|
|
|
|
Ashikaga Yoshimasa
|
| |
|
| |
ificant events shape the period during which Yoshimasu was shogun:
mber of decisions lead eventually to armed conflict:
464, Yoshimasa had no son as heir; and so he adopted his younger brother, Ashikaga Yoshimi, 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.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Ashikaga Yoshimasa' Start a new discussion about 'Ashikaga Yoshimasa' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Shogunal succession
Significant events shape the period during which Yoshimasu was shogun:
- 1443 -- Southern supporters steal Imperial regalia.
- 1445 -- Hosokawa Katsumoto, Kyoto kanryo.
- 1446 -- Southern army suffers crushing defeat.
- 1448 -- Remnants of souther dynasty suppressed.
- 1449 -- Yoshimasa appointed shogun; Ashikaga Shigeuji appointed Kanto kubo.
- 1450-55 -- Disturbances in Kamakura between Kubo and Kanryo.
Events leading up to civil war
A number of decisions lead eventually to armed conflict:
- 1454 -- Dissension of Hatakeyama succession.
- 1455 -- Dissension in Kamakura Kubo's line: "Koga Kubo" (1455-1583) established.
- 1457 -- "Horikoshi Kubo" (1457-91) established.
- 1458 -- Imperial regalia restored to Northern Court.
- 1460 -- Hatakeyama rebels against Yoshimasa.
- 1464 -- Yoshimasa adopts Ashikaga Yoshimi.
- 1466 -- Yoshihisa born; Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado ascends throne.
- 1466 -- Dissension over Shiba succession.
- 1467 -- Outbreak of Onin War.
Onin War
By 1464, Yoshimasa had no son as heir; and so he adopted his younger brother, Ashikaga Yoshimi, 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 daimyo and clan factions. The armed conflict which ensued has come to be known as the Onin War. This armed contest marks the beginning the Sengoku period of Japanese history, a troubled period of constant military clashes which would last over a century. A number of developments affect the unfolding Onin War's battles:
- 1468 -- Yoshimi joins Yamana Sozen.
- 1469 -- Yoshihisa appointed heir to shogunate.
- 1471 -- Asakura Takakage appointed shugo of Echizen province.
- 1473 -- Yamana Sozen and Hosokawa Katsumoto both die.
In the midst of on-going hostilities, Yoshimasa retired in 1473. He relinquishes the position of Seii Taishogun to his young son who became the ninth shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa; but effectively, Yoshimasa continues to hold on to 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 fades away. The exhausted armies dissipate; and by 1477, open warfare is ended.
- 1477 -- The Onin 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 Yoshitane was installed; and Yoshimasa retired again. Before Yoshimasa died in 1490, he again adopted a nephew as heir, this time the son of his brother, Masatomo. Although Yoshitane did outlive Yoshimasa, his shogunate would prove short-lived. Yoshitane died in 1493.
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 progency would directly succeed him as head of the shogunate. In the unforeseeable 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
During Yoshimasa's reign Japan saw the growth of Higashiyama Culture (Higashiyama bunka), famous for Japanese tea ceremony (Sado), Japanese flower arranging (Kado or Ikebana), Noh Japanese drama, and Indian ink painting. Higashiyama culture was greatly influenced by Zen Buddhism and saw the rise of Japanese aesthetics like Wabi-sabi and the harmonization of imperial court (Kuge) and samurai (Bushi) culture.
In the history of this Higashiyama bunka period, a few specific dates are noteworthy:
- 1459 (Choroku 3): Shogun Yoshimasa provided a new mikoshi and a complete set of robes and other accouterments for this festival on the occasion of repairs to the Atsuta Shrine in the 1457-1459 (Choroku 1-3).
- 1460 (Choroku 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-ji 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 Highashiyama-dono estate, which marks the beginning of the end of Higashiyama bunka.
Eras of Yoshimasa's bakufu
The years in which Yoshimasa was shogan are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengo.
|
| |
|
|
