46 The Imperial Plan of the Joukyuu Era(1219-1222) [1] (an omission) The view of Minamoto no Yoritomo as a great politician, justifying the Bakufu government, is valid only under the following conditions. First, the imperial court was suffering from serious faults of its own, which could not be easily corrected. Second, the man who led the Bakufu must have sincere respect for the imperial court. Third, the Bakufu must have the power to keep law and order. (an omission) The imperial court was about to embrace a military spirit after having spent several hundred years pursuing literary elegance. Retired Emperor Go-Toba arrested the thief in the first year of Ken'ei era (1206). Two years previous to this, he ordered the courtiers to swim across the Uji River, to line up at Byoudouin-Hall naked, and then ride forward on unsaddled horses. And his training was not limited to such swimming practice. He held deer hunts in the mountains and encouraged shooting by staging horseback archery contests. Under his decree, swords were manufactured and distributed to the courtiers. Even though the Retired Emperor was so dedicated to military training, he was even more devoted to scholarship. His special interest was imperial ceremonies, as well as the records of ancient customs and manners during the times of strong imperial rule. He ordered debares and exercises on these topics, and wrote discourses himself. The title of the 2-volume writing is The Exclusive Important Comments on Ceremonies and Customs of the Imperial Court (Sezoku Senshin Hishou), in which he recorded imperial ceremonies and rites and gave critical commentaries. His opinions were based on the two imperial diaries of the Engi and Tenryaku eras (10th century), by Emperors Daigo (r. 897-930) and Murakami (r. 946-967). Judging from this, Retired Emperor Go-Toba wanted to restore the political system of Japan to that of the Engi and Tenryaku eras (10th century). Thus we can see that the Retired Emperor enforced the study of martial and literary arts with a purpose in mind, and encouraged the courtiers to educate and train themselves. The imperial court had a vision of lofty ideals, planned on a grand scale, in an attempt to restore sound national government. And if the courtiers strove to excel in both military and literary performance, the Bakufu was no longer neccessary. Indeed its existence was absolutely dangerous. Emperor Juntoku (r. 1210-1221) followed Retired Emperor Go-Toba's spirit of reformation and earnestly tried to restore Japan as an imperial nation. Emperor Juntoku wrote Selections of the Protocols of the Inner Palace (Kinpishou), just as his father Retired Emperor Go-Toba had written The Exclusive Important Comments on Ceremonies and Customs of the Imperial Court (Sezoku Senshin Hishou). Selections of the Protocols of the Inner Palace (Kinpishou) teaches the correct manners to be observed in the palace, the lifestyle of the sovereign, and the regulations for those who serve, all based on orthodox imperial traditions. In the beginning he wrote: "In the protocol of the daily life of the Emperor, Shintou matters take precedence ofer all others. The sovereign never ceases to respect and worship the Gods. He never places his feet in the direction of the Grand Shrine of Ise or the Imperial Inner Hall where the sacred mirror is guarded. All offerings and gifts are reverently placed on the shelf of the table room first, and then a lady-in-waiting is summoned; she presents them with respect." We can see that in the imperial court, all members led very humble lives, devoting themselves to serving the Gods, while in foreign countries, some kings conquered others with military force, and oppressed their subjects. The two approaches are as different as day and night. Retired Emperor Go-Toba's plan was to restore the imperial rule of the Japanese nation. Emperor Juntoku supported it, and cooperated wholeheartedly. What about the subjects ? The majority of the high-ranking courtiers supported his policy.(an omission) If the imperil massage got through to the warriors in Kamakura, it follows that Shougun Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192-1219) would learn of is as well. First, he was the son of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the imperial loyalist who declared: "Thsoe who disobey an imperial decree shall be banished from Japan." Second, Minamoto no Sanetomo was fond of the Collection of the Ten Thousand Leaves (Man'youshuu; 8th century). This poetry collection is filled with songs that reflect the Japanese national character, history, reverence for the Emperor, and dedication to sacrificing everything for service to the sovereign. Shougun Minamoto no Sanetomo was so well versed in the songs in Collection of the Ten Thousand Leaves (Man'youshuu) that he started composing poems in that style. (an omission) If Shougun Minamoto no Sanetomo agreed and pledged support, it would seem easy to eliminate the Bakufu and return political power to the imperial house. But that was not the case. The Houjou clan would never allow it. Houjou Yoshitoki (1163-1224) did not understand the Japanese national essence, and would not venerate the imperial court. He kept tight control over the Bakufu's actual political power. (Rest omitted)

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