Ashikaga Yoshimitsu

Kinkaku, the Golden Pavilion at Kinkaku-ji, originated as the villa of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (足利 義満^?, September 25, 1358 – May 31, 1408) was the 3rd shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who ruled from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was the son of the second shogun Ashikaga Yoshiakira.^[1]

"The principal beneficiary of these achievements [the solid political and economic standing of the Muromachi Bakufu] was the adult Yoshimitsu, who assumed power in his own right upon the forced resignation of Hosokawa Yoriyuki in 1379" - The Ōnin War - H. Paul Varley: Page 58

"The adult Yoshimitsu dominated Bakufu politics for nearly 30 years, from 1379 until his death in 1408." - The Ōnin War - H. Paul Varley: Page 61

In the year after the death of his father Yoshiakira in 1367, Yoshimitsu became Seii Taishogun at age 11.^[2]

Significant events shape the period during which Yoshimitsu was shogun:

• 1368 – Yoshimitsu appointed shogun; Chōkei ascends southern throne.^[3]
• 1369 – Kusunoki Masanori defects to Ashikaga.^[3]
• 1370 – Imagawa Sadayo sent to subdue Kyushu.^[3]
• 1371 – Attempts to arrange truce.^[3]
• 1373–1406 – Embassies between China and Japan.^[3]
• 1374 – En'yū ascends northern throne.^[3]
• 1378 – Yoshimitsu builds the Muromachi palace in Kyoto's elite district of Kamigyo, on the site of the former residence of the nobleman Saionji Sanekane.^[4]
• 1379 – Shiba Yoshimasa becomes Kanrei.^[3]
• 1380 – Kusunoki Masanori rejoins Kameyama; southern army suffers reverses.^[3]
• 1382 – Go-Komatsu ascends northern throne; resurgence of southern army.^[3]
• 1383 – Yoshimitsu's honors; Go-Kameyama ascends southern throne.^[3]
• 1385 – Southern army defeated at Koga.^[3]
• 1387–1389 – Dissension in Toki family in Mino.^[3]
• 1389 – Yoshimitsu pacifies Kyūshū and distributes lands; Yoshimitsu opposed by Kamakura kanrei Ashikaga Ujimitsu.^[3]
• 1390 – Kusunoki defeated; Yamana Ujikiyo chastises Tokinaga.^[3]
• 1391 – Yamana Ujikyo attacks Kyoto – Meitoku War.^[5]
• 1392 – Northern and Southern courts reconciled under Go-Komatsu.^[5]
• 1394 – Yoshimitsu officially cedes his position to his son;^[6] Ashikaga Yoshimochi appointed shogun.^[5]
• 1396 – Imagawa Sadayo dismissed.^[5]
• 1397 – Uprising in Kyūshū suppressed.^[5]
• 1398 – Muromachi administration organized.^[5]
• 1399 – Ōuchi Yoshihiro and Ashikaga Mitsukane rebel – Ōei War.^[5]
• 1402 – Uprising in Mutsu suppressed.^[5]
• 1404 – Yoshimitsu is crowned Nippon Koku-Ō (King of Japan) by Emperor Yongle of China.
• 1408 – Yoshimitsu dies.^[5]

Muromachi[link]

Yoshimitsu constructed his residence in the Muromachi section in the capital of Kyoto in 1378. As a result, in Japanese, the Ashikaga shogunate and the corresponding time period are often referred to as the Muromachi shogunate and Muromachi period.^[7]

Yoshimitsu resolved the rift between the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392, when he persuaded Go-Kameyama of the Southern Court to hand over the Imperial Regalia to Emperor Go-Komatsu of the Northern Court. Yoshimitsu's greatest political achievement was that he managed to bring about the end to Nanboku-cho fighting. This event had the effect of firmly establishing the authority of the Muromachi shogunate and suppressing the power of the regional age daimyo who might challenge that central authority.^[8]

Although Yoshimitsu retired in 1394 and his son was confirmed as the fourth shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi, the old shogun didn't abandon any of his powers. Yoshimitsu continued to maintain authority over the shogunate until his death.^[9]

Yoshimitsu also played a major role in the genesis of Noh theatre, as the patron of Zeami Motokiyo, the actor considered to be Noh's founder. His close relationship with Zeami was not only based on his appreciation of Zeami's aesthetic sensibilities but also on the fact that Yoshimitu, known as an enthusiastic practitioner of Shudo, or Samurai pederasty, was infatuated with the young Zeami and took the young man as his lover.

Yoshimitsu died suddenly in 1408^[9] at age 50.^[10] After his death, his retirement villa (near Kyoto) became Rokuon-ji, which today is famous for its three-storied, gold-leaf covered reliquary known as "Kinkaku." So famous is this single structure, in fact, that the entire temple itself is often identified as the Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. A statue of Yoshimitsu is found there today.^[11]

[edit] Eras of Yoshimitsu's bakufu

The years in which Yoshimitsu was shogun are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.^[12] Nanboku-chō southern court

• Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript):
  • Shōhei (1346–1370)
  • Kentoku (1370–1372)
  • Bunchū (1372–1375)
  • Tenju (1375–1381)
  • Kōwa (1381–1384)
  • Genchū (1384–1393)

Nanboku-chō northern court

• Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript):
  • Ōan (1368–1375)
  • Eiwa (1375–1379)
  • Kōryaku (1379–1381)
  • Eitoku (1381–1384)
  • Shitoku (1384–1387)
  • Kakei (1387–1389)
  • Kōō (1389–1390)
  • Meitoku (1390–1393)‡

Post-Nanboku-chō reunified court

• Eras merged as Meitoku 3 replaced Genchū 9 as Go-Kameyama abdicated.
  • Meitoku (1393–1384)‡
  • Ōei (1394–1428)

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Ackroyd, Joyce I. (1982) Lessons from History: the Tokushi Yoron. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. 10-ISBN 070221485X/13-ISBN 9780702214851; OCLC 7574544
• Morton, W. Scott and J. Kenneth Olenik. (1973). Japan: Its History and Culture. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. 10-ISBN 0715357689/13-ISBN 9780715357682; OCLC 462186835
• Pier, Garrett Chatfield. (1914). Temple Treasures of Japan. New York: Frederick Fairchild Sherman. OCLC 535337
• Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 585069
• Turnbull, Stephen. (2005). Samurai Commanders. Oxford: Osprey Press. 10-ISBN 1841767433/13-ISBN 9781841767437; 10-ISBN 1841767441/13-ISBN 9781841767444; OCLC 60834971
• Worden, Robert L. (1994). "Kamakura and Muromachi Periods, 1185–1573; Economic and Cultural Developments," A Country Study: Japan. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress.

v t e Shoguns of the Ashikaga shogunate -- Chronology, Dates, Paternity Related topics: Muromachi period - Hana no Gosho - Ashikaga clan - Seii Taishogun 1st Takauji • (b. 1305 - 1358) • (r. 1338 - 1358) • son of Sadauji 2nd Yoshiakira • (b. 1330 - 1368) • (r. 1358 - 1367) • son of Takauji 3rd Yoshimitsu • (b. 1358 - 1408) • (r. 1367 -1395) • son of Yoshiakira 4th Yoshimochi • (b. 1386 - 1428) • (r. 1395 -1423) • son of Yoshimitsu 5th Yoshikazu • (b. 1407 - 1425) • (r. 1423 -1425) • son of Yoshimochi 6th Yoshinori • (b. 1394 - 1441) • (r. 1428 - 1441) • son of Yoshimitsu 7th Yoshikatsu • (b. 1433 - 1443) • (r. 1442 - 1443) • son of Yoshinori 8th Yoshimasa • (b. 1435 - 1490) • (r. 1449 - 1474) • son of Yoshinori 9th Yoshihisa • (b. 1465 - 1489) • (r. 1474 - 1489) • son of Yoshimasa 10th Yoshitane • (b. 1465 - 1522) • (r. 1490 -1493), (r. 1508 -1521) • son of Yoshimi 11th Yoshizumi • (b. 1478 - 1513) • (r. 1493 - 1508) • son of Masatomo 12th Yoshiharu • (b. 1510 - 1550) • (r. 1521 - 1545) • son of Yoshizumi 13th Yoshiteru • (b. 1535 - 1565) • (r. 1545 - 1565) • son of Yoshiharu 14th Yosihide • (b. 1538 -1568) • (r. 1564 - 1568) • son of Yoshitsuna 15th Yoshiaki • (b. 1537 - 1597) • (r. 1568 -1573) • son of Yoshiharu

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Yoshimitsu (吉光) is a game character originally created for the Tekken series of fighting games by Namco. Yoshimitsu made his first appearance in the first Tekken game in 1994 and has returned for all subsequent sequels to that game since his inception. Yoshimitsu appeared in every game in the series. Additionally, the predecessor to Tekken's Yoshimitsu, bearing the same name, weapon, clan and basic information, was later carried over into Namco's Soul series of fighting games as a secret character, making his debut in 1998.

In video games[link]

This section requires expansion.

[edit] Tekken series

Yoshimitsu makes his first appearance in 1994's Tekken. Referencing Kunimitsu's Tekken 2 story, it is revealed that Yoshimitsu's blade is passed down through the Manji Clan's leaders; the previous leader is ritually sacrificed, and the blade absorbs their power and skill. In the game's story, Yoshimitsu enters the first tournament as a decoy, so that other members of the Manji Party can steal the tournament's funds unobserved. Yoshimitsu learns about a sumo wrestler called Ganryu, whose disrespectful attitude in the ring cost him his promotion into Yokozuna rank. This base disrespect for the sumo code infuriates Yoshimitsu and he defeats Ganryu. At a later time Yoshimitsu leads an infiltration on Dr. Boskonovitch's lab in order to steal his Eternal Energy device. Though Yoshimitsu loses his arm during the infiltration, Boskonovitch helps the injured ninja escape and fits him with a mechanical prosthetic.

In Tekken 2, Yoshimitsu learns that Doctor Boskonovitch has been kidnapped by the Mishima Zaibatsu and enters the second Tekken tournament to rescue him. Kunimitsu returns to the tournament in order to steal the clan's tachi. Yoshimitsu defeats her and drops out of the tournament to rescue the Doctor after learning his location. He reappears in Tekken 3, trying to help Boskonovitch whose daughter is suffering from a mysterious disease; Tekken 4, attempting to form alliances between the Zaibatsu and the Manji Party; Tekken 5, seeking Bryan Fury after he killed members of his clan; and Tekken 6, realizing that the evil energy of his sword may soon drive him to insanity, Yoshimitsu decides to dual wield another sword called "Fumaken," a special blade with the ability to seal demonic power.

Yoshimitsu appears as a playable character in Street Fighter X Tekken, with Raven as his official tag partner.^[1]

[edit] Soulcalibur series

Yoshimitsu first appeared in Namco's Soul series in 1998's Soulcalibur. After refusing a power-hungry lord Oda Nobunaga's offer of alliance, Yoshimitsu discovers his village has been destroyed. Attempting to battle the Nobunaga's army, Yoshimitsu loses his arm. He sets out to search for the fabled weapon Soul Edge, so that he could take his revenge against Nobunaga. In meditation, Yoshimitsu concluded that if he were to give in to his hatred, he would be no better than either Nobunaga or Nightmare; when he reaches the castle where Soul Edge is, he discovers it has been locked away with Soul Calibur.

In Soulcalibur II, Yoshimitsu discovers that his katana has been impregnated with corrupted energy from the castle, and so resolves to rid his blade of the evil. When Yoshimitsu is worn from trying to quell the corruption, the blade is stolen by Voldo. Fearing what would happen if the weapon wound up in the wrong hands, Yoshimitsu set out to retrieve the katana, in the process discovering a fragment of the Soul Edge. Wanting to destroy all the fragments which are spread across the earth, Yoshimitsu forms a band of chivalrous thieves, known as the Manjitou, in order to do good and to find the fragments.

Yoshimitsu returns in Soulcalibur III devising a robbery in order to steal a fragment of the Soul Edge. The robbery fails as Tira, a servant of Soul Edge and Nightmare, ambushes the thieves and takes the fragment of Soul Edge. Later on, Tira murders one of his clan members, causing Yoshimitsu to seek her and Soul Edge down for revenge in Soulcalibur IV. By the time of Soulcalibur V, the first Yoshimitsu has been ritually executed and succeeded by a younger, eerily-similar protégé, who shares his fighting style, voice, mannerisms, and even his clockwork arm. This secret line of succession makes "Yoshimitsu" appear immortal to outsiders and is implied to continue into modern times with the Tekken incarnation of the character.

In Soulcalibur series, Yoshimitsu uses his beloved self-named katana with the Manji Ninjitsu style and was handed down through many generations in the Manji clan. It seems like a normal katana, but it has many unique features that accommodates the unique style of the Manji. Since it was forged with secret techniques which were passed down in the Manji clan, it cannot be replicated and is the last of its kind. Yoshimitsu, after the massacre of his clan, swore an oath of vengeance to this weapon. It has been tainted by the evil energy of Soul Edge and turned into a demonic weapon, but still is the preferred weapon of Yoshimitsu. Additionally, the sashimono on his back that accompanies the sword is also used as a striking weapon.

Other appearances[link]

Yoshimitsu and references to him have appeared in other Namco games. His Tekken 3 incarnation is a bonus character available in Anna Kournikova's Smash Court Tennis for the PlayStation and his Tekken 3 "energy sword" is one of the game's unlockable secret tennis racquets. Yoshimitsu's sword is also an available weapon in the Tekken spin-off game Death by Degrees.

Character design[link]

Yoshimitsu sports the kanji "宇" (Romaji: u, Pinyin: yǔ) which means "universe." Roughly translated, his name means "light of happiness".

In Tekken series, Yoshimitsu's sword has been originally depicted as a tachi as it continues to be in Namco's artwork. However, from Tekken 3 onwards, it emanates energy around the blade, giving it the appearance of a lightsaber (although in some Tekken games like Tekken 4, his alternate costume wields a normal katana).

Gameplay[link]

According to Namco's official description, Yoshimitsu's fighting style "incorporates a blend of ninjutsu, sword attacks, and special stances. Wielding a sword, he has many attacks that utilize it. He can perform slashes with it, use it to impale his opponent, and rotate it with his mechanical left hand in a windmill manner (he can also use this method to fly)."^[2] Yoshimitsu uses a lot of fast, poking attacks, like his flying knee (fubuki) and his numerous spinning attacks. Performing too many of these spinning attacks, though, may leave him dizzy. Many of his moves are very situational, making him a character for more advanced players.

In other media and merchandise[link]

Yoshimitsu has brief cameos in the anime film Tekken: The Movie.^[3] Yoshimitsu also appears in the 2009 live-action film Tekken, portrayed by Gary Ray Stearns, where he fights and loses against Jin Kazama.^[4]

In 2006, Namco and MegaHouse released a Yoshimitsu figurine as part of a Tekken 5 set based upon his promotional artwork for the game. While not posable, the PVC figure came with equipable clothing items modeled after those in the game.^[5][6] Two more were made by Bandai in 2009, based on his appearance in Tekken 6.^[7][8] A statue of Yoshimitsu in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 was produced by Kotobukiya in 2012.^[9]

Reception[link]

In a 2002 poll by Namco prior to the release of Soulcalibur II regarding their favorite character from Soulcalibur, Yoshimitsu placed sixth, with 4.56% of the tally.^[10] He was also ranked as sixth by IGN in 2008, where they added "Yoshimitsu's blade has always felt more at home with his fellow Soul fighters...New players are often at a loss as to how to handle the character, but once they get a handle on him, Yoshimitsu becomes a true force of nature".^[11] In 2010, We Do Games ranked Yoshimitsu as the tenth best character in the history of fighting games.^[12] In 2011, Machinima.com ranked Yoshimitsu as the seventh-best ninja in all video games^[13] and Play listed him among the top ten ninjas on the PlayStation consoles.^[14]

1UP.com spotlighted him as "by far, the strangest character" of Soulcalibur IV.^[15] GamesRadar listed a match-up between Sodom and Yoshimitsu as one of the match-ups they want to see in Street Fighter X Tekken,^[16] and NowGamer listed a match-up between Vega and Yoshimitsu as one of the ones they want to see in this game, stating that "any bout between these two would be a mind-boggling display of fast attacks across the screen".^[17] In 2011, UGO Networks ranked Yoshimitsu's special costume in Tekken 5 as the ninth best alternate in all of gaming.^[18]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Yoshimitsu at IGN
• Yoshimitsu at IMDb
• Yoshimitsu - Tekkenpedia English
• Yoshimitsu - Soulpedia Endlish
• ManjiKai: Yoshimitsu Obsession Team