June
18
/ 2020
The shoguns were the military rulers of Japan during the country’s feudal period. Although Japan had emperors, they were mere figureheads for centuries. Actual power was held by the shogun, who ruled in the name of the emperor. The shogunate that most people would have heard of is the Tokugawa Shogunate, which was founded at the beginning of the 17 th century, and lasted until the 19 th century. The rule of the shoguns in Japan, however, had already started during the 12 th century, long before the rise of the Tokugawas. Moreover, there were two other shogunates that preceded them. Tribal Origins of the Shogun Title The title ‘shogun’ dates all the way back to the Heian period, which
