The historical drama series ‘SHŌGUN’, produced by and starring Sanada Hiroyuki (真田広之), gained immense popularity when it was broadcast and streamed in the United States. The series attracted widespread attention and went on to achieve historic success, winning a record-breaking 18 awards at the prestigious Emmy Awards, often referred to as the Academy Awards of American television. Additionally, it won four Golden Globe Awards in the drama category.
In SHŌGUN, Sanada Hiroyuki portrays Yoshii Toranaga (吉井虎永), a character based on Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康). Speaking of Ieyasu, he held the title of ‘Shogun (将軍)’—but if asked to explain what that actually means, you might find yourself thinking, Wait, what exactly is a Shogun? So, let’s take a quick look at the basics.
What did a Shogun do?
The title of ‘Shogun’ was bestowed by the Emperor, officially recognising the bearer as the nation’s supreme military commander. The specific title held by Tokugawa Ieyasu was Seii Taishogun (征夷大将軍), which translates to ‘Great General for Subduing the Barbarians.’ Originally, this title was given to the temporary commander-in-chief of imperial forces dispatched to suppress the Emishi (蝦夷) —an indigenous group from what is now the Tohoku region of Japan. The very first Seii Taishogun was Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (坂上田村麻呂)*1, a military official from the early Heian period.
The Shoguns who changed history
Minamoto no Yoritomo and the dawn of the samurai era
Towards the end of the Heian period, samurai warriors began to rise in prominence across Japan. Armed force increasingly became the deciding factor in power struggles among the central aristocracy, and eventually, military clans such as those led by Taira no Kiyomori (平清盛) came to dominate the imperial court. However, following the Genpei (源平) War, in which the Taira (平) clan was defeated, Minamoto no Yoritomo (源頼朝)*2, who established his base in Kamakura and was known as Kamakura-dono (鎌倉殿), consolidated his power. His rule was officially recognised by the imperial court, leading to the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate.
In 1192, Minamoto no Yoritomo was appointed Seii Taishogun by the Emperor. Unlike previous rulers who governed from Kyoto, he set up his own political centre in Kamakura (鎌倉), far to the east of the imperial capital. While maintaining ties with the court, Yoritomo skilfully manoeuvred to strengthen samurai rule, securing the title of Seii Taishogun as a fitting designation for the head of the warrior government. Originally intended as a temporary military position, this title became the symbol of shogunal authority. However, the Kamakura shogunate came to an abrupt end in 1333.
The following year, Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐) established a new government in which the Emperor himself ruled directly. However, discontent quickly spread among the samurai class. When Ashikaga Takauji (足利尊氏)*3 rose in rebellion, this imperial government collapsed within just two years.
*3 A ruler from the late Kamakura to early Nanboku-cho (南北朝) period. After his failed attempt at direct imperial rule, he retreated to Yoshino (吉野), where he died in exile.
*4 Originally granted the character ‘尊’ from Emperor Go-Daigo’s name as a sign of favour, he later turned against the Emperor and founded the Muromachi (室町) shogunate.
The Muromachi shogunate and the Ashikaga clan
When Ashikaga Takauji (足利尊氏) seized power through military force and became shogun, he established the Muromachi shogunate, headquartered in Kyoto. The Ashikaga family continued to hold the shogunate for 15 generations, lasting approximately 240 years.
The political system inherited from the Kamakura shogunate reached its peak during the reign of the third shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (足利義満). His era saw the construction of Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺), now a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as trade with Ming China and the establishment of political and cultural foundations that greatly influenced later Japan. However, the shogunate gradually weakened, and in 1573, Ashikaga Yoshiaki (足利義昭)*5 was expelled from Kyoto by Oda Nobunaga (織田信長), marking the de facto end of the Muromachi shogunate.
The Edo shogunate and the Tokugawa clan
With the fall of the Muromachi shogunate at the hands of Oda Nobunaga, Japan underwent a period of transition through the Oda and Toyotomi (豊臣) administrations (the latter under Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉)). Eventually, Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) emerged as the ruler of the nation. In 1603, Ieyasu was appointed shogun, marking the beginning of a samurai-led government based in Edo (modern-day Tokyo).
Unlike Ieyasu, Nobunaga never assumed the title of shogun; he was killed in the Honno-ji (本能寺) Incident*6 before doing so. His successor, Hideyoshi, chose the title of Kampaku (関白; Imperial Regent) rather than shogun. It is possible that Ieyasu, strongly influenced by Minamoto no Yoritomo, actively sought the position of shogun himself.
The Edo shogunate, established by Ieyasu, lasted for approximately 260 years until the Taisei Hokan (大政奉還; return of political power to the emperor) by the 15th and final shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu (徳川慶喜), in 1867. Domestically, the shogunate governed the entire country, while externally, it functioned as Japan’s representative government.
*7 The political act in which Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the 15th Edo shogun, formally returned governance to the imperial court.
The end of the shogunate system
Following the Taisei Hokan, the Osei Fukko no Daigorei (王政復古の大号令; imperial edict for the restoration of imperial rule) officially abolished the position of shogun. For nearly 700 years, the shogunate had governed Japan, ruling under the authority granted by the imperial court. However, this system finally collapsed.
After the Taisei Hokan, tensions arose between the former shogunate forces, dissatisfied with the fate of Tokugawa Yoshinobu and the newly established government. This conflict escalated into the Boshin (戊辰) War, a series of battles between the former shogunate army and the imperial forces. The war ultimately ended in the defeat of the former shogunate, and although Yoshinobu’s life was spared, he withdrew completely from political affairs and spent the rest of his days in seclusion.
With this understanding of the role of the shogun throughout Japanese history, watching ‘SHOGUN’ or other Japanese historical dramas might become an even more enjoyable experience.
References:
‘Shogun no nihonshi (「将軍」の日本史)’ by Hongo Kazuto (本郷和人), Chuokoron Shinsha (中央公論新社)
‘Nihon Daihyakka Zenshu (日本大百科全集)’, Shogakukan (小学館)
‘Sekai Daihyakka Zenshu (世界大百科全集)’, Heibonsha (平凡社)
‘Asahi Nihon Rekishi Jinbutsu Jiten (朝日日本歴史人物辞典)’, Asahi Shimbun Publishing
Header image: Chiyoda no On Omote (千代田之御表): O-utaizome (御謡初) (Chiyoda no On Omote) by Yoshu Chikanobu (楊洲周延), sourced from the National Diet Library Digital Collections
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/rock/culture-rock/264823/
