Tanzaku by Ashikaga Yoshinori 足利義教筆短冊アシカガヨシノリヒツタンザク

Description

Ashikaga Yoshinori (1394-1441) was the sixth shogun of the Muromachi military government. He was the fourth son of the third shogun, Yoshimitsu, and was the younger brother of the fourth shogun, Yoshimochi. After he became a monk, he went to reside at Shoren-In and took the name Gien. In 1419, he was appointed Archbishop at Tendai Temple. However, when the fifth shogun, Yoshikazu, died without an heir (1425), top-ranking officers of the military government drew a lottery and decided Yoshinori to be the next shogun (1428). Thereupon, the monk returned to secular life and took up a new name, Yoshinobu. When he was sworn in as the new shogun in 1429, he changed his name again, this time to Yoshinori. His administration of harsh dictatorship bred discontent and dissatisfaction among local lords. As a result, he was assassinated by Akamatsu Mitsusuke (1381-1441) in 1441 in what is called the Kakitsu Rebellion.Yoshinori was fond of waka and held many military-hosted poetry parties, especially after 1428 when he was selected to be the successor to shogun. In the compilation of the Shin Shoku Kokin Wakashu (New Sequel to the Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poems ), he suggested that Asukai Masayo (1390-1452) be commissioned to head the selection party. Eighteen poems of Yoshinori’s writing are included in the said anthology. The tanzaku featured here uses deluxe cloud-patterned paper decorated with mica and gold dust, which depict spring mist, clouds, an embankment, herbs, and flowers. Contrary to his fiery temper, Yoshinori wrote with an elegant and an aristocratic touch, as seen in this poem.