:Ashikaga Takauji

{{Short description|First shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate of Japan (1305–1358)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Ashikaga Takauji

| native_name = {{lang|ja|足利尊氏}}

| image = Ashikaga Takauji Jōdo-ji.jpg

| office = Shōgun of Ashikaga shogunate

| term_start = 1338

| term_end = 1358

| monarch = {{Plainlist|

Go-Daigo
Go-Murakami}}

| predecessor = Prince Narinaga {{small|(Kenmu Restoration)}}

| successor = Ashikaga Yoshiakira

| children = {{plainlist|

Ashikaga Yoshiakira
Ashikaga Motouji
{{ill|Tazuō|ja|鶴王|vertical-align=sup}}
Ashikaga Takewakamaru

}}

| parents = {{Plainlist|

{{ill|Ashikaga Sadauji|ja|足利貞氏|vertical-align=sup}}
{{ill|Uesugi Kiyoko|ja|上杉清子|vertical-align=sup}}}}

| relations = {{Plainlist|

Ashikaga Takayoshi (older brother)
Ashikaga Tadayoshi (younger brother)}}

| birth_date = August 18, 1305

| birth_place = Uesugi-shō, Ayabe, Kyoto or
Kamakura, Kanagawa, or
Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan

| death_date = {{death date and age|1358|06|7|1305|08|18}}

| death_place = Masuya-chō, Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan

| signature = Kaō of Ashikaga Takauji.svg

| nationality =

| allegiance = Minamoto clan (Seiwa Genji)

| branch = Ashikaga clan

| country = Japan

| citizenship =

}}

{{nihongo|Ashikaga Takauji{{efn|{{IPA|ja|a.ɕi̥.kaꜜ.ɡa | ta.kaꜜ.ɯ.(d)ʑi, -kaꜜ.ŋa-, a.ɕi̥.ka.ɡa ta.kaꜜ.ɯ.(d)ʑi, -ka.ŋa-}}{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}{{cite book|script-title=ja:新明解日本語アクセント辞典|edition=2nd|editor-last=Kindaichi|editor-first=Haruhiko|editor-link=Haruhiko Kindaichi|editor-last2=Akinaga|editor-first2=Kazue|publisher=Sanseidō|date=10 March 2025|lang=ja}}}}|足利尊氏||August 18, 1305 – June 7, 1358}}His name had originally been written with the characters 高氏，but he later received from Emperor Go-Daigo the right to use those 尊氏, under which he would become famous. According to Sansom (1977:87), in contemporary chronicles he is rarely called with his name, but referred to as {{nihongo|Ō-gosho|大御所|Great shōgun}} or Dainagon (Great Councillor). also known as Minamoto no Takauji was the founder and first shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate."Ashikaga Takauji" in The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Japan |title=Ashikaga Takauji |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-06-03 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |oclc=56431036 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25}} He was a male-line descendant of the samurai of the (Minamoto) Seiwa Genji line (meaning they were descendants of Emperor Seiwa) who had settled in the Ashikaga area of Shimotsuke Province, in present-day Tochigi Prefecture.

According to Zen master and intellectual Musō Soseki, who enjoyed his favor and collaborated with him, Takauji had three qualities. First, he kept his cool in battle and was not afraid of death.Matsuo (1997:105) Second, he was merciful and tolerant. Third, he was very generous with those below him.

Life

File:Armor (Yoroi) MET DT784.jpg (shoulder guards, missing here). Kamakura or Muromachi period, early 14th century, Metropolitan Museum of Art|250x250px]]

His childhood name was Matagorō (又太郎). Takauji was a general of the Kamakura shogunate sent to Kyoto in 1333 to put down the Genkō War which had started in 1331. After becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Kamakura shogunate over time, Takauji joined the banished Emperor Go-Daigo and Kusunoki Masashige, and seized Kyoto. Soon after, Nitta Yoshisada joined their cause, and laid siege to Kamakura. When the city fell to Nitta, the Shogunal 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-called Kenmu Restoration.{{rp|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 the Heian period. Sensing their discontent, Takauji pleaded with the emperor to do something before rebellion would break out, however his warnings were ignored.{{Cite book |last=Sansom |first=George |title=A History of Japan, 1334–1615 |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=1961 |isbn=0804705259 |page=34}}

Hōjō Tokiyuki, son of Takatoki, took the opportunity to start the Nakasendai 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 of Sei-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.{{rp|37–39}}

File:Toujiin AshikagaTakauji haka.jpg in Kyoto]]Takauji defeated Yoshisada in the battles of Sanoyama and Mishima. This cleared the path for Takauji and Tadayoshi to march on to Kyoto.{{rp|39–41}} He captured Kyoto for a few days in February 1336, only to be driven out and fled to Kyūshū due to the arrival of forces under Prince Takanaga, Prince Norinaga, Kitabatake Akiie and Yūki Munehiro.{{rp|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 the Kikuchi clan at Hakata Bay in the Battle of Tatarahama (1336), Takauji was "virtually master of Kyushu".{{attribution needed|date=May 2016}}{{rp|44–47}} His brother advanced simultaneously by land and both reached the environs of present-day Kobe in July.{{rp|48–50}}

At the decisive Battle of Minatogawa in 1336, Takauji defeated Yoshisada again and killed Masashige, allowing him to seize Kyoto for good. Emperor Kōmyō of the illegitimate Northern Court (see below) was installed as emperor by Takauji in opposition to the exiled Southern Court, beginning the turbulent Northern and Southern Court period (Nanbokuchō), which saw two emperors fight each other and which would last for almost 60 years.{{Cite book |last=Turnbull |first=Stephen |title=The Samurai, A Military History |publisher=MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. |year=1977 |isbn=0026205408 |pages=102–103}}

Besides other honors, Emperor Go-Daigo had given Takauji the title of Chinjufu-shōgun, or Commander-in-chief of the Defense of the North, and the courtly title of the Fourth Rank, Junior Grade.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). {{Google books|18oNAAAAIAAJ|Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 290.|page=290}} His Buddhist name was Tojiinden Niyama Myogi dai koji Chojuji-dono (等持院殿仁山妙義大居士長寿寺殿).

Family

Parents and siblings

Father: Ashikaga Sadauji (足利貞氏; 1273–1331)
Mother: Uesugi Kiyoko (上杉清子; 1270–1343)
Siblings:
Half-siblings: Ashikaga Takayoshi (足利高義; 1297–1317)
Natural Siblings: Ashikaga Tadayoshi (足利直義; 1307–1352)

Consorts and issue:

Wife: Akahashi Toshi (赤橋登子; 1306 – 4 May 1365)
Son: Ashikaga Yoshiakira (足利義詮; July 4, 1330 – December 28, 1367)
Son: Ashikaga Motouji (足利基氏) (1340–1367)
Daughter: Tazuō (鶴王; d.1353)
Concubine: Kako no Tsubone
Son: Ashikaga Takewakamaru (足利竹若丸; d. 1333)eldest son
Concubine: Echizen no Tsubone (越前局)
Illegitimate son: Ashikaga Tadafuyu (足利直冬; 1327–1387, Ashikaga Tadayoshi's adopted son)
Concubine Unknown name
Daughter: Unknown name (d. 2 October 1342)
Son: Seiōmaru (聖王丸; d. 1 August 1345)
Daughter: Ashikaga Tadayoshi's adopted daughter (d.14 October 1347)
Daughter: Unknown name
Son: Eichu Hoshin (英仲法俊; d. 26 February 1416)

Family tree

{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | man | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | man=40px
"Hachimantarō" Yoshiie}}

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{{Tree chart| | cka | | | | | | | | | | kni | | | | | | | |kni=40px
Minamoto no Yoshikuni|cka=40px
Minamoto no Yoshichika|nri=40px
Minamoto no Yoshinari}}

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{{chart|border=0|boxstyle=background:#dfd;| | |!| | | | | nit | | | | | | | | | | | | aga | | |aga=Ashikaga clan|nit=Nitta clan}}

{{Tree chart| | tme | | | | nit | | | | | | | | | | | | ysu | | |ysu=40px 25px
Ashikaga Yoshiyasu|nit=40px 25px
Nitta Yoshishige|tme=40px
Minamoto no Tameyoshi}}

{{Tree chart| | |!| | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|.| | |}}

{{chart|border=0|boxstyle=background:#dfd;| | |!| | | |!| | | ymn | | | | | | |!| | | | | | |!|ymn=Yamana clan}}

{{Tree chart| | ysi | | kan | | ymn | | | | | | kne | | | | | yta |kne=25px
Ashikaga Yoshikane|ysi=40px
Minamoto no Yoshitomo|kan=25px
Nitta Yoshikane|ymn=25px
Yamana Yoshinori|yta=40px
Minamoto no Yoshikiyo}}

{{Tree chart| | |!| | | |:| | | |:| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | |!|}}

{{Tree chart| | yri | | |:| | | | | | | | | | | yji | | | | | hro | |yri=40px
Minamoto no Yoritomo|yji=25px
Ashikaga Yoshiuji|hro=Hirosawa Yoshizane}}

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{{chart|border=0|boxstyle=background:#dfd;| | | | | | |:| | | | | | | | |!| | | | | kir | | hos |kir=Kira clan|hos=Hosokawa clan}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | |:| | | | | | | | yas | | | | osa | | hos |yas=25px
Ashikaga Yasuuji|osa=25px
Kira Osauji|hos=25px
Hosokawa Yoshisue}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | |:| | | | | | | | |!| | | |,|-|^|-|.| |:| |}}

{{chart|border=0|boxstyle=background:#dfd;| | | | | | |:| | ues | | | | |!| | | |!| | | ima | ima=Imagawa clan|ues=Uesugi clan}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | |:| | fsa | | | | yri | | mit | | kni | | |kni=25px
Imagawa Kuniuji|mit=25px
Kira Mitsuuji|yri=25px
Ashikaga Yoriuji|fsa=25px
Uesugi Shigefusa}}{{Tree chart| | | | | | |:| | |!| | | | | |!| | | |:| | | |:| |}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | |:| | sge | | | | iet | | | | | |iet=25px
Ashikaga Ietoki|sge=25px
Uesugi Yorishige}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | |:| | kiy |~|y|~| sda | | | hjo | | | | | | | | | | |sda=25px
Ashikaga Sadauji|kiy=25px
Uesugi Kiyoko|hjo=25px
Hojō Hisatoki}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | nit | | | | tka |~|y|~| toh | | hjo | | tka=25px
Ashikaga Takauji|nit=25px
Nitta Yoshisada|toh=25px
Akahashi Tōshi|hjo=25px
Hōjō Moritoki}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | aki | | |aki=25px
Ashikaga Yoshiakira}}

Timeline of shogunate

Significant events which shaped the period during which Takauji was shōgun are:

1338 – Takauji appointed shōgun.Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982) Lessons from History: the Tokushi Yoron, p. 329.
1349 – Go-Murakami flees to A'no; Ashikaga Tadayoshi and Kō no Moronao quarrel; Ashikaga Motouji, son of Takauji, appointed Kamakura Kanrei
1350 – Tadayoshi, excluded from administration, turns priest; Tadayoshi's adopted son, Ashikaga Tadafuyu is wrongly repudiated as a rebel.Historiographical Institute: [http://www.hi.u-tokyo.ac.jp/IRIKI/ETXT/eng_text98.html "Ashikaga Tadafuyu's Call to Arms"], Dai Nihon shi-ryō, VI, xiv, 43.
1351–1358 – Struggle for Kyoto.
1351 – Tadayoshi joins Southern Court, southern army takes Kyoto; truce, Takauji returns to Kyoto; Tadayoshi and Takauji reconciled; Kō no Moronao and Kō no Moroyasu are exiled.
1352 – Tadayoshi dies, Southern army recaptures Kyoto; Nitta Yoshimune captures Kamakura; Ashikaga forces recapture Kamakura and Kyoto; Tadafuyu joins Southern Court; Yamana Tokiuji joins Tadafuyu.
1353 – Kyoto retaken by Southern forces under Yamana Tokiuji; retaken by Ashikaga forces.
1354 – Takauji flees with Go-Kōgon; Kitabatake Chikafusa dies.
1355 – Kyoto taken by Southern army; Kyoto retaken by Ashikaga forces.
1358 – Takauji dies.Titsingh, {{Google books|18oNAAAAIAAJ|p. 304.|page=304}}

Takauji's son Ashikaga Yoshiakira succeeded him as shōgun after his death. His grandson Ashikaga Yoshimitsu united the Northern and Southern courts in 1392.

Eras of Takauji's ''bakufu''

Because of the anomalous situation, which he had himself created and which saw two Emperors reign simultaneously, one in Yoshino and one in Kyoto, the years in which Takauji was shōgun as reckoned by the Gregorian calendar are identified in Japanese historical records by two different series of Japanese era names (nengō), that following the datation used by the legitimate Southern Court and that formulated by the pretender Northern Court.Titsingh, {{Google books|18oNAAAAIAAJ|pp. 290–304.|page=290}}

Eras as reckoned by the Southern Court (declared legitimate by a Meiji era decree because in possession at the time of the Japanese Imperial Regalia):

Engen (1336–1340)
Kōkoku (1340–1346)
Shōhei (1346–1370)

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):

Ryakuō (1338–1342)
Kōei (1342–1345)
Jōwa (1345–1350)
Kan'ō or Kannō (1350–1352)
Bunna (1352–1356)
Enbun (1356–1361)

Literary references

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 epic Taiheiki.

Honours

Junior First Rank (9 July 1358; posthumous)

In popular culture

The 29th NHK Taiga drama "Taiheiki" depicted the life of Takauji.
He features in the manga The Elusive Samurai as the primary antagonist.

Notes

References

Sources

Ackroyd, Joyce I. (1982) Lessons from History: the Tokushi Yoron. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. {{ISBN|9780702214851}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7574544 OCLC 7574544]
Matsuo, Kenji. (1997). 中世都市鎌倉をく: 源頼朝から上杉謙信まで (Chūsei toshi Kamakura o aruku: Minamoto no Yoritomo kara Uesugi Kenshin made). Tokyo: Chūkō Shinsho. {{ISBN|9784121013927}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38970710 OCLC 38970710]
Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran; ou, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran Annales des empereurs du Japon.] Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5850691 OCLC 585069]

External links

{{s-ttl | title = Shōgun:
Ashikaga Takauji | years = 1338–1358}}

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Category:1358 deaths

Category:14th-century Japanese people

Category:14th-century shōguns

Category:Minamoto clan

Takauji

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Takauji

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Category:People of Kamakura-period Japan

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