Timeline

Hōjō Masako was a very strong and respectable woman. The wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of Japan, was Hōjō Masako. After Masako and Yoritomo fell in love, Masako convinced her father to approve of their union, and eventually helped Yoritomo conquer Japan.[1] After Minamoto no Yoritomo dies, Masako became a nun 尼将軍, and dedicated her life to Buddhist services.[2] Shortly after Yoritomo’s death, Masako’s eldest son, Yoriie was assassinated. Sanetomo, the second son of Masako and Yoritomo, replaced Yoriie as shogun, while Tokimasa, Masako’s father, actually held the real power in the substitute position. The following year, Sanetomo was the target of a murder attempt, but Masako rescued him. Masako continued to hold a lot of indirect influence in the Kamakura period. Masako has played a significant role in Minamoto no Yoritomo’s prosperity, and after his passing, she ascended to positions of considerable authority.[3]

Masako was born 1157, as the daughter of Hōjō Tokimasa who is from a powerful family (Gozoku) of Izu. At the end of the Heian period, the two major warrior clans, the Taira and the Minamoto, clashed, and the Taira were victorious. Defeated, Yoriotomo of the Minamoto clan was forced to flee the capital and was exiled to Izu, far away from the capital.[4] Yoritomo spent 17 years in Izu, determined to rise again. It was around the age of three or four when Masako met Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was only 13 years old and swept away by Izu after being defeated by the Heiji rebellion in 1160. Yet, Masako and Minamoto no Yoritomo eventually fall in love. Masako married Yoritomo at the age of 21, overcoming the great opposition of her father, Hōjō Tokimasa. Yoritomo became known as the Kamakuradono 鎌倉殿 of the eastern provinces, and Masako was called Midaidokoro 御台所.[5] Three years later, Yoritomo once again attempted to fight. Together with his brother Yoshitsune and others, he defeated the Taira clan and seized power. They established the shogunate in Kamakura and paved the way for a samurai-dominated society.[6]

In 1199, however, Yoritomo died at the age of 53. In grief, Masako cut her hair and became a nun to pray for her repose, but further tragedy befell her. The sons of Masako were killed one after another, and the shoguns of the Minamoto clan were replaced by three generations of shoguns. This was a major crisis for the Kamakura shogunate. At that time, Masako, who was called “Ama Shogun (尼将軍),” stood up. Masako taught the importance of “ingratitude and obeisance (ご恩と奉公)” that Yoritomo established. This was the system that supported the Yoritomo regime.[7]

In 1221, a Shogunate army of 190,000 marched on Kyoto and defeated the Imperial Court. This was the Jokyu Rebellion 承久の乱.[8] The foundation of Kamakura shogunate was protected by Masako’s resolute call. After the fall of the Minamoto shoguns, the Hōjō family governed the country as regents. After Masako’s death, Yasutoki, the third regent, established the GoSeibaiShikimoku. The creation of laws for the samurai society strengthened the ruling power of the Kamakura shogunate. These laws remained the basis of the samurai government for many years to come. The samurai government established by Yoritomo and consolidated by Masako and her followers lasted for about 700 years. [9]

[1] Seki, Y. (2009). Hojo Tokimasa to Hojo Masako: “Kamakura” no jidai Oninatta Chichi to musume 北条時政と北条政子：「鎌倉」の時代を担った父と娘. Yamakawa Shuppansha.

[2] Nomura, I. (2000). Hojo Masako: ama shogun no jidai, 北条政子：尼将軍の時代 Yoshikawa Kobunkan. 34.

[3] Ron, R. (2003). Powerful Warriors and Influential Clergy: Interaction and Conflict Between the Kamakura Bakufu and Religious Institutions. University of Hawaii at Manoa.

[4] Collcutt, M. (2002). “Nun Shogun”: Politics and Religion in the Life of Hōjō Masako (1157-1225). Engendering faith, 165-188.

[5] Takahashi, Y. (2010). Minamoto no Yoritomo: Higashikuni wo Eranda Buke no Kikoushi, Yamakawa Shuppansha.

[6] Mass, J. (1976). The Kamakura Bakufu: a study in document. Stanford University Press. pp34.

[7] Butler, K. (1978). Women of Power Behind the Kamakura Bakufu: Hojo Masako. Murakami and Harper, 78, 94.

[8] Yuge, S. (1989). Bokoku no Oto: Jokyu no Ran no Kaishaku wo Megutte. Gifu University Japanese Language Japanese Literature. 19, 37-52.

[9] Henshall, K. (2013). Minamoto no Sanetomo. Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945. Historical Dictionaries of Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras series. Scarecrow Press.