Why Didn’t Shoguns In Feudal Japan Ever Declare Themselves Emperors?

Despite being considered a demi-god, the Japanese Emperor lost effective power — but was never formally deposed

Japan is known as the land of the rising sun. It is thus unsurprising that in such a country, the sun goddess, Amaterasu, would be the most sacred of deities.

The Emperor of Japan claimed descent from her, and was thus himself revered as a living god.

Despite this, for 700 years, the reigning Emperor was little more than a puppet. Real power stemmed from a set of hereditary generals known as Shoguns.

How did this come to be? And given that it did — why did none of the Shoguns with all their military might, simply declare themselves the new Emperor?

Let’s look at these in turn, below.

How The Emperor Lost His Groove (AKA Power)

Japan was once populated with many clans and tribes of people. Between the fourth and ninth centuries, however, most of these groups were unified under a single Emperor.

The Emperor’s rule however was reliant on key allies (such as the Soga Clan in the sixth century, and the Fujiwara during the next four).

In exchange for their support, the patriarchs of these clans ensured they held key positions in the court (such as the treasury or being in the council of state) and had their daughters married off to the Emperor — effectively ensuring that their grandchildren would sit on the throne in future.

This strategy allowed them not only control of key government policy, but as grandfather to the Emperor - the latter would often have to kowtow to the wishes of their familial elders in line with Confucian societal norms of the time.

Eventually — Emperors were habitually compelled to abdicate while still in their 30s in favor of a new child emperor — who was nominated by the patriarchs of these powerful clans.

As a child obviously could not rule an entire kingdom, a regent would need to step in rule on their behalf.

Who better than the aforementioned patriarchs?