Japanese government forces depended on its entire military as its main way of defense. This was of course besides its mountains. Soldiers were usually ordered to stand along sides of slopes of mountains. Mountains were their greatest barrier against invaders such as the Mongols. Emperors stayed in secluded, safe areas during wars. Shoguns were the people who ruled along side with the emperor. They controlled majority power of the military. They gave orders of who defended different areas and how they were to fight. Buddhism was also well established with the government’s help. This encouraged many soldiers to fight until death. It also was the main way people were able to relax themselves during war when their family was forced away. Emperors even sometimes challenged Mongols to fight against them to prove their independence and strength to their opponents. Yomei had a lot of power and was the main reason in a great rise in power came in 552. Taxes were charged from the government. As power rose, so did the amount of weaponry bought by the Emperor, with the order given by the Shogun. Most weaponry of the Japanese were made within Japan. But soon demand for iron grew and trade expanded toward the Mongols and China. This soon led the Mongols to realize that Japan had a lot of resources and was on its road to power. As large estate owners got land, farming grew and the economy grew as well. One problem was that Buddhists were taking up masses of land which were great for war positions. For this reason, the capitol of Japan was changed to Kyoto. After the Mongols made the first attack, they put extra priority in protecting small areas in which many farmers were located. The government even made taxes lower for the farmers. In 749, Empress Koken had risen to power even though she was a woman. In 770 she was kicked out from incoming people of the Fujiwara clan. Emperor Kammu put a stop to Buddhists interrupting government affairs. Emperor Henzai was known to be the most peaceful emperor of Japan. Trade was increased the most in the 700’s. Horses also came into Japan as a method of transportation during war. The greatest, most deadly battle in Japan occurred within itself of 2 powerful noble families; the Taira and the Minamoto. They fought in the 1100’s. This war first started to see who would be the next emperor after his death. The Taira won the battle. They decided not to kill the 2 youngest sons of the Minomoto in return for taking the throne. Yorimoto Minimoto went back into the family of the nobles and took power by its edge again. As power and transports came into Japan, it got a lot more supplies for its soldiers. Before 1200, many soldiers made treacherous journeys across mountains and many died of starvation and other things. With new commitments from other places this happened a lot less. After this era, Buddhists began fighting among themselves of other schools. Many people here moved or ran away toward China. Samurai were sent by the government to solve problems that concerned high class people and other important occasions now. Zen Buddhism led to even greater power. It taught warriors and samurai focus, self-deprivation, and complete discipline of the mind and body. Japan also put a more pressure for people to become educated in the 1300’s. The first complete Zen temple was created in 1205. It was especially great for the nobles in which they were meant to serve. Bushido soon developed and taught the Samurai their new code of honor. In this era, Japan was stronger than ever and only received few attacks or any other trouble. Other than this, samurai followed their own goals and did whatever they wanted to do. At some point, many samurai even left their lord/commander when they wanted to fulfill their life ambitions. The government also made it so that women didn’t have much say in what they did. Government in Japan was one of the strongest in the world. People attacked Japan many times. Wars were constantly going on and the Mongols continued their attack on Japan. Japan attacked the Mongols back and always won. However, Japan never lost its power in the medieval era. Finally, the government also issued new writing to come into effect in Japan. For hundred’s of years, Japan pretty much remained out of contact of other people because of its geography and isolation.