Your Decision
You have viewed five perspectives regarding the 'first' shogun of Japan, Minamoto no Yoritomo. You have learned about each individual's background and reasoning.
The three perspectives that sided with Minamoto no Yoritomo and believed that he was indeed a great ruler include, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Prince Mochihito, and a Japanese commoner. You have studied Yoritomo's effective leadership skills and ability.
Yoritomo was able to defeat the Taira clan with his own ability and climb up the social hierarchy at a rapid pace. He also developed the feudal system which brought stability to Japan. He made reforms to Japan's administration which expanded trade and spread Japanese culture and religion from the noble class to the commoner people. Yoritomo was able to unify Japan after a period of chaos and conflict.
In contrast, the other two perspectives, Minamoto no Yoshinaka and Minamoto no Shitsune begged to differ regarding Yoritomo's true ability.
According to these perspectives, Yoritomo was just a cruel dictator who used people to his advantage and then betrayed them. Yoritomo showed no mercy whatsoever to these two family members and ordered them to be assassinated. Yoritomo was only worried about his own status and title, and destroyed anyone who threatened his position.
After viewing these five perspectives, do you believe that Minamoto no Yoritomo was truly a great shogun? Or was he just a selfish ruler who was power hungry?
Before making your decision, reflect carefully on the legacy that Minamoto no Yorimoto left behind.
Did Yoritomo really change Japan significantly?
What if Yoritomo was not the first shogun? Would another civil war have erupted in Japan? Would Japan have remained unstable for years or even decades?
Would there be an evident and distinct social structure between the nobles and the commoners if Yoritomo did not become shogun?
What is the Taira clan won the Gempei War? Would present day Japan's political and social structure differ significantly?
How has Yoritomo influenced modern day Japanese culture, politics, and social structure? Was it in anyways significant?
Make sure you take into consideration all factors and perspectives so that your decision is based on solid evidence and reasoning!
The three perspectives that sided with Minamoto no Yoritomo and believed that he was indeed a great ruler include, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Prince Mochihito, and a Japanese commoner. You have studied Yoritomo's effective leadership skills and ability.
Yoritomo was able to defeat the Taira clan with his own ability and climb up the social hierarchy at a rapid pace. He also developed the feudal system which brought stability to Japan. He made reforms to Japan's administration which expanded trade and spread Japanese culture and religion from the noble class to the commoner people. Yoritomo was able to unify Japan after a period of chaos and conflict.
In contrast, the other two perspectives, Minamoto no Yoshinaka and Minamoto no Shitsune begged to differ regarding Yoritomo's true ability.
According to these perspectives, Yoritomo was just a cruel dictator who used people to his advantage and then betrayed them. Yoritomo showed no mercy whatsoever to these two family members and ordered them to be assassinated. Yoritomo was only worried about his own status and title, and destroyed anyone who threatened his position.
After viewing these five perspectives, do you believe that Minamoto no Yoritomo was truly a great shogun? Or was he just a selfish ruler who was power hungry?
Before making your decision, reflect carefully on the legacy that Minamoto no Yorimoto left behind.
Did Yoritomo really change Japan significantly?
What if Yoritomo was not the first shogun? Would another civil war have erupted in Japan? Would Japan have remained unstable for years or even decades?
Would there be an evident and distinct social structure between the nobles and the commoners if Yoritomo did not become shogun?
What is the Taira clan won the Gempei War? Would present day Japan's political and social structure differ significantly?
How has Yoritomo influenced modern day Japanese culture, politics, and social structure? Was it in anyways significant?
Make sure you take into consideration all factors and perspectives so that your decision is based on solid evidence and reasoning!