Sengoku period

Quick Facts: Who was Sengoku period?

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Sengoku period

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A tumultuous era in Japanese history marked by constant civil wars and the rise of powerful feudal lords.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Sengoku period (戦国時代, Sengoku jidai; Japanese pronunciation: [seŋ.ɡo.kɯ (d)ʑiꜜ.dai, -ŋo.kɯ-] lit. 'Warring States period') was the period in Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or Meiō incident (1493) are generally chosen as the period's start date, but there are many competing historiographies for its end date, ranging from 1568, the date of Oda Nobunaga's march on Kyoto, to the suppression of the Shimabara Rebellion in 1638, deep into what was traditionally considered the Edo period. Regardless of the dates chosen, the Sengoku period overlaps substantially with the Muromachi period (1336–1573). This period was characterized by the decline of the Ashikaga shogunate, the de facto central government, while the feudal lords (daimyo), acquired greater political influence.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The people rebelled against the feudal lords in revolts known as Ikkō-ikki (Ikkō-shū uprising). The period saw a breakdown in the traditional master-servant relationship between a lord and his vassals, with many instances of vassals rebelling against their lords, internal dynastic conflict over lordships within noble families (in which vassals would take sides), and the installation of figurehead lords by cadet branches of noble families. The period was also marked by the loosening of samurai culture, with people born into other social strata sometimes making a name for themselves as warriors and thus becoming samurai. In turn, events sometimes allowed common samurai to rise to the rank of sengoku daimyo; these included Hōjō Sōun (the first to do so), and Uesugi Kenshin, a shugodai (deputy shugo) who attained power by weakening and eventually replacing his lord. The most spectacular example of a sengoku-era rise is often considered to be that of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who rose from a peasant background to successively become a samurai, sengoku daimyo, and kampaku (Imperial Regent).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Modern Japan recognizes Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu as the "three great unifiers" (三英傑) for their restoration of Japan's central government. During this period, although the Emperor of Japan was officially the ruler of the state and every lord swore loyalty to him, he was largely a marginalized, ceremonial, and religious figure who delegated power to the shōgun, a noble who was roughly equivalent to a military dictator. From 1346 to 1358, during the Nanboku-cho period, the Ashikaga shogunate gradually expanded the authority of the shugo, the local military and police officials established by the Kamakura shogunate, giving the shugo jurisdiction over land disputes between gokenin and allowing the shugo to receive half of all taxes from the areas they controlled. The Shugo shared their newfound wealth with the local samurai, creating a hierarchical relationship between the shugo and the samurai, and the first early daimyo, called shugo daimyo, appeared. In 1428, Ashikaga Yoshimochi, the fourth Ashikaga shogun, was ill and the question of his succession arose.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1336: 1336 Milestone — Regardless of the dates chosen, the Sengoku period overlaps substantially with the Muromachi period (1336–1573).
2. 1346: 1346 Milestone — From 1346 to 1358, during the Nanboku-cho period, the Ashikaga shogunate gradually expanded the authority of the shugo, the local military and police officials established by the Kamakura shogunate, giving the shugo jurisdiction over land disputes between gokenin and allowing the shugo to receive half of all taxes from the areas they controlled.
3. 1428: 1428 Milestone — In 1428, Ashikaga Yoshimochi, the fourth Ashikaga shogun, was ill and the question of his succession arose.
4. 1454: 1454 Milestone — The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or Meiō incident (1493) are generally chosen as the period's start date, but there are many competing historiographies for its end date, ranging from 1568, the date of Oda Nobunaga's march on Kyoto, to the suppression of the Shimabara Rebellion in 1638, deep into what was traditionally considered the Edo period.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sengoku period

True or False: “The Sengoku period began solely with the Ōnin War, marking a clear end to centralized shogunal power.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the Ōnin War is often cited as a major trigger, historians also point to earlier events like the Kyōtoku Incident (1454) or the Meiō incident (1493).

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abd al-Rahman al-Majdoub — Historical peer (Died in 1568) (1568): Influential Moroccan poet, Sufi mystic, and source of wisdom literature.
• Albert, Duke of Prussia — Historical peer (Died in 1568) (1568): First secular ruler of the Duchy of Prussia and key figure in early Lutheranism.
• Amakusa Shirō — Historical peer (Died in 1638) (1638): Leader of the Shimabara Rebellion, a pivotal figure in early Edo period Japanese Christianity.
• Cornelius Jansen — Historical peer (Died in 1638) (1638): Influential Dutch Bishop and founder of the theological movement known as Jansenism.
• Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev — Historical peer (Born in 1336) (1336): Bulgarian prelate who served as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus', known for his writings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sengoku period