Sengoku Period 1476-1600

How did we get here:

• Before the late 12th century, Japan was ruled by one emperor

• Minamoto Yorimoto developed the early version of the shogun that evolves into Kamakura Shogunate.

• The title of Shogun (military dictator) was formally taken by Minamoto Yorimoto in 1192

• Military ruled over Japan from 1338 - 1573, with Kamakura Shogunate till 1333 when the Ashikaga Shogunate took over.

Some general major events:

• At the end of the Onin War (1477), the Daimyos essentially lost and Shoguns took over the majority of influence in Japan. Kyoto was also burnt down during this time

• In 1543, a group of Portuguese sailors were shipwrecked and arrived at the shores of Tanega Island, off southern Kyushu.

• The construction and manufacture of muskets were introduced by the sailors, and were quickly passed throughout Sakai and other cities.

• By the 1550s matchlock firearms became widespread in Japan. In addition, christianity was introduced and influenced Daimyo clans in Western Japan to convert for religious and political reasons.

• European trading and connections started forming around this time as well

The Three Great Unifier:

Oda Nobunaga (1534 - 1582):

• Oda Nobunaga was born in a Samurai family in Owari province, and secured leadership of the clan after his father’s death in 1551.

• Became a well known war lord and famed figure after uniting Owari and the Battle of Okehazama.

• Nobunaga spread his territory over the years, abolished merchant guild monopolies and encouraged free trade. He also became one of the first Daimyo to adapt and incorporate guns into military forces.

• Placing a puppet Shogun by the name of Ashikaga Yoshiaki in Tokyo, in 1568, their alliance quickly took a sour turn and Yoshiaki was forced into exile.

• Diminished the power of militant Buddhist sects, destroying the Enryaku monasteries on Mount Hiei, and subduing Ikko, using Jesuit missionaries.

• Welcomed the African warrior Yasuke into his service while conquering central Japan, and subjugating western Japan.

• Committed seppuku in 1582 after being betrayed by general Akechi Mitsuhide, leaving his unification and subjugation incomplete, but created a strong foundation.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536/37 - 1598)

• Born as a peasant in Owari province, and rise through the ranks from humble foot soldier (ashigaru) into one of Japan’s most influential warlords.

• Overthrew a powerful regional daimyo and became lord of Nagahama in 1573.

• Avenged Nobunaga by defeating the traitor Akechi Mitsuhide at the battle of Yamazaki, positioning himself as an heir to Nonbunaga by name, continuing his legacy.

• Gained control over the fractured Oda clan, and established a formidable base at Osaka castle, bringing other daimyos under his authority.

• Briefly challenged by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who eventually submitted to Hideyoshi’s leadership.

• Unified most of japan by 1590 and recognized by the emperor as a Kampaku (chancellor) and later dajo-daijin (chief minister), and establishing the Toyotomi family name.

• Attempted to invade Korea with the goal of conquering China and beyond in mind between 1592-1597. Ultimately failed and lost a lot of men and resources to the Korean admiral Yi Sun-Shin.

• Died in 1598, leaving behind a weakened but unified Japan for Tokugawa Ieyasu to take control.

Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 -1616)

• Born in a minor samurai clan in the Mikawa province, Ieyasu spent part of his youth as a hostage of the powerful Imagawa clan.

• Reclaimed the Tokugawa ancestral lands after aligning himself with Nobunaga after Oda Nobunaga’s victory over Imagawa Yoshimoto at the battle of Okehazama in 1560.

• Slowly rising through the ranks and influence, briefly rivals Hideyoshi but then submitted to his leadership and moved his headquarters to east Edo (modern Tokyo).

• Focused on strengthening Edo’s infrastructure, building a powerful and loyal family while Hideyoshi was focusing on invasion campaigns during 1592-1597.

• After Hideyoshi died in 1598, the daimyo broke into a power struggle again, later in 1600, Ieyasu’s forces won the Battle of Sekigahara, making Tokugawa the undisputed master of Japan. Received the title of Shogun in 1603, laid the starting ground for the Tokugawa period.