Yoshimitsu Ashikaga
Third shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate; achieved the pinnacle of success in ruling over court nobles and the warrior class; built Kinkaku Temple
1358–1408
Yoshimitsu Ashikaga was the third shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate, active in this role from 1368 to 1394. He was the son of Yoshiakira Ashikaga, the second shogun, and Yoshiko Kino, the great-great grandchild of Emperor Juntoku. His childhood name was Haruo. He was appointed shogun in 1368, and Yoriyuki Hosokawa, who served in the post of kanrei (shogun’s deputy), was his long-time aide. In 1378 Yoshimitsu completed the Muromachi Palace, also known as Hana no Gosho, which served as the Shogunate’s government offices. The name of the Muromachi Shogunate derives from the palace name. Yoriyuki’s loss of his position led to an accumulation of power in the hands of the shogun, and the Mino, Meitoku, and Oei rebellions weakened the influential military governors such as the Toki clan, Yamana clan, and Ouchi clan. Yoshimitsu also demonstrated his effectiveness in his relationship with the Imperial court and court nobles, even resolving the schism between the Northern and Southern courts. After the death of Emperor Go-enyu, who opposed Yoshimitsu, he solidified his power base and reached the pinnacle of Ashikaga power among both court nobles and the warrior class. In 1394 Yoshimitsu passed the position of shogun on to Yoshimochi Ashikaga, but continued to exercise actual power. The following year, he retired and entered the priesthood, taking the Buddhist name Dogi. Wishing to restore relations with the Ming dynasty, in 1401 he sent an embassy to China, where he was given the title King of Japan by the Jianwen emperor as part of the Chinese tributary system. This was the start of Japan-Ming trade under the guise of tribute to the Ming emperor. Yoshimitsu carried out a coming-of-age ceremony for his second son, Yoshitsugu, with Yasuko Hino, Yoshimitsu’s principal consort, given the status of adoptive mother. He built the mountain villa Kitayama Palace in Kitayama, Kyoto, and then built Kinkaku (reliquary hall) for his residence. The culture of this era, Kitayama Culture, takes its name from Kitayama Palace.
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鎌倉時代の公卿、西園寺公経の別荘を足利義満が譲り受け、山荘北山殿を造ったのが始まり。金閣を中心とした庭園・建築は極楽浄土をこの世にあらわしたと言われる。義満の死後、遺言により寺となり、義満の法号鹿苑院殿から二字をとって鹿苑寺と名づけられた。
足利義満が設けた「花の御所」についての解説。京都市によるサイト。






