The Powerful Nun-Shogun: Hōjō Masako
Hōjō Masako
(1157-1225)
Hōjō Masako, known as in important historical figure, was deeply involved in the course of the Kamakura period as the wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, who founded the Kamakura shogunate. How did Hōjō Masako rise to become the behind-the-scenes ruler of the Kamakura Shogunate? Here are some anecdotes that give us an insight into her personality and charisma.
Hōjō Tokimasa, Masako's father
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Masako overcame opposition of her marriage with Yoritomo
Hōjō Masako was the daughter of Minamoto no Yoritomo’s monitor (監視役), Hōjō Tokimasa, who was defeated in the Heiji Disturbance and became a criminal. When Hōjō Masako, the daughter of a powerful family, married a criminal, those around her naturally opposed the marriage. Hōjō Masako ran away from her father’s fiancée and chose to walk with Yoritomo. Masako’s father was won over by Masako’s passion and energy, and allowed them to marry.[1]
[1] Benton, M. F. (2015). Hōjō Masako: The Dowager Shogun. In Heroic with Grace (pp. 162-207). Routledge.
Drogin, M. B. (2001). Images for warriors: Unkei's sculptures at Ganjojuin and Jorakuji (Japan).
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Imprisonment of her first son, Minamoto no Yoriie in Izu
Masako and Yoritomo’s eldest son and heir, Yoriie, was imprisoned by Masako in Shuzenji, Izu (修繕寺, 伊豆). Yoriie was expected to be the heir to the throne, but Masako felt threatened by him, which led to the imprisonment of Yoriie. Despite being the eldest son, Yoriie was forced to leave the priesthood by order of Masako. As a result, he was imprisoned in Shuzenji in Izu and murdered.[1]
[1] Ordel, K. (2016). Three Perspectives on the Hojo: A Warrior Family in Early Medieval Japan (Doctoral dissertation, University of Southern California).
Minamoto no Yoriie
Clark, T. (2007). The bushido code: The eight virtues of the samurai.
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Minamoto no Sanetomo
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Oust of Hōjō Masako’s own father for her son, Sanetomo, to take over
Masako even ousted her father, Hōjō Tokimasa, in order to allow her son Sanetomo to take power. After the imprisonment of his eldest son Yoriie, it was Masako’s second son Sanetomo who assumed the post of shogun. Tokimasa, Masako’s father, was appointed as regent to assist him. However, Tokimasa, attempts to value courtier the shogun in preference to Sanetomo, the shogun. Masako, aware of her father’s plot and threatened with expulsion of her son, ordained her father and banished him from politics.[1]
[1] Ury, M. (1993). Heroic with Grace: Legendary Women of Japan. 24.
Kobayashi, N. (2010). Dreams of Sanetomo: His Portrait in the Azuma Kagami and the Legends of Prince Shōtoku1.
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Sanetomo's eassassination which led to Hōjō Masako taking over and came to be known as the “nun shogun”
Masako assumed real power in the Kamakura shogunate after the death of her son and the exile of her father. Sanetomo, who became the third shogun, was assassinated, and Hōjō Masako scrambled to find a successor. Eventually, it was decided to bring in a two year old child from the influential Fujiwara family to serve as shogun. However, since politics was impossible for an infant, Masako, who became his backer, took over the real power. As a result, Masako came to be known as “nun shogun (尼将軍).”[1]
[1] Mulhern, C. I. (2015). Heroic with Grace: Legendary Women of Japan: Legendary Women of Japan. Routledge.
Hōjō Masako
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Hōjō Masako’s success in the Jokyu Rebellion 承久の乱
Behind the Jokyu Rebellion, Hōjō Masako also played an active role. The Jokyu Rebellion was a conflict that occurred in 1221 when Emperor Go-Toba ordered the Imperial Court to defeat Hōjō Yoshitoki, who was on the side of the Shogunate. After the assassination of Sanetomo, the third Shogun, the Imperial Court ordered the confused courtiers to take action against the Shogunate. For the samurai of the time, the Imperial Court was an absolute entity, and even though they were indebted to the Shogunate, it was a difficult order to disobey. Masako made this call to the governesses who were caught between the shogunate and the imperial court. [1]
[1] Mass, J. (1979). The development of Kamakura rule, 1180-1250: a history with documents. Stanford University Press.