Sengoku

Sengoku, short for Sengoku Jidai, refers to the Warring States period of Japanese history, approximately from the mid-15th century to the early 17th century. It arose after the collapse of central authority during the Muromachi era, following the Onin War (1467–1477). The era was characterized by political fragmentation, widespread warfare among regional lords, and the rise of powerful samurai bands known as daimyo.

Warfare and state-building under the Sengoku rulers saw significant changes in military organization, economy, and urban life. Firearms introduced by Europeans in the 1540s altered tactics, and fortifications and castle towns became centers of power. Daimyo competed for land and influence, while peasant populations paid taxes to support their rulers. The period also saw cultural and technological exchange, including trade networks with the Asian mainland and the diffusion of new crafts.

Prominent figures shaped the unification process. Oda Nobunaga began centralizing power and expanding control over western and central Honshu. Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed the unification, implemented cadastral surveys, and banned the wearing of swords by commoners in the sword hunt, signaling social reorganization. Tokugawa Ieyasu, after the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, established the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603, which ushered in long-term peace and the Edo period.

The Sengoku period ended with the consolidation of a central authority under the Tokugawa regime. It left a lasting legacy in political culture, military organization, and regional governance, as well as in popular depictions of samurai and feudal power.