Rise of the Muromachi 1

The Muromachi (室町) era (1338-1573) has a dubious reputation when comparing other eras in Japan. At the same time, the Sengoku (戦国) era and the Azuchi-momoyama (安土桃山) era are quite popular, which are overlapping in the latter part of the Muromachi era. Why such difference exist? We can't put our fingers on it now. So, we would like to find the reason below.

The Myoshinji temple

Let us clarify the fact that in the era between Sengoku and Azuchi-momoyama, depressed mood in the Japanese history was changed and something energetic was flourished. 

If we dare to look for a comparison target, the Renaissance period in European countries would be. We believe its popularity is caused by the fact new energetic mood was flourished in this period. Furthermore,  we don't know in detail but the previous period might be unpopular.

Now, we would like to clarify a couple of reasons why the Muromachi era is unpopular. 

The first target is the abstruseness of the reasoning of the incidents happened during this era. 

Why the definitive events happened or why the current of Japan's history brought the Muromachi era after the Kamakura (鎌倉) shogunate? We suppose any researchers can't unravel the sealed book of the birth of this era. 

The second target is the confusing structural-outlines who battled against who. Right after this information, we would like to describe biographies of the main characters and opposite relationships. In this article, the main focus is there. 

The third target will be the lack of information about the war of this era. For example, preparation and progress of wars, ability and tactics. We know the war in this era was different from the war in the Sengoku era. Because we are more familiar with this information by looking at historical dramas or reading historical novels. However, we don't know the difference in detail. We would like to mention our ideas in the next article in the current schedule.

The shokokuji temple

Let's get started with the explanation of the confusing structural-outlines. Until a while ago, we learned like below. Before the beginning of the Muromachi era, there was the Nanbokucho (南北朝) era (the era of the Northern and Southern courts). And before the Nanbokucho era, there was the Kamakura era. However, we would like to mention there was no reality to the situation of the Nanbokucho era. 

In our understanding, there were the Kamakura era, chaotic time and the Muromachi era in sequential order. Firstly, there was the Kamakura era when the Kamakura shogunate had the politic power and govern the whole country. Secondly, there was a chaos when the person who had the politic power changed frequently. And finally, the Muromachi shogunate had the politic power and govern whole Japan. Then, we will describe the confusing structural-outlines at the beginning of the Muromachi era in sequential order.

The Muromachi era began at 1338 when Ashikaga Takauji (足利尊氏) was designated as the first shogun and established a new shogunate. We would like to call the year as "Muromachi 0." The Kamakura shogunate had been destroyed at 1333, "Muromachi -5." At this time, the Kamakura shogunate was governed by the Hojo family and the Ashikaga family was one of their subordinates.

At the same time the Emperor Godaigo (後醍醐天皇) who headed the Imperial Court in Kyoto struggled against the shogunate already for several years. The trigger of overthrowing of the regime was the betrayal of Ashikaga Takauji. This was namely Ashikaga Takauji turned over to the Emperor Godaigo side. And soon after the incident, Kamakura was attacked by the alliances' army and the Hoyo (北条) clan was killed there. Then the Kamakura shogunate was destroyed and the Emperor Godaigo took the politic power.

In this situation, the opposing structural-outline was the Hoyo clan versus the Emperor Godaigo. As to Asikaga Takauji, he belonged the Hoyo clan's side before 1333. And at 1333 he changed his situation to the Emperor Godaigo's side. It was very important for the victory of the Emperor Godaigo's side, however, Ashikaga Takauji was not allowed to be the shogun. At this point, he was only a subordinate of the Emperor.

History of this period was handed down by the Senki-mono (戦記物 = battle tales). Which was not a real history book but a story book in which many fiction were written. For that reason, it was difficult to make sense and several facts were distorted for fun of the story. People who were loyal to the Emperor Godaigo such as Kusunoki Masashige (楠木正成) and Nitta Yoshisada (新田義貞) were excessively highlighted.

On the contrary, Ashikaga Takauji was underestimated because he betrayed the Emperor Godaigo in the next situation. Even so, he had quite high historical-significanse. We have to notice and avoid this trap.

The Emperor Godaigo was the existence beyond human understanding for these historically famous people at that time. Ashikaga Takauji, Kusunoki Masashige, Nitta Yoshisada and other people always obeyed this imperial majesty. However, for Ashikaga Takauji, devotion with all his heart and soul was a wasted effort. Because the emperor neglected him. So he had no alteration except for betrayal.   

The Emperor Godaigo

The next opposing structural-outline was Ashikaga Takauji plus Ashikaga Tadayoshi (足利直義) versus the Emperor Godaigo. This situation started at 1335, "Muromachi -3." Around this time, Ashikaga Tadayoshi was noticed as a key person. He was a younger brother of Ashikaga Takauji and this brother began to fight their own battles from this time.

As the result of this confusing, Asikaga Takauji and Asikaga Tadayosi killed Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada who belonged on the Emperor Godaigo side. According to this result, the Emperor Godaigo left Kyoto (the center of the court) and moved to Yoshino (吉野) in Nara Pref. (奈良県).

Depending on this consequence, the other Emperor enthroned and dominated the court. However, the Emperor Godaigo still existed in Yoshino and continued his political action. So, there were two courts in Japan at this time. Historian named the situation, "Nanbokucho (the Northern court and the Southern court)." If we are particular about the details, the Nanbokucho started at 1336, "Muromachi -2."

The Emperor Godaigo died there at 1339, "Muromachi +1." His group continued their struggles against the administration of Ashikaga Takauji, however, the difference of the power was quite obvious.

Kono Moronao

The opposing structural-outline after that was Ashikaga Takauji plus Kono Moronao (高師直) versus Ashikaga Tadayoshi. This situation started at 1349, "Muromachi +11." Around this time, Kono Moronao was noticed as the next key person. He was the butler of the Ashikaga clan. However, we suppose the butler in the Japanese history and the one in Europian countries is different. In other words, he was the top retainer of the Ashikaga group.

In the previous year, his army fought against Kusunoki Masayuki (楠木正行)'s army. Kusunoki Masayuki was an important and high class warrior of the Emperor Godaigo's group. Kono Moronao's army won the battle and killed Kusunoki Masayuki, so, his position in the Muromachi shogunate was highly uplifted. 

Around this time, Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun appointed Tadayoshi as the administrator of full power. Several dissatisfied subordinates tied to Kono Moronao. Asikaga Takauji hoped to avoid the battle against his younger brother. All his hope was in vain, they began to conflict with each other.

At 1351, "Muromachi +13," Ashikaga Takauji and Kono Moronao allied forces fought against Ashikaga Tadayoshi's army. The allied forces were defeated. After that, Kono Moronao and his clan were killed.

The conflict continued further, and the next year, the position was reversed. Ashikaga Tadayoshi surrendered to Takauji and soon after that, he died (the cause of death isn't clear, maybe killed maybe died from illness). Ashikaga Takauji died at 1358, "Muromachi +20." His son, Ashikaga Yoshiakira (足利義詮) became the second shogun. After that, although the generation changed, the conflict between the Southern court and the Northern court continued until 1392, "Muromachi +54." 

As we mentioned above, there were three major conflicts. According to that result, the politic power who took over the reins of government was changed frequently. It's too difficult to catch up with the alterations. Furthermore, battle fields extended various places. For example, the eastern area such as Kamakura and base cities up through Kamakura. Dazaifu (大宰府) where was the administrative center of Kyusyu (九州) area and base cities up through Dazaifu. Moreover, the Tohoku (東北) area and Kii (紀伊) peninsula where the strong bases of the Emperor Godaigo group existed. 

We suppose the lack of stability and dynamism of the Muromachi shogunate caused the unpopularity of it. Because we expect such kind of things for something newly born.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

To close, we would like to compare the beginning of the Muromachi shogunate and political power during the Azuchi-momoyama era. During the later period, the three heroes, Oda Nobunaga (織田信長), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康)were active. At first, Oda Nobunaga destroyed the Muromachi shogunate. And after the death of him, Toyotomi Hideyoshi established his government. However, his government perished in one generation and Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo shogunate which lasted a long time. If we compare these two, it will be a little too much biased, however, we believe you will find something which we hope to report.

We will set the timing when Toyotomi Hideyoshi destroyed the Hojo clan, 1590 as "Momoyama 0." We will describe the history quickly below. At first, Oda Nobunaga destroyed the Muromachi shogunate at 1590, "Momoyama -17." And, he was killed by one of his retainers, Akechi Mitsuhide at 1582, "Momoyama -8." At 1582, "Momoyama -8," Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu battled directly. At 1586, "Momoyama -4," they became related by the marriage of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi's younger sister. Then Tokugawa Ieyasu became a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. 

We will overlap Oda Nobunaga and the Emperor Godaigo. And we believe that we get a deduction below. The Emperor Godaigo destroyed the previous government 5 years before the establishment of the next government which was established by Ashikaga Takauji. Oda Nobunaga destroyed the previous government 17 years before the establishment of the next government which was established by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Each of them disappeared in the short term and their successors flourished the new governments.

In the case of Ashikaga Takauji, he was disliked by the ruler of the previous government. And he unwillingly changed his situation to the opposite side. In the case of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, at first, there was the death of the ruler of the previous government. And he won the battle of the potential successors. So, in this comparison, there will be unreasonableness to gain a deduction. 

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Then, can we overlap someone to Tokugawa Ieyasu? There will be two people, Ashikaga Tadayosi or Kono Moronao. However, Ashikaga Tadayoshi was a younger brother of the rival, so, we will choose Kono Moronao. In the case of Tokugawa Ieyasu, he was very clever and he waited until his previous ruler died from illness. Toyotomi Hideyoshi died at 1598, "Momoyama +8." (Ashikaga Takauji lived until 1358, "Muromachi +20," so, Hideyoshi's ruling time was comparatively short.) And Tokugawa Ieyasu established his shogunate at 1603, "Momoyama +13."

On the contrary, Kono Moronao climbed the ladder and reached one step behind the success at 1351, "Muromachi +13." And he defeated and died then. From this consideration, we may get an outlandish deduction that finalists become active after the establishment of stop-gap authority. Because "after 13 years" matched by chance in this article. 

We described very high-handed measurement, but, we believe we have gotten the deduction below. 

Very popular Azuchi-momoyama era and very unpopular Muromachi era is not all that different. For example, composition of main characters, developments of important incidents and flows of historical progress. Such kind of things is quite similar.

Up to this point, we have considered our second guessing is correct or not. The guessing is that confusing structural-outlines who battled against who is the cause of unpopularity of this era. However, we have found the conclusion it wasn't true. So, we would like to consider our third guessing is correct or not in the next article.