Tag: Ashikaga

The Fall of the Ashikaga

May 4, 2023 justin-david-hebert Season 9, Sengoku Jidai Comments Off on The Fall of the Ashikaga

Beleaguered and surrounded by enemies, Oda Nobunaga nearly fell into a deadly trap while seeking battle against the Asakura Clan of northern Omi Province. Then the Takeda Clan started stabbing westward, seeking to liberate the shogun from the grasp of Nobunaga. The drama would end, however, with Yoshiaki’s removal and subsequent exile from Kyoto, thus marking the end of the Ashikaga Shogunate.

The Road to Kyoto

May 1, 2023 justin-david-hebert Season 9, Sengoku Jidai Comments Off on The Road to Kyoto

After conquering Mino Province, Oda Nobunaga needed to not only carve a path to the capital itself, but extend his control over a broad section of the Kansai region.

Tenka Fubu

April 27, 2023 justin-david-hebert Season 9, Sengoku Jidai Comments Off on Tenka Fubu
Season 9, Episode 16: Tenka Fubu
The crest (mon) of the Oda Clan. Source: No machine-readable author provided. Gilyellows assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Oda Nobunaga, here depicted in the style of a court noble. Source: Public Domain
Nobunaga’s official seal, which reads, “Tenka Fubu,” meaning “To conquer the world by force of arms.” Source: 百楽兎, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mino Province (in red) was the domain of the Saito Clan. Nobunaga’s conquest and relocation put him much closer to the capital. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mikawa Province (in red), the eastern neighbor of Owari Province, was the domain of the newly-independent Matsudaira Clan. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Okazaki Castle was the traditional seat of power for daimyo of the Matsudaira Clan. Source: Bariston, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This portrait of Matsudaira Motoyasu (later known as Tokugawa Ieyasu) depicts him in full battle regalia, ready to fight. Source: Public Domain

A Shogunate, If You Can Keep It

April 17, 2023 justin-david-hebert Season 9, Sengoku Jidai Comments Off on A Shogunate, If You Can Keep It

The continuing adventures of the ambitious Miyoshi Clan leaders led to a series of destructive conflicts throughout Kansai that eventually left the remnant of the Bakufu wholly dependent upon powerful daimyo to prop up their withering government.

The Meio Coup

March 13, 2023 justin-david-hebert Season 9, Sengoku Jidai Comments Off on The Meio Coup
Season 9, Episode 3: The Meio Coup
A painting of Ashikaga Yoshitane, who was removed from power during the Meio Coup. Source: Public Domain
A portrait of Hosokawa Masamoto, who instigated the Meio Coup which removed Ashikaga Yoshitane from power. Source: Public Domain
A photograph of Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion in which Ashikaga Yoshimasa spent his final years in retirement. Silver leaf was never added to its exterior in order to preserve the building the way that Yoshimasa himself would have seen it. Source: Oilstreet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An ink painting by Sesshu Toyo which marvelously represents Higashiyama style, being both detailed and having a depth of character thanks to ink wash technique. Source: Public Domain

The Kaga Rebellion

March 9, 2023 justin-david-hebert Season 9, Sengoku Jidai Comments Off on The Kaga Rebellion
Season 9, Episode 2: The Kaga Rebellion
Kaga Province (highlighted in red) was a hotbed of radical Ikko activity in the late 1400s. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A portrait of Rennyo, sitting with mala beads and a fan. Though the Ikko followed his teachings, they continually ignored his calls for peace and cooperation. Source: Public Domain
A statue of Rennyo which currently resides in Osaka. Source: The original uploader was Mind meal at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rebuilding Kyoto

March 6, 2023 justin-david-hebert Season 9, Sengoku Jidai Comments Off on Rebuilding Kyoto
Season 9, Episode 1: Rebuilding Kyoto
A painting of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa, artist unknown. Yoshihisa would lead a short but active life as Shogun, but died at the age of 25 in 1489. Source: Public Domain
Yamashiro Province (shown in red) is home to Kyoto and experienced a series of peasant uprisings after the Onin War. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A drawing of Hatakeyama Yoshinari, the elder cousin of Hatakeyama Masanaga who sustained a long-term conflict over leadership of the Hatakeyama Clan as well as the rightful inheritor of the office of Kanrei. Source: Musuketeer.3, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The crest (mon) of the Rokkaku Clan, who rebelled against the Shogunate and then waged a long-term guerilla war against the Hokoshu. Source: Public Domain
Omi Province (shown in red) was the Rokkaku Clan’s home province and it was here that Shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa died encamped against them. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Pax Ashikaga

December 15, 2022 justin-david-hebert Early Muromachi, Season 8 Comments Off on The Pax Ashikaga

In the closing years of the reign of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Shogun would continue to reach ever higher for honors and titles which were usually reserved for sovereigns. He would also continue to refine Japan’s aesthetic tastes by patronizing Noh performances.