was the ninth ''

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 ...

'' (regent) 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 Encyclopedia'', p. 459. The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yori ...

(reigned 1284–1301), and ''

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 ...

'' (''de facto'' ruler of Japan) from his appointment as regent until his death.

Early life and family

Sadatoki was the son of

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 ...

, the eighth regent of the Kamakura shogunate, and Lady Horiuchi, who later became known as Kakusan-ni. His mother came from the

Adachi clan The Adachi clan (安達氏) is a family of samurai who are said to have been descended from Fujiwara no Yamakage. Their historical significance derives from their successes during the Genpei War and their subsequent affiliation with the Hōjō ...

. His

wet nurse A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeding, breastfeeds and cares for another's child. Wet nurses are employed if the mother dies, if she is unable to nurse the child herself sufficiently or chooses not to do so. Wet-nursed children may be known a ...

was the wife of Taira no Yoritsuna.

Start of regency

Sadatoki became a ''shikken'' at age 12 upon the death of his father in 1284. One of Sadatoki's advisors was Taira no Yoritsuna.

Shimotsuki incident

The Hōjō clan had variously defeated many rival families, leaving only the

, with whom the Hōjōs were allies. However, a plot by

Adachi Yasumori Adachi may refer to: People * Adachi (surname) * Adachi clan, a family of samurai * Adachi Ginkō, 19th-century Japanese artist * Tohru Adachi, a fictional character from ''Persona 4'' Places * Adachi, Tokyo, a special ward of Tokyo, Japan * ...

to usurp the Hōjō resulted in Sadatoki authorizing Taira no Yoritsuna to attack the Adachi. It is possible Taira no Yoritsuna may have falsified the charges against Yasumori due to political rivalry. The attack occurred in November 1285 and is known as the . It was fought near the Adachi residence, and the Adachi were caught unaware. The fighting lasted five hours and Yasumori was forced to commit suicide, along with his family and many supporters. Over 500 died in all, and the Adachi family was almost exterminated. Adachi Yasumori was Sadatoki's father's brother-in-law.

Heizen Gate incident

Sadatoki's soldiers killed Taira no Yoritsuna and 90 of his followers in the Heizen Gate Incident (平禅門の乱, ''Heizenmon no Ran'') in 1293. He did this purge in confusion after the

1293 Kamakura earthquake The 1293 Kamakura earthquake in Japan occurred at about 06:00 local time on 27 May 1293. It had an estimated magnitude of 7.1–7.5 and triggered a tsunami. The estimated death toll was 23,024. It occurred during the Kamakura period, and th ...

Regency ends and death

Sadatoki ended his regency and entered the Buddhist priesthood in 1301. Some sources claim that, although secluded in a temple, he continued to administer Japan until his death in 1311. He is enshrined with his father and

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 ...

, heir of Sadatoki and last ''tokusō'' of Hōjō Clan. A mass requiem commemorating the 12th anniversary of Sadatoki's death took place at

Engaku-ji , or Engaku-ji (円覚寺), is one of the most important Zen Buddhist temple complexes in Japan and is ranked second among Kamakura's Five Mountains. It is situated in the city of Kamakura, in Kanagawa Prefecture to the south of Tokyo. Founded ...

in 1323. Jufuku-ji temple sent 260 priests.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hojo, Sadatoki 1272 births 1311 deaths Sadatoki Regents of Japan People of the Kamakura period