Shogun
In feudal Japan, Shogun ruled the country, but does not have power over the emperor. The emperor chooses the shogun. Shogun was not the king or emperor but got this rank by Tenno, a Japanese emperor. Shogun means general in the Japanese language. Its full name was Seii Taishogun (Great General who fights against the Eastern savages and will win).
In earlier times Shogun were generals for emperors and not the ruler of Japan. In 1192 a samurai, military leader Minamoto no Yoritomo got the title of Shogun by the last Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Since people thought Shogun was the leader of all samurai and the leader of Japan. Except the latter middle of the 16th century, Shogun ruled Japan.
The office of the Shogun is called the Shogunate. In Japanese it is called Bakufu, meaning office in a tent, because Shogun had originally been military leaders and he had his office in a tent on a battle field.
There were three Shogunates in Japan.
- Kamakura shogunate, 1192-1333, founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo
- Muromachi shogunate (also known as the Ashikaga shogunate), 1338-1573, founded by Ashikaga Takauji
- Edo shogunate (also known as the Tokugawa shogunate), 1602-1868, founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu
In 1868 the 15th Shogun of Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Yosinobu gave up his office. Then the time of Shogun rule ended. It was the end of the feudal time of Japan.
