conquest or transferred through clans
  • Period: 794 to 1185

    Rise of the Samurai Class

    Samurai became the dominant warrior class, holding power and social prestige.
  • Period: 1180 to 1185

    The Genpei War

    The Genpei War, 1180 - 1185, was a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo, who appointed himself as Shogun in Minamoto Yoritomo formed the first bakufu and ruled as Japan's first shogun from his capital at Kamakura.
  • Period: 1185 to 1333

    The Kamakura Period

    Japan's first hereditary shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, established the Kamakura shogunate in 1192. This marked the start of Japan's feudal era, during which the shogun, not the emperor, held actual power.
  • 1192

    Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes the first shogun

    . Established Japan’s first military government . Began the shogunate system Established Japan’s first military government and began the shogunate system.
  • Period: 1192 to 1333

    Bushido code becomes central to samurai life

    The samurai code of honour and loyalty guided behaviour and social expectations.
  • Period: 1274 to 1281

    The Mongol Invasions of Japan

    Mongol forces tried to invade Japan but were defeated, partly due to “divine winds.”
  • Period: 1336 to 1573

    Muromachi Period

    The Muromachi period, from about 1336 to 1573, was viewed as a time of political turbulence and great cultural development in Japan under the Muromachi shogunate. It drew on Zen Buddhism and saw the development of the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, noh drama, and the peak of Sung-style ink painting.
  • Period: 1336 to 1573

    Muromachi Period Also known as the Ashikaga Shogunate

    The development of culture, and political strife, in Japan throughout the Muromachi era (1336–1573) was heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism. The arts were acknowledged; noh drama, flower arrangement, and the tea ceremony were improved. Daimyō (warlords) created a weaker grip on the shogunate by controlling the samurai. Ink painting also emerged from this time as well.
  • 1338

    Ashikaga Shogunate begins

    Ashikaga Takauji took power, marking a new shogunate after the fall of Kamakura rule.
  • Period: 1467 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
  • 1568

    Oda Nobunaga unifies much of Japan

    Powerful warlord who began Japan’s unification using advanced military tactics.
  • Period: 1574 to

    Azuchi-Momoyama Period

    The Azuchi-Momoyama period was from the year 1574 to 1600 AD and was the time when Japan was first unified under the strong leadership of Oda Nobunaga and his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It was characterized by a culture of luxury and building extravagant castles and mansions with the famous examples being the Azuchi and Momoyama castles from which this period gets its name.
  • 1582

    Toyotomi Hideyoshi completes Japan’s unification

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

    Tokugawa Period

    After Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death in 1598, Tokugawa Ieyasu became Japan’s first Tokugawa shogun. His ascension to power initiated the Edo period (1600–1868), a long period of peace and prosperity. Japan became isolationist during that time and implemented a rigid class system.
  • The Emperor appointed Tokugawa Ieyasu as shogun.

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

    Opening of Japan (end of isolation)

    Western nations forced Japan to open trade, leading to the fall of the shogunate.
  • Sakoku – Japan’s isolation policy

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