Board of Questioning

Japanese history

Also known as: Monchūjo

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July 13, 2026

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The "Board of Questioning" (Monchūjō) was a judicial body established in Kamakura, Japan, during the late 12th century by Minamoto Yoritomo. This institution was part of the emerging warrior government, known as the bakufu, which marked a shift in power from the civil aristocracy to the warrior class.1

The Monchūjō was responsible for handling lawsuits and appeals, contributing to the development of new feudal institutions that coexisted with the older civil ones. This period, known as the Kamakura period (1192–1333), saw a complex power-sharing arrangement between the military government in Kamakura and the civil authorities in Kyoto. The establishment of bodies like the Monchūjō, along with the Samurai-dokoro (Board of Retainers) and the Kumonjo (later Mandokoro), laid the groundwork for the military's governance of Japan.1

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Japan
The establishment of warrior government
…addition, a judicial board, the Monchūjo, was set up to handle lawsuits and appeals. These institutions represent the emergence of Yoritomo’s regime (the term bakufu was used only later in retrospect).
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…addition, a judicial board, the Monchūjo, was set up to handle lawsuits and appeals. These institutions represent the emergence of Yoritomo’s regime (the term bakufu was used only later in retrospect).
Read More

Minamoto Yoritomo
Rise to power
… (“Board of Public Papers”) and Monchūjo (“Board of Questioning”), setting up not only a military but also an independent political government in the east, yet one that was recognized by the central imperial court in Kyōto. In 1184 Yoritomo’s considerable armies, commanded by his two younger half-brothers Noriyori and Yoshitsune,…
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… (“Board of Public Papers”) and Monchūjo (“Board of Questioning”), setting up not only a military but also an independent political government in the east, yet one that was recognized by the central imperial court in Kyōto. In 1184 Yoritomo’s considerable armies, commanded by his two younger half-brothers Noriyori and Yoshitsune,…
Read More