Later Hōjō clan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hōjō 北条
"The Three Dragonscales" – the emblem (mon) of the Hōjō clan
Home province	Sagami Izu
Parent house	Taira clan, Ise clan
Titles	Daimyō
Founder	Hōjō Sōun (posthumous)
Final ruler	Hōjō Ujinao
Founding year	1493
Dissolution	1591
Ruled until	1590, Siege of Odawara

The Later Hōjō clan (Japanese: 後北条氏, Hepburn: Go-Hōjō-shi) was a very strong samurai family in Japan. They were powerful during the Sengoku period (a time of many wars). Their main lands were in the Kantō region.

Their family name was simply Hōjō. But people called them "Later Hōjō." This was to tell them apart from an older family also named Hōjō. Even though they had the same name and family symbol (mon), they were not related.

History of the Hōjō Clan

The story of the Later Hōjō family is written in a book called the Hōjō Godaiki.

How the Clan Started

The clan began with a man named Ise Shinkurō. He came from a respected family called the Ise clan. This family worked closely with the Ashikaga shogunate, which was the military government of Japan. They were advisors and governors (called Shugo).

In 1476, there was a problem with who would lead the Imagawa clan. Shinkurō's sister was married to Imagawa Yoshitada, the governor of Suruga Province. When Yoshitada died in battle, Shinkurō helped his nephew, Imagawa Ujichika. Because of this help, Shinkurō quickly gained power in the Kantō region.

Changing the Family Name

Shinkurō's son wanted his family to have a more famous name. He chose "Hōjō." This name came from a powerful family that used to be regents (rulers for a young shogun) of the Kamakura shogunate. His wife was also from that old Hōjō family.

So, Shinkurō's son became Hōjō Ujitsuna. After Shinkurō died, he was given the new name Hōjō Sōun.

The Odawara Hōjō

The Later Hōjō clan is sometimes called the Odawara Hōjō. This is because their main castle was Odawara Castle in Sagami Province. They were not related to the first Hōjō clan.

Their power became almost as great as the Tokugawa clan. But in 1590, a powerful leader named Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked them. This was during the siege of Odawara (1590). Hideyoshi defeated the Hōjō clan.

The last Hōjō ruler, Hōjō Ujinao, and his wife, Toku Hime, were sent away. Toku Hime was actually the daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ujinao died in 1591.

The Hōjō clan continued to rule a smaller area called Sayama Domain during the Edo period.

Leaders of the Later Hōjō Clan

Here are the main leaders of the Later Hōjō clan:

• Hōjō Sōun (1432–1519)
• Hōjō Ujitsuna (1487–1541), Sōun's son
• Hōjō Ujiyasu (1515–1571), Ujitsuna's son
• Hōjō Ujimasa (1538–1590), Ujiyasu's son
• Hōjō Ujinao (1562–1591), Ujimasa's son

Hōjō Castles

The Later Hōjō clan controlled many important castles. Their main home was Odawara Castle. They also held castles in Sagami Province, Izu Province, and Musashi Province. These castles helped them control their lands and defend against enemies.

See also

• Hōjō Akinokami
• Lady Hayakawa
• Ashikaga Ujinohime