Ashikaga Yoshimi
Encyclopedia
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 his religious life, and had no desires to become Shogun. However, by 1464, he was convinced to join his brother, the Shogun, and assist him, putting himself into a position to be the next in the line of succession. The birth of the Shogun's son placed Yoshimi in an awkward situation, making his succession no longer definite, but he remained as Yoshimasa's Deputy.
Despite Yoshimi's being supported by Hosokawa, it was Hosokawa's opponent, Yamana Souzen
, who stayed in Yoshimi's mansion for a time, and who attended a ceremony in March 1467 honoring the Shogun and his brother. Hosokawa did not attend, as he was preparing for the imminent war between himself and Yamana, who supported the succession of the Shogun's infant son Ashikaga Yoshihisa
.
Following the initial battles between Hosokawa and Yamana within the capital (Kyoto
), the Ōnin War turned into a war between Yoshimi and his brother the Shogun. Through a set of complicated events, Yoshimi became one of Yamana's chief general, and was declared a 'rebel' by the Emperor
, and stripped of his Court rank. That same year, in 1469, the Shogun officially named his son as his heir.
Yamana and Hosokawa both died soon afterwards, in 1473, and the Ōnin War came to an end, along with Yoshimi's political aspirations.
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...
Ashikaga Yoshimasa
Ashikaga Yoshimasa
was the 8th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1449 to 1473 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimasa was the son of the sixth shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori....
, and a rival for the succession in a dispute that would lead to 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....
.
Yoshimi was the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of a Jōdo
Pure Land Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism , also referred to as Amidism in English, is a broad branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism and currently one of the most popular traditions of Buddhism in East Asia. Pure Land is a branch of Buddhism focused on Amitābha Buddha...
monastery when he was first approached by Hosokawa Katsumoto
Hosokawa Katsumoto
was 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...
, who wished to support his bid to become Shogun. He originally sought to stick to his religious life, and had no desires to become Shogun. However, by 1464, he was convinced to join his brother, the Shogun, and assist him, putting himself into a position to be the next in the line of succession. The birth of the Shogun's son placed Yoshimi in an awkward situation, making his succession no longer definite, but he remained as Yoshimasa's Deputy.
Despite Yoshimi's being supported by Hosokawa, it was Hosokawa's opponent, Yamana Souzen
Yamana Souzen
, was originally ' before becoming a monk. Due to his red complexion, he was sometimes known as Aka-nyūdō, 'the Red Monk'. He was one of the daimyo who fought against Hosokawa Katsumoto during the Ōnin War in Kyoto....
, who stayed in Yoshimi's mansion for a time, and who attended a ceremony in March 1467 honoring the Shogun and his brother. Hosokawa did not attend, as he was preparing for the imminent war between himself and Yamana, who supported the succession of the Shogun's infant son 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....
.
Following the initial battles between Hosokawa and Yamana within the capital (Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
), the Ōnin War turned into a war between Yoshimi and his brother the Shogun. Through a set of complicated events, Yoshimi became one of Yamana's chief general, and was declared a 'rebel' by the Emperor
Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
was the 103rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1464 through 1500....
, and stripped of his Court rank. That same year, in 1469, the Shogun officially named his son as his heir.
Yamana and Hosokawa both died soon afterwards, in 1473, and the Ōnin War came to an end, along with Yoshimi's political aspirations.