Hōjō clan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Hōjō
北条
mon
) of the Hōjō clan
Home province
Parent houseTaira clan
Titles
FounderHōjō Tokimasa
Final rulerHōjō Takatoki
Founding year12th century
Dissolution1333
Ruled until1333

The Hōjō clan (

Zen Buddhism and for leading the successful opposition to the Mongol invasions of Japan. Resentment at Hōjō rule eventually culminated in the overthrow of the clan and the establishment of the Ashikaga shogunate
.

History

Bloodline

The Hōjō are alleged to have been an offshoot of the

Taira of the Kanmu branch, originating in Izu Province. On the other hand, modern theories question whether the Hōjō clan was really descended from the Taira clan.[1][2][3]

They gained power by supporting the defeat of the Taira by intermarrying with and supporting Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Genpei War. The Hōjō usurped power when Yoritomo died eighteen years later.

Rise to power

shōgun. Hōjō Masako, Tokimasa's daughter, was married to Yoritomo. After the death of Yoritomo, Tokimasa became shikken (regent) to the child shōgun, thus effectively transferring control of the shogunate to his clan permanently.[4]
Consequently the shōguns became puppets and hostages of the Hōjō.

Early events

The Imperial court at Kyoto resented the decline in its authority during the Kamakura shogunate, and the clan disliked Emperor Go-Toba. and in 1221 the Jōkyū War broke out between retired Emperor Go-Toba and the second regent Hōjō Yoshitoki. The Hōjō forces easily won the war, and the imperial court was brought under the direct control of the shogunate, while the emperor was exiled "to a remote island off western Japan."[5] The shōgun's constables gained greater civil powers, and the court was obliged to seek the shōgun's approval for all of its actions. Although deprived of political power, the court retained extensive estates in Kyoto.

Several significant administrative achievements were made during the Hōjō regency. In 1225 the third regent Hōjō Yasutoki established the Council of State, providing opportunities for other military lords to exercise judicial and legislative authority at Kamakura. The Hōjō regent presided over the council, which was a successful form of collective leadership. The adoption of Japan's first military code of law—the Goseibai Shikimoku—in 1232 reflected the profound transition from court to militarized society. While legal practices in Kyoto were still based on 500-year-old Confucian principles, the new code was a highly legalistic document that stressed the duties of stewards and constables, provided means for settling land disputes, and established rules governing inheritances. It was clear and concise, stipulated punishments for violators of its conditions, and remained in effect for the next 635 years.

As might be expected, the literature of the time reflected the unsettled nature of the period. The

Heike monogatari narrated the rise and fall of the Taira, replete with tales of wars and samurai deeds. A second literary mainstream was the continuation of anthologies of poetry in the Shin Kokin Wakashū
, of which twenty volumes were produced between 1201 and 1205.

List of Hōjō Shikken

  1. Hōjō Tokimasa (1138–1215) (r. 1203–1205)
  2. Hōjō Yoshitoki (1163–1224) (r. 1205–1224)
  3. Hōjō Yasutoki (1183–1242) (r. 1224–1242)
  4. Hōjō Tsunetoki (1224–1246) (r. 1242–1246)
  5. Hōjō Tokiyori (1227–1263) (r. 1246–1256)
  6. Hōjō Nagatoki (1229–1264) (r. 1256–1264)
  7. Hōjō Masamura (1205–1273) (r. 1264–1268)
  8. Hōjō Tokimune (1251–1284) (r. 1268–1284)
  9. Hōjō Sadatoki (1271–1311) (r. 1284–1301)
  10. Hōjō Morotoki (1275–1311) (r. 1301–1311)
  11. Hōjō Munenobu (1259–1312) (r. 1311–1312)
  12. Hōjō Hirotoki (1279–1315) (r. 1312–1315)
  13. Hōjō Mototoki (1286-1333) (r. 1315)
  14. Hōjō Takatoki (1303–1333) (r. 1316–1326)
  15. Hōjō Sadaaki (1278–1333) (r. 1326)
  16. Hōjō Moritoki (1295-1333) (r. 1327–1333)
  17. Hōjō Sadayuki (1302-1333) (r.1333)

Aside from the regents above, those who played an important role among the Hōjō clan are:

References in media

  • The
    Japanese Imperial Family
    . Multiple modern films have been made based on the epic novel.
  • In the visual novel Policenauts, the main plot deals with protagonist Jonathan Ingram locating his estranged wife's missing husband, Kenzō Hōjō. Hōjō's crest becomes an important gameplay element later on
  • Sid Meier's Civilization VI.[6]
  • Hōjō Tokiyuki, a son of the last Tokusō (head of Hōjō clan), is main character of The Elusive Samurai (逃げ上手の若君) manga by Yusei Matsui.
  • The Hōjō kamon could be one inspiration for the symbol of the triforce in the Legend of Zelda games.

See also

References

  1. ^ 源平は名門の証しとして威光を保ち続けた (in Japanese). nippon.com. 28 September 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. ^ 源氏政権樹立に尽力した「北条氏」のルーツは平氏だった? (in Japanese). Rekishijin. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. ^ 「平家を捨て源氏に乗り換える」教科書には載っていない北条時政と源頼朝の篤すぎる信頼関係 (in Japanese). Yahoo News. 6 February 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  4. ^ Harrison, John A. "Hōjō family". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. .
  6. ^ "Civilization 6's civilizations, leaders and their unique abilities". PCGamesN. July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.