The Tokugawa Shogunate

The Shogunate System in Japan

• The shogunate system was a form of government that ruled Japan multiple times throughout its history.
• The last shogunate, the Tokugawa Shogunate, ruled Japan from 1600 to 1868, before it was overthrown by the Empire of Japan.

Characteristics of the Shogunate System

• The shogunate system created a social structure similar to that of medieval Europe.
• It was an important factor in shaping Japanese culture and history.

Defining a Shogunate

• A shogunate was essentially a military government ruled by a family of military lords, or Shoguns.
• The ruler of the shogunate was known as the Shogun.

The First Shogunate: Kamakura Shogunate

• The Kamakura Shogunate was founded in 1192 when local lords, known as daimyo, seized control of the government along with their samurai, or private warriors.
• The ruler of the Kamakura Shogunate became known as the Shogun.

Structure of the Kamakura Shogunate

• The new shogunate government ruled from the city of Kamakura.
• The imperial court in Kyoto was kept intact, with the Emperor holding his title and divine status as the head of state.
• Although the Emperor held these titles, the Shogun held the actual power.

Test your knowledge about the Tokugawa Shogunate and its impact on Japanese history and culture. Discover the social structure, government system, and major historical events associated with this influential period in Japan's past.