Shikken
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The was a titular post held by a member of the Hōjō clan, officially a regent of the shogunate, from 1199 to 1333, during the
Kamakura period The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle bet ...
, and so he was head of the ''bakufu'' (shogunate). It was part of the era referred to as . During roughly the first half of that period, the ''shikken'' was the ''de facto'' military dictator of Japan (not including the independent
Northern Fujiwara The Northern Fujiwara (奥州藤原氏 ''Ōshū Fujiwara-shi'') were a Japanese noble family that ruled the Tōhoku region (the northeast of Honshū) of Japan during the 12th century as their own realm.
). The title of ''shikken'' was modified, as second in command to the ''
Tokusō was the title (post) held by the head of the mainline Hōjō clan, who also monopolized the position of ''shikken'' (regents to the shogunate) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan during the period of Regent Rule (1199–1333). It’s important not ...
'' in 1256, but by the
Muromachi period The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...
(1333–1573) the position, though not abolished, did not even figure in the top ranks. The position ceased to exist after the Muromachi period.


Etymology

The word ''shikken'' is the
on'yomi are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are still used, along with the subsequ ...
reading of the combination of the two
kanji are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...
characters and , each meaning "to hold (something in the hand, or a service or ceremony); to administer", "power, authority" respectively. Therefore the word literally means "to hold power/authority".


''Shikken'' as supreme ruler (1199–1256)

Though officially a regent for the ''
shōgun , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
'' in the
Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459. The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Y ...
in
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, on paper a ''shikken'' derived power from the ''shōgun'', in reality the actual ''shōgun'' had been reduced to a
figurehead In politics, a figurehead is a person who ''de jure'' (in name or by law) appears to hold an important and often supremely powerful title or office, yet ''de facto'' (in reality) exercises little to no actual power. This usually means that they ...
in a similar marginalizing manner just as the emperor and imperial court earlier had been reduced to figureheads by the ''shōgun''.「執権 (一)」(『国史大辞典 6』( 吉川弘文館1985年) ) Both the posts of ''shikken'' and ''tokusō'' were monopolized by the Hōjō clan.
Hōjō Tokimasa was a Japanese samurai lord who was the first ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate and head of the Hōjō clan. He was ''shikken'' from 1203 until his abdication in 1205, and Protector of Kyoto from 1185 to 1186. Background The H ...
, who was the father-in-law of the first ''shōgun''
Minamoto no Yoritomo was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1192 until 1199.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako who acted as regent (''shikken'') after his ...
, father of
Hōjō Masako was a Japanese politician who exercised significant power in the early years of the Kamakura period, which was reflected by her contemporary sobriquet of the "nun shogun". She was the wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, and mother of Minamoto no Yo ...
, became the first ''shikken'' in 1203, after Yoritomo's death. The ''shikken'' was the chief of the ''
mandokoro was the chief governing body of an important family or monastic complex in ancient Japan. This name was borrowed for the administrative department of the Shogunate in feudal times. History The earliest usage of the term was found in the Heian ...
'' at that time. Tokimasa became the de facto ruler of the shogunate by monopolizing decisions for the young ''shōguns''
Minamoto no Yoriie was the second ''shōgun'' (1202–1203) of Japan's Kamakura shogunate, and the first son of first shōgun Yoritomo. His Dharma name was Hokke-in-dono Kingo Da'i Zengo (法華院殿金吾大禅閤). Life Minamoto no Yoriie was born to Hōjō M ...
and
Minamoto no Sanetomo was the third ''shōgun'' of the Kamakura shogunate. He was the second son of the Kamakura shogunate founder, Minamoto no Yoritomo. His mother was Hōjō Masako and his older brother was second Kamakura shogun Minamoto no Yoriie. His childhood ...
(Yoritomo's sons and Tokimasa's own grandsons), executing whoever got in his way, family or not. Tokimasa's own grandson (Yoriie) and great-grandson were murdered on Tokimasa's orders, a year after he replaced Yoriie (the second ''shōgun'') with Sanetomo. Tokimasa's son Yoshitoki strengthened the post of ''shikken'' by integrating it with the post of chief of
Samurai-dokoro The ''Samurai-dokoro'' (侍所 - Board of Retainers) was an office of the Kamakura and Muromachi shogunates. The role of the ''Samurai-dokoro'' was to take the leadership of ''gokenin'', the shogun's retainers, and to be in charge of the imprisonme ...
, after annihilating the powerful
Wada clan Wada or WADA may refer to: People * Wada (Japanese surname), a list of people of Japanese ancestry * Inuwa Wada (1917-2015), Nigerian politician * Mian Wada (died 1085), Islamic scholar born in what is now Pakistan * Tawar Umbi Wada (1957–2010 ...
, who had dominated the latter position. The ''shikken'' became the highest post, controlling puppet ''shōguns'' in practice. In 1224, Yoshitoki's son
Hōjō Yasutoki Hōjō Yasutoki (; 1183 – July 14, 1242) was the third ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. He strengthened the political system of the Hōjō regency. Life He was the eldest son of second ''shikken'' Hōjō Yoshitoki. A ...
set up the position of ''
rensho The was the assistant to the ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan.Iwanami Kōjien, "Rensho" The rensho placed his signature next to that of the ''shikken'' on official orders. In 1224 the third ''shikken'' Hōjō Yasutoki appoi ...
'' (cosigner), or assistant regent.


''Shikken'' as ''tokusō'' subordinate (1256–1333)

Hōjō Tokiyori Hōjō Tokiyori (, June 29, 1227 – December 24, 1263) was the fifth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. Early life He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori. Rule Tokiyori became shikken f ...
separated the two posts of ''tokusō'' (initially head of the Hōjō clan) and ''shikken'' in 1256. He installed
Hōjō Nagatoki Hōjō Nagatoki (, 1227–1264) was the sixth ''Shikken'' (1256–1264) of the Kamakura Bakufu The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005) ...
as ''shikken'' while designating his son Tokimune to succeed as ''tokusō''. Effective power was moved from ''shikken'' to ''tokusō''. Tokimune, contemporaneous with
Mongol invasions of Japan Major military efforts were taken by Kublai Khan of the Yuan dynasty in 1274 and 1281 to conquer the Japanese archipelago after the submission of the Korean kingdom of Goryeo to vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attempts are of mac ...
, at one point personally occupied all 3 most powerful posts of the shogunate, and thus Japan: ''tokusō'', ''shikken'', and ''rensho''.


List of shikken

#
Hōjō Tokimasa was a Japanese samurai lord who was the first ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate and head of the Hōjō clan. He was ''shikken'' from 1203 until his abdication in 1205, and Protector of Kyoto from 1185 to 1186. Background The H ...
(r. 1199–1205) #
Hōjō Yoshitoki was the second Hōjō ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate and head of the Hōjō clan. He was the second son of Hōjō Tokimasa. He was ''shikken'' from the abdication of his father Tokimasa in 1205 until his death in 1224. Early ...
(r. 1205–1224) #
Hōjō Yasutoki Hōjō Yasutoki (; 1183 – July 14, 1242) was the third ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. He strengthened the political system of the Hōjō regency. Life He was the eldest son of second ''shikken'' Hōjō Yoshitoki. A ...
(r. 1224–1242) #
Hōjō Tsunetoki was the fourth ''Shikken'' (1242–1246) of the Kamakura shogunate. He was son of Hōjō Tokiuji and of a former wife of Adachi Kagemori, elder brother of Hōjō Tokiyori and grandson of Hōjō Yasutoki Hōjō Yasutoki (; 1183 – July 14, 12 ...
(r. 1242–1246) #
Hōjō Tokiyori Hōjō Tokiyori (, June 29, 1227 – December 24, 1263) was the fifth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. Early life He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori. Rule Tokiyori became shikken f ...
(r. 1246–1256) #
Hōjō Nagatoki Hōjō Nagatoki (, 1227–1264) was the sixth ''Shikken'' (1256–1264) of the Kamakura Bakufu The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005) ...
(r. 1256–1264) #
Hōjō Masamura was the seventh ''Shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura Shogunate, regining from 1264 to 1268. He was the son of Hōjō Yoshitoki, the second ''Shikken''. Life Hōjō Masamura was born on July 10, 1205 , the son of ''Shikken'' Hōjō Yoshitoki ...
(r. 1264–1268) #
Hōjō Tokimune of the Hōjō clan was the eighth ''shikken'' (officially regent of the shōgun, but ''de facto'' ruler of Japan) of the Kamakura shogunate (reigned 1268–84), known for leading the Japanese forces against the invasion of the Mongols and fo ...
(r. 1268–1284) #
Hōjō Sadatoki was the ninth ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate (reigned 1284–1301), and ''tokusō'' (''de facto'' ruler of Japan) from his appointment as regent until his death. Born to the regent Tokimune and his wife from the Adachi family, ...
(r. 1284–1301) #
Hōjō Morotoki Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''Annales des empereurs du Japon,'' pp. 278-279. was the tenth ''Shikken'' (1301–1311) of the Kamakura shogunate. References

1275 births 1311 deaths Hōjō clan People of Kamakura-period Japan {{Japan- ...
(r. 1301–1311) #
Hōjō Munenobu was the eleventh ''Shikken'' (1311–1312) of the Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclope ...
(r. 1311–1312) #
Hōjō Hirotoki was the twelfth ''Shikken'' (1312–1315) of the Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encycloped ...
(r. 1312–1315) #
Hōjō Mototoki was the thirteenth ''Shikken'' (1315–1316) of the Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclo ...
(r. 1315–1316) #
Hōjō Takatoki was the last '' Tokusō'' and ruling Shikken (regent) of Japan's Kamakura shogunate; the rulers that followed were his puppets. A member of the Hōjō clan, he was the son of Hōjō Sadatoki, and was preceded as ''shikken'' by Hōjō Morotoki. ...
(r. 1316–1326) #
Hōjō Sadaaki was the 12th ''rensho'' (1315–1326) and 15th ''shikken'' (19 April 1326 – 29 April 1326) of the Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric ...
(r. 1326) # Hōjō Moritoki (r. 1326–1333) # Hōjō Sadayuki (r. 1333)


See also

*
Rokuhara Tandai was the post of the chiefs of the Kamakura shogunate in Kyoto whose agency, the , kept responsibility for security in Kinai and judicial affairs on western Japan, and negotiated with the imperial court. Despite keeping security, the Rokuhara we ...


References

{{Authority control Government of feudal Japan Japanese historical terms Regents of Japan Positions of authority de:Japanischer Regent#Shikken