Pure Land Buddhism venerates the Buddha Amitābha (Amida in Japanese) and originated in India, before spreading to China and eventually Japan. In Japan, Pure Land (Jodo Shū) and True Pure Land (Jōdo Shinshū) Buddhism were both founded in the 12th century, the former by the monk Hōnen and the latter by his disciple Shinran, but […]
The Chronicles of Ōnin #5: Ikki Leagues and Antinomianism Read Post »
Designer Blogs15th century Japan was a largely agricultural society, with urban population centres like Kyoto being the exception rather than the norm. The previous capital Kamakura in northern Honshu was another exception, but cities like Sakai, Osaka, and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) did not fully emerge until the end of this period. Although the feudal class system
The Chronicles of Ōnin #4: The Peasant Economy and the Jizamurai Read Post »
Designer BlogsThe two main competitors for control of the Muromachi Bakufu during the Ōnin War were the Hosokawa clan, led by Hosokawa Katsumoto, and the Yamana clan, led by Yamana Sōzen. The Hosokawa were descended from the Seiwa Genji line of the Imperial family, and along with the Hatakeyama and Shiba clans, held dominant positions in
The Chronicles of Ōnin #3: Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen Read Post »
Designer BlogsAshikaga Yoshimasa unexpectedly became shogun at a young age, after his older brother Yoshikatsu died under possibly suspicious circumstances, and it is clear that he never really wanted the responsibility that came with the position. He was more interested in artistic and spiritual pursuits, and is known today not only for his mismanagement of the
The Chronicles of Ōnin #2: Yoshimasa and the Muromachi Court Read Post »
Designer Blogs, Inside the Game as HistoryThe Pure Land depicts the decade-long Ōnin War in 15th century Japan, a civil war for control of the Muromachi Bakufu set against a backdrop of peasant unrest and religious militancy. This conflict precipitated the Sengoku (or Warring States) period that would continue into the 16th century, and was the beginning of the slow decline
The Chronicles of Ōnin #1: Civil War in Muromachi Japan Read Post »
Designer Blogs, Inside the Game as History