Shogun

A shogun (将軍, shōgun, pronounced [ɕoːɡɯ̃ɴ]) was a military dictator of Japan during most of the period from 1185 to 1868 (with exceptions). In most of this period, the shoguns effectively ruled the country, although nominally they were appointed by the Emperor as a ceremonial gesture.

The office of shogun was typically held by members of powerful clans that controlled the military strength of the country. The title originally referred to a military general tasked with expeditions against the Emishi people in northern Japan. Over time, the title became associated with significant political power.

There were three major shogunates in Japanese history:

• Kamakura shogunate (1185–1333): Founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo, marking the beginning of feudal Japan. The shogun ruled from Kamakura, while the Emperor maintained a largely symbolic role in Kyoto.

• Ashikaga shogunate (1336–1573): Also known as the Muromachi shogunate, founded by Ashikaga Takauji. This era saw a period of relative peace and cultural flourishing, but eventually devolved into the Sengoku period of warring states.

• Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1868): Founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu, establishing a centralized government in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). This period was characterized by relative peace and isolation from the outside world, known as the Edo period. The Tokugawa shogunate ended with the Meiji Restoration, restoring the Emperor to full political power.

The shogun held significant authority, including control over the military, taxation, and legal systems. They were often more powerful than the Emperor, who held a symbolic and religious role. The shogun governed with the assistance of a bureaucracy and a feudal system of lords (daimyo) who controlled regional territories. The system relied on a strict social hierarchy, with the samurai warrior class occupying a prominent position.