📖 Muromachi Period

The Muromachi period lasted from 1336 to 1573, spanning over 200 years. It was a long and tumultuous time filled with significant events. This period can be divided into two phases: the first half is known as the Nanboku-chō period, while the latter half is referred to as the Sengoku period. This article will trace the major events that occurred during the Muromachi period, as well as the flourishing culture and social landscape of the time.

The third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, gained power that surpassed that of the imperial court. The struggle for succession among the shogunate's generals embroiled various regional daimyōs in a civil war that lasted for 11 years, known as the "Ōnin War." The "Ōnin War" weakened the authority of both the shogunate and the daimyōs, leading to a series of uprisings by samurai and farmers. Powerful daimyōs across the country began to wage wars to seize territory, marking the beginning of the Sengoku period in Japanese history. Oda Nobunaga rapidly rose to power, supporting Ashikaga Yoshiaki's move to Kyoto and endorsing him as the 15th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. Oda Nobunaga then expelled Ashikaga Yoshiaki from Kyoto, leading to the fall of the Muromachi shogunate.