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samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...
family who controlled the hereditary title of '' shikken'' (
regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
) of the Kamakura shogunate between 1203 and 1333. Despite the title, in practice the family wielded actual political power in Japan during this period compared to both the Kamakura shoguns, or the Imperial Court in Kyoto, whose authority was largely symbolic. The Hōjō are known for fostering
Zen Buddhism Zen (; from Chinese: '' Chán''; in Korean: ''Sŏn'', and Vietnamese: ''Thiền'') is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty by blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Madhyamaka ph ...
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. They gained power by supporting the defeat of the Taira by supporting the warlord
Minamoto no Yoritomo was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the first ruling shogun in the history of Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako ...
in the
Genpei War The was a national civil war between the Taira clan, Taira and Minamoto clan, 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 Yori ...
through both military assistance and by marriage to his blood relatives. Yet, when Yoritomo died eighteen years later, the Hōjō usurped power from his family.


Rise to power

Hōjō Tokimasa helped
Minamoto no Yoritomo was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the first ruling shogun in the history of Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako ...
, a son-in-law, defeat the forces of the Taira to become Japan's first ''
shōgun , officially , was the title of the military rulers 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, except during parts of the Kamak ...
''.
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 Yori ...
, Tokimasa's daughter, was married to Yoritomo. After the death of Yoritomo, Tokimasa appointed himself as '' shikken'' (regent) to the former ''shōguns young son, thus effectively transferring control of the shogunate to his clan permanently. 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, while the clan, in turn, came to despise the weak
Emperor Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198. This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; ...
. In 1221, the Jōkyū War broke out between forces loyal to the recently retired Go-Toba and the second regent Hōjō Yoshitoki. The Hōjō forces easily won the war; the imperial court was brought under the direct control of the shogunate, while the emperor was exiled "to a remote island off western Japan." The ''shōgun''s constables were granted extensive 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 was permitted to maintain its estates in
Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
since it conveyed needed legitimacy on the otherwise unlawful rule of the shogunate. Several significant administrative achievements were made during the Hōjō regency. In 1225 the third regent,
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 ...
, established the '' Hyōjōsho'' (Council of State), which ended the threat of civil war by enabling potential rivals of the Hōjō to share in the shogunate's decision-making and political power. The Hōjō regent presided over the council, which was a successful form of
collective leadership In communist and socialist theory, collective leadership is a shared distribution of power within an organizational structure, sometimes publicly described or designed as Primus inter pares, ''primus inter pares'' (''first among equals''). Commun ...
. The adoption of Japan's first military code of law — the '' Goseibai Shikimoku'' — in 1232 reflected the profound transition from an era of direct Imperial rule to the military dictatorship of the ''shōgun''. While legal practices in Kyoto were still based on 500-year-old
Confucian Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, religion, theory of government, or way of life. Founded by Confucius ...
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
inheritance Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...
s. It was clear and concise, stipulated punishments for violators of its conditions, and remained in effect for the next 635 years.


List of Hōjō ''Shikken''

# Hōjō Tokimasa (1138–1215) (r. 1203–1205) # Hōjō Yoshitoki (1163–1224) (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 ...
(1183–1242) (r. 1224–1242) # Hōjō Tsunetoki (1224–1246) (r. 1242–1246) #
Hōjō Tokiyori was the fifth shikken (regent of shogun) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. Early life He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori, younger brother of Hōjō Tsunetoki, the fourth shikken, and grandson of ...
(1227–1263) (r. 1246–1256) #
Hōjō Nagatoki Hōjō Nagatoki (, 1227–1264) was the sixth '' Shikken'' (1256–1264) of the Kamakura Bakufu and the 4th Chief of the Rokuhara Tandai North Branch ''Kitakata,'' son of Hōjō Shigetoki, grandson of Hōjō Yoshitoki, the second ''Shikken''. ...
(1229–1264) (r. 1256–1264) # Hōjō Masamura (1205–1273) (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 people, Japanese forces against the Mongol invasions ...
(1251–1284) (r. 1268–1284) # Hōjō Sadatoki (1271–1311) (r. 1284–1301) # Hōjō Morotoki (1275–1311) (r. 1301–1311) #
Hōjō Munenobu was the eleventh ''Shikken'' (1311–1312) of the Kamakura shogunate. He is also known as Osaragi Munenobu (). References

1259 births 1312 deaths Hōjō clan People of the Kamakura period {{Japan-noble-stub ...
(1259–1312) (r. 1311–1312) # Hōjō Hirotoki (1279–1315) (r. 1312–1315) # Hōjō Mototoki (1286-1333) (r. 1315) #
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 Mototo ...
(1303–1333) (r. 1316–1326) # Hōjō Sadaaki (1278–1333) (r. 1326) #
Hōjō Moritoki Hojo Moritoki (, 1295–1333) was the last '' Shikken'' (Regent) of the Kamakura shogunate and the last regent of the Hōjō clan. References 1295 births 1333 deaths Hōjō clan People of the Kamakura period {{Japan-bio-st ...
(1295-1333) (r. 1327–1333) #
Hōjō Sadayuki Hōjō Sadayuki (北条 貞将, 1302 – July 4, 1333) was a Japanese samurai lord of the late Heian period. He was the son and heir apparent of Hōjō Sadaaki, the 15th ''Shikken'' of the Kamakura shogunate, Kamakura Shogunate. There is a theory ...
(1302-1333) (r.1333) Aside from the regents above, those who played an important role among the Hōjō clan are: * Hōjō Sanetoki *
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 Yori ...


References in media

* The '' Taiheiki'' (Japanese: 太平記) is a Japanese historical epic written in the late 14th century that details the fall of the Hōjō clan and rise of the Ashikaga, and the period of war ( Nanboku-chō) between the
Northern Court The , also known as the Ashikaga Pretenders or Northern Pretenders, were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392. Even though the present Imperial House of Japan is descended from the ...
of
Ashikaga Takauji also known as Minamoto no Takauji was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate."Ashikaga Takauji" in ''Encyclopædia Britannica, The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. ...
in
Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
, and the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in Yoshino, which forever splintered the Japanese Imperial Family. Multiple modern films have been made based on the epic novel. * In the
visual novel A visual novel (VN) is a form of digital interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with static or animated illustratio ...
'' 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 Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game. The term applies to both video games and Tabletop game, tabletop games. Gameplay is the connection between the player and the game, the player's overcoming of challenges, and t ...
element later on *
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 people, Japanese forces against the Mongol invasions ...
is the leader of the Japanese civilization in the strategy video game
Sid Meier's Civilization VI ''Sid Meier's Civilization VI'' is a 2016 4X turn-based strategy video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. The mobile and Nintendo Switch ports were published by Aspyr Media. It is the sequel to '' Civilization V'' (2010), a ...
. * Hōjō Tokiyuki, a son of the last ''
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 ...
'' (head of Hōjō clan), is the main character of manga by
Yusei Matsui is a Japanese manga artist. He was an assistant of Yoshio Sawai, the manga artist of '' Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo''. ...
. * The Hōjō kamon could be one inspiration for the symbol of the
triforce The is a fictional artifact (archaeology), artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game franchise. It first appeared in the original ''The Legend of Zelda (video game), The Legend of Zelda'' video game (1986) and has app ...
in the ''Legend of Zelda'' series. * The video game ''
Ghost of Tsushima In folklore, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from an invisible presence to translucen ...
'', which is set during the Mongol invasions of Japan, features the Hōjō-esque Oda clan.


See also

*
History of Japan The first human inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago have been traced to the Japanese Paleolithic, Paleolithic, around 38–39,000 years ago. The Jōmon period, named after its cord-marked pottery, was followed by the Yayoi period in the fi ...
* Hōkoku-ji * Kamakura shogunate * Kanazawa Bunko *
Later Hōjō clan The was one of the most powerful samurai families in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region. Their last name was simply , but were called "Later Hōjō" to differentiate between the earlier Hōjō clan who h ...
, a clan that took on the name 'Hōjō' for the convenience of ruling over the Kanto region, despite having no direct connection to the Kamakura Hōjō. * Mongol invasions of Japan *
Rensho The was the assistant to the '' shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in medieval Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on th ...
, Hōjō hereditary post *
Rokuhara Tandai was the post of the chiefs of the Kamakura shogunate in imperial capital Kyoto whose agency, the , kept responsibility for security in Kinai and judicial affairs on western Japan, and negotiated with the Imperial Court in Kyoto, imperial court. ...
, security force located in Kyoto, Hōjō hereditary post *
Shikken The was a senior government post held by members of the Hōjō clan, officially a regent of the shogunate. From 1199 to 1333, during the Kamakura period, the ''shikken'' served as the head of the ''bakufu'' (shogun's government). This era was ref ...
, Hōjō hereditary post *
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 ...
, the title of the head of the clan


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hojo clan Japanese clans