The Kamakura Period or Kamakura Jidai (1185-1333 CE) of medieval Japan began when Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199 CE) defeated the Taira clan at the Battle of Dannoura in 1185 CE. The period is named after Kamakura, a coastal town 48 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of Tokyo which was used as the Minamoto clan's base. Yoritomo would establish himself as shogun or military dictator of Japan from 1192 CE, thus offering the first alternative to the power of the emperor and imperial court. The Kamakura period saw lasting developments in government, agriculture, and religion and managed to withstand the Mongol invasions of the late 13th century CE. The period came to an end with the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate in 1333 CE when a new clan took over as shoguns of Japan: the Ashikaga.
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Definition
Timeline
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1180 - 1185The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.
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1183 - 1198Reign of Japan's Emperor Go-Toba.
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1183 - 1198Emperor Go-Toba reigns in Japan.
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1185 - 1333The Kamakura period in Japan.
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1185Battle of Dannoura where the Minamoto defeat the rival Taira. The young emperor Antoku drowns.
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1191The Shinto Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine is moved from Yuinogo to Kamakura, Japan by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
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1192 - 1333The Kamakura Shogunate rules Japan.
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1192 - 1199Minamoto no Yoritomo is shogun in Japan.
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1195The Todaiji temple at Nara, Japan, is restored by the Minamoto clan.
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1202 - 1203Minamoto no Yorie is shogun of Japan.
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1203 - 1219Minamoto no Sanetomo is shogun of Japan.
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1203 - 1205Hojo Tokimasa acts as regent to Japan's shogun, the first of 16 such regents
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c. 1218The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari) is first published in Japan.
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1219Hojo Masako and Hojo Tokimasa take over as regents for the Japanese shogun, thus permanently transferring power from the Minamoto to Hojo clans.
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1221The Jokyu Disturbance - Japan's emperor Go-Toba launches a failed coup against the Kamakura Shogunate.
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1225The position of vice-regent to the shogun (rensho) is created in Japan.
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1232A new law code, the Joei Code (Joei shikimoku), is established in Japan.
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1249A High Court, the Hikitsukeshu, is formed in Japan.
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1249 - 1253The Kenchoji Zen Buddhism monastery is built in Kamakura, Japan.
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1252The Kotokuin Temple with its massive bronze statue of Buddha is built at Kamakura, Japan.
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1274The first invasion of Japan by the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan fails.
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1281The second invasion of Japan by the Mongol ruler/Yuan dynasty emperor Kublai Khan fails.
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1283The Engakuji Zen Buddhist monastery is established at Kamakura, Japan by Hojo Tokimune.
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1318 - 1339Go-Daigo reigns as emperor of Japan.
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1327 - 1333Hojo Moritoki reigns as shogun in Japan, the last of the Kamakura Shogunate.
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c. 1333Nitta Yoshisada attacks and destroys Kamakura, capital of Japan's Kamakura Shogunate.
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1333 - 1336The Kenmu Restoration when the Japanese emperor Go-Daigo uses rebel warlords to oust the Kamakura Shogunate.
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1338Ashikaga Takauji becomes the new shogun in Japan, it is the beginning of the Ashikaga (Muromachi) Shogunate.