Ashikaga Takauji and Related Topics

Battle of Minatogawa

Battle of the Nanboku-chō Wars fought near the Minato River in Settsu Province (present day Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture) on 5 July 1336.

The Imperial forces loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo led by Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada attempted to intercept the Ashikaga forces led by Ashikaga Takauji in Settsu.

Muromachi period

Division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573.

Muromachi-era illustration to a fictional narrative

Music scene during the Muromachi period (1538)

Nanban ships arriving for trade in Japan. 16th-century painting.

A Japanese votive altar, Nanban style. End of 16th century. Guimet Museum.

The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (Muromachi bakufu or Ashikaga bakufu), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shōgun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kenmu Restoration (1333–1336) of imperial rule was brought to a close.

Kitabatake Chikafusa

Japanese court noble and writer of the 14th century who supported the Southern Court in the Nanboku-cho period, serving as advisor to five Emperors.

In particular, he disliked Ashikaga Takauji, the first Ashikaga shogun, who had originally supported Go-Daigo's claim to the Throne, but who ultimately headed the Northern Court and sought to destroy all who supported the Emperor's Southern Court.

Kitabatake Akiie

Japanese court noble, and an important supporter of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō Wars.

Three years later, he led an army nominally under the command of Norinaga to the outskirts of Kyoto to reinforce the forces of Nitta Yoshisada against Ashikaga Takauji.

Kō no Moroyasu

Kō no Moroyasu (高師泰) was one of the leading generals of Shōgun Ashikaga Takauji during the Nanboku-chō period, along with his brother Moronao and his cousin Morofuyu.

The Imperial seats during the Nanboku-chō period were in relatively close proximity, but geographically distinct. They were conventionally identified as:

Bunna

Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. year name) of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kannō and before Enbun. This period spanned the years from September 1352 through March 1356.

This illegitimate Northern Court (北朝) had been established in Kyoto by Ashikaga Takauji.

Emperor Go-Kōgon

The 4th of the Emperors of Northern Court during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts.

Japanese Imperial kamon — a stylized chrysanthemum blossom

In 1351, Ashikaga Takauji briefly returned to the allegiance of the Southern Dynasty, causing the Southern Court to briefly consolidate control of the Imperial Line.

Japan

Island country in East Asia.

Samurai warriors battling Mongols during the Mongol invasions of Japan, depicted in the

Japan's imperial ambitions ended on September 2, 1945, with the country's surrender to the Allies.

Mount Fuji in Spring, view from Arakurayama Sengen Park

Autumn maple leaves at Kongōbu-ji on Mount Kōya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Japan is a member of both the G7 and the G20.

A rice paddy in Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture

A plug-in hybrid car manufactured by Toyota. Japan is the third-largest maker of motor vehicles in the world.

The Japanese Experiment Module (Kibō) at the International Space Station

Japan Airlines, the flag carrier of Japan

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant

The Greater Tokyo Area is ranked as the most populous metropolitan area in the world.

The torii of Itsukushima Shinto Shrine near Hiroshima

Students celebrating after the announcement of the results of the entrance examinations to the University of Tokyo

12th-century illustrated handscroll of The Tale of Genji, a National Treasure

Young ladies celebrate Coming of Age Day (成人の日) in Harajuku, Tokyo

Sumo wrestlers form around the referee during the ring-entering ceremony

Go-Daigo was defeated by Ashikaga Takauji in 1336, beginning the Muromachi period (1336–1573).

Samurai

Samurai (侍) were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876.

Kofun period helmet, gilt copper, 5th century, Ise Province

In the noh drama Sanjō Kokaji, the 10th-century blacksmith Munechika, aided by a kitsune (fox spirit), forges the tachi (samurai sword) Ko-Gitsune Maru.

Samurai on horseback, wearing ō-yoroi armor, carrying a bow (yumi) and arrows in an yebira quiver

Samurai ō-yoroi armor, Kamakura period. Tokyo National Museum.

Men and women engaged in battle (16th century illustration).

Samurai of the Shōni clan gather to defend against Kublai Khan's Mongolian army during the first Mongol Invasion of Japan, 1274

Samurai Takezaki Suenaga of the Hōjō clan (right) defeating the Mongolian invasion army (left) at the Battle of Torikai-Gata, 1274

Samurai boarding ships of the Second Mongolian invasion fleet, killing the Mongolian soldiers aboard, 1281.

Himeji Castle, built from 1333 by the samurai Akamatsu Norimura of the Akamatsu clan.

A hatomune dou from the 16th century, the historic armor was once used by Kenshin Uesugi, one of the most powerful daimyōs of the Sengoku period.

Korean and Chinese soldiers assault the Japanese-built fortress at Ulsan during the Japanese invasions of Korea, 1597

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who would later command the invasion of Korea, leads a small group assaulting the castle on Mount Inaba. Print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

The Battle of Sekigahara, known as "Japan's decisive battle" (天下分け目の戦い, Tenka wakeme no tatakai'')

Samurai were the ruling class during the Tokugawa shogunate.

Kamei Koremi, a samurai and daimyō in the bakumatsu period

A studio photograph of a samurai, taken by Italian–British photographer Felice Beato, c. 1860

Iinuma Sadakichi, a Japanese samurai of the Aizu domain. He was the sole survivor of the famous group of young Byakkotai soldiers who committed suicide on Iimori Hill during the Battle of Aizu.

Samurai holding a severed head. After a battle, enemy's heads were collected and presented to the daimyo.

General Akashi Gidayu preparing to perform Seppuku after losing a battle for his master in 1582. He had just written his death poem.

Painting of Ōishi Yoshio performing seppuku, 1703

Edo-period screen depicting the Battle of Sekigahara. It began on 21 October 1600 with a total of 160,000 men facing each other.

Kōan Ogata, a samurai, physician and rangaku scholar in late Edo period Japan, noted for establishing an academy which later developed into Osaka University.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi with his wives and concubines.

Tomoe Gozen by Shitomi Kangetsu, ca. 18th century

Gyokusen-en, Japanese garden made by a Korean samurai Wakita Naokata and his descendants.

1890s photo showing a variety of armor and weapons typically used by samurai

Mounted samurai with horse armour (uma yoroi or bagai)

Kamakura samurai beheading (head collection)

Statue of samurai Kusunoki Masashige stationed outside Tokyo Imperial Palace.

Kasuga no Tsubone fighting robbers - Adachi Ginko (c.1880)

Japanese woman preparing for ritual suicide

Yuki no Kata defending Anotsu castle. 18th century

Cross sections of Japanese sword lamination methods.

Samurai with various armor and weapons, c. 1802-1814

Reenactors with Tanegashima at Himeji Castle Festival

Japanese arrow stand with a pair of Yumi bows.

Ō-yoroi, Kamakura period, 13th-14th century, Kasuga Grand Shrine, National Treasure

Dō-maru with Black and White Lacing. Muromachi period, 15th century, Tokyo National Museum, Important Cultural Property

Toyotomi Hidetsugu's gusoku armour, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th-17th century, Suntory Museum of Art

Karuta tatami dō gusoku, Edo period. A lightweight portable folding (tatami) armour made from small square or rectangle armor plates called karuta. The karuta are usually connected to each other by chainmail and sewn to a cloth backing.

A re-creation of an armored samurai riding a horse, showing horse armour (uma yoroi or bagai).

Shell-shaped cask (Oitaragainari kawari kabuto), iron and papier-mâché for the shell, beginning of the Edo Period.

Face guard (Menpō). Edo period. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.

Musō Soseki (1275–1351) was a Zen monk who was advisor to both Emperor Go-Daigo and General Ashikaga Takauji (1304–58).

Kanrei

High political post in feudal Japan; it is usually translated as shōguns deputy.

Following the fall of the Kamakura shogunate, and abolition of the Rokuhara Tandai position, Ashikaga Takauji created the post of Kantō Kanrei, or Shogun's Deputy in the East (Kantō generally refers to the area around and including modern Tokyo).