Kamakura Period（1185-1333）

The Kamakura Period is largely defined by the rise in political power of the Warrior class,
which held the concepts of duty, loyalty and bravery, along with military and fighting skills in the highest
regard. This was the time in which the cult of the samurai sword emerged.
Zen Buddhism flourished as it appealed to the warrior sensibilities with its emphasis on concentration,
discipline and direct action.

One warrior, Minamoto No Yoritomo, rose to such prominence he was awarded the title of Seii Tai-Shogun
by the Emperor. Yorotomo had established a new government in Kamakura in 1192 following a decisive
victory over the Taira Clan, giving the era its name. Military techniques advanced during this period,
and the fighting nobility required the services of loyal retainers, who were awarded separate fiefs,
which they in turn governed, creating a feudalistic society.

 （Minamoto No Yoritomo）

The Kamakura Period ended with the collapse of the shogunate, and the re-establishment of
Imperial rule in 1333.

During the Kamakura Period, the two Mongol invasions of 1274 and 1281 were thwarted by the Japanese
warriors, and destroyed by two powerful typhoons, dubbed the “Divine Winds” or Kamikaze.