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The Samurai-dokoro (侍所 Board of Retainers) was an
office of the
Kamakura and
Muromachi shogunates.
Samurai-dokoro originally referred to a box of the residence of the
imperial family and high-ranking nobles where security guards stationed.
The
Samurai-dokoro of the Kamakura shogunate
In the Kamakura shogunate,
Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Samurai-dokoro in 1180, and
appointed
Wada Yoshimori as the director (別当 betto) and
Kajiwara Kagetoki as the vice-director (所司 shoshi). Along with the
Kumonjo and
Monchujo, the Samurai-dokoro became one of the central organ of the
shogunate. Its role was to guard the shogunate and give judgment on
criminals in peacetime and to take the leadership of
gokenin in wartime.
After the destruction of the
Wada family in 1213, the top position of betto was held by the
Hojo
regents and several vice-directers were appointed.
In 1219, the
Kosamurai-dokoro was separated from the Samurai-dokoro. The
samurai-dokoro came solely to supervise the political authority and give
judgment. The number of vice-director was also reduced to one and it was
occupied by the
Nagasaki family.
The
Samurai-dokoro of the Muromachi shogunate
The Samurai-dokoro and Kosamurai-dokoro were taken over by the
Muromachi shogunate. The director was called shoshi or tonin (頭人) instead
of betto and several vice-directors (所司代 shoshidai) were installed.
From 1353 to 1385 the director also held the post of the Governor of
Yamashiro. The samurai-dokoro controlled only the gokenin in
Yamashiro. As a result of further weakening, the samurai-dokoro only took
on the administration of
Kyoto until being abolished in the late 15th century.
In the middle
Muromachi period, the directer was occupied in rotation by the
families of
Yamana,
Akamatsu,
Isshiki and
Kyogoku, who were called shishiki (四職).
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