The medieval period of Japan is considered by most historians to stretch from 1185 to 1603 CE. Stand out features of the period include the replacement of the aristocracy by the samurai class as the most powerful social group, the establishment of shogun military rulers and their regents, the decline in power of the emperors and Buddhist monasteries, and a stratification of feudal society into lords and vassals as well as a lasting class differentiation based on profession. The country witnessed long periods of civil wars as warlords and large estate owners (daimyo) fought for prominence and the central government struggled to unify Japan. On the other hand, there were developments in agriculture, commerce, and trade. The arts flourished, especially ink painting and performance arts. Finally, Japan's presence on the international stage became more involved with the Mongol Empire attacking Japan in the late 13th century CE and Japan invading Korea in the late 16th century CE, both campaigns ending in failure. All in all, then, a busy period of development and one which saw the population of Japan rise from around 7 million at the beginning to around 25 million at the end of it.
More about: Medieval Japan8 days left
Server Costs Fundraiser 2024
Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.
$12669 / $18000
Definition
Timeline
-
1147 - 1199Life of Minamoto no Yoritomo, clan leader of the Minamoto and first shogun of Japan.
-
1168Taira no Kiyomori significantly remodels the Itsukushima Shrine.
-
1180 - 1185The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.
-
1183 - 1198Reign of Japan's Emperor Go-Toba.
-
1185 - 1333The Kamakura period in Japan.
-
1185Battle of Dannoura where the Minamoto defeat the rival Taira. The young emperor Antoku drowns.
-
1192 - 1333The Kamakura Shogunate rules Japan.
-
1192 - 1199Minamoto no Yoritomo is shogun in Japan.
-
1195The Todaiji temple at Nara, Japan, is restored by the Minamoto clan.
-
1202 - 1203Minamoto no Yorie is shogun of Japan.
-
1203 - 1219Minamoto no Sanetomo is shogun of Japan.
-
1203 - 1205Hojo Tokimasa acts as regent to Japan's shogun, the first of 16 such regents
-
c. 1218The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari) is first published in Japan.
-
1219Hojo Masako and Hojo Tokimasa take over as regents for the Japanese shogun, thus permanently transferring power from the Minamoto to Hojo clans.
-
1221The Jokyu Disturbance - Japan's emperor Go-Toba launches a failed coup against the Kamakura Shogunate.
-
1225The position of vice-regent to the shogun (rensho) is created in Japan.
-
1232A new law code, the Joei Code (Joei shikimoku), is established in Japan.
-
1246 - 1259Reign of Japan's Emperor Go-Fukakusa.
-
1249A High Court, the Hikitsukeshu, is formed in Japan.
-
1249 - 1253The Kenchoji Zen Buddhism monastery is built in Kamakura, Japan.
-
1254The large gilded wood statue of Kannon is sculpted at Sanjusangendo, Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan.
-
1259 - 1274Reign of Japan's Emperor Kameyama.
-
1274The first invasion of Japan by the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan fails.
-
1281The second invasion of Japan by the Mongol ruler/Yuan dynasty emperor Kublai Khan fails.
-
1283The Engakuji Zen Buddhist monastery is established at Kamakura, Japan by Hojo Tokimune.
-
1318 - 1339Go-Daigo reigns as emperor of Japan.
-
1327 - 1333Hojo Moritoki reigns as shogun in Japan, the last of the Kamakura Shogunate.
-
c. 1333Nitta Yoshisada attacks and destroys Kamakura, capital of Japan's Kamakura Shogunate.
-
1333 - 1336The Kenmu Restoration when the Japanese emperor Go-Daigo uses rebel warlords to oust the Kamakura Shogunate.
-
1333 - 1573The Muromachi period of medieval Japan.
-
1333The position of deputy shogun (kanrei) is created in Japan.
-
1336Ashikaga Takauji captures Heiankyo (Kyoto).
-
1337 - 1392Japan has two competing emperors: the 'Northern and Southern Courts.
-
1338Ashikaga Takauji becomes the new shogun in Japan, it is the beginning of the Ashikaga (Muromachi) Shogunate.
-
1338 - 1573The Ashikaga (Muromachi) Shogunate rules Japan.
-
1338 - 1358Ashikaga Takauji rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1359 - 1368Ashikaga Yoshiakira rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1395 - 1423Ashikaga Yoshimochi rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1397The Kinkakuji or 'Golden Pavilion' is built in Heiankyo (Kyoto) by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
-
1401Japan joins the tribute system of China's Ming Dynasty.
-
1407The five-story Buddhist pagoda is added to the Shinto Itsukushima Shrine.
-
1420 - 1506Life of the celebrated Zen priest and artist Sesshu (real name Toyo)
-
1429 - 1441Ashikaga Yoshinori rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1449 - 1474Ashikaga Yoshimasa rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1460 - 1483Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion) is built in Heiankyo (Kytoto) Japan by Ashikaga Yoshimasa.
-
1467 - 1477The Onin War between rival warlords rages in Japan.
-
1467 - 1568The Sengoku Period or Warring States Period in Japan.
-
1473Ryoanji in Heiankyo (Kyoto) becomes a Zen Buddhism temple.
-
1474 - 1489Ashikaga Yoshihisa rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1494 - 1508Ashikaga Yoshizumi rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1508 - 1521Ashikaga Yoshitane rules in his second spell as shogun of Japan.
-
1521 - 1546Ashikaga Yoshiharu rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1543The first European contact is made with Japan when three Portuguese traders have their ship blown onto the shores of southern Kyushu.
-
1546 - 1565Ashikaga Yoshiteru rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1549Oda Nobunaga adds a specialist corps of 500 musketeers to his army.
-
1560Oda Nobunaga defeats the warlord of Mikawa, Imagawa Yoshimoto, at the Battle of Okehazama.
-
1568 - 1582Oda Nobunaga seizes Heiankyo (Kyoto) and is the dominant military leader in central Japan.
-
1568 - 1600The Azuchi-Momoyama Period in Japan.
-
1568Ashikaga Yoshihide rules as shogun in Japan.
-
1568 - 1588Ashikaga Yoshiaki rules as shogun in Japan (but is exiled by Oda Nobunaga from 1573 CE).
-
1571Oda Nobunaga attacks the Buddhist Enryakuji monastic complex near Kyoto.
-
1573Oda Nobunaga exiles the last Ashikaga shogun, Yoshiaki.
-
1575Oda Nobunaga wins the Battle of Nagashino.
-
1576Oda Nobunaga instigates a 'sword hunt' to confiscate all weapons from the Japanese peasantry.
-
1579Oda Nobunaga establishes a new headquarters at Azuchi castle.
-
1582 - 1598Toyotomi Hideyoshi is the military leader of Japan.
-
1582 - 1598Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi conduct an extensive land ownership survey across Japan.
-
1586Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the huge Osaka castle.
-
1588Toyotomi Hideyoshi prohibits commoners from carrying weapons, including swords.
-
1588Toyotomi Hideyoshi rules that only full-rank samurai may carry two swords.
-
1591Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the massive Odoi ("Great rampart") fortification wall around Heiankyo (Kyoto).
-
1591Toyotomi Hideyoshi redefines the class system of Japan.
-
1591Samurai are no longer permitted to farm their own land making them dependent on their lords for income.
-
1592Toyotomi Hideyoshi sends an army to invade Korea. It is not successful.
-
1594Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the Fushimi Castle outside Heiankyo (Kyoto).
-
1597Toyotomi Hideyoshi passes his second edict to remove Christian missionaries from Japan and executes 26 Christians in Nagasaki.
-
1597Toyotomi Hideyoshi sends a second army to invade Korea. It is not successful.
-
18 Sep 1598Death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the military leader of Japan.
-
1600Tokugawa Ieyasu wins the Battle of Sekigahara against those generals who supported Toyotomi Hideyoshi's son. End of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period.
-
1603 - 1868Edo period. The Tokugawa Shogunate rules Japan.
-
1603 - 1605Tokugawa Ieyasu rules as shogun in Japan.