Azuchi-Momoyama period
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Azuchi-Momoyama period, (1574–1600), in Japanese history, age of political unification under thedaimyoOda Nobunaga and hissuccessorToyotomi Hideyoshi, who finally brought all provinces under the control of the central government. In contrast to the restraint of the preceding Muromachi, or Ashikaga, period (1338–1573), it was an age of magnificence and ostentation. The building of great castles and mansions replaced temple architecture. Indeed, the period is named for two castles, Azuchi, built by Oda on the shore ofLake Biwa, and Momoyama, built by Hideyoshi inKyōto. Castles were decorated by masters of theKanō school with gorgeous large-scale paintings on sliding panels and folding screens. The period ended in 1600 and was succeeded by the Tokugawa, or Edo, period (1603–1867), after Hideyoshi’s successor,Tokugawa Ieyasu, had established his capital at Edo (modern Tokyo).