Shogun: Learn more about the famous title of military rulers in Japan | Knowledge News

Shoguns were the de facto rulers of Japan, which is a huge thing in itself. Moreover, during part of the Kamakura and Sengoku periods, the shoguns were themselves figureheads.

Although the shogun was a hereditary position, several clans held this role throughout Japanese history. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

New Delhi: “Shōgun,” an American historical drama series created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks and based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell, has attracted worldwide attention. The name and concept of the series comes from shogun, the title of the military rulers of Japan who existed from 1185 to 1868. Emperors appointed the shoguns and they acted as the de facto rulers of the empire. In this article, we take a look at this powerful position in Japan from which people shaped the history and path of the country.

Who was the first shogun?

Well, the answer to this question has not yet been found. While some scholars consider Tajihi no Agatamori to be the first shogun, others suggest the name Ōtomo no Otomaro, while still others consider Sakanoue no Tamuramaro to be the first.

The Power of the Shogun

But there is no doubting the immense power the shoguns once wielded. As mentioned in this article, they were the de facto rulers of Japan, which is a huge thing in itself. Furthermore, during part of the Kamakura and Sengoku periods, the shoguns themselves were figureheads, with the kanrei of the Hosokawa clan and the shikken of the Hōjō clan wielding the actual power. Furthermore, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Taira no Kiyomori were of the warrior class and did not serve as shoguns. And yet they attained the positions of daijō daijin, meaning imperial chancellor, and the post of kampaku, meaning imperial regent, thus acting as the de facto rulers of the government.

Although the shogun was a hereditary title, several clans held the role throughout Japanese history. And here we come back to the question of who was the first shogun. In the 8th and 9th centuries, military commanders during the Heian period bore the title of shogun. In 1185, after Minamoto no Yoritomo gained political power over Japan, he revived the title to consolidate his position, making him the first shogun in the commonly understood sense. The English called it the shogunate and it was in vogue for nearly 700 years. The role of the shogun ended when Tokugawa Yoshinobu ceded the office to Emperor Meiji in 1867 during the Meiji Restoration.