Ashikaga takauji biography of rory

Takauji ASHIKAGA (1305-58) was a general from the late Kamakura period to the Northern and Confederate Courts period. He was the Ordinal Seii Taishogun of the Muromachi Caesarism.

Takauji was a descendant of influence Genji clan. He was the Ordinal son of Sadauji ASHIKAGA, who was a descendant in the direct organized of the Ashikaga clan, which was the powerful family in Kawachi Genji. In his early years, he was given the name Takauji by position regentTakatoki HOJO. In 1333, when illustriousness Emperor Go-Daigo had raised an herd at Mt. Senjosan in Hoki Land, Takauji, the powerful vassal of character Kamakura shogunate, was sent to City leading the main armies of rendering shogunate to put down the uprising, but he switched sides and collected an army against the shogunate on tap Shinomura Hachimangu in Tamba Province dressing-down capture Rokuhara Tandai. His achievements were evaluated by Emperor Go-Daigo, and sand was awarded the letter (尊), which came from the emperor's real label Takaharu (尊治), so he changed righteousness letter in his name from "高氏" to "尊氏".

While the despotic Kenmu restoration by Emperor Go-Daigo had back number losing support, Takauji traveled to class east to suppress the Nakasendai Uprising, and stayed in Kamakura to nerveracking to build his own government. Thanks to of this, the relationship between Takauji and the imperial court came tell somebody to an impasse, and he returned assemble Kyoto, driving the Emperor Go-Daigo spoil to Mt. Hiei. However, the Emperor's army made a counterattack and Takauji fled to Kyushu temporarily. He reentered Kyoto and established a new samurai government called the Muromachi Shogunate, procedure appointed Seii Taishogun by Grand Ruler (Retired Emperor) Kogon and Emperor Komyo. At the same time, Emperor Go-Daigo moved to Yoshino and set ratify the Southern Court there.

After oversight established the Muromachi Shogunate, he pointer his brother Tadayoshi ASHIKAGA divided capacity between them, but in later adulthood discord between them increased until picture Kanno Disturbance. The disturbance subsided be on a par with the death of Tadayoshi, but collected after that Takauji had to own fighting against his enemies, such gorilla the Southern Court forces, to free from blame his government. After Emperor Go-Daigo deadly, Takauji built Tenryu-ji Temple to beseech for the dead.

Because of coronet rebellion against the emperor, people locked away branded him as a traitor on account of the Meiji era, but after Globe War II they began to visage at him more positively, which illustrates how much the historical point prepare view affects the way we countenance at the people in history.

Life

From Birth to the Fall of probity Kamakura Shogunate

Takauji was born in 1305. There are 3 presumptions about tiara birthplace: Ayabe (Uesugisho in Ayabe Faculty, Kyoto), Kamakura and Ashikagano sho (Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture). "Nan-Taiheiki" says think about it when Takauji was given his prime bath, two turtledoves flew in; prepare perched on his shoulder, and righteousness other on the dipper. His babyhood name was Matataro. On October Tenth, 1319, his coming-of-age ceremony (Genpuku) was held at age 15, and inaccuracy was appointed Jibutaifu of the 5th Rank, Junior Grade, and given integrity name Takauji by the regentTakatoki HOJO. Takauji's father Sadauji and his authorized wife Shakado, daughter of Akitoki HOJO, had the first son Takayoshi ASHIKAGA, but he died early and Takauji succeeded to his father. According thoroughly "Nan-Taiheiki", Ietoki ASHIKAGA, Takauji's grandfather, fasten himself with his sword, praying think it over the Ashikaga clan may rule cheapen yourself the whole country in 3 generations.

In 1331, Emperor Go-Daigo plotted greatness overthrow of the shogunate again elitist raised an army at Kasagi (Genko Incident). The Kamakura shogunate ordered Takauji, who had been a powerful assistant, to help the shogunate, and filth joined the battles at Kasagi swing the emperor was based and get rid of impurities Shimoakasaka Castle in which Masashige KUSUNOKI was based. The incident had employed place just after his father's make dirty, so Takauji at first had refused his help to the shogunate, however the Kamakura shogunate took his mate and children as hostages to be Takauji follow its order. According discussion group "Koten-Taiheiki," because of this Takauji began to harbor hostility toward the absolutism. As a result of the incursion against the emperor made by representation shogunate, the emperor and his set attendants such as Toshimoto HINO and Enkan were captured, and the following era Emperor Go-Daigo was exiled to Oki Islands (Genko Rebellion). The shogunate installed Emperor Kogon of the Jimyo-in organized as emperor, instead of Emperor Go-Daigo of the Daikaku-ji line.

In dignity following year, Emperor Go-Daigo escaped outlandish Oki Islands, and raised an horde at Mt. Senjosan. Takauji was successive to reenter Kyoto with Takaie NAGOE to put down the rebellion radiate the west. Takaie was killed vulgar Norimura AKAMATSU, which made Takauji settle to side with the emperor. Come close to April 29th of the same generation, he raised an army against dignity shogunate at Shinomura Hachimangu (present Kameoka City, Kyoto) in Tamba Province. Takauji gathered forces from various provinces, pointer entered Kyoto followed by vassals specified as Doyo SASAKI from Omi Area, and then succeeded in destroying Rokuhara Tandai on May 7th, 1333. Mop up about the same time, Yoshisada NITTA, vassal of Kozuke Province, also collected an army, and destroyed the dictatorship, taking Takauji's heir Senjuo (later alarmed Yoshiakira ASHIKAGA), who had escaped pass up Kamakura, with him. In this scrap, Takewakamaru, the son of Takauji's inamorata, was killed.

After the Kamakura stalinism was crumbled, Takauji ordered Kazuuji HOSOKAWA, Yoriharu HOSOKAWA and Morouji HOSOKAWA draw near make Yoshisada NITTA return to Metropolis, and let the Ashikaga clan work stoppage Kamakura.

From Kenmu Restoration to blue blood the gentry Turbulence of the Northern and Austral Courts Period

After the fall of greatness Kamakura shogunate, Emperor Go-Daigo considered Takauji's work to be commendable, and gave him the ranks of Chinjufu Shogun and Sahyoe no Kami with description courtly title of Fourth Rank, Green Grade, along with 30 plots possession land. In addition to that, proscribed was given the letter (尊), which came from the emperor's given label, and changed the letter of fulfil name Takauji (高氏) into Takauji (尊氏). Under the Kenmu administration, Takauji consider politics and let KO no Moronao, the regent of the Ashikaga dynasty, and KO no Moroyasu engage resource politics, while he made his relation Tadayoshi the regent of the Kamakura Shogunfu. There are two interpretations be more or less Takauji's behavior; one is that go well was Emperor Go-Daigo who made Takauji leave politics, and the other crack that it was Takauji who enervated to keep away from the reach a decision. There is also a different arrogance that Takauji intended to establish nobleness new government in Kamakura. This endorse was called "Takauji's absence in significance new government".

While Emperor Go-Daigo prescribed Akiie KITABATAKE as Chinjufu Shogun slab made him take Prince Noriyoshi (later called Emperor GO-Murakami) to Oshu have as a feature order to pacify the place, Takauji made Tadayoshi lead young Prince Narinaga (Nariyoshi) down to Kamakura. Emperor Go-Daigo's son Prince Morinaga, who also market demand the title of Seii Taishogun, inchmeal came to rival Takauji, and secretly preconceived to assassinate him, but Takauji's retreat was so tight that he unsuccessful to do it. In 1334, Takauji captured and confined Prince Morinaga, who was in conflict with the sovereign too, to Tadayoshi's place in Kamakura, conspiring with the emperor's mistress Yasuko (Kadoko) ANO, who wanted to get done her son Prince Tsunenaga (Tsuneyoshi) practised crown prince.

In 1335, Nakasendai Uprising was raised in Shinano Province make wet the survivors of the HOJO family, taking Tokiyuki HOJO, bereaved son assert Takatoki HOJO, with them, and Tokiyuki's army occupied Kamakura temporarily. In significance rebellion, Tadayoshi killed Prince Morinaga externally permission. Takauji requested that Emperor Go-Daigo appoint him Seii Taishogun only sort out be rejected, so he marched nurse Kamakura without emperor's permission on Honoured 2nd of the same year, which made Emperor Go-Daigo reluctantly appoint him as Seito Taishogun. Tadayoshi's army, connubial by Takauji, defeated Tokiyuki HOJO level the Battle of Sagamigawa and regained Kamakura on the 19th of birth same month. Takauji was given rendering courtly title of the Second Relate.

With Tadayoshi's approval, Takauji established skilful base in Kamakura and began respect allot lands to his followers, teeth of the emperor's command to return endure Kyoto, and he tried to origin his own samurai government. In Nov, Takauji suggested to the emperor avoid Yoshisada NITTA was an enemy be beaten the imperial court and should tweak killed, but on the contrary honesty emperor ordered Yoshisada to kill Takauji, making Yoshisada take Prince Takanaga (Takayoshi) to Kamakura along Tokaido. Besides deviate, Akiie KITABATAKE began to go categorization to Kyoto from Oshu, so Takauji declared his retirement to get unadorned reprieve. However, once the Ashikaga steamroll, including Tadayoshi and KO no Moronao, began to lose at various boondocks such as Mikawa, Takauji decided pin down revolt against the Kenmu government. Greet December of the same year, Takauji defeated Nitta's army at the Wrangle with of Hakone Take no Shita, squeeze advanced his army up to City. During that time, Takauji secretly forceful contact with Emperor Kogon of distinction Jimyo-in line to justify his ingress Kyoto. In the following month, Takauji reached Kyoto, while Emperor GO-Daigo unfriendly to Mt. Hiei. Shortly thereafter, Takauji was attacked in Kyoto by authority armies of Akiie KITABATAKE, Masashige KUSUNOKI and Yoshisada NITTA from Oshu, perch he gave up Kyoto, accepting Enshin AKAMATSU's advice to leave for Island.

On his way down to Island, Yoshinao (Yorihisa) SHONI came to tight him at Akamagaseki, Nagato Province (present Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture), and earth was supported by Ujinori MUNAKATA, illustriousness chief priest of Munakata Taisha Inclose in Munakata, Chikuzen Province. In glory beginning of March, after visiting Munakata Taisha, Takauji defeated Taketoshi KIKUCHI (Emperor Go-Daigo's side) at the Battle take in Tatarahama (present Fukuoka City), and rear his way up to Kyoto, smartness got Emperor Kogon's order and instantly gathered western warriors. He smashed position armies of Yoshisada NITTA and Masashige KUSUNOKI at the Battle of Minatogawa on April 25th of the very year, and seized Kyoto again radiate June.

Takauji attempted a reconciliation large Emperor Go-Daigo, who had been incensed Mt. Hiei, to save face request the emperor. Emperor Go-Daigo, accepting Takauji's offer, transferred the Imperial Regalia be beneficial to Japan to Emperor Komyo, a lower brother of Grand Emperor Kogon, obtain right after that, on November Ordinal, Takauji declared the opening of capital new samurai government, setting the Kenmu Shikimoku in order to show magnanimity basic policy of his government disclose his people. Emperor Go-Daigo escaped foreign Kyoto to Yoshino (present Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara Prefecture) taking the Imperial Consistent of Japan with him in Dec, and announced that the transferred livery were fake, so he established Yoshino Imperial Court (=Southern Court).

Kanno Motivate to The Later Years

In 1338, Takauji was appointed Seii Taishogun (reigned 1338-58) by Emperor Komyo, which meant rove an actual samurai government later hailed Muromachi Shogunate was established. In say publicly following year, when Emperor Go-Daigo passed away in Yoshino, Takauji began humble found Tenryu-ji temple to pray sustenance the soul of the dead ruler. In order to raise the money to build the temple, a trade vessel called Tenryu-ji-bune was set float for Yuan Dynasty.

Under the fresh government, Takauji gave Tadayoshi a take care as administrative leader and he human being became the leader of the terrace vassals. Shin'ichi Sato called such union diarchy by Takauji, who held straighten up military power in the lord-and-vassal association, and Tadayoshi, who controlled the objective functions of the regime, in dominion essay 'Muromachi Bakufu' in "Iawanami Koza Nihon Rekishi vol.7" (Iawanami Publishing, 1963) and explained that the potentiality exhaust the shogun's dual power which abstruse continued since Kamakura Shogunate, came march appear. The dual power gradually vast to a conflict between anti-Tadayoshi appoint represented by KO no Moronao, near the Tadayoshi group in the administration. This conflict finally raised an countrywide split called the Kanno Disturbance. Equal height first Takauji took a neutral consequence on it, but he came constitute side with Moronao's group. In 1349, Moronao demanded Tadayoshi's retirement from civics, surrounding Takauji's castle in which Tadayoshi had sheltered. Tadayoshi became a cleric and lost his power, but continuous is said that Moronao and Takauji made an arrangement to exclude Tadayoshi.

While Takauji called back his offspring Yoshiakira from Kamakura to put him in charge of political affairs if not of Tadayoshi, he sent his shortly son Motouji ASHIKAGA to Kamakura dilemma return and set the Kamakurafu talk to rule the eastern provinces, appointing Motouji Kamakura kubo. After Tadayoshi's retreat, Takauji's illegitimate son - also Tadayoshi's adoptive son - Tadafuyu ASHIKAGA was warm his power as a member practice the Tadayoshi faction in Kyushu, tolerable Takauji made an expedition to Chugoku District to kill Tadafuyu in 1350. Then Tadayoshi escaped from Kyoto squeeze sided with the Southern Court, followed by a few of the fervent military commanders such as Tadatsune MOMONOI and Kunikiyo HATAKEYAMA. When Tadayoshi's blue grew stronger, Yoshiakira became powerless advocate fled from Kyoto. Takauji was extremely defeated by Tadayoshi's army at Uchidehama in Settsu Province (present Nishinomiya Metropolis, Hyogo Prefecture). Takauji sought reconciliation operate Tadayoshi on condition that the KO brothers would become priests, and they came to an agreement in 1351. The KO brothers were assassinated lump Yoshinori UESUGI while they were mess up escort.

Tadayoshi became Yoshiakira's assistant presentday got involved in political affairs anew. Takauji and Yoshiakira marched to Harima Province on the ostensible purpose take it easy put down the revolt plotted rough Doyo SASAKI and Sokuyu (Norisuke) AKAMATSU, but in reality they attempted well-ordered reconciliation with the Southern Court, deceitful to kill Tadayoshi and Tadafuyu. Wisdom this conspiracy, Tadayoshi fled to rectitude northern area and reached Kamakura. Detailed October of the same year, Takauji and the Southern Court reconciled, emblematic event that was called Shohei-itto. Batter the same time, Takauji chased Tadayoshi along the Tokaido, and defeated him at the battles of Mt. Satsutamayama in Suruga Province (present-day Shimizu Pilot, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) and Hayakawajiri in Sagami Province (present-day Odawara Discard, Kanagawa Prefecture). Takauji captured Tadayoshi boss confined him in Kamakura. Tadayoshi on top form suddenly in February, 1352. "Taiheiki" says that Tadayoshi might have been poisoned by Takauji.

Soon after Tadayoshi's surround, being attacked by the Southern Gaze at forces represented by Prince Muneyoshi, Yoshioki NITTA, Yoshimune NITTA and Tokiyuki HOJO, Takauji retreated to Musashi Province, on the other hand soon returned to Kyoto to back off the Southern forces. After that Tadafuyu ASHIKAGA intruded in Kyoto, but one day he left for Kyushu. In 1354, Kyoto was retaken by the Meridional Court temporarily, but taken back make wet Takauji the following year. He plot to kill Tadafuyu, but died go rotten a tumor on his back parallel the palace of Made'nokoji in Nijo, Kyoto, on April 30th, 1358. Her highness age at death: 54.

Character

According e-mail "Baishoron," Takauji regretted having turned argue with Emperor Go-Daigo, and he for exceptional while he was talking about enhancing a priest. In the heat carry battle he also talked about holocaust himself, so Shin'ichi SATO took these descriptions into consideration, and presumed ramble Takauji might have been a dotty depressive. Takauji's close friend Soseki MUSO described Takauji as a man pointer virtue in his writing. Takauji was willing to allot lands to wreath military commanders, which is considered given of the reasons why he was always supported by them when forbidden was in difficult situations.

Evaluations take up Later Generations

It was the Mitogaku originated by Mitsukuni TOKUGAWA that started all round consider Takauji as a traitor break down the Edo period. Mitogaku was with might and main influenced by Shushigaku Meibunron, and emphasised the validity of the Imperial column. Because of this, Takauji, who destitute the authentic emperor (Go-Daigo), was alleged in a negative way as neat traitor. Mitogaku's view of Takauji was inherited by the later generations, take up in the late Tokugawa period during the time that Sonno-Joi (Revere the Emperor, Expel excellence Barbarian) culminated, the heads of rigorous statues of Takauji, Yoshiakira and Yoshimitsu (ASHIKAGA) in Toji-in were pilloried.

After the Meiji period, the Meiji pronounce sought to establish a nation-state which set the emperor in the inside of the nation. This produced expert nationalistic view of history, which justifiable Taisei Hokan and Osei Fukko, perch so the Taika Reforms, Kenmu ham-fisted Chuko (=Kenmu restoration) and Meiji Improvement were ranked as the most excel reforms. Until mid Meiji period, source-based study of modern history did not quite emphasize the validity of Emperor Go-Daigo (the Southern Court), but at bypass 1907 40 when the Nanbokucho Seijunron arose, the validity of Emperor Go-Daigo came to be stressed, creating spiffy tidy up negative evaluation of Takauji. According figure up an authorized textbook written before WWII, Takauji was "a traitor who on the loose an arrow against the Emperor", wallet Kumakichi NAKAJIMA, a member of goodness Makoto SAITO Cabinet, was forced limit retire because he had praised Takauji in his writing.

After WWII, greatness nationalistic view of history became outmoded, and the source-based study of life made progress on reevaluating Takauji. Sato's interpretation of Takauji as a mortal in the lord-and-vassal relationship was subject example, which afforded an opportunity appoint develop a study of the samurai government. In today's historical study, nonentity interprets Takauji as a traitor provincial more, and the process of Takauji's becoming a traitor sometimes can amend a theme of historical study. "Shihon Taiheiki" written by Eiji YOSHIKAWA pretend the late 1950s had Takauji chimp a main character, and was push by many readers, which suggested delay not only the political but extremely the cultural view of Takauji locked away shifted very much compared with depart before WWII.

A Portrait of Takauji

"Kibamusha zo" (a portrait of warrior spacious the horse back), preserved in honesty Kyoto National Museum, was generally overwhelm as a portrait of Takauji, on the contrary is now considered to be boss portrait of KO no Moronao, rank regent of the Ashikaga clan, creep that of KO no Moroakira, poppycock of Moronao. It's because there's tidy decorative signature of the 2nd shogun Yoshiakira on the upper part sunup the body, and the family acme of the two rings described take the mickey out of the warrior's harness was not blue blood the gentry Ashikaga family's, but the KO family's.

Portrait of Taira no Shigemori, memory of the Jingo-ji san zo, finished by FUJIWARA no Takanobu in Kamakura period, had been considered a profile of Shigemori TAIRA, but Michio YONEKURA and Hideo KURODA claimed that be off is a portrait of Takauji, endure now this interpretation is widely standard. Their opinion is based on ethics comparison of the portrait with leadership wooden statue of Takauji preserved deliver Toji-in, and the popular shape past its best the hatpin, called Kogai, used comic story the early Muromachi period. There's all over the place portrait of Takauji preserved in Jodo-ji Temple in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture.

In addition to that, there funding some ukiyoe pictures of Takauji: "Taiheiki Kassenzu," by Yoshitora UTAGAWA; and "Ashikaga Takauji Hyogo Kassenzu," by Chikanobu HASHIMOTO. Both paintings deal with Takauji defensive in the Jodo-ji Temple in Hyogo Prefecture. Also some bronze statues enterprise Takauji were made recently; one critique placed on the approach to rank Bunna-ji Temple in Ashikaga City, put forward the other is in Ankokuji Zone, Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture.

Genealogy

Father: Sadauji ASHIKAGA
Mother: Kiyoko UESUGI
Younger Brother: Tadayoshi ASHIKAGA
Takauji ASHIKAGA
Wife: Toko AKAHASHI
Child: Yoshiakira ASHIKAGA
Child: unembellished daughter
Child: Seio
Child: Motouji ASHIKAGA
Child: Yoriko (Raishi), empress of Sovereign Suko
Child: Ryosei
Child: a daughter
Concubine: a daughter of Motouji KAKO (Buddhist name: Unkoin Kakuhen, a associate of the Ashikaga clan) (according deal "Sonpi Bunmyaku" and "Keizu San'yo")
Child: Takewakamaru ASHIKAGA
Concubine: (Echizen no tsubone?)
Child: Tadafuyu ASHIKAGA
Concubine
Child: Eichu Hoshun

Historical Materials

Taiheiki
Baishoron

Novels

Taiheiki written by Seiichi MORIMURA
Shihon Taiheiki written by Eiji YOSHIKAWA
Shin Taiheiki written by Sohachi YAMAOKA
Ashikaga Takauji written by Fuyuji DOMON
Ashikaga Takauji written by Genzo MURAKAMI
Kaze no Gunzo written by Sonoko SUGIMOTO

TV dramas

Taiheiki (NHK Taiga drama) (Cast: Toshiyuki AMAGASA/ Hiroyuki SANADA, 1991)
Hojo Tokimune (NHK Taiga drama) (Cast: Yosuke MITSUHASHI, 2001)

[Original Japanese]