Ashikaga Yoshimasa
Encyclopedia
was the 8th shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
of the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
who reigned from 1449 to 1473 during the Muromachi period
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Yoshimasa was the son of the sixth shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori
Ashikaga Yoshinori
was the 6th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1429 to 1441 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshinori was the son of the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.-Shogunal succession:...
.
On the August 16, 1443 (Kakitsu 3, 21st day of the 7th month), 10-year-old shogun Yoshikatsu died of injuries sustained in a fall from a horse. He had been shogun for only three years. Immediately, the bakufu elevated Yoshinari, the young shogun's even younger brother, to be the new shogun. Several years after becoming shogun, Yoshinari changed his name to Yoshimasa, by which name he is better known.
Shogunal succession
Significant events which shaped the period during which Yoshimasa was shogun:- 1443 – Southern CourtSouthern CourtThe were a set of four emperors whose legitimate claims were usurped during the Nanboku-chō period spanning from 1336 through 1392. In spite of the legitimacy of its claims to the throne, the Southern Court was permanently replaced in 1392 by the illegitimate Northern Court.-Nanboku-chō overview:...
supporters steal the Imperial regaliaImperial Regalia of JapanThe , also known as the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, consist of the sword Kusanagi , the mirror Yata no Kagami , and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama...
. - 1445 – Hosokawa KatsumotoHosokawa Katsumotowas one of the Kanrei, the Deputies to the Shogun, during Japan's Muromachi Period. He is famous for his involvement in the creation of Ryōan-ji, a temple famous for its rock garden, and for his involvement in the Ōnin War, which sparked the 130-year Sengoku period.His conflicts with his...
, Kyoto kanreiKanreior, more rarely, kanryō, was a high political post in feudal Japan; it is usually translated as Shogun's Deputy. After 1349, there were actually two Kanrei, the Kyoto Kanrei and the Kantō Kanrei....
. - 1446 – Southern army suffers crushing defeat.
- 1448 – Remnants of Southern dynasty suppressed.
- 1449 – Yoshimasa appointed shogun; Ashikaga ShigeujiAshikaga Shigeujiwas a Muromachi period warrior and the Kamakura-fu's fifth and last Kantō Kubō . Fourth son of fourth Kubō Ashikaga Mochiuji, he succeeded his father only in 1449, a full decade after his death by seppuku. His childhood name was...
appointed Kantō kubōKanto kubowas a title equivalent to shogun assumed by Ashikaga Motouji after his nomination to Kantō kanrei, or deputy shogun for the Kamakura-fu, in 1349. Motouji transferred his original title to the Uesugi family, which had previously held the hereditary title of , and would thereafter provide the Kantō...
. - 1450–1455 – Disturbances in Kamakura between Kantō KubōKanto kubowas a title equivalent to shogun assumed by Ashikaga Motouji after his nomination to Kantō kanrei, or deputy shogun for the Kamakura-fu, in 1349. Motouji transferred his original title to the Uesugi family, which had previously held the hereditary title of , and would thereafter provide the Kantō...
Ashikaga ShigeujiAshikaga Shigeujiwas a Muromachi period warrior and the Kamakura-fu's fifth and last Kantō Kubō . Fourth son of fourth Kubō Ashikaga Mochiuji, he succeeded his father only in 1449, a full decade after his death by seppuku. His childhood name was...
and his KanreiKanreior, more rarely, kanryō, was a high political post in feudal Japan; it is usually translated as Shogun's Deputy. After 1349, there were actually two Kanrei, the Kyoto Kanrei and the Kantō Kanrei....
.
Events leading up to civil war
A number of decisions lead eventually to armed conflict:- 1454 – Dissension of Hatakeyama succession.
- 1455 – Dissension in KamakuraKamakura, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
between Kubō and his UesugiUesugi clanThe was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from the Fujiwara clan and particularly notable for their power in the Muromachi and Sengoku periods ....
Kanrei lineLine- Science and technology :* Line , a circuit or loop.** A power line for electric power transmission** line power or lines power, domestic mains electricity.** telephone line** RF transmission line...
: "Koga Kubō" (1455–1583) established. - 1457 – "Horikoshi Kubō" (1457–1491) established.
- 1458 – Imperial regalia restored to Northern Court.
- 1460 – Hatakeyama rebels against Yoshimasa.
- 1464 – Yoshimasa adopts Ashikaga YoshimiAshikaga Yoshimiwas the brother of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, and a rival for the succession in a dispute that would lead to the Ōnin War.Yoshimi was the abbot of a Jōdo monastery when he was first approached by Hosokawa Katsumoto, who wished to support his bid to become Shogun. He originally sought to stick to...
. - 1466 – Yoshihisa born; Emperor Go-TsuchimikadoEmperor Go-Tsuchimikadowas the 103rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1464 through 1500....
ascends throne. - 1466 – Dissension over Shiba succession.
- 1467 – Outbreak of Ōnin WarOnin WarThe ' was a civil war that lasted 10 years during the Muromachi period in Japan. A dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen escalated into a nationwide war involving the Ashikaga shogunate and a number of daimyo in many regions of Japan....
.
Ōnin War
By 1464, Yoshimasa had no heir, so he adopted his younger brother, Ashikaga YoshimiAshikaga Yoshimi
was the brother of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, and a rival for the succession in a dispute that would lead to the Ōnin War.Yoshimi was the abbot of a Jōdo monastery when he was first approached by Hosokawa Katsumoto, who wished to support his bid to become Shogun. He originally sought to stick to...
, in order to avoid any conflicts which might arise at the end of his shogunate. However, in the next year, Yoshimasa was surprised by the birth of a son. The infant's birth created a conflict between the two brothers over who would follow Yoshimasa as shogun. By 1467 the simmering dispute had evolved, encouraging a split amongst the powerful daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
and clan factions. The armed conflict which ensued has come to be known as the Ōnin War
Onin War
The ' was a civil war that lasted 10 years during the Muromachi period in Japan. A dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen escalated into a nationwide war involving the Ashikaga shogunate and a number of daimyo in many regions of Japan....
. This armed contest marks the beginning the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
of Japanese history
History of Japan
The history of Japan encompasses the history of the islands of Japan and the Japanese people, spanning the ancient history of the region to the modern history of Japan as a nation state. Following the last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Japanese Archipelago fostered human...
, a troubled period of constant military clashes which would last over a century. A number of developments affect the unfolding Ōnin War's battles:
- 1468 – Yoshimi joins Yamana Sōzen.
- 1469 – Yoshihisa appointed heir to shogunate.
- 1471 – Asakura Takakage appointed shugo of Echizen provinceEchizen Provincewas an old province of Japan, which is today the northern part of Fukui Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Etchū and Echigo Provinces.Echizen is famous for washi . A text dated AD 774 mentions the washi made in this area. Echizen-produced Washi is still the most commonly sold traditional...
. - 1473 – Yamana Sōzen and Hosokawa KatsumotoHosokawa Katsumotowas one of the Kanrei, the Deputies to the Shogun, during Japan's Muromachi Period. He is famous for his involvement in the creation of Ryōan-ji, a temple famous for its rock garden, and for his involvement in the Ōnin War, which sparked the 130-year Sengoku period.His conflicts with his...
both die.
In the midst of on-going hostilities, Yoshimasa retired in 1473. He relinquished the position of Seii Taishogun to his young son who became the ninth shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa
Ashikaga Yoshihisa
was the 9th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1473 to 1489 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshihisa was the son of the eighth shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa....
; but effectively, Yoshimasa continued to hold the reins of power. With the leaders of the two warring factions dead and with the ostensible succession dispute resolved, the rationale for continuing to fight faded away. The exhausted armies dissolved and by 1477 open warfare ended.
- 1477 – The Ōnin War is considered at an end.
Yoshimasa's heirs
When Yoshimasa declared that Yoshihisa would be the next shogun after he stepped down from that responsibility, he anticipated that his son would out-live him. When Shogun Yoshihisa died prematurely, Yoshimasa reassumed the power and responsibility he had wanted to lay aside. Shogun Yoshimasa adopted the son of his brother, Yoshimi. In 1489, shogun YoshitaneAshikaga Yoshitane
, also known as Ashikaga Yoshiki , was the 10th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who headed the shogunate first from 1490 to 1493 and then again from 1508 to 1521 during the Muromachi period of Japan....
was installed; and Yoshimasa retired again.
Shogun Yoshimasa was succeeded by shogun Yoshihisa (Yoshimasa's natural son), then by Shogun Yoshitane (Yoshimasa's first adopted son), and then by shogun Yoshizumi (Yoshimasa's second adopted son). Yoshizumi's progeny would directly succeed him as head of the shogunate. In the future, power struggles from outside the clan would also lead to a brief period in which the great-grandson of Yoshitane would be installed as a puppet leader of the Ashikaga shogunate.
Higashiyama culture
(main article, Higashiyama Culture)During Yoshimasa's reign Japan saw the growth of the Higashiyama Culture
Higashiyama Bunka
The Higashiyama Period also known as the period of "Higashiyama Culture" or , is a segment of Japanese culture originated and promoted in the 15th century by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, after he retired to his villa in the eastern hills of Kyoto.- Outline :Based largely on the ideals and...
(Higashiyama bunka), famous for Japanese tea ceremony
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
(Sado), Japanese flower arranging (Kado or Ikebana
Ikebana
is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, also known as .-Etymology:"Ikebana" is from the Japanese and . Possible translations include "giving life to flowers" and "arranging flowers".- Approach :...
), Noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
Japanese drama
Japanese drama
Japanese drama may refer to:*Japanese television drama or Dorama, about dramatic television shows in Japan*Radio drama in Japan, often related to anime and manga series- See also :...
, and Indian ink painting. Higashiyama culture was greatly influenced by Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and saw the rise of Japanese aesthetics like Wabi-sabi
Wabi-sabi
represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete"...
and the harmonization of imperial court (Kuge) and samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
(Bushi) culture.
In the history of this Higashiyama bunka period, a few specific dates are noteworthy:
- 1459 (Chōroku 3): Shogun Yoshimasa provided a new mikoshiMikoshiA is a divine palanquin . Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine...
and a complete set of robes and other accouterments for this festival on the occasion of repairs to the Atsuta ShrineAtsuta Shrineis a Shinto shrine traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō located in Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in Japan. The shrine is familiarly known as Atsuta-Sama or simply as Miya...
in the 1457–1459 (Chōroku 1–3). - 1460 (Chōroku 3): Yoshimasa initiated planning for construction of a retirement villa and gardens as early as 1460; and after his death, this property would become a Buddhist temple called Jisho-ji (also known as Ginkaku-jiGinkaku-ji, the "Temple of the Silver Pavilion," is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the construction that represents the Higashiyama Culture of Muromachi period....
or the "Silver Pavilion"). - February 21, 1482 (Bummei 14 , 4th day of the 2nd month): Construction of the "Silver Pavilion" is commenced.
- January 27, 1490 (Entoku 2, 7th day of the 1st month): The former-Shogun Yoshimasa died at age 56 in his Higashiyama-dono estate, which marks the beginning of the end of Higashiyama bunka.
Eras of Yoshimasa's bakufu
The years in which Yoshimasa was shogun are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- HōtokuHotokuwas a after Bun'an and before Kyotoku. This period spanned the years from July 1449 through July 1452. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
(1449–1452) - KyōtokuKyotokuwas a after Hōtoku and before Kosho. This period spanned the years from July 1452 through July 1455. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1452 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events...
(1452–1455) - KōshōKoshoKosho may refer to:*Emperor Kōshō, the fifth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors*Kōshō, a Japanese era spanning from 1455–57*Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo, a martial art system of Kenpo*Koshō, a premodern Japanese term for a page...
(1455–1457) - ChōrokuChorokuwas a after Kōshō and before Kanshō. This period spanned the years from September 1457 through December 1460. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1457 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events...
(1457–1460) - KanshōKanshowas a after Chōroku and before Bunshō. This period spanned from December 1460 through February 1466. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* 1460 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events...
(1460–1466) - BunshōBunshowas a after Kanshō and before Ōnin. The period spanned the years February 1466 through March 1467. The reigning emperor during this period was .-Change of era:* 1466 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events...
(1466–1467) - ŌninOninwas a after Bunshō and before Bunmei. This period spanned the years from March 1467 through April 1469. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1467 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events...
(1467–1469) - BunmeiBunmeiwas a after Ōnin and before Chōkyō. This period spanned the years from April 1469 through July 1487. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1469 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events...
(1469–1487) - ChōkyōChokyowas a Japanese era name after Bunmei and before Entoku. This period spanned the years from July 1487 through August 1489. The reigning emperor was Go-Tsuchimikado-tennō .-Change of era:...
(1487–1489) - EntokuEntokuwas a after Chōkyō and before Meio. This period spanned the years from August 1489 through July 1492. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1489 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events...
(1489–1492)