Hōjō clan

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Family crest Mitsuroko

See the late Hōjō clan for the Hōjō clan of the Sengoku Period.

The Hōjō clan (北条氏, hōjō shi^?) in the history of Japan was a family of (shikken, officially a regent) of the Kamakura Shogunate. However, the family had actual governmental power, many times dictatorial, rather than Kamakura shoguns, or the Imperial Court, who were merely legal symbols. The Hōjō are also known for their defiance of the Mongols, and fathering the spread of Zen Buddhism and Bushido, but also extreme decadence and making national decisions in secret meetings at private residences.

1 Bloodline
2 Rise to Power
3 Major Early Events
4 Fall from Power
5 List of Hōjō Shikken
6 References in Media
7 See also

[edit] Bloodline

The Hōjō were an offshoot of the Minamoto's arch enemy, the Taira of the Kammu branch, originating in Izu Province. The Hōjō gained power by supporting the extermination of their close relatives the Taira by intermarrying with and supporting Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Battle of Dan-no-ura. Just 18 years after, the Hōjō ursurped power with Yoritomo's passing.

[edit] Rise to Power

Hōjō Tokimasa helped Minamoto no Yoritomo, a son-in-law, defeat the forces of the Taira to become Japan's first Shogun. Hōjō Masako, Tokimasa's daughter was married to Yoritomo. After the death of Yoritomo, Tokimasa became Regent to the child Shogun, effectively permanently transferring control of the Shogunate to his clan. The Minamoto and even Imperial Princes became puppets and hostages of the Hōjō.

[edit] Major Early Events

With the protector of the Emperor (shogun) a figurehead himself, strains emerged between Kyoto and Kamakura, and in 1221 the Jōkyū War broke out between the Cloistered Emperor Go-Toba and the second regent Hōjō Yoshitoki. The Hōjō forces easily won the war, and the imperial court was brought under the direct control of the shogunate. The shogun's constables gained greater civil powers, and the court was obliged to seek Kamakura's approval for all of its actions. Although deprived of political power, the court retained extensive estates.

Several significant administrative achievements were made during the Hōjō regency. In 1225 the third regent Hōjō Yasutoki established the Council of State, providing opportunities for other military lords to exercise judicial and legislative authority at Kamakura. The Hōjō regent presided over the council, which was a successful form of collective leadership. The adoption of Japan's first military code of law—the Goseibai Shikimoku—in 1232 reflected the profound transition from court to militarized society. While legal practices in Kyoto were still based on 500-year-old Confucian 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 inheritances. It was clear and concise, stipulated punishments for violators of its conditions, and remained in effect for the next 635 years.

As might be expected, the literature of the time reflected the unsettled nature of the period. The Hōjōki describes the turmoil of the period in terms of the Buddhist concepts of impermanence and the vanity of human projects. The Heike monogatari narrated the rise and fall of the Taira, replete with tales of wars and samurai deeds. A second literary mainstream was the continuation of anthologies of poetry in the Shin Kokin Wakashū, of which twenty volumes were produced between 1201 and 1205.

[edit] Fall from Power

The Hōjō were betrayed by a vassal, Ashikaga Takauji, ordered to defeat the forces allied with Emperor Go-Daigo in 1333.

[edit] List of Hōjō Shikken

1 Hōjō Tokimasa (1138-1215) (r. 1203-1205)
2 Hōjō Yoshitoki (1163-1224) (r. 1205-1224)
3 Hōjō Yasutoki (1183-1242) (r. 1224-1242)
4 Hōjō Tsunetoki (1224-1246) (r. 1242-1246)
5 Hōjō Tokiyori (1227-1263) (r. 1246-1256)
6 Hōjō Nagatoki (1229-1264) (r. 1256-1264)
7 Hōjō Masamura (1205-1273) (r. 1264-1268)
8 Hōjō Tokimune (1251-1284) (r. 1268-1284)
9 Hōjō Sadatoki (1271-1311) (r. 1284-1301)
10 Hōjō Morotoki (1275-1311) (r. 1301-1311)
11 Hōjō Munenobu (1259-1312) (r. 1311-1312)
12 Hōjō Hirotoki (1279-1315) (r. 1312-1315)
13 Hōjō Mototoki (?-1333) (r. 1315)
14 Hōjō Takatoki (1303-1333) (r. 1316-1326)
15 Hōjō Sadaaki (1278-1333) (r. 1326)
16 Hōjō Moritoki (?-1333) (r. 1327-1333)

Aside from the regents above, those who played an important role among the Hōjō clan are:

[edit] 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 of Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and the Southern Imperial 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.