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The Era of Warrior Dominance
By: Jessica Testa
The era of warrior dominance grew as the power of the provincial lords grew. It resulted from the declining influence of China, the breakdown of Bakufu dominance, and caused artistic solace. This time caused great change for the Japanese people and this is why.
From the 12th century forward the Japanese history was completely dominated by civil wars between the shifting factions of the court aristocracy and the local warlords. As Chinese influence declined Japan flourished. While the power of provincial lords grew the imperial house and its court aristocracy died off. Powerful families at the court began to rely on their allies with regional lords to help them in their fights with their enemies. In the 11th and 12th centuries provincial families had to put aside the court and compete for power. The two of the most powerful in this was the Taira and the Minamoto. For a while the Taira had the upper hand when it came to the power. But then rivalry turned into an all out open warfare in the 1180's which allowed the Minamoto to become commanders in a powerful network of alliances and lords.
With the declining influence of Chinese institutions and such diminished for the Japanese. A need for a central power seem inevitably necessary. Scholar-gentry positions weren't need whereas a soldier (samurai) was. Buddhism drastically transformed by peasants and aristocrats into a Japanese religion of distinction. When the Tang dynasty ended political uncertainty and social turmoil rose within China. The Chinese began to have less and less of an impact on the Japanese from then on. The Gempei Wars raged in the main island of Honshu for five years. This brought suffering to the peasantry because their farmlands were destroyed. They also were cut down from the much stronger samurai's. In 1185 the Taira faction was no more. Minamoto sprang up with its capital in Kamakura. They established bankufu, which means “tent”, or military government. The real power now was on the shoulders of the Minamoto. Japan's feudal age had begun.
During the breakdown of the Bankufu dominance and the age of the warlords sprung, Yoritomo was the leader of the Minamoto. He weakened the Kamakura regime only because he had an obsessive fear of being overthrown by one of his own family members. Yoritomo's rule went unchallenged but since he was overly careful he had no heir to the throne. His death and later leaders crumbles what he had built up. The Hojo was one of the alliances to the Minamoto took over the Kamakura regime but let the Minamoto have control. The real power however, rested with the Hojo family which manipulated the Minamuto shoguns. However it didn't end there. The Ashikaga Takuaji, one of the branches of the Minamoto family led a revolt of the bushi that overthrew the Kamakura regime. Ashikaga Takuaji then established the Ashikaga Shogunate. Throughout all of this the chivalrous acts that once were, were no more they were turning back into barbarians.
The artistic solace was emerged in troubling times. The fear of the frequent wars between the samurai which were turning Japan back to barbarians. This is what inspired continuation of art. Buddhism stressed simplicity and discipline appealed to the warrior elite. It also played a critical role in securing the place of art in a time of destruction. Monasteries provided points of renewed diplomatic and trade contacts with China. This led to a revival of the Chinese influence. If not completely at least at the cultural level. Much of the art in this era was imitating Chinese work within the Song dynasty. Monochrome ink sketches of Japanese artist were considered brilliant and original. Screen and scroll paintings captured beauty of Japan. Zen (Buddhism) was also prominent in architectural works, including Golden and Silver Pavilions. All art during this age was glimpses of Japan and its natural beauty.
The era of warrior dominance did represent a change in world history because it was a huge change in itself. Dynasties rose and fell as well as major Chinese influence. It brought up and down dominance from various families who tried to take over during this era as well. This era also introduced new ideas within art as well as political and social ideas for how to run Asia. Warrior dominance caused much destruction more so than it did progress. It destroyed much causing people to become barbarian in their ways from the civil and cordial ways they were before. It didn't affect the history of the world as it did Asia, more so China only because this happened inside Asian borders. Warrior dominance also began a trend which existed for a long period of time, Japanese feudalism. All was why this even is important for the history of the time period within Asia.
The era of warrior dominance grew as the power of the provincial lords grew. It resulted from the declining influence of China, the breakdown of Bakufu dominance, and caused artistic solace. This time caused great change for the Japanese people and this is why.
From the 12th century forward the Japanese history was completely dominated by civil wars between the shifting factions of the court aristocracy and the local warlords. As Chinese influence declined Japan flourished. While the power of provincial lords grew the imperial house and its court aristocracy died off. Powerful families at the court began to rely on their allies with regional lords to help them in their fights with their enemies. In the 11th and 12th centuries provincial families had to put aside the court and compete for power. The two of the most powerful in this was the Taira and the Minamoto. For a while the Taira had the upper hand when it came to the power. But then rivalry turned into an all out open warfare in the 1180's which allowed the Minamoto to become commanders in a powerful network of alliances and lords.
With the declining influence of Chinese institutions and such diminished for the Japanese. A need for a central power seem inevitably necessary. Scholar-gentry positions weren't need whereas a soldier (samurai) was. Buddhism drastically transformed by peasants and aristocrats into a Japanese religion of distinction. When the Tang dynasty ended political uncertainty and social turmoil rose within China. The Chinese began to have less and less of an impact on the Japanese from then on. The Gempei Wars raged in the main island of Honshu for five years. This brought suffering to the peasantry because their farmlands were destroyed. They also were cut down from the much stronger samurai's. In 1185 the Taira faction was no more. Minamoto sprang up with its capital in Kamakura. They established bankufu, which means “tent”, or military government. The real power now was on the shoulders of the Minamoto. Japan's feudal age had begun.
During the breakdown of the Bankufu dominance and the age of the warlords sprung, Yoritomo was the leader of the Minamoto. He weakened the Kamakura regime only because he had an obsessive fear of being overthrown by one of his own family members. Yoritomo's rule went unchallenged but since he was overly careful he had no heir to the throne. His death and later leaders crumbles what he had built up. The Hojo was one of the alliances to the Minamoto took over the Kamakura regime but let the Minamoto have control. The real power however, rested with the Hojo family which manipulated the Minamuto shoguns. However it didn't end there. The Ashikaga Takuaji, one of the branches of the Minamoto family led a revolt of the bushi that overthrew the Kamakura regime. Ashikaga Takuaji then established the Ashikaga Shogunate. Throughout all of this the chivalrous acts that once were, were no more they were turning back into barbarians.
The artistic solace was emerged in troubling times. The fear of the frequent wars between the samurai which were turning Japan back to barbarians. This is what inspired continuation of art. Buddhism stressed simplicity and discipline appealed to the warrior elite. It also played a critical role in securing the place of art in a time of destruction. Monasteries provided points of renewed diplomatic and trade contacts with China. This led to a revival of the Chinese influence. If not completely at least at the cultural level. Much of the art in this era was imitating Chinese work within the Song dynasty. Monochrome ink sketches of Japanese artist were considered brilliant and original. Screen and scroll paintings captured beauty of Japan. Zen (Buddhism) was also prominent in architectural works, including Golden and Silver Pavilions. All art during this age was glimpses of Japan and its natural beauty.
The era of warrior dominance did represent a change in world history because it was a huge change in itself. Dynasties rose and fell as well as major Chinese influence. It brought up and down dominance from various families who tried to take over during this era as well. This era also introduced new ideas within art as well as political and social ideas for how to run Asia. Warrior dominance caused much destruction more so than it did progress. It destroyed much causing people to become barbarian in their ways from the civil and cordial ways they were before. It didn't affect the history of the world as it did Asia, more so China only because this happened inside Asian borders. Warrior dominance also began a trend which existed for a long period of time, Japanese feudalism. All was why this even is important for the history of the time period within Asia.