Timeline of Key Events in Shogun Japan

By Zane1111111
  • Period: 1184 to 1333

    Introduction of Zen Buddhism

    A new branch of Buddhism that influenced the samurai's focus on discipline and meditation
  • 1185

    Start of Japanese Shogun

  • 1185

    Rise of the Samurai Class

    Samurais became the dominant warrior class, holding power and social prestige
  • 1192

    Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes the first shogun

    Established Japan's first military government and began the shogunate system
  • 1274

    The Mongol Invasion of Japan

    Mongol forces tried to invade Japan but were defeated, partly due to typhoons
  • 1338

    Ashikaga Shogunate begins

    Ashikaga Takauji took power, marking a new shogunate after the fall of Kamakura rule
  • Period: 1467 to 1477

    Onin War and the start of the Sengoku Period

    A civil war between powerful daimyo that plunged Japan into chaos for over 100 years
  • 1549

    Arrival of Christian missionaries

    Christianity was introduced to Japan, leading to cultural exchange and later suppression
  • 1582

    Oda Nobunaga unifies much of Japan

    Powerful warlord who began Japan's unification using advanced military tactics

  • Toyotomi Hideyoshi completes Japan's unification

    Finished the unification process and implemented strict social rules

  • Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun

    Tokugawa was a military shogun who ruled over Japan for 250 years

  • Bushido code becomes central in samurai's lives

    The samurai code of honor and loyalty guided behavior and social expectations

  • Sakoku- Japan's isolation policy

    Japan closed itself off to foreign contact, banning Christianity and trade with most nations

  • Opening of Japan

    Western nations forced Japan to open trade, leading to the fall of the shogunate

  • End of Japanese Shogun