Chapter 128: The Great Battle That Influenced Three Eras

"The Kamakura period. After the Heian period comes the Kamakura period."

Professor Beishan spoke up, somewhat agitated; clearly he had realized the question Director Saito raised, and the more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became.

Then, under everyone's gaze, Professor Beishan said slowly.

"That era was the period of warrior-house rule in Japanese history, with Kamakura as the national political center."

"Warrior-house rule—could you put it more simply?" asked someone unfamiliar with history, face full of confusion.

Hearing this, Professor Beishan spoke frankly.

"Simply put, it's the era when the shogunate began. Warrior-house rule refers to the shogunate!

The shogunate, in its earliest period, referred to a general's military tent, but starting in the Kamakura period, it evolved into a unique form of government suited to the country—a central government institution that stood above the Emperor. Its highest authority was the Seii Taishōgun, also called the Shogun, a hereditary position.

After the shogunate began, the Imperial family was no longer the center; the Shogun was. The Imperial family was nothing more than a puppet, and the Shogun became Japan's actual ruler.

To put it even more simply, just understand it as the old Huagu saying 'hold the Son of Heaven hostage to command the feudal lords'—the shogunate is pretty much that idea."

Instantly, everyone was astonished.

"The shogunate began in the Kamakura period? Shouldn't it have started in the Sengoku period?"

A researcher who loved playing games related to Oda Nobunaga cried out in shock.

The Sengoku period—an era of competing heroes—produced many great figures, such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and other familiar ancient celebrities, and whenever these names came up, the word 'shogunate' was often dragged in.

Because of this, some who didn't know history often assumed the shogunate rose in the Sengoku period.

Professor Beishan denied it.

"No, the shogunate did not rise in the Sengoku period. It truly originated in the Kamakura period; the shogunate is the hallmark of the Kamakura period, because the Kamakura period began with the establishment of the shogunate, and when the Kamakura shogunate fell, the Kamakura period also came to an end. Besides, the Sengoku period came after the Kamakura period."

"In other words… the Emperor was sidelined in the Kamakura period?" Miyagi Nao cried out in shock to the livestream chat.

Clearly, besides Director Saito asking what era came after the Heian period, others in the livestream had raised the same question, and history buffs had begun explaining the Kamakura period.

Online, it was the same.

Remember to wash your hands often: "My goodness!! The Heian period was ruled by the Emperor, the Kamakura period shifted to the shogunate, and it was the era when the shogunate began—this is the proof, the proof that this battle pushed the Heian period toward the Kamakura period!"

Countless people found it terrifying upon reflection.

This great battle caused the cream of humanity to wither, the Transcendents suffered heavy casualties, and countless shrines and temples were destroyed. One could say this battle consumed a massive amount of national strength, weakening Japan to the extreme.

The blame lies in the fact that this battle should never have been fought; if it hadn't been, Tamamo-no-Mae would not have been provoked into acting.

The person who ordered this battle must bear full responsibility!!

And the one who ordered this battle was none other than the Emperor of that era—Emperor Toba.

One could say Emperor Toba was the true culprit.

If he had not provoked Tamamo-no-Mae, such a tragic great battle would almost certainly never have occurred.

Having committed such a grave sin, Emperor Toba would inevitably draw countless grievances, and the consequences would be severe.

As everyone knows, the decline of a dynasty, the fall of an imperial power, most often comes from an incompetent Emperor committing acts that anger Heaven and the people.

Such as the beacon-fires fooling the feudal lords, or Emperor Yang of Sui building the Grand Canal.

When an Emperor brings misery to the people and discontent among the lords, a coup is most likely to occur, leading to the dynasty's decline.

Thinking of this, many netizens were already mostly convinced.

At this moment, a netizen sighed.

"So Tamamo-no-Mae indirectly brought about the rise of the shogunate, and it lasted for several eras."

According to the explanations of various history buffs online, although the shogunate appeared in Kamakura, after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate, it did not disappear in the subsequent eras.

In fact, starting from the Kamakura period, it went through the Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo periods—three eras in total—and only after the Edo period, in the Meiji period, did shogunate rule truly end, with power returning once more to the Imperial family.

From 1192 to 1867, nearly seven hundred years, before shogunate rule ended.

Instantly.

Countless people sighed, both awed and terrified.

Tamamo-no-Mae's battle directly influenced the trajectory of the next three eras, nearly seven hundred years—truly terrifying.

"Actually, besides the shift of power in the Kamakura period proving this battle was indeed the turning point from the Heian period to the Kamakura period, there is another piece of evidence."

While everyone was full of emotion, yokai studies expert Professor Zhongtian said leisurely.

"The Heian period was famously full of yokai, but in fact the era when yokai appeared most frequently was the Kamakura period. Basically, a large portion of the yokai recorded in today's ancient texts come from Kamakura-period records."

Director Takahashi jolted.

"Professor Zhongtian, are you sure you're not joking?"

Professor Zhongtian rolled his eyes: "Do you think I'd joke about something like this? Besides, you can check it yourselves. The period when yokai legends flourished in Japan was the Kamakura period; many yokai legends originated in the Kamakura period.

Actually, if you think carefully, you'll find that the origins of many yokai appearing in today's books, anime, and animation are mostly Kamakura-period yokai. For example, 'Natsume's Book of Friends,' 'Inuyasha,' 'Noragami,' 'Spirited Away,' and the film 'Kamonohashi's Tale'—these are all anime and films featuring Kamakura-period yokai.

Why do film, anime, and animation creators like to use Kamakura-period yokai?

Isn't it simply because that era produced yokai in abundance?

This is the best evidence, proving that Tamamo-no-Mae's battle caused the Heian period to decline and shift into the Kamakura period."

Silence.

Everyone was so shocked they couldn't speak.

If Professor Beishan's account of the shift in shogunate rule could still be examined against history, and therefore one couldn't fully believe that this battle caused the Heian period to shift into the Kamakura period—at most believing half of it.

Then the evidence Professor Zhongtian raised turned that half-belief, half-doubt into solid proof!

The Transcendents were the force that fought yokai.

And this battle caused countless Transcendent elites to be killed or wounded, nearly wiped out, so that the yokai side no longer had to worry about being restrained by the Transcendents and could run rampant without fear.

That is why the Kamakura period saw so many yokai running amok, giving rise to a great many yokai legends.

Solid proof!

At this moment, everyone believed and was certain that the shift from the Heian period to the Kamakura period was caused by this battle.

He could not help but look toward that hazy figure.

They came to a sudden realization.

Why Tamamo-no-Mae was hailed as one of the three legendary great yokai.

One battle made her famous; one battle influenced three eras, changed three eras.

Enough to earn the name of one of the three great yokai.

……