Ashikaga Takauji

Ashikaga Takauji
足利 尊氏
Shōgun of Ashikaga shogunate
In office
1338–1358
Monarchs
Preceded byPrince Narinaga (Kenmu Restoration)
Succeeded byAshikaga Yoshiakira
Personal details
BornAugust 18, 1305
Uesugi-shō, Ayabe, Kyoto, or
Kamakura, Kanagawa,or
Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan
DiedJune 7, 1358(1358-06-07) (aged 52)
Masuya-chō, Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Relations
Children
Parents
Signature
Military service
AllegianceMinamoto clan (Seiwa Genji)
Branch/serviceAshikaga clan
Portrait traditionally identified as that of Ashikaga Takauji

Ashikaga Takauji (足利 尊氏, August 18, 1305 – June 7, 1358)[1] was the founder and first shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate.[2] His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358.[3] 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.[4] Second, he was merciful and tolerant.[4] Third, he was very generous with those below him.[4]

  1. ^ 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 Ō-gosho (大御所, Great shōgun) or Dainagon (Great Councillor).
  2. ^ "Ashikaga Takauji" in The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625.
  3. ^ "Ashikaga Takauji". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  4. ^ a b c Matsuo (1997:105)

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