Ashikaga Yoshimasa

Ashikaga Yoshimasa's tomb in Kyoto

Ashikaga Yoshimasa ( Japanese.足 利 義 政, * January 20, 1436 in Kyoto ; † January 27, 1490 in Kyoto) was the eighth Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate and ruled from 1449 to 1473. The influence of the Higashiyama culture that arose under his patronage exists in Japanese art up to modern times. The epitome of Higashiyama culture is the Ginkaku-ji built by Yoshimasa .

Life

Early years of life

Ashikaga Yoshimasa was the second son of the sixth Shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori and his consort Hino Shigeko ( Japanese日 野 重 子, * 1410; † 1463). He was elected after the death of his older brother, the seventh Shogun Ashikaga Yoshikatsu , as his successor. Yoshimasa became head of the Ashikaga family in 1443 at the age of eight and in 1449 at the age of 14 after his genbuku - ( coming of age) ceremony to Shogun.

Yoshimasa's early reign was marked by favoritism , which was also publicly ridiculed. Furthermore, his court was known for the intrigues among the women around him, who vied for Yoshimasa's favor. Among his favorites was his former wet nurse Imamairi-no-tsubone, also known as O-Ima. In 1455 Yoshimasa married 15-year-old Hino Tomiko ( Japanese日 野 富 子, * 1440; † 1496) at the age of 20 . O-Ima's position was shaken by his marriage to Tomiko. Tomiko had a stillbirth in 1459 and accused O-Ima of witchcraft. Yoshimasa then banished O-Ima to an island on Lake Biwa . It is unclear whether O-Ima committed suicide on the way to exile or was killed by Yoshimasa's subordinates.

Yoshimasa's great weakness, his passion for building palaces, was evident early on. After being appointed head of the Ashikaga family, Yoshimasa moved to the Karasumaru Palace in 1443, which was then renovated on a large scale to accommodate the seat of a Shogun. As soon as this work was completed in 1458, Yoshimasa decided to revive the Muromachi Palace . Parts of the Karasumaru Palace were dismantled and rebuilt at the Muromachi Palace, which was completed in 1464. Even before its completion, Yoshimasa began building the Takakura Palace for his mother, Hino Shigeko, in 1462. The construction projects represented a great burden for the already exhausted state coffers. Newly issued special taxes led to population uprisings ( ikki ), which in turn led to debt relief from 1454 onwards.

Succession problems and the Ōnin war

Since Tomiko had no further children, Yoshimasa convinced his younger brother Yoshimi , who was a Buddhist priest, to return to Kyoto. Yoshimasa swore to Yoshimi that even if a son were born, Yoshimi would be his successor. In 1464 Yoshimi returned to Kyoto and was adopted by Yoshimasa. Hosokawa Katsumoto (1430–1473) took over the role of his protector. But in 1465, a year after Yoshimi's return, Tomiko gave birth to a son, Ashikaga Yoshihisa . She made Yamana Sōzen (1404–1473) to Yoshihisa's protector and asked him to stand up for Yoshihisa as his successor.

The dispute between the Shiba and Hatakeyama families polarized the influential Yamana and Hosokawa families in 1466. The conflict between the Yamana and Hosokawa escalated on February 2, 1467 at the Kami Goryō shrine in Kyoto , whereupon the year name Bunshō , which seemed to be unfortunate , was changed to Ōnin . Fighting broke out between the families on June 27, 1467, but Yoshimasa did not take position until July. He ordered Yoshimi to attack the Yamana together with the Hosokawa. The conflict expanded into the 11-year Ōnin War that marked the beginning of the Sengoku period . Yoshimasa did not participate in the war, in the course of which almost all of Kyoto burned down. He had no leadership qualities in contrast to the charisma of his grandfather Yoshimitsu or the iron will of his father Yoshinori to stop the spreading war.

Before the fall of 1467, Yoshimi feared that Yoshimasa actually sympathized with the Yamana. He withdrew from the fighting so as not to strain the relationship with Yoshimasa. But Yoshimasa rated this move negatively and decided, despite his oath, to transfer the succession to his biological son Yoshihisa . The broken promise was a supposed reason for the long fighting between the Yamana and Hosokawa, who fought for their self-appointed protégés (Yamana = Yoshihisa, Hosokawa = Yoshimi). In fact, the dispute was a struggle for supremacy in Japan.

Yoshimasa transferred the office of Shogun to his eight-year-old son Yoshihisa in 1473, but remained de facto head of state. The relationship between Yoshimasa and Yoshihisa was strained, as Yoshihisa was nominally Shogun but did not have his power. The relationship between Yoshimasa and his wife Tomiko also deteriorated. After repeated disputes, Tomiko left the Muromachi Palace in 1471.

Late years of life

On February 21, 1482, Yoshimasa began building his retirement home in Higashiyama , which according to the original construction plans was not completed until Yoshimasa's death in 1490. Yoshimasa made the decision to build it early on, but construction was delayed due to the Ōnin war . After Yoshimasa's arrival in 1483, the emperor Go-Tsuchimikado named the retirement home Higashiyama-dono (Higashiyama Palace). On July 26, 1485, Yoshimasa became a Buddhist monk and took the name Dōkei . His name is similar to his grandfather's monk name Dōgi , Ashikaga Yoshimitsu . With this decision, Yoshimasa showed a turning away from the political and worldly. He now used his time to pursue the fine arts. Yoshimasa designed his retirement home according to his own aesthetic, whereby he himself attached great importance to details. The Higashiyama Palace is the prime example of the Higashiyama culture .

From 1485 Yoshimasa suffered from paralysis , which after a severe attack caused by the death of his son Yoshihisa in 1489 led to left-sided paralysis. Yoshimasa now feared having to return to the position of Shogun , but his health deteriorated visibly. Yoshimi could not be appointed as his successor due to his involvement in the anntnin war . Yoshimi visited Yoshimasa in 1489 with his son Yoshitane . Yoshimi was dressed in the robes of a priest at this meeting to show that he was not claiming to be a successor. Yoshimasa named Yoshitane as his successor. In 1490 Yoshimasa fell into a coma and died on January 28, 1490.

Services

Yoshimasa designed his retirement home entirely according to his aesthetic ideas. He was particularly interested in the detailed design, from the building plans to the paintings on the doors. He saw spaces for his interests, such as B. Japanese Tea Ceremony Tea ceremony, religious devotions, viewing the garden, etc. He combined his aesthetic ideas with the practical execution of his interests and thus created one of the most formative artistic cultures in Japan, the Higashiyama culture .

literature

• Keene, Donald (2003). Yoshimasa and the Silver Pavilion: The Creation of the Soul of Japan . New York: Columbia University Press.
• Varley, H. Paul (1967). The Ōnin War . New York: Columbia University Press.

Web links

• Biography on the Shokoku -ji website in English

See also

• Muromachi period