Muromachiperiod

The Muromachi period, also known as the Ashikaga period, was a significant era in Japanese history that spanned from 1336 to 1573. It followed the Kamakura period and preceded the Azuchi-Momoyama period. This era is primarily defined by the rule of the Ashikaga shogunate, established by Ashikaga Takauji. The shogunate's authority, however, was often challenged, leading to periods of political instability and civil war, most notably the Ōnin War (1467-1477), which marked the beginning of the Sengoku period, or Warring States period.

Culturally, the Muromachi period witnessed a flourishing of arts and culture, heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism. This was the era when the Kitayama culture, centered around the opulent Kitayama-dono villa of the third Ashikaga shogun, Yoshimitsu, emerged. This period saw advancements in Noh theater, ink wash painting (suibokuga), landscape gardening, and the tea ceremony (chanoyu). The aesthetic principles of wabi-sabi, emphasizing simplicity, imperfection, and transience, began to take root and profoundly shaped Japanese artistic sensibilities.

Economically, while the shogunate struggled with central control, trade and commerce saw growth, particularly with Ming China, leading to the establishment of the officially sanctioned trade known as the Kangō trade. This influx of Chinese goods and ideas further stimulated cultural development. The latter part of the Muromachi period was characterized by increasing decentralization of power, with local daimyo (feudal lords) gaining more autonomy, setting the stage for the subsequent unification efforts. The period ended with the expulsion of the last Ashikaga shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, by Oda Nobunaga, marking the transition to a new phase of Japanese history.