Ashikaga Yoshinori (足利 義教, July 12, 1394 – July 12, 1441) was the sixth shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1429 to 1441 during the Muromachi periodofJapan. Yoshinori was the son of the third shōgunAshikaga Yoshimitsu.[1] His childhood name was Harutora (春寅). In 1433, he initiated the compilation of the last imperial waka anthology, Shinshoku Kokinwakashū, but was not satisfied with its compilation agenda which undermined his authority.[2]
After the death of the fifth shōgunAshikaga Yoshikazu in 1425, the fourth ShōgunAshikaga Yoshimochi resumed his role as head of the shogunate. Yoshimochi had no other sons, nor did he name a successor before he himself died in 1428.[1]
Yoshinori, who had been a Buddhist monk since the age of ten,[3] became Sei-i Taishōgun on the day of Yoshimochi's death. From amongst the handful of possible Ashikaga candidates, his name was selected by the shogunal deputy (Kanrei), Hatakeyama Mitsuie, who drew lots in the sanctuary of Iwashimizu Hachiman ShrineinKyoto; and it was believed that Hachiman's influence had affected this auspicious choice.[4]
Yoshinori was appointed shōgun in 1429, one year before the surrender of the Southern Court. However during his reign, several rebellions erupted, including the Ōtomo rebellion and the uprising of rebel monks on Mount Hiei, both occurring in 1433; and the Eikyō Rebellion occurred under the leadership of Kantō kubōAshikaga Mochiuji in 1438.[5] Yoshinori strengthened the power of the shogunate by defeating Mochiuji,[6] who committed suicide the following year as dissatisfaction with Yoshinori continued to grow.[7]
During this period, Chinese contacts were increased and Zen Buddhism gained influence, which had broad cultural consequences.[6] For example, the Hon-dō or main hall at Ikkyu-ji is today the oldest standing Tang-style temple in the Yamashiro (southern Kyoto Prefecture) and Yamato (Nara Prefecture) Provinces. It was built in 1434 and was dedicated by Yoshinori.[8]
The Yasaka Pagoda at Hokanji in Kyoto was destroyed by fire in 1436 but was reconstructed four years later by Yoshinori.[9]
Earlier in 1432, the samurai Akamatsu Mitsusuke had fled the region[10] and later murders Yoshinori in the Kakitsu Incident; Akamatsu is in turn killed by Yamana.[11]
In 1432, trade and diplomatic relations between Japan and China were restored. Both had been discontinued by Yoshimochi. The Chinese emperor reached out to Japan by sending a letter to the shogunate via the kingdom of the Ryūkyū Islands; Yoshinori responded favorably.[4][12]
According to Mansai Jugo Nikki (満済准后日記), the system of the Tosen-bugyō (唐船奉行) was established in 1434 to mediate overseas trade. The functions of the Tosen-bugyō included: (1) defending trading ships in Japanese waters, (2) procuring export goods, (3) mediating between the Muromachi shogunate and shipping interests, and (4) managing record-keeping. It is significant that the Muromachi shogunate was the first to appoint the executive officers of the samurai class to high positions in its diplomatic bureaucracy. After Yoshinori's time, the totosen (渡唐船) (the fleet of ships going from Japan to Ming China) consisted of the ships belonging principally to three different kinds of owners: the Muromachi shōgun, temples, and the shugodaimyō.[13]
Yoshinori was notorious for his oppressive measures and unpredictable dictatorial whims.[14] In 1441, Yoshinori was assassinated by Akamatsu Noriyasu, son of Akamatsu Mitsusuke who invited him to a Noh performance at their residence and assassinated him during the evening play.[15] Yoshinori was 47 at the age of his assassination which was organized by Mitsusuke, who had learned that Yoshinori planned to bestow three provinces belonging to him to his cousin Akamatsu Sadamura, who came to be given an important position by Yoshinori because Sadamura's younger sister became his concubine and gave birth to a son.[16]
Shortly thereafter, it was determined that his 8-year-old son, Yoshikatsu, would become the new shōgun.[17] Akamatsu Mitsusuke had already a problem in 1427 with the fifth Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi, who tried to confiscate his territory; Mitsusuke burned down his own residence in Kyoto and went to Harima province, and gathered his family to prepare for the battle. This infuriated Yoshimochi, who ordered to search and kill them, but the confusion continued as those who were ordered to subjugate them refused to dispatch troops.[citation needed] Another person who died in the incident was Yamana Hirotaka (Shugo of Iwami province), Kyogoku Takakazu (Shugo of Yamashiro, Izumo, Oki and Hida province), and Ouchi Mochiyo (Shugo of Suo, Nagato, Buzen and Chikuzen province). Mitsusuke confined himself in Yamashiro Castle, and died with 69 members of his family on October 12, after he was attacked by the shogunal army.[citation needed]
Although the Ashikaga line continued through this seventh shogun, the power of the shōguns gradually eroded and the shogunate fell into decline.[18] The mere fact of that assassination and treason had become a reality served to undercut the previous military ethic of loyalty.[19]
^Eason, David. "Warriors, Warlords, and Domains." Japan Emerging: Premodern History to 1850. Ed. Karl Friday. Boulder, CO: Westview, 2012. 233-42. Print.
^Titsingh, p. 340., p. 340, at Google Books; Screech, Timon. (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779–1822, p. 234 n.10; n.b., Yoshinori (b. 1394 – d. 1441) = 48yrs. and 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."
Media related to Ashikaga Yoshinori at Wikimedia Commons
