Japan -- History; Japan -- Politics and government
This state of things could not be expected to continue, and could only
exist in a country with no external relations and with no neighbors.
The divided government made up to some extent for this want, but it
left so many opportunities for individuals plotting to seize the
power that it is no wonder that the Emperors and the Shiogoons chafed
under it. This was met by a constant accession to these high posts
of children, who, when they began to be troublesome, were forced to
resign, the Hojio family continuing to hold the real power at Kamakura
and Miako, and also in Kiusiu, and deposing the Emperors and Shiogoons
when they pleased, and electing whomsoever suited them.
So early as 1284 the laws of the country seem to have followed a
policy of exclusion. In that year an officer came over from China in
the quality of embassador, accompanied by a priest, but he was taken
and executed on the pretext that he was come to spy out the land. Some
years after, another priest, Na yissang, came from China, and he also
was treated at Kamakura as a spy, and imprisoned, but was afterward
liberated, and built the temple of Nan jenji, still standing in Miako.
In 1308, Hana zo no, then twelve years of age, was chosen by the
officers of the Hojio family at Kamakura as Emperor.
In 1312 the Kwanrei Hojio Sada toki died, much respected, and the place
of minister was kept for his son, Sada toki, for five years by two
relations, till he was fourteen years of age, when he became Kwanrei.
The executive at Kamakura had named Godaigo as successor to the
Emperor, and he came to the throne when he was thirty-one years of age.
He very soon began to be irritated with the position he held, ruled
over by subordinates at Kamakura. He married the daughter of Chiooso
Kane Kado, a high officer of Chinese extraction.
In 1321 the office known as the Ki rokusho was established in the
palace at Miako.
Taka toki, the young Kwanrei, was very dissipated, passing his time
between wine and women, and in consequence was hated; and in 1325 Yori
Kazoo and Kooni nanga, by secret orders from the Emperor, set out on
an attempt to take his life; but he was previously informed of it, and
seized them, and put them to death. Taka toki being ill, shaved his
head and took orders when he was twenty-four years of age, and his
relative, Taka Ske, at Nagasaki, assumed the chief power. The arrogance
of the Hojio family at Kamakura excited intense ill-will at Miako, and
the attempt to overthrow this power gave rise to the troubles known as
the war between the North and South Emperors, which desolated Japan for
many years, and which ended in the downfall of both the Emperor and the
Hojio faction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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