Ashikaga Takauji | |
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| 足利 尊氏 | |
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| Shōgun ofAshikaga shogunate | |
| In office 1338–1358 | |
| Monarchs | |
| Preceded by | Prince Narinaga(Kenmu Restoration) |
| Succeeded by | Ashikaga Yoshiakira |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 18, 1305 |
| Died | June 7, 1358(1358-06-07) (aged 52) |
| Relations |
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| Children |
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| Parents | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Minamoto clan (Seiwa Genji) |
| Branch/service | Ashikaga clan |
Ashikaga Takauji[a] (足利 尊氏; August 18, 1305 – June 7, 1358)[3] also known asMinamoto no Takauji was the founder and firstshōgun of theAshikaga shogunate.[4] His rule began in 1338, beginning theMuromachi period ofJapan, and ended with his death in 1358.[5] He was a male-line descendant of thesamurai of the (Minamoto)Seiwa Genji line (meaning they were descendants ofEmperor Seiwa) who had settled in the Ashikaga area ofShimotsuke Province, in present-dayTochigi Prefecture.
According toZen master and intellectualMusō Soseki, who enjoyed his favor and collaborated with him, Takauji had three qualities: he kept his cool in battle and was not afraid of death, he was merciful and tolerant, and he was very generous with those below him.[6]
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His childhood name was Matagorō (又太郎). Takauji was ageneral of theKamakura shogunate sent toKyoto in 1333 to put down theGenkō War which had started in 1331. After becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Kamakura shogunate over time, Takauji joined the banishedEmperor Go-Daigo andKusunoki Masashige, and seized Kyoto. Soon after,Nitta Yoshisada joined their cause, and laid siege toKamakura. When the city fell to Nitta, theShogunal regent, Hōjō Takatoki, and his clansmen committed suicide. This ended the Kamakura shogunate, as well as the Hōjō clan's power and influence. Go-Daigo was enthroned once more as emperor, reestablishing the primacy of the Imperial court in Kyoto and starting the so-calledKenmu Restoration.[7]: 15–21
However, shortly thereafter, the samurai clans became increasingly disillusioned with the reestablished imperial court, which sought to return to the social and political systems of theHeian period. As the new government made mistakes, Takauji gained favor among the samurai, who believed he could restore the feudal government.Prince Moriyoshi, also known as Morinaga, had the favor of the imperial court and was a rival to Takauji's political ambitions. In July 1334, Takauji heard a rumor that Moriyoshi was planning to attack him, leading Takauji to send out armed men to defend his mansion. Months later, Takauji had Moriyoshi arrested and, in August 1335, had his brotherAshikaga Tadayoshi execute Moriyoshi.[7]
Hōjō Tokiyuki, son of Takatoki, took the opportunity to start theNakasendai rebellion to try to reestablish the shogunate in Kamakura in 1335. Takauji put down the rebellion and took Kamakura for himself. Taking up the cause of his fellow samurai, he claimed the title ofSei-i Taishōgun and allotted land to his followers without permission from the court. Takauji announced his allegiance to the imperial court, but Emperor Go-Daigo sent Nitta Yoshisada to reclaim Kamakura.[7]: 37–39
Takauji defeated Yoshisada in the battles of Sanoyama and Mishima. This cleared the path for Takauji and Tadayoshi to march on to Kyoto.[7]: 39–41 He captured Kyoto for a few days in February 1336, only to be driven out and fled toKyūshū due to the arrival of forces underPrince Takanaga,Prince Norinaga,Kitabatake Akiie andYūki Munehiro.[7]: 43
After Takauji and his brother were forced to retreat to the west, he then allied himself with the clans native to Kyūshū. After defeating theKikuchi clan atHakata Bay in theBattle of Tatarahama (1336), Takauji swayed many of Kikuchi's men to his side, giving Takauji control over Kyushu.[7]: 44–47 His brother advanced simultaneously by land and both reached the environs of present-day Kobe in July.[7]: 48–50
At the decisiveBattle of Minatogawa in 1336, Takauji defeated Yoshisada again and killed Masashige, allowing him to seize Kyoto for good.Emperor Kōmyō of the illegitimateNorthern Court (see below) was installed as emperor by Takauji in opposition to the exiledSouthern Court, beginning the turbulentNorthern and Southern Court period (Nanbokuchō), which saw two emperors fight each other and which would last for almost 60 years.[8]
Besides other honors, Emperor Go-Daigo had given Takauji the title ofChinjufu-shōgun, or Commander-in-chief of the Defense of the North, and the courtly title of the Fourth Rank, Junior Grade.[5][9] His Buddhist name wasTojiinden Niyama Myogi dai koji Chojuji-dono (等持院殿仁山妙義大居士長寿寺殿).
Parents and siblings
Consorts and issue:
 Emperor Seiwa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 "Hachimantarō" Yoshiie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minamoto no Yoshichika | Minamoto no Yoshikuni | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nitta clan | Ashikaga clan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minamoto no Tameyoshi |  Nitta Yoshishige |  Ashikaga Yoshiyasu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yamana clan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minamoto no Yoshitomo | Nitta Yoshikane |  Yamana Yoshinori | Ashikaga Yoshikane | Minamoto no Yoshikiyo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minamoto no Yoritomo | Ashikaga Yoshiuji | Hirosawa Yoshizane | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kira clan | Hosokawa clan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ashikaga Yasuuji |  Kira Osauji |  Hosokawa Yoshisue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Uesugi clan | Imagawa clan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Uesugi Shigefusa | Ashikaga Yoriuji | Kira Mitsuuji |  Imagawa Kuniuji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Uesugi Yorishige | Ashikaga Ietoki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Uesugi Kiyoko | Ashikaga Sadauji |  Hojō Hisatoki | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nitta Yoshisada | Ashikaga Takauji | Akahashi Tōshi | Hōjō Moritoki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ashikaga Yoshiakira | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Significant events which shaped the period during which Takauji wasshōgun are:
Takauji's sonAshikaga Yoshiakira succeeded him asshōgun after his death. His grandsonAshikaga Yoshimitsu united the Northern and Southern courts in 1392.
Because of the anomalous situation, which he had himself created and which saw two Emperors reign simultaneously, one inYoshino and one in Kyoto, the years in which Takauji wasshōgun as reckoned by theGregorian calendar are identified in Japanese historical records by two different series ofJapanese era names (nengō), that following the datation used by the legitimateSouthern Court and that formulated by the pretenderNorthern Court.[14]
Eras as reckoned by the Southern Court (declared legitimate by aMeiji era decree because in possession at the time of theJapanese Imperial Regalia):
Eras as reckoned by the pretender Northern Court (declared illegitimate by a Meiji era decree because not in possession at the time of the Japanese Imperial Regalia):
The story of Ashikaga Takauji, Emperor Go-Daigo, Nitta Yoshisada, and Kusunoki Masashige from the Genko rebellion to the establishment of the Northern and Southern Courts is detailed in the 40 volume Muromachi period epicTaiheiki.
Media related toAshikaga Takauji at Wikimedia Commons
| Kenmu Restoration | Shōgun: Ashikaga Takauji 1338–1358 | Succeeded by |
Ashikaga family tree | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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