The Japanese Warring States period, also known as the Sengoku period, lasted for most of the 15th and 16th centuries. It was a violent and turbulent era where the land lacked a central government. The Imperial Court had lost most of its power and the descendants of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first Shogun, were unable …
The Japanese Warring States Period: 100 Years of Civil War Read More »
The Imperial Court of Japan lost most of its authority during the Warring States period. When Japan was unified under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the bakufu took steps to consolidate power. One threat it sought to address was the power of Buddhist temples. In 1627, the Emperor’s historical relationship with Buddhist temples brought the Imperial Court …
The Purple Robe Incident: the Shogunate vs the Imperial Court Read More »
When most people think of early modern Japan, they picture a country completely closed off from the rest of the world. In reality, this was a period of great religious diversity and change in Japan that was largely influenced by outside forces. Christianity had been introduced to the country by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th …
Christian Hunts: Religious Persecution in Edo Japan Read More »
The Edo period in Japan was characterized by a strict feudal system in which daimyo, or regional lords, were given control over vast areas of land. Daimyo were expected to oversee their territory and keep the peace, but they had to abide by edicts issued by the shogunate. They were given the authority to create …
Samurai women played a variety of roles throughout the Edo period. They were carefully educated, expected to uphold the honor of the warrior class, and many were trained in weaponry. However, even in the Warring States period, they were usually expected to defend their homes rather than venture out onto the battlefield. And as in …
The Siege of Osaka is one of the key historical events that Tale of Ronin takes inspiration from and Toyotomi Hideyori is one of the most important people involved. In the game and in real life, Hideyori was the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan’s ‘Three Great Unifiers.’ Hideyoshi was not born a samurai, …
While the Battle of Sekigahara was the greatest battle in Japanese history, the Siege of Osaka plays a greater role in Tale of Ronin. The label ‘Siege of Osaka’ actually refers to two separate battles, the Winter Siege of Osaka and the Summer Siege of Osaka, during which the Edo bakufu destroyed the Toyotomi clan. …
The Siege of Osaka: Tale of Ronin’s Inciting Incident Read More »
Tale of Ronin will immerse gamers in the world of a ronin in 1637 Japan. The Edo period has just begun and the great battles of the Warring States period are still in living memory. The Tokugawa regime is propping up specific sects of Buddhism as a political power play. Christianity is persecuted as harshly …
The Battle of Sekigahara was the greatest battle in Japanese history. It took place in the village of Sekigahara, which was located in a mountain valley. There, two coalition forces led by two great daimyo, Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu, clashed violently over who would have the right to rule a unified Japan. Ieyasu and …
The Battle of Sekigahara: How Japan’s Greatest Battle Added to the Ronin Problem Read More »
The birth of the Edo period marked a turning point for samurai. After over a century of near-constant warfare in the Warring States period, Japan was united under Tokugawa Ieyasu. His campaign culminated in his triumph at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, a moment that has been called the greatest battle in Japanese history. …
Samurai in the Edo Period: The Beginning of the End Read More »