Timeline of Key Events in Shogun Japan

  • Introduction of Zen Buddhism
    600

    Introduction of Zen Buddhism

    A new form of Buddhism that shaped the samurai’s emphasis on meditation and self-discipline.
  • Period: 794 to 1185

    Rise of the Samurai Class

    The samurai rose to become the dominant warrior class. They held both power and social prestige.
  • Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes the first shogun
    1192

    Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes the first shogun

    Yoritomo's Minamoto clan defeated the Taira in the Gempei War and established the shogunate in Kamakura, initiating seven centuries of feudal rule.
  • The Mongol Invasions of Japan
    1274

    The Mongol Invasions of Japan

    The Mongol forces attempted to invade Japan but were partly defeated by the 'divine winds.
  • Ashikaga Shogunate begins
    1336

    Ashikaga Shogunate begins

    After the fall of Kamakura rule, Ashikaga Takauji rose to power, establishing a new shogunate
  • Period: 1467 to 1477

    Onin War and the start of the Sengoku Period

    A civil war among powerful daimyo threw Japan into chaos for more than a century
  • Arrival of Christian missionaries (Francis Xavier)
    1549

    Arrival of Christian missionaries (Francis Xavier)

    Christianity was brought to Japan, sparking cultural exchange and eventually facing suppression.
  • Period: 1568 to 1582

    Oda Nobunaga unifies much of Japan

    A powerful warlord who initiated Japan’s unification through advanced military tactics.
  • Toyotomi Hideyoshi completes Japan’s unification

    Toyotomi Hideyoshi completes Japan’s unification

    Completed Japan’s unification and enforced strict social rules
  • Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun (start of Edo period)

    Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun (start of Edo period)

    In 1603, the Tokugawa Shogunate began, ushering in an era of peace, order, and isolation.
  • Period: to

    Bushido code becomes central to samurai life

    The samurai code of honor and loyalty shaped behavior and defined social expectations
  • Period: to

    Sakoku – Japan’s isolation policy

    Japan isolated itself from foreign contact, prohibiting Christianity and restricting trade with most nations.
  • Opening of Japan (end of isolation)

    Opening of Japan (end of isolation)

    Western nations compelled Japan to open trade, which contributed to the fall of the shogunate