Yoshiaki Ashikaga

The 15th Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate. Son of Yoshiharu. His mother was the daughter of former Kanpaku Konoe Hisamichi. Born in Kyoto on November 3, 6th year of Tenbun. He first entered Ichijo-in Temple at Kofuku-ji Temple, and later became a head priest there, taking the name Kakukei. In May 1565 (8th year of Eiroku), his elder brother Shogun Yoshiteru was assassinated, and he was placed under guard, but managed to escape. He arrived at the residence of Wada Koremasa in Omi, a member of the entourage, and requested cooperation from all quarters in the restoration of the Shogunate. In February 1566, he returned to secular life and took the name Yoshiaki. Later, he passed through Wakasa and sought the help of Asakura Yoshikage in Echizen. In April 1568, he came of age and changed his name to Yoshiaki. In July, he was welcomed by Oda Nobunaga, and in September he proceeded to Kyoto, becoming Seii Taishogun, Councillor, and Sakon-Egon no Chujo in October. In 1569, he began to take political action, such as attempting peace with Mori Motonari and Otomo Sorin, and Uesugi Terutora (Kenshin) and Takeda Shingen. In 1570 (Genki 1), Nobunaga presented a treaty restricting political actions, and at that point he made a pact with Shingen. In 1572, the encirclement of Nobunaga was completed, and the following year, in 1573 (Tensho 1), Azai Nagamasa, Asakura Yoshikage, and others were defeated and killed, but they still raised an army. He was driven from his position as Shogun by Nobunaga, and the Muromachi Shogunate was destroyed. Later, he moved to Kokoku-ji Temple in Yura, Kii. He devoted his life to restoring the Shogunate. In 1576, he moved to Bingo Tomo (Fukuyama City) and relied on the Mori clan. The Mori clan broke off relations with Nobunaga, and Ishiyama Hongan-ji also raised an army. Later, Nobunaga and the forces led by Yoshiaki fought and developed strategies. With the death of Uesugi Kenshin and the appearance of Nobunaga's iron ships, Hongan-ji was defeated. After Nobunaga's death, he asked Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi to return to Kyoto. Hideyoshi was adopted by Yoshiaki and wanted to become Shogun, but was refused. In 1588 (Tensho 16), he had already returned to Kyoto, became a monk, and became Shozan. He was later made one of the Three Empresses. He served at Nagoya Headquarters (Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture) during the Bunroku Invasion. He died in Osaka on August 28, 1602. His posthumous name was Reiyoin Shozan Dokyu. He was buried at Reiyoin Temple in Shokokuji, Kyoto.

[Takahiro Okuno]

"Ashikaga Yoshiaki" by Okuno Takahiro (1960, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

室町幕府第15代将軍。義晴(よしはる)の子。母は前関白近衛尚通(このえひさみち)の女(むすめ)。天文(てんぶん)6年11月3日京都に生まれる。初め興福寺一乗院に入り、のち同門跡(もんぜき)となり覚慶(かくけい)と号した。1565年（永禄8）5月兄将軍義輝(よしてる)が暗殺され、監視を受けるが脱出。供衆(ともしゅう)近江(おうみ)和田惟政(わだこれまさ)の館に到着、各方面に幕府復興の協力を要請。1566年2月還俗(げんぞく)し義秋(よしあき)と称した。のち若狭(わかさ)を経て越前(えちぜん)の朝倉義景(あさくらよしかげ)に頼る。1568年4月元服し義昭と改名。7月織田信長に迎えられ、9月京都に進み、10月征夷(せいい)大将軍、参議、左近衛権中将(さこんえごんのちゅうじょう)となる。1569年毛利元就(もうりもとなり)と大友宗麟(おおともそうりん)、上杉輝虎(うえすぎてるとら)（謙信(けんしん)）と武田信玄(たけだしんげん)との講和を図るなど政治的に動きだした。1570年（元亀1）信長が呈出した条書で政治行動を規制され、その時点で信玄と盟約。1572年信長に対する包囲網が完成し、翌1573年（天正1）浅井長政(あさいながまさ)、朝倉義景らは敗死するが挙兵。信長のため将軍の座を追われ、室町幕府は滅びた。のち紀伊由良(ゆら)の興国(こうこく)寺に移座。幕府の再興に一生を賭(か)ける。1576年備後鞆(びんごとも)（福山市）に移り、毛利氏に頼る。毛利氏は信長と断交し、石山本願寺も挙兵。のち信長と義昭を頂点とする勢力とが戦い、戦略を展開する。上杉謙信の死と信長の鉄船の出現で、本願寺は敗退。信長の死後は、羽柴(はしば)（豊臣(とよとみ)）秀吉に帰京を要請。秀吉は義昭の養子となり、征夷大将軍を望むが拒否される。1588年（天正16）すでに帰京し、出家して昌山。のち三后に准ぜられた。文禄(ぶんろく)の役(えき)に名護屋(なごや)本営（佐賀県唐津市）に従軍。慶長(けいちょう)2年8月28日大坂で死去。法号は霊陽院昌山道休。京都相国寺霊陽院に葬られる。

［奥野高広］

『奥野高広著『足利義昭』（1960・吉川弘文館）』

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