"Kura (saddle) , is the generic name for the Japanese saddle. The word ""kura"" is most commonly associated with the saddle used by the samurai class of feudal Japan which was developed from Chinese saddles. Over time the Japanese added elements of their own until the Japanese saddle became an identifiable style, also known as the samurai saddle. The Japanese were known to be using the Chinese style of saddle during the Nara period (AD 710 to 794), but during the Heian (794 to 1185), changes made to the Chinese saddle led to what we now call the ""kura"" or"
"suspended and the influx of Chinese exports halted, a fact which facilitated the growth of independently Japanese culture called . Therefore, the Heian Period is considered a high point in Japanese culture that later generations have always admired. The period is also noted for the rise of the samurai class, which would eventually take power and start the feudal period of Japan. Nominally, sovereignty lay in the emperor but in fact, power was wielded by the Fujiwara nobility. However, to protect their interests in the provinces, the Fujiwara, and other noble families required guards, police and soldiers. The warrior class"
"(see Japanese name). There were two leading classes, i.e. the gentry, in the time of feudal Japan: the ""daimyō"" and the ""samurai"". The Confucian ideals in the Japanese culture emphasised the importance of productive members of society, so farmers and fishermen were considered of a higher status than merchants. Emperor Meiji abolished the samurai's right to be the only armed force in favor of a more modern, Western-style, conscripted army in 1873. Samurai became ""Shizoku"" (), but the right to wear a katana in public was eventually abolished along with the right to execute commoners who paid them disrespect. In"
"Kikuchi over for execution.""[3] -Minamoto no Yoshitsune At the end of the twelfth century events far away in eastern Japan led to the establishment of Japan's first military government, the Kamakura Bakufu, which, during the initial stages at least, ran in tandem with the old imperial administration. The wars surrounding the birth of this new regime saw the Kikuchi clan coalesce into a powerful warrior league, or bushidan. In 1181/2, their leader Kikuchi Takanao, joined with Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi of Bungo, another important local warrior, in rebellion against the Taira, which converted them into de facto allies of Minamoto"
"emphasis on the adoption of elements of Chinese culture and Confucianism. The Nara period of the 8th century marked the emergence of a strong Japanese state and is often portrayed as a golden age. During this period, the imperial government undertook great public works, including government offices, temples, roads, and irrigation systems. The Heian period (794 to 1185) saw the peak of imperial power, followed by the rise of militarized clans, and the beginning of Japanese feudalism. The feudal period of Japanese history, dominated by powerful regional lords (""daimyōs"") and the military rule of warlords (""shōguns"") such as the Ashikaga"
"struggle between two warrior clans, the Minamoto and the Taira, at the end of the 12th century—a conflict known as the Genpei War. Clearly depicted throughout the epic is the ideal of the cultivated warrior. The warriors in the ""Heike Monogatari"" served as role models for the educated warriors of later generations, although the ideals depicted by them were assumed to be beyond reach. Nevertheless, during the early modern era, these ideals were vigorously pursued in the upper echelons of warrior society and recommended as the proper form of the Japanese man of arms. The influence of Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism,"
"execution."" —Minamoto no Yoshitsune At the end of the twelfth century events far away in eastern Japan led to the establishment of Japan's first military government, the Kamakura shogunate, which, during the initial stages at least, ran in tandem with the old imperial administration. The wars surrounding the birth of this new regime saw the Kikuchi clan coalesce into a powerful warrior league, or bushidan. In 1181–82, their leader Kikuchi Takanao, joined with Ogata Koreyoshi of Bungo, another important local warrior, in rebellion against the Taira, which converted them into de facto allies of Minamoto Yoritomo, founder of the Bakafu."
"class called the ""aji"", who resided in castles called ""gusuku"". Famous ""gusuku"" included Beru Castle in Kasari, Amami, and Yononushi Castle in Wadomari. Stronger ""aji"" battled each other to expand their territories. Local folklore states that some Taira clan members, having lost the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185, fled to Amami Ōshima. The historical accuracy of this claim is unknown. This ""gusuku"" period is sometimes called the . Eventually the Amami ""aji"" were forced to pay tribute to stronger nations to retain autonomy. Ryukyuan records state that Amami ""aji"" paid tribute to Eiso, the king of Chūzan in Sanzan period"
"the paternal line of the imperial family to gain influence over the throne. The period from 1086 to 1156 was the age of supremacy of the ""In-no-chō"" and of the rise of the military class throughout the country. Military might rather than civil authority dominated the government. A struggle for succession in the mid-twelfth century gave the Fujiwara an opportunity to regain their former power. Fujiwara no Yorinaga sided with the retired emperor in a violent battle in 1156 against the heir apparent, who was supported by the Taira and Minamoto (Hōgen Rebellion). In the end, the Fujiwara were destroyed,"
"of calligraphy. The ""Oie"" style was later used for official documents in the Edo period and was the prevailing style taught in the ""terakoya"" schools of that time. The ascension of Minamoto no Yoritomo to the title of ""shōgun"", following the Hōgen and Heiji rebellions, and the victory of the Minamoto clan over the Taira, marked the beginning of the Kamakura period (AD 1185–1333), but not quite yet to a return to peace and tranquility. The era is sometimes called ""the age of the warriors"" and a broad transition from court influences to a leading role of the military establishment"
"aristocracy who had become prominent provincial figures. These military families gained prestige from connections to the imperial court and court-granted military titles and access to manpower. The Fujiwara family, Taira clan, and Minamoto clan were among the most prominent families supported by the new military class. A decline in food production, the growth of the population, and competition for resources among the great families all led to the gradual decline of Fujiwara power and gave rise to military disturbances in the mid-tenth and eleventh centuries. Members of the Fujiwara, Taira, and Minamoto families—all of whom had descended from the imperial"
"Kamakura shogunate The Kamakura shogunate (Japanese: 鎌倉幕府, ""Kamakura bakufu"") was a Japanese feudal military government of imperial-aristocratic rule that ruled from 1185 to 1333. The heads of the government were the ""shōguns"". The first three were members of the Minamoto clan. The next two were members of the Fujiwara clan. The last six were minor Imperial princes. These years are known as the Kamakura period. The period takes its name from the city where the Minamoto shōguns lived. After 1203, the Hōjō clan held the office of ""shikken"". In effect, the ""shikken"" governed in the name of the ""shōguns"". Before"
"samurai-dominated government and relegating the Emperor to figurehead status. However, the Taira clan was still very conservative when compared to its eventual successor, the Minamoto, and instead of expanding or strengthening its military might, the clan had its women marry Emperors and exercise control through the Emperor. The Taira and the Minamoto clashed again in 1180, beginning the Genpei War, which ended in 1185. Samurai fought at the naval battle of Dan-no-ura, at the Shimonoseki Strait which separates Honshu and Kyūshū in 1185. The victorious Minamoto no Yoritomo established the superiority of the samurai over the aristocracy. In 1190 he"
"competition included the Emperor and the court aristocracy, the remnants of the imperial governmental systems, the ""daimyōs"", the ""shōen"" system, the great temples and shrines, the ""sōhei"", the ""shugo"" and ""jitō"", the ""jizamurai"" and early modern ""daimyō"". Each shogunate reflected the necessity of new ways of balancing the changing requirements of central and regional authorities. Shōgun The was the military dictator of Japan during the period from 1185 to 1868 (with exceptions). The shōgunate was their administration or government. In most of this period, the ""shōguns"" were the ""de facto"" rulers of the country, although nominally they were appointed by"
"is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 AD in Kamakura, by the first ""shōgun"" Minamoto no Yoritomo. The period is known for the emergence of the samurai, the warrior caste, and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan. In the late period rule by cloistered Emperors, or the early Kamakura period (1185–1333), Emperor Go-Toba (1180–1239), who had abdicated, ordered the compilation of the eighth imperial anthology of waka, the ""Shin Kokin Wakashū"". Go-Toba himself joined the team of editors. Other editors included Fujiwara no Teika and Kamo no Chōmei."
"Military history of Japan The military history of Japan is characterized by a period of clan warfare that lasted until the 12th century AD. This was followed by feudal wars that culminated in military governments known as the ""Shogunate"". Feudal militarism transitioned to imperial militarism in the 19th century after the landings of Admiral Perry and the elevation of the Meiji Emperor. This led to rampant imperialism until Japan's defeat by the Allies in World War II. The Occupation of Japan marks the inception of modern Japanese military history, with the drafting of a new Constitution prohibiting the ability to"
"attendance to the nobility."" From the mid-Heian Period these attendants were armed and served as guardians to the higher nobility. By the end of the 12th century, ""samurai"" became synonymous with ""bushi"" almost entirely and the word was closely associated with the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class. Written in 1371, The Heike Monogatari chronicles the struggle between the Minamoto and Taira clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century, a conflict known as the Genpei War. The Heike Monogatari is one of the longest and most beautifully composed of the genre called gunki"
"the Minamoto clan. This rivalry grew into the Genpei War in the early 1180s. This war saw the use of both samurai and peasant soldiers. For the samurai, battle was ritual and they often easily cut down the poorly trained peasantry. The Minamoto clan proved successful due to their rural alliances. Once the Taira was destroyed, the Minamoto established a military government called the shogunate (or bakufu), centered in Kamakura. The end of the Genpei War and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate marked the end of the Heian period and the beginning of the Kamakura period in 1185, solidifying"
"strategies and attitudes were forced to change and adapt. As factions emerged and loyalties shifted, clans and factions that had helped the Imperial Court became enemies, and defensive networks were broken, or altered through the shifting of alliances. The Genpei War (1180–1185) between the Minamoto and Taira clans, and the Nanboku-chō Wars (1336–1392) between the Northern and Southern Imperial Courts are the primary conflicts that define these developments during what is sometimes called Japan's medieval period. Fortifications were still made almost entirely out of wood, and were based largely on earlier modes, and on Chinese and Korean examples. But they"
"arrow fire and then hand-to-hand combat with swords and daggers. The Imperial family struggled against the control of the Fujiwara clan, which almost exclusively monopolized the post of regent (Sesshō and Kampaku). Feudal conflicts over land, political power, and influence eventually culminated in the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans, with a large number of smaller clans being allied with one side or the other. The later Heian period conflicts, particularly the Genpei War, and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate that followed, mark the ascendancy of the samurai class over the court nobility (""kuge""). The shogunates, which"
"predisposed most women to powerlessness, in conflict with a female warrior role. The Genpei War (1180–1185) marked the war between the Taira (Heike) and Minamoto (Genji) clans; two very prominent and powerful Japanese clans of the late-Heian period. The epic ""The Tale of the Heike"" was composed in the early 13th century in order to commemorate the stories of courageous and devoted samurai. Among those was Tomoe Gozen, servant of Minamoto no Yoshinaka of the Minamoto clan. She assisted Yoshinaka in defending himself against the forces of his cousin, Minamoto no Yoritomo, especially during the Battle of Awazu on February"
"most powerful warrior clans, the Taira and the Minamoto; five years later the Minamoto emerged victorious and established a de facto seat of government at the seaside village of Kamakura, where it remained until 1333. With the shift of power from the nobility to the warrior class, the arts had to satisfy a new audience: men devoted to the skills of warfare, priests committed to making Buddhism available to illiterate commoners, and conservatives, the nobility and some members of the priesthood who regretted the declining power of the court. Thus, realism, a popularizing trend, and a classical revival characterize the"
"fully realized, the trend toward party politics was well established. On its return, one of the first acts of the government was to establish new ranks for the nobility. Five hundred people from the old court nobility, former daimyo, and samurai who had provided valuable service to the Emperor were organized into a new peerage, the Kazoku, consisting of five ranks: prince, marquis, count, viscount, and baron. In the transition between the Edo and Meiji periods, the Ee ja nai ka movement, a spontaneous outbreak of ecstatic behavior, took place. In 1885, noted public intellectual Yukichi Fukuzawa wrote the influential"
"Shōgun The was the military dictator of Japan during the period from 1185 to 1868 (with exceptions). The shōgunate was their administration or government. In most of this period, the ""shōguns"" were the ""de facto"" rulers of the country, although nominally they were appointed by the Emperor as a ceremonial formality. The ""shōguns"" held almost absolute power over territories through military means. Nevertheless, an unusual situation occurred in the Kamakura period (1199–1333) upon the death of the first ""shōgun"", whereby the Hōjō clan's hereditary titles of ""shikken"" (1199–1256) and ""tokusō"" (1256–1333) dominated the shogunate as dictatorial positions, collectively known as"
"were essentially military governments, dominated Japanese politics for nearly seven hundred years (1185–1868), subverting the power of the Emperor and that of the Imperial Court. The end of the Genpei War brought about the end of the Heian period and the beginning of the Kamakura period. This period is marked by the departure from relatively small or medium-sized clan-like battles, to massive clashes of clans for battle over the control of Japan. In the Kamakura period, Japan successfully repulsed the Mongol invasions, and this saw a large growth in the size of military forces, with samurai as an elite force"
"country. Military might rather than civil authority dominated the government. A struggle for succession in the mid-twelfth century gave the Fujiwara an opportunity to regain their former power. Fujiwara no Yorinaga sided with the retired emperor in a violent battle in 1158 against the heir apparent, who was supported by the Taira and Minamoto. In the end, the Fujiwara were destroyed, the old system of government supplanted, and the ""insei"" system left powerless as bushi took control of court affairs, marking a turning point in Japanese history. Within a year, the Taira and Minamoto clashed, and a twenty-year period of"
"Taira ascendancy began. The Taira were seduced by court life and ignored problems in the provinces. Finally, Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199) rose from his headquarters at Kamakura (in the Kantō region, southwest of modern Tokyo) to defeat the Taira, and with them the child emperor Emperor Antoku they controlled, in the Genpei War (1180–1185). After this downfall, the younger branches of the Fujiwara clan turned their focus from politics to the arts, producing literary luminaries such as Fujiwara no Shunzei or Fujiwara no Teika. Only forty years after Michinaga's death, his Fujiwara heirs were not able to prevent the ascension"
"""appoint stewards and constables in all provinces"". Finally, in 1192, after Go-Shirakawa's death, Yoritomo was granted the imperial commission ""Sei-i Tai Shōgun"". This was the beginning of a feudal state in Japan, with real power now in Kamakura. However, Kyoto remained the ""seat of national ceremony and ritual."" The end of the Genpei War and beginning of the Kamakura shogunate marked the rise to power of the warrior class (""samurai"") and the gradual suppression of the power of the emperor, who was compelled to govern without effective political or military power, being effectively reduced to a purely symbolical and ceremonial"
"Edo period police In feudal Japan, individual military and citizens groups were primarily responsible for self-defense until the unification of Japan by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603. During the Edo period (1603–1868), the Tokugawa shogunate formed a centralized feudal government. Samurai warriors who once protected Japan from foreign enemies and fought each other for supremacy became the new police and internal security force. Their new job would be to ensure civil peace, which they accomplished for over 250 years. During the Edo period the authoritarian Tokugawa shogunate instituted an elaborate police/security state, an administrative hierarchy was developed, and rules and regulations"
"lead the clans in putting down rebellions throughout Japan during the middle- and later-Heian period. Because of their rising military and economic power, the warriors ultimately became a new force in the politics of the Imperial court. Their involvement in the Hōgen Rebellion in the late Heian period consolidated their power, which later pitted the rivalry of Minamoto and Taira clans against each other in the Heiji Rebellion of 1160. The victor, Taira no Kiyomori, became an imperial advisor and was the first warrior to attain such a position. He eventually seized control of the central government, establishing the first"
"samurai-dominated governments during the feudal history of Japan. The rivalry between the Minamoto and Taira clans was exacerbated by the Heiji rebellion. This led to the Genpei War, ending with the decisive Taira defeat at the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. The Kamakura period epic ""Tale of Heiji"" is about the exploits of the samurai that participated in the Heiji Rebellion. Together with the ""Tale of Hōgen"" and the ""Tale of Heike"", these war stories (""gunki monogatari"") describe the rise and fall of the Minamoto and Taira samurai clans. The scroll below, ""Illustrated Tale of the Heiji Civil War: Scroll"
"Uchigatana An is a type of Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The ""uchigatana"" was the descendant of the tachi. The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: From the Heian to the Muromachi Period, the primary battlefield sword was the tachi. Its long blade and sharp edge made it ideal for use on horseback. During the fifteenth century, the ""uchigatana"" came into use, and during the Muromachi Period (1336 to 1573) use of the ""uchigatana"" became widespread. The word ""uchigatana"" can be found in literary works as early as the Kamakura"
"warrior who banned even recitation of poetry, stating: Naoshige says similarly, that it is shameful for any man to die without having risked his life in battle, regardless of rank, and that """"bushidō"" is in being crazy to die. Fifty or more could not kill one such a man"". However, Naoshige also suggests that ""everyone should personally know exertion as it is known in the lower classes"". Japan enjoyed a period of relative peace from 1600 to the mid-19th century. During this period, the ""samurai"" class played a central role in the policing and administration of the country. The ""bushidō"""