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==Ōnin War==
==Ōnin War==
{{main|Ōnin War}}
{{main|Ōnin War}}
By 1464, Yoshimasa had no heir, 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, [[Ashikaga Yoshihisa]]. The infant's birth created a conflict between the two brothers over who would follow Yoshimasa as shogun. Yoshimasa's wife, Hino Tomiko, attempted to get [[Yamana Sōzen]] to support the infant's claim to the shogunate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&stype=0&dtype=0&dname=0ss&p=%E6%97%A5%E9%87%8E%E5%AF%8C%E5%AD%90|title=Hino Tomiko|work=[[Daijirin]]}}</ref> By 1467 the simmering dispute had evolved, encouraging a split amongst the powerful ''[[daimyō]]'' and clan factions. The armed conflict which ensued has come to be known as the [[Ōnin War]].<ref name=Sansom2>{{Cite book |last=Sansom |first=George |title=A History of Japan, 1334-1615 |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=1961 |ISBN=0804705259 |pages=217–229}}</ref> This armed contest marks the beginning the [[Sengoku period]] of [[History of Japan|Japanese history]], a troubled period of constant military clashes which would last over a century. A number of developments affect the unfolding Ōnin War's battles:
By 1464, Yoshimasa had no heir, 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, [[Ashikaga Yoshihisa]]. The infant's birth created a conflict between the two brothers over who would follow Yoshimasa as shogun. Yoshimasa's wife, Hino Tomiko, attempted to get [[Yamana Sōzen]] to support the infant's claim to the shogunate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&stype=0&dtype=0&dname=0ss&p=%E6%97%A5%E9%87%8E%E5%AF%8C%E5%AD%90 |title=Hino Tomiko |work=[[Daijirin]] |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804061906/http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8 |archivedate=2009-08-04 }}</ref> By 1467 the simmering dispute had evolved, encouraging a split amongst the powerful ''[[daimyō]]'' and clan factions. The armed conflict which ensued has come to be known as the [[Ōnin War]].<ref name=Sansom2>{{Cite book |last=Sansom |first=George |title=A History of Japan, 1334-1615 |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=1961 |ISBN=0804705259 |pages=217–229}}</ref> This armed contest marks the beginning the [[Sengoku period]] of [[History of Japan|Japanese history]], 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.<ref name="ackroyd331"/>
* 1468 – Yoshimi joins Yamana Sōzen.<ref name="ackroyd331"/>
* 1469 – Yoshihisa appointed heir to shogunate.<ref name="ackroyd331"/>
* 1469 – Yoshihisa appointed heir to shogunate.<ref name="ackroyd331"/>

Revision as of 10:44, 10 July 2017

Ashikaga Yoshimasa

Template:Japanese name Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利 義政, January 20, 1436 – January 27, 1490)[1] 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.[2] His official wife was Hino Tomiko.

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.[3] Several years after becoming shogun, Yoshinari changed his name to Yoshimasa, by which name he is better known.[4]

Shogunal succession

Significant events which shaped the period during which Yoshimasa was shogun:

Events leading up to civil war

A number of decisions lead eventually to armed conflict:

Ōnin War

Main article: Ōnin War

By 1464, Yoshimasa had no heir, 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, Ashikaga Yoshihisa. The infant's birth created a conflict between the two brothers over who would follow Yoshimasa as shogun. Yoshimasa's wife, Hino Tomiko, attempted to get Yamana Sōzen to support the infant's claim to the shogunate.[7] By 1467 the simmering dispute had evolved, encouraging a split amongst the powerful daimyō and clan factions. The armed conflict which ensued has come to be known as the Ōnin War.[8] 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 Ōnin War's battles:

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; 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.[5]

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.

Grave of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Kyoto

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.[9]

Also, before he married Hino Tomiko, sister of Hino Katsumitsu, he had a concubine, Lady Oima, who was 8 months pregnant when Tomiko pushed her from the stairs which resulted in a miscarriage.

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.[9]

Higashiyama culture

Main article: Higashiyama Culture

During Yoshimasa's reign Japan saw the growth of the Higashiyama Culture (Higashiyama bunka),[10] famous for tea ceremony (Sado), flower arrangement (Kado or Ikebana), Noh 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 (Chōroku 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 (Chōroku 1–3).[11]
  • 1460 (Chōroku 3): Yoshimasa initiated planning for construction of a retirement villa and gardens as early as 1460;[12] and after his death, this property would become a Buddhist temple called Jisho-ji (also known as Ginkaku-ji or the "Silver Pavilion").[13]
  • February 21, 1482 (Bummei 14 , 4th day of the 2nd month): Construction of the "Silver Pavilion" is commenced.[14]
  • January 27, 1490 (Entoku 2, 7th day of the 1st month): The former-Shogun Yoshimasa died at age 56 in his Higashiyama-dono estate,[15] 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.[16]

Notes

  1. ^ "Ashikaga Yoshimasa" in The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625.
  2. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 342., p. 342, at Google Books
  3. ^ Titsingh, p. 342, p. 342, at Google Books; Screech, Timon. (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779–1822, p. 234 n.10; n.b., Yoshikatsu (b. 1434 – d. 1443) = 8yrs. In this period, "children were considered one year old at birth and became two the following New Year's Day; and all people advanced a year that day, not on their actual birthday."
  4. ^ Titsingh, p. 346., p. 346, at Google Books
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982) Lessons from History: The Tokushi Yoron, p. 331.
  6. ^ In the name "Ōnin War," the noun "Ōnin" refers to the nengō (Japanese era name) after "Bunshō" and before "Bunmei." In other words, the Ōnin war occurred during the Ōnin era, which was a time period spanning the years from 1467 through 1469. Although the fighting continued long after, the conflict came to be identified with the nengō in which it began.
  7. ^ "Hino Tomiko". Daijirin. Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Sansom, George (1961). A History of Japan, 1334-1615. Stanford University Press. pp. 217–229. ISBN 0804705259.
  9. ^ a b Ackroyd, p. 298.
  10. ^ "Higashiyama Bunka" (東山文化), JAANUS: Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.
  11. ^ Ponsonby-Fane. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines, p. 452.
  12. ^ Yamasa: Gikaku-ji.
  13. ^ "Protecting Ginkaku-ji, the Beauty of Wabi-sabi; Reluctance to Black Lacquering the Outer Wall," Kyoto Shimbun. January 23, 2008.
  14. ^ Keene, Donald. (2003). Yoshimasa and the Silver Pavilion, p. 87., p. 87, at Google Books
  15. ^ Titsingh, p. 361., p. 361, at Google Books
  16. ^ Titsingh, pp. 331-361., p. 331, at Google Books

References

Preceded by Muromachi Shogun
1449–1473 		Succeeded by
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