Board of Retainers
Quick Summary
The Board of Retainers, or Samurai-dokoro, was a disciplinary body established by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1180 during the Gempei War. Its primary function was to control Yoritomo's growing number of military vassals, known as gokenin. This institution was part of the foundational structure of the Kamakura bakufu (military government), which marked a significant shift in power from the civil aristocracy to the warrior class in Japan. Alongside other administrative bodies like the Kumonjo (later Mandokoro) and the Monchūjo, the Board of Retainers helped establish a new system of governance that would characterize medieval Japan.1
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Minamoto YoritomoRise to power…he established the Samurai-dokoro (“Board of Retainers”).
Read More…he established the Samurai-dokoro (“Board of Retainers”).
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JapanThe establishment of warrior government…set up the Samurai-dokoro (Board of Retainers), a disciplinary board to control his multiplying military vassals. General administration was handled by a secretariat, which was opened four years later and known as the Kumonjo (later renamed the Mandokoro). In addition, a judicial board, the Monchūjo, was set up to…
Read More…set up the Samurai-dokoro (Board of Retainers), a disciplinary board to control his multiplying military vassals. General administration was handled by a secretariat, which was opened four years later and known as the Kumonjo (later renamed the Mandokoro). In addition, a judicial board, the Monchūjo, was set up to…
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