Important People

Yamato

• 300 C.E. Yamato Period
• A family/clan believed to descend directly from the Sun God
• Power through marriage and belief of their relation to Sun God
• This is how the imperial sun line was born.
• Imperial Sun line: Concept that the emperor is directly to the sun god.

Fujiwara

• Important family during the Heian period
• Lived in Heian (Kyoto today)
• When the capital was moved from Nara to Heian this family took control
• They married members of the imperial family to make them stronger

Yoritomo

• Was the victor of the civil war between Taira and Minamoto clans.
• Ruled Japan from Kamakura, but left imperial court in Nara.
• Didn't try and be an emporer because of his lineage, but adopted the title of shogun.
• What is a shogun? Pg. 186
• He still had all the power though.
• His government was call the Bakufu (military, day to day, justice)
• Appointed military stewards to look over land
• Died when fell of his horse in 1199
• He was succeded by 3 more shoguns.

Ashikaga

• After Yoritomo died the Hogo family had power but gave title of Shogun to another family.
• When power started to weaken the Emperor Go-Daigo took advantage.
• Civil war broke out again and the Hogo family was betrayed by Ashikaga.
• Ashikaga brought bakufu to Kyoto to control the emperor.

Oda Nobunaga

• 1467 suffered through another civil war called the Onin War
• a daimyo (feudal lord), Nobunaga, started to reunify Japan.
• Came from poor family but made general because of his leadership.
• Supported family in rule but kept real power for himself.
• He destroyed power of many feudal lords, and private armies of Buddhist temples.
• Killed in ambush.

Hideyoshi

• Took over where Nobunaga left off.
• Organized an invasion of China, but failed.
• Died in 1593 and his son/ heir was only 5.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

• Ruled until 1867 (the year Canada became a dominion)
• Kept power in their own hands
• Brought peace to Japan

Lady Murasaki

• Who is she?
• What did she write?