Shikken

The Shikken (執権) was the regent for the shogun in the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. The post was monopolized by the Hojo clan.

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Hojo Tokimasa, who was the father-in-law of the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, became Shikken for the first time in 1203. The Shikken was the chief of Mandokoro at that time. Replacing the second shogun Minamoto no Yoriie with Sanetomo, he became the de facto ruler of the shogunate.

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Tokimasa's son Yoshitoki strengthened the post by integrating it with the chief of Samurai-dokoro after annihilating the powerful Wada clan, who had dominated the position. The shikken became the highest post, controlling puppet shoguns in practice. In 1224 Yoshitoki's son Hojo Yasutoki set up the rensho (cosigner) as assistant regent.

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At first the post of shikken was occupied by the tokuso, the head of the Hojo clan, but Hojo Tokiyori separated the two posts. He installed Hojo Nagatoki as shikken while he made his son Tokimune succeed as tokuso. Effective power was moved from shikken to tokuso.

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Shogun: :This page is about the Japanese ruler and military rank. For other meanings of shogun, see Shogun (disambiguation)....

Kamakura shogunate: The Kamakura shogunate (Japanese: 鎌倉幕府, Kamakura bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship ruled by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. Based in Kamakura, Japan, this period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate and is known as the Kamakura period....

Japan: For other uses, see Japan (disambiguation)....