Sengoku period

The Sengoku period (戦国時代, Sengoku jidai, c. 1467 – c. 1603) is a period in Japanese history marked by social upheaval, political intrigue and near-constant military conflict Japanese historians named after the otherwise unrelated Warring States period in China. It came to an end when all political power was unified under the Tokugawa shogunate.

During this period, although the Emperor of Japan was officially the ruler of his nation and every lord swore loyalty to him, he was largely a marginalised, ceremonial, and religious figure who delegated power to the Shogun, a noble who was roughly equivalent to a Generalissimo. In the years preceding this era the Shogunate gradually lost influence and control over the daimyo (local lords). Although the Ashikaga shogunate had retained the structure of the Kamakura shogunate and instituted a warrior government based on the same social economic rights and obligations established by the Hōjō with the Jōei Code in 1232, it failed to win the loyalty of many daimyo, especially those whose domains were far from the capital, Heian-kyō. Many of these Lords began to fight uncontrollably with each other for control over land and influence over the shogunate. As trade with China grew, the economy developed, and the use of money became widespread as markets and commercial cities appeared. This, combined with developments in agriculture and small-scale trading, led to the desire for greater local autonomy throughout all levels of the social hierarchy. As early as the beginning of the 15th century, the suffering caused by earthquakes and famines often served to trigger armed uprisings by farmers weary of debt and taxes.

Sengoku (surname)

Sengoku (written: 仙石, 千石 or 仙谷) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:

Sengokuhara

Sengokuhara (仙石原), sometimes called Sengokubara, is a district in Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan.

Geography

The district covers a total area of approximately 22 km², and is located in the northern part of the Hakone caldera. The area is designated a part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and includes golf courses, cottages, hotels, and Japanese inns.

Mountains

Passes

Rivers

Population

As of October 2010, the district has a population of 4,095, with 1,922 households.

History

In 1626, a checkpoint was built in this district by the Tokugawa shogunate. In 1869, this checkpoint was abolished following the Meiji restoration. In 1889, the former village of Sengokuhara was founded. This was absorbed into the town of Hakone in 1956.

Sightseeing spots