Could you provide some facts about the politics of medieval Japan?

Certainly! Medieval Japan, spanning from approximately the late twelfth to the late sixteenth century, saw complex political developments with power shifting between the imperial court, shoguns, daimyos and samurai warriors. Here are some key political facts about this period:

1. Rise of the Shogunate: Medieval Japan is marked by the rise of military governments known as "shogunates." The first of these was the Kamakura Shogunate established by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192, which marked the beginning of feudalism in Japan and the shift from court aristocracy to military rule.

2. Feudal System: The Japanese feudal system was hierarchical. At the top was the shogun who was the military dictator. Below him were the daimyo lords who controlled vast lands and had armies of samurai. The samurai were warriors sworn to serve their daimyo in exchange for land or formal stipends.

3. Decentralized Power: Although the shogun had the highest authority, in practice, the daimyo exercised significant power within their domains. This decentralization of power often led to conflicts and power struggles among the daimyo.

4. Shogunal Governments: After the Kamakura Shogunate fell in 1333, it was followed by the Ashikaga (or Muromachi) Shogunate in 1336. The Ashikaga Shogunate was weaker than its predecessor and its inability to control the daimyo ultimately led to the Sengoku period, also known as the "Warring States" era.

5. Sengoku Period: Lasting from the mid-15th century to the late 16th century this period was characterized by near constant military conflict and political intrigue as various daimyo vied for power.

6. Azuchi-Momoyama Period: The end of the Sengoku era came with the rise of powerful daimyo Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and finally Tokugawa Ieyasu, who succeeded in unifying Japan. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603, bringing about the Edo period, which lasted until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

7. Samurai Culture: The political power of the samurai class was paralleled by their cultural influence. They developed a code known as Bushido, which emphasized honor, discipline and loyalty.

8. Role of Emperor: During the medieval period, the emperors were largely figureheads with limited secular power. They resided in Kyoto and were seen as spiritual leaders, while the shoguns wielded the real political and military power from Kamakura or Edo (modern-day Tokyo).

9. Buddhism and Shinto: Religion also played a role in politics. Buddhism, especially Zen Buddhism was influential among the samurai class while Shintoism the indigenous religion of Japan was important to the imperial court and the general populace.