The Ashikaga Shoguns as Quasi-Imperial Regents : The Relationship between Ashikaga Yoshimochi and the Enthronement First Fruits Ceremony

Abstract

This article discusses the policy towards the aristocracy adopted by the fourth shogun of the Muromachi Bakufu, Ashikaga Yoshimochi. The research done in the past regarding Yoshimochi tends to emphasize differences, even a clean break, with his father Yoshimitsu. Recently, however, there has been a shift or sorts towards continuation and similarity between the two shoguns. In the present article, the author argues that both similarities and differences could have existed between the two at the same time, and from that point of view attempts to identify what the son chose to inherit from his father and what he did not. Before his renunciation of the world (shukke 出家), Yoshimitsu always followed a personal regimen modeled after the precedents set by the Fujiwara imperial regents. On the other hand, he also took on duties never assumed by the Fujiwaras, such as director (Naiben 内弁) of the enthronement ceremony and a performer at imperial outings. Before entering the Buddhist priesthood, he put his headship of the Ashikaga family on a par with the heads of the five regent families, and when he did renounce the world, he put himself on a par with the similarly tonsured retired emperor. A member of the regency before his renunciation, a quasi-retired emperor after. Yoshimochi, on the other hand, did follow in his father's footsteps in representing the regency on various occasions, however, unlike his father he did not get involved in directing the enthronement ceremony nor performing before the emperor. In other words, he used the precedents set by his father only in establishing himself as an equal to the Fujiwara regents.