戦国
せんごく
noun
warring states; period of civil war and rival feudal lords (especially the Sengoku period, c. 1467–1615)
1.
warring states; period of civil war and rival feudal lords (especially the Sengoku period, c. 1467–1615)
Most commonly refers to the Sengoku period of Japanese history, an era of near-constant military conflict among feudal lords.
Combines 戦 (war) and 国 (country/state). Primarily refers to the Japanese Sengoku period (roughly 1467–1615), a tumultuous era when powerful feudal lords (大名) fought for control of Japan. Key figures include 織田信長, 豊臣秀吉, and 徳川家康. The term also applies to the Chinese Warring States period (475–221 BC).
Common collocations
- 戦国時代: the Sengoku period
- 戦国武将: Sengoku-era warlord
- 戦国大名: Sengoku-era feudal lord
- 戦国乱世: the chaos of the warring states era
Cultural note
The Sengoku period is extremely popular in Japanese pop culture. It is the setting of numerous TV dramas, anime, manga, and video games. Many Japanese people have a favorite 戦国武将.