Page 59 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

THE HIST OR Y OF JAP AN  57

The Portuguese in Kyushu – the “Southern Barbarians” who introduced firearms and Christianity to Japan
Temples and works of art were created in With leaders engaged in power struggles,
Kamakura, reflecting Yoritomo’s warrior chaos and famine were common. The
ideals of stoicism, self discipline, frugality, nadir was reached during the Onin War
and loyalty. Zen Buddhism, as imported (1467–77), when arson and looting
from China, was popular with the samurai, destroyed much of Kyoto.
while the Pure-Land, True-Pure-Land, and The Muromachi period, named for
Nichiren Buddhist sects promoted salvation the Kyoto district where the Ashikagas
for the common people. built their palace, was a time of craven
Mongol invasions were repelled twice ambition that unleashed every class in
in the 13th century, but weakened society to vie for advantage. Warfare,
the resources and command of once the exclusive business of
Kamakura. The end came in samurai, now involved armies of
1333, when the Ashikaga clan, footsoldiers (ashigaru) recruited
led by Takauji, toppled the from the peasantry, who could
Kamakura shogunate. How ever, hope for promotion based on
the power systems instigated success in the battlefields.
by Yoritomo and the Hojo Muromachi-period In 1542 a trio of Portuguese
influenced Japanese life for sword guard from a shipwrecked junk emerged
five more centuries. in Tanegashima, an island off
Kyushu, and introduced firearms to Japan.
Muromachi Shogunate Francis Xavier, a founding member of the
With military power back with the imperial Society of Jesus, established a Jesuit
court in Kyoto, arts such as Noh drama and mission at Kagoshima in 1549. The contact
the tea ceremony flowered under the with Europeans further destabilized the
patronage of Sho gun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. political situation and set the stage for the
However, a succession dispute split the first of the great unifiers, Oda Nobunaga,
court into southern and northern factions. who entered Kyoto in 1568.

c. 1400 Zeami performing
1180–85 Minamoto Noh dramas and writing
clan defeats the Taira 1467 Devastating Onin War begins.
and establishes Great Buddha statue Vast sections of Kyoto are burned
Kamakura shogunate at Kamakura over the next decade
1100 1200 1300 1400 1500
1281 Second Mongol invasion 1560–80 Oda Nobunaga
1160 Ascendant Taira clan under victorious in battles
Taira no Kiyomori suppresses its 1274 First Mongol invasion for hegemony of Japan
rivals, the Minamoto, and 1242 Emperor Shijo dies without naming 1428 Peasant uprising in Kyoto
dominates court life heir, setting off succession dispute
1401 Formal relations with China reestablished

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