Tokimune 北條時宗

Background

Tokimune was born in 1215. He was the eldest son of Tokiyori.

Career

Became Rensho or Deputy Prime Minister (1264) and assisted Shikken Masamura. In 1266, he deposed Shogun Prince Munetaka and gave the title to his son, Prince Koreyasu. When Mongolia (Yuan) sent a mission to the Shogunate (1268), Tokimune sent it back for the reason that the message brought by it was impolite. He also reinforced the coast defenses of western Japan against possible Mongolian invasion. The same year he was appointed Shikken and Masamura was demoted to Rensho. Tokimune ignnored all Mongolian messages subsequently brought to Japan. In 1271,he sent warriors of eastern pJapan to Kyushu in preparation for an expected Mongolian invasion. When a Mongolian fleet assaulted Kyu¬shu (1274), Tokimune's forces, helped by a typhoon, routed the invading forces. He subsequently ordered stone fortresses to be erected along the northern Kyushu coast. Another Mongolian expedition to Kyushu (1282) was again repelled, the invaders suffering an annihilating blow by the Japanese forces who again were helped by a typhoon. Tokimune died soon after this victory.

Although Tokimune successfully defended Japan against the Mongolian expeditions, the Kamakura Sho- gunate became financially weak because of the huge military expenses entailed. This constituted one of the factors which brought about the downfall of the Hojo family.

Religion

He liked Zen Buddhism and studied under Priest Sogen of China (Sung Dynasty) whom he had invited to Japan and made the chief priest of the Enkakuji Temple in Kamakura.

Connections

Father:

Tokiyori

Son:

Koreyasu