794 – The Imperial Court and the Capital city is moved to Heiankyo (Kyoto).
803 – Sakanouye Tamuramaro finally drives the Ainu further to the north and is able to establish garrisons at Izawa and Shiba in the Northern Mutsu province. For this accomplishment he is awarded, for the first time in Japan’s history, the title Sei-i-Tai-Shogun (“The General who subdued the barbarians”).
805 – Because the taxes on the common farmer for the military campaigns in the north-east and for building the new capital prove unbearable, advisors to the throne discuss plans to cancel private debt and unpaied taxes.
Saicho (Dengyo Daishi) founds the Tendai Buddhist. The government accepts this sect because it is willing to remain out of politics. Enryakuji temple is established on Mount Hiei in the northern part of Kyoto.
806 – Kukai (Kobo Daishi) founds the Shingon Buddhist. He establishes a temple on Mount Koya in Kii (now Wakayama) province. Heizei becomes Emperor until 809.
809 – Saga becomes Emperor.
810 – Ex-emperor Heizei conspires to regain the throne but he is thwarted.
811 – The interest rate on rice loans to farmers is reduced.
813 – Emperor Saga says that a good government depends on literature and that progress depends on learning.
820 – “Konin-kyaku” and “Konin-shiki” (both legal compilations) are released. Kyaku are regulations issued ad-hoc to meet the changes in the society to modify or replace codes from the Taika Code which are no longer appropriate. Shiki are detailed rules supplementing the codes.
822 – Enryakuji temple is given the authorisation to organise ordinations ceremonies, thus breaking the monopoly held by the temples in Nara.
823 – Saga abdicates in favour of his younger brother, Junna, who becomes Emperor until 833.
833 – Nimmyo becomes Emperor until 850, when he dies.
850 – Montoku becomes Emperor until 858, when he dies..
858 – Seiwa becomes Emperor at the age of nine until 876. Fujiwara Yoshifusa (Seiwa’s grandfather) becomes first Fujiwara Regent until 872. All Fujiwara Regents hold office of Sessho or Kampaku or of both. Fujiwara family gained control of imperial court. The Minamoto family known as Seiwa Ganji are descendants of Tsunemoto, a grandson of Emperor Seiwa.
873 – Fujiwara Mototsune becomes Regent until 891.
876 – Yozei becomes Titular Emperor.
884 – Yozei is forced to abdicate. Koko becomes Titular Emperor.
887 – Koko dies. Uda becomes Titular Emperor.
889-897 – Kampyo Era.
897 – Uda abdicates in favour of his son, Daigo, who becomes Titular Emperor until 930.
901-922 – Engi Era.
902 – The resumption of the system of allotting land according to the number of people in the household is needed. The system had not been enforced due to its impossibility to be administered effectively. The edict is generally ignored as farmers lease or sell their land (with the local official connivance) and go to work on the large estates in order to escape the tax burden associated with land ownership.
930 – Suzaku becomes Titular Emperor until 946. Fujiwara Tadahira becomes Regent until 949.
935 – Taira Masakado revolted and proclaimed himself “The New Emperor.” Other Samurai leaders exerted their influence across the land and changed the history of Japan.
940 – After five years of insurrection Taira Masakado is killed in Shimosa province. At one point in the rebellion, Taira Masakado even send a letter to Fujiwara Tadahira in which he declares himself to be the Emperor. (This shows the ever rising power of the wealthy and landed families in the provinces.)
946 – Murakami becomes Titular Emperor until 967.
967 – Reizei becomes Titular Emperor until 969. Fujiwara Saneyori becomes Regent until 970.
968 – Minamoto Mitsunaka denounces his kinsman Takaaki for conspiring a revolt, the Anna Plot fails. In return, the Fujiwara help the Minamoto to grow in power and popularity.
969 – Enyu becomes Titular Emperor until 984.
970 – Fujiwara Koretada becomes Regent until 972.
972 – Fujiwara Kanemichi becomes Regent until 977.
977 – Fujiwara Yoritada becomes Regent until 986.
984 – Kazan becomes Titular Emperor until 986.
986 – Ichijo becomes Titular Emperor until 1011. Fujiwara Kaneiye becomes Regent until 990.
990 – Fujiwara Michitaka becomes Regent until 995.
995 – Fujiwara Michikane becomes Regent (he died after only seven days in the office).
996 – Fujiwara Michinaga becomes Regent until 1017, although unofficially until 1016.
1011 – Sanjo becomes Titular Emperor.
1016 – Sanjo abdicates. Go-Ichijo becomes Emperor.
1017 – Fujiwara Yorimichi becomes Regent until 1068. Minamoto Yorinobu from Kawachi province found Kawachi Genji family.
1019 – “Genji Monogatari” (“The Tales of Genji”) by Murasaki Shikibu is completed.
1028 – Taira Tadatsune leads a revolt in eastern Japan in the provinces Kazusa, Shimosa, and Awa as he attempts to extend the territory under his control.
1031 – After three years of insurrection, Taira Tadatsune surrenders before an attack planned by the Minamoto family and lead by Minamoto Yorinobu (ordered by the central government).
1036 – Go-Ichijo dies. Go-Suzaku becomes Emperor until 1045, when he dies.
1045 – Go-Reizei becomes Emperor.
1050 – Minamoto Yoriyoshi is appointed by the central government as both governor and commander of the Mutsu province in the northern part of the country. On his appointment he is told to subdue the Abe family who, under Abe Toritoki, are levying taxes, and confiscating land at will. (This is the start of The Early Nine Years’ War.)
1062 – Abe family finally is subdued in Mutsu province after Abe Sadato is killed.
1068 – Go-Reizei dies. Go-Sanjo becomes Emperor. Fujiwara Norimichi becomes Regent until 1075.
1073 – Go-Sanjo abdicates. Shirakawa becomes Titular Emperor and Go-Sanjo becomes Secluded Emperor. The Secluded Emperor (or the monk-emperor) keeps the effective power after his abdication as well.
1075 – Fujiwara Morozane becomes Regent until 1094.
1083 – Minamoto Yoshiie is appointed governor of the Mutsu province and, with the help of Fujiwara Kiyohira, leads troops to put an end to the insurrection of the Kiyowara family. (This war takes three years and is called The Later Three Years War – even though the final victories do not come until 1087.)
1087 – Shirakawa abdicates in favour of his son, Horikawa, who becomes Titular Emperor. Shirakawa becomes Secluded Emperor.
1091 – Because of Minamoto Yoshiie’s military successes, his power and land holdings grow very much. In response, an edict is issued which forbids farmers throughout the country to commend their lands to him and declared that his retainers can not enter the capital city with him. But, Minamoto Yoshiie and his comrades return to the capital after the Three-Year War and he resumes his post as Commander of the Palace Guards and the Sovereign’s Escort.
1094 – Fujiwara Moromichi becomes Regent until 1099.
1099 – Fujiwara Moromichi dies after being cursed by rebellious monks who descend from their mountain temples and cause trouble in the capital city. (The rebellious monks are put down, with the help of Minamoto Yoshiie and his warriors.)
1105 – Fujiwara Tadazane becomes Regent until 1121.
1107 – Horikawa dies. His son, Toba, becomes Titular Emperor. Shirakawa remains Secluded Emperor.
1108 – Minamoto Yoshichika (Minamoto Yoshiie’s eldest son) is banished to Sanuki for an offense against the court. He escapes and returns to Izumo where he leads an uprising. Taira Masamori who, after the uprising, returns to the capital city where he is given a court rank and is commended by the Emperor, puts down this uprising.
1121 – Fujiwara Tadamichi becomes Regent until 1158.
1123 – Toba abdicates in favour of his son, Sutoku, who becomes Titular Emperor. Shirakawa remains Secluded Emperor.
1129 – Taira Tadamori (Taira Masamori’s son) puts down several revolts and piracy on the Inland Sea. (Like his father, he is given a court rank in return. Not long before, it would have been unheard of a military officer to receive a court rank.) Shirakawa dies. Toba becomes Secluded Emperor.
1142 – Sutoku abdicates. Konoe becomes Titular Emperor. Toba remains Secluded Emperor.
1153 – Taira Tadamori dies. Taira Kiyomori becomes head of the Taira clan.
1155 – Konoe dies and the succession dispute erupts with one side supporting Go-Shirakawa and the other Sutoku. Go-Shirakawa becomes Titular Emperor. Toba remains as Secluded Emperor.
1156-1158 – Hogen Era.
1156 – Fujiwara Yorinaga collects a hundred warriors (led by Minamoto Tameyoshi, the leader of the Minamoto clan) and, with Sutoku, sets up the defences in a palace in the capital city. Fujiwara Tadamichi (Fujiwara Yorinaga’s brother), with Go-Shirakawa, collects much more warriors from both the Minamoto and the Taira clans. In the battle that follows, Fujiwara Yorinaga is killed. Taira Kiyomori becomes the Imperial Court favourite and his advisor, while Minamoto Tameyoshi is sentenced to death.
1158 – Go-Shirakawa abdicates. Nijo becomes Titular Emperor. Go-Shirakawa becomes Secluded Emperor. Fujiwara Motozane becomes Regent until 1166.
1160 – Minamoto Yoshitomo (Minamoto Tameyoshi’s son) and Fujiwara Nobuyori conspire to overthrow the government when Taira Kiyomori leaves the capital city on vacation. With about 500 well-armed men, they kidnap both Nijo and Go-Shirakawa and kill many others. Fujiwara Nobuyori appoints himself Chancellor. Taira Kiyomori returns to the capital and raises an army, and then helps the Emperor and the ex-Emperor to escape the palace. After weeks of fighting the uprising is stifled (with the help of armed monks from Mount Hiei). Minamoto Yoshitomo is betrayed and killed by a retainer, and the only Minamoto males remaining from the main family are his sons Yoritomo, Noriyori, and Yoshitsune.
1165 – Nijo dies. Rokujo becomes Titular Emperor. Go-Shirakawa remains as Secluded Emperor.
1166 – Fujiwara Motofusa becomes Regent until 1179.
1168 – Rokujo abdicates (although in reality he is written off by Go-Shirakawa). Takakura becomes Titular Emperor. Go-Shirakawa remains as Secluded Emperor. Takakura’s mother is Taira Kiyomori’s sister-in-law, so the Taira’s power and prestige rises rapidly.)
1175 – Honen Shonin founds the “Pure Land” (Jodo) Buddhism.
1177 – Several Fujiwara (although none of high standing) plot to assassinate Taira Kiyomori. Taira Kiyomori finds out about it and kills most of the plotters, including one monk. (This episode is called the Shishigatani Affair.)
1177 – About one-third of the capital city is destroyed by fire. Thousands of people lose their lives.
1179 – Fujiwara Motomichi becomes Regent until 1183.
December 1179 – Taira Kiyomori marches into the capital with several thousand warriors in retaliation for Go-Shirakawa’s having confiscated some Taira property earlier in the year (the two men had always disliked each other, this was just the last drop). Go-Shirakawa is placed under house arrest and numerous high government officials are banished or reduced in rank.
1180-1185 – Genpei War (“Gen” from “Genji” or Minamoto, and “Hei” form “Heike” or Taira). The Minamoto clan puts an end to Taira supremacy.
January 1180 – Takakura abdicates after seeing Taira Kiyomori’s treatment of Go-Shirakawa. Antoku (Taira Kiyomori’s grandson and only two years old) becomes Titular Emperor. Go-Shirakawa remains as Secluded Emperor. Taira Kiyomori becomes the effective head of the State.
May 1180 – Minamoto Yorimasa (until now a respected member of the government, because he had refrained from taking sides with the Minamoto against Taira Kiyomori and the Taira family) plots to overthrow Antoku and Taira Kiyomori. Minamoto Yorimasa places Prince Mochihito, Go-Shirakawa’s son, on the throne. Mochihito publicly calls for the overthrow of the Taira family. Taira Kiyomori rejects the plot and while trying to escape, Mochihito is captured and killed; Minamoto Yorimasa is wounded and commits seppuku.
June 1180 – Taira Kiyomori forces the Emperors (both Titular and Secluded) to move his residence to Fukuwara, outside Kyoto. Provisions are made to move certain government functions there at a later date. The plans fail and the entire Court returns to the capital six months later.
August 1180 – Toidaiji and Kofukuji temples from Nara are attacked and burned on orders from Taira Kiyomori (maybe partly in fear of the armies of the temples). Minamoto Yoritomo (who had been sent in exile in Izu, under Hojo Tokimasa’s guard, appointed by Taira Kiyomori, since 1160) raises a small group of supporters, attacks and defeats a Taira official in Izu. (He had earlier won Hojo Tokimasa on his side and married his daughter, Masako with him.)
September 1180 – Minamoto Yoritomo leads a small body of troops out of Izu. They claim they are responding to the call of the Imperial Court to chastise the Taira. Taira forces defeat Minamoto Yoritomo’s troops at the Battle of Ishibashiyama. Minamoto Yoritomo and his men scatter and find safety in the Hakone Mountains.
November 1180 – Minamoto Yoritomo with large army formed from several eastern provinces advances to Fujikawa, Suruga province. Taira forces are sent again to meet him there. Taira forces are surprised by a rear attack at night from a supposed ally and they retreat. Minamoto Yoritomo does not follow them but remains and strengthens his position.
1180 – Minamoto Yoritomo establishes an office which regulates the military – its privileges, obligations, property, and ranks. (It should be noted that at the start of the mediaeval period, “Samurai” was not any fighting man, but a reserved high rank for certain warriors.)
February 1181 – Taira forces defeat the troops led by Minamoto Yukiie (Minamoto Yoritomo’s uncle) in the Mino province.
March 1181 – Taira Kiyomori dies and the affairs of the state are left in the hands of his son, Taira Munemori (a man of no political talent). Taira forces defeat the troops led by Minamoto Yukiie at the Battle of Sunomata River.
August 1181 – The Government issues an order calling for the pacification of the northern provinces (the Hokurikudo) where the Minamoto are rising. However, in the autumn, Minamoto Yoshinaka, Minamoto Yoritomo’s cousin, defeats the Taira troops sent to Echizen province.
1182 – Famine affects the western provinces and weakens the people’s morale in the capital. Overall, the famine is so severe that it brings the Genpei War to a halt for the year.
1183 – Fujiwara Moroiye becomes Regent until 1184.
March 1183 – Minamoto Yoritomo attacks Minamoto Yoshinaka because of distrust of his growing strength and success. They come to an agreement and the battle stops.
April and May 1183 – Taira Koremori attacks and subdues Echizen province and takes several of Minamoto Yoshinaka’s strongholds.
May 1183 – Minamoto Yoshinaka succeeds in recapturing the province of Echizen and defeats Taira Koremori in the Battle of Tonamiyama in Etchu province (sometimes called the Battle of Kurikara Pass).
June 1183 – Minamoto Yoshinaka advances towards Kyoto from the north while Minamoto Yukiie is threatening the city from the east.
August 1183 – Go-Shirakawa escapes from Kyoto (where he was still under house arrest since Taira Kiyomori ordered it in late 1179) and goes to Mount Hiei. The Emperor and his consorts go to a monastery in the suburbs.
The Taira family abandons the capital and flee west-ward with Emperor Antoku, his mother, and a few attendants taking the Imperial Regalia, too. Go-Shirakawa is escorted into the capital by Minamoto Yoshinaka and gives Minamoto Yoshinaka a mandate to destroy Taira Munemori’s army. (Minamoto Yoshinaka prefers to attack Minamoto Yoritomo, who he fears and hates, but Go-Shirakawa convinces him to concentrate on the Taira family.)
September 1183 – The Taira forces reach Kyushu and set up temporary the Court at Dazaifu. The local revolts drive them out and they move to Yashima, Shikoku (now Takamatsu) across from Kojima Bay in Bizen province.
November 1183 – Minamoto Yoshinaka pursues the Taira family, but he is defeated by the Taira troops at Mizushima on the border between Bitchu and Bizen provinces.
Minamoto Yoshinaka conspires with the Taira and Fujiwara leaders to take over the capital, seize Go-Shirakawa, and set up a new government in the northern provinces. Go-Shirakawa gets word of the plot to Minamoto Yukiie who, in turn, passes word on to Minamoto Yoritomo.
December 1183 – Minamoto Yoshinaka seizes the capital and his troops plunder the city. Minamoto Yukiie leaves the city with his men and attacks the Taira family in the Harima province, where he is defeated. Go-Shirakawa asks Minamoto Yoritomo to come to Kyoto to subdue Minamoto Yoshinaka. Minamoto Yoritomo ignores the request thinking it is more important to solidify his position in the eastern provinces. After repeated requests, Minamoto Yoritomo calls his brothers, Minamoto Yoshitsune and Minamoto Noriyori, to advance towards the capital and destroy Minamoto Yoshinaka’s army.
Early 1184 – Minamoto Yoshinaka attacks Hojoji templul and takes Go-Shirakawa as captive. He also sends troops to Ishikawa, in Kawachi province, to attack Minamoto Yukiie’s troops, which have set up a garrison there and are threatening the capital.
March 1184 – Minamoto Yoshitsune and Minamoto Noriyori converge their troops on the way to capital. Minamoto Yoshinaka flees from the city with only a few men. He is pursued and killed by Minamoto Noriyori’s troops at Awazu in Omi province.
Minamoto Yoshitsune and Minamoto Noriyori lead the troops out of the capital towards Yashima to attack the Taira family and save the Emperor. Meanwhile, the Taira family abandon Yashima (with the Emperor) by sea. Taira troops land in Settsu and begin to build a defensive position while leaving the Emperor on a ship near Wada Misaka.
Before the Taira troop’s defensive positions at Settsu are completed they are defeated by Minamoto Yoshitsune’s and Minamoto Noriyori’s troops. They split up and encircle the remaining Taira forces at Ichinotani. Taira forces are defeated, the leaders are killed or captured, and only a few thousand are able to retreat by ships to Yashima (with the Emperor and the Imperial Regalia).
September 1184 – Minamoto Noriyori sets out from Kamakura to attack the Taira forces under Minamoto Yoritomo’s orders. Minamoto Yoritomo remains in Kamakura (as he has till present) making the strategic decisions and dealing with diplomatic problems with the various warrior families and their leaders. Minamoto Noriyori’s troops are brought to a stalemate in the far western provinces due to lack of food, supplies, and ships.
November 1184 – Minamoto Yoritomo brings Oe Hiromoto and Miyoshi Yoshinobu (two respected scholars and administrators) to Kamakura from Kyoto to set up the Kumonjo (Office of Administration) and the Monchujo (Office of Inquiry). The Monchujo serves as Court of Appeal, enforces the penal regulations, and keeps judicial and cadastral records.
1185 – Antoku is deposed. Go-Toba becomes Titular Emperor at only four years old. Go-Shirakawa remains as Secluded Emperor. Fujiwara Motomichi becomes Regent again until 1186.
March 1185 – Minamoto Yoshitsune dispatches to the West to assist Minamoto Noriyori. He crosses to Shikoku with only a few hundred men and attacks the palace in Yashima. The Taira family, not knowing the size of the attacking force, flee to Dannoura, the Straits of Shimonoseki, with Antoku and the Imperial Regalia.
April 1185 – With the help of the officials and ships from Suo province and Miura Yoshizui, who was familiar with the currents in the Straits of Shimonoseki, Minamoto Yoshitsune pursues the Taira forces. The Taira are totally defeated in a sea battle at Dannoura. Antoku dies (at the age of seven) and the Imperial sword (one of the three Imperial Regalia) is lost in the sea. This is the ends of Taira family’s reign and supremacy.
To be continued: Kamakura Period
