🗺️ Ashikaga School足利学校

The Ashikaga School is regarded as the oldest school in Japan and was designated as a national historical heritage site in 1922. There are various theories regarding the founding of Ashikaga School, and there is still no definitive conclusion. The main theories include the idea that it was established during the Nara period (710–794) as a national learning institution, the claim that it was founded by Ono no Takamura in 832, and the theory that Ashikaga Yoshikane opened a school within the temple while constructing the Banna-ji temple in the early Kamakura period (1185–1333). However, there are clear historical records of Ashikaga School during the mid-Muromachi period (1336–1573). Uesugi Noritane, who served as the Kanto shogunate at the time, donated valuable books, including the "Four Classics" from Confucius' "Five Classics" of Confucianism, and invited the renowned monk Kigen from Enkaku-ji in Kamakura to serve as the first headmaster to reorganize the Confucian school. At its peak, Ashikaga School achieved a remarkable record of over three thousand students. In 1549, Jesuit missionary Francisco de Xavier introduced Ashikaga School overseas, calling it "the largest and most famous university in Banto, Japan." Ashikaga School has three gates. The one shown in the picture is the second gate, "School Gate." By the end of the Edo period, Ashikaga School concluded its historical mission as "the university of Banto," officially closing in 1872. After the school closed, many benevolent individuals initiated a series of movements to preserve the school’s ruins. As a symbol and spiritual support of the hometown, Ashikaga School has always been closely related to the lives of local residents. In 1990, the restoration project of Ashikaga School was fully completed, with some buildings and gardens restored to their mid-Edo period appearance, and it was recognized as a Japanese heritage site in 2015. The facility contains many buildings that are well worth visiting, including the "Hōjō," where classes were held and various ceremonies took place. Today, this ancient school is open to the public, allowing visitors to experience the classroom environment of the past. Every Sunday, a "Analects" recitation experience course is held, where participants can loudly recite Confucius' work, the "Analects." Visitors can also receive a commemorative enrollment certificate at the window. Be sure to include a visit to the Japanese heritage site of Ashikaga School in your travel itinerary to experience the charm of this ancient school. Let's take a look at the beautiful garden that recreates the scenery of the past!