Ashikaga Yoshimasa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利 義政? January 20, 1435—January 27, 1490) 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 6th shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori.
The teenage Yoshimasa became Seii Taishogun six years after the death in 1443 of his older brother, the 7th shogun Ashikaga Yoshikatsu.
During Yoshimasa's reign Japan saw the growth of Higashiyama Culture, 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.
By 1464, Yoshimasa still had no heir so he adopted his younger brother Ashikaga Yoshimi in order to succeed him. However, in the next year, Yoshimasa was borne a son and a struggle for succession started between the two brothers. By 1467 their conflict expanded into the 11 year Ōnin War, beginning the Sengoku period of Japanese history that would last over a century. In the middle of hostilities, Yoshimasa retired in 1473, relinquishing the position of Seii Taishogun to his son who became the 9th shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa.
Like most shoguns, he practiced the shudo tradition, taking Akamatsu Norinao as his wakashu. A number of Ashikaga shoguns chose their beloveds from the Akamatsu family. Norinao, granted lands at the time in possession of Yamana Sozen, was attacked by the latter and took his own life. This is said to have been another factor leading to the Ōnin War. ("The Love of the Samurai: A Thousand Years of Japanese Homosexuality by Tsuneo Watanabe and Jun'ichi Iwata)
In 1489, the retired Yoshimasa built Jishoji Temple (Also known as Ginkaku-ji Temple and Silver Pavilion) in Kyoto, one of the current most famous tourist attractions in the ancient capital.
[edit] Bibliography
Donald Keene, Yoshimasa and the Silver Pavilion: The Creation of the Soul of Japan. Columbia University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-231-13056-2.
| Preceded by: Ashikaga Yoshikatsu |
Ashikaga Shogun 1449–1473 |
Succeeded by: Ashikaga Yoshihisa |
