shogun
Feudal Japan's strongman
A shogun was a military dictator who ruled Japan from the late twelfth century until 1868, when the emperor was restored to power.
The shogunate held actual political authority while emperors remained ceremonial figures: The shogun controlled the samurai class.
In modern usage, shogun sometimes describes a powerful behind-the-scenes leader: He was the shogun of the party machine.
Ruling samurai dynasty, 1600s-1800s
- MeijiJapanese modernization era
- sakokuTokugawa-era isolation policy
- restorationReturning something to condition
- isolationismPolicy avoiding foreign alliances
Curved Japanese fighting blade
- bushidoSamurai honor system
- daimyoJapanese feudal landowner
- roninFeudal drifter-warrior
- seppukuRitualized Japanese self-disembowelment
armor · kendo · iaido · tanto · wakizashi · harakiri · retainer · warrior
Military ruler by force
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
battlefield · siege · fortress · cavalry · infantry · archery · strategy · tactics
Japanese feudal landowner
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- dominionAuthority to rule
- hegemonyDominant group's control
reign · mandate · regent · succession · dynasty · decree · tribute · administration
Tokugawa
Ruling samurai dynasty, 1600s-1800s
- MeijiJapanese modernization era
- sakokuTokugawa-era isolation policy
- restorationReturning something to condition
katana
Curved Japanese fighting blade
seppuku · armor · kendo · iaido · tanto · wakizashi · harakiri · retainer · warrior · loyalty
warlord
Military ruler by force
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
conquest · battlefield · siege · fortress · cavalry · infantry · archery · strategy · tactics · warfare
daimyo
Japanese feudal landowner
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- dominionAuthority to rule
hegemony · reign · mandate · regent · succession · dynasty · decree · tribute · administration · vassal
kabuki
Ritualistic performance for show
- geishaJapanese arts entertainer
- ukiyo-eJapanese woodblock print tradition
- tea ceremonyRitualized beverage preparation
Zen · calligraphy · ikebana · castle · pagoda · tatami · kimono · sake · haiku · woodblock
- Japanese Historysamurai, Tokugawa Ieyasu, daimyo, Tokugawa, Muromachi period
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- East AsiaChina, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Korea
- JapanTokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Hokkaido
- Japanese wordsanime, bento, bonsai, futon, geisha
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
shogunfoot soldier
Basic infantry combatant
infantry · conscript · subordinate · retainer · samurai
- Tokugawa ShogunateJapan's 1600s military government
- Ashikaga shogunateMedieval Japanese military government