Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa

Yoshimasa was born in 1436 to the sixth Ashikaga shogun Yoshinori and Shigeko, the daughter of the minister of the left Hino Shigemitsu. Shigeko's younger male cousin Karasumaru Suketo was appointed the child's guardian, and a talented young woman named Oima was chosen from among one of the families that traditionally supplied retainers to the shogun's household to oversee his upbringing.

Yoshinori was a man of violent temper, quick to punish anyone who opposed his will. He was feared by all and came to be known as "the evil shogun." Yoshinori revered the imperial family and increased the power of the shogunate by strictly enforcing the laws, suppressing powerful ministers, and eliminating governor generals who opposed him, but his severity stirred up strong resentment and he was assassinated by his general Akamatsu Mitsusuke (1381-1441) in 1441. Known as the Kakitsu Revolt after the era name, it was an example of lower-ranking military leaders overthrowing their superiors (gekotsujo) a phenomenon that was increasingly widespread during this period.

His heir Yoshikatsu (1434-43) succeeded to the post of shogun at the age of eight but died two years later, paving the way for the next shogun, Yoshimasa. Only eight years old, Yoshimasa was assisted by the governor general Hatakeyama Mochikuni (1398-1455). Unfortunately, Hatakeyama did not compare favorably in either character or ability with those who had assisted Yoshimitsu in his youth. Eventually the sixteen-year-old Hosokawa Katsumoto (1430-73) was pointed governor general, but he was far too young and inexperienced to successfully deal with the difficult problems facing Yoshimasa.

Like Yoshimitsu, Yoshimasa associated regularly with Zen monks, but he was more interested in cultural and artistic exchange than the demanding practice of zazen. Yoshimasa's ministers and advisors were largely motivated by self-interest, and increasingly cared only for personal gain. At the same time his mother Shigeko and his father-in-law Ise Sadachika (1417-73) meddled in government affairs and began to wield increasing influence, leading to further disorder.

As the landlords of great estates passed their tax burdens on to the peasantry, farmers were pressed beyond endurance and eventually arose in revolt across the land. Yoshimasa's attempts to deal with this problem were unsuccessful. Restoring the finances of the shogunate and pacifying the social unrest of the time were indeed daunting challenges.

Given these circumstances, Yoshimasa decided to withdraw from government. He had wed the sixteen-year-old Tomiko of the Hino clan in 1455, but she failed to bear a son, so in 1464 Yoshimasa called his younger brother Yoshimi, at that time residing at Jôdo-ji under the name Jôdoji-dono, back into government and lay life and made him his successor.

The following year, however, Tomiko gave birth to a son. He was named Yoshiki (1465-89), later Yoshihisa. Tomiko wished Yoshihisa to succeed as shogun, and called on Yamana Mochitoyo (also Sôzen, 1404-1473) to support her cause. Partly because of Yamana's long-standing personal antipathy for Yoshimi's supporter Hosokawa Katsu, a military confrontation resulted. This was the start of the Ônin War (1467-77), which turned the magnificent capital of Kyoto into a charred battlefield. Many temples, including Shôkoku-ji and Jôdo-ji, Yoshimi's former residence, were destroyed in the fires accompanying the revolt.