2020年5月16日土曜日
2016年6月11日土曜日
Early modern period
The early modern period of Japan mainly means the Edo period that began in 1603 and closed in 1867. In that period, there were almost no major battles. As a result, many forms of cultures flourished during that period. Besides, the basics of today's modernized industrialized society were established in the Edo period thanks to well spread educational system. Many children learned mathematics, language, and history in private schools called Terakoya.
Thanks to that educational system, Japan was able to succeed to absorb the state of the art technology of western world in those days. The industrious personality of Japanese people was also an indispensable cause of that dramatic evolution of Japanese modern society and technology. Also distinguished common people who were not able to play active parts in the feudal society significantly contributed to that evolution. In other words, the change of the social system — feudalism to democracy — was a cause of the technological evolution.
In fact, the literacy rate of the Edo people showed the highest number in the world in those days. And the school attendance rate of the Edo city was about 70 to 86 percent as of around the 1850s. Contrary to this, the school attendance rate in London city was only about 20 to 25 percent as of 1837, and the literacy rate of the lower class citizens was only about 10 percent in those days. Commodore Perry of the U.S. Navy was also impressed by the higher literacy rate among Japan's common people.
More than anything, Tokyo, today's Japanese capital city, was established in this period. Before the Edo period, the area that included today's Tokyo was an almost completely undeveloped area. Tokugawa Ieyasu who established the Edo bakufu was dispatched to that area as a relegation by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and he patiently accepted that treatment and made great efforts to develop the Edo city, today's Tokyo. His patience and great foresight was a cause that created today's Tokyo because Ieyasu had been aware of the geographical advantage of that area.
In fact, the work of development was so hard and it was work from scratch. They made roads cutting down trees, and modified rivers to prevent them from flooding. By about the 1640s, the Edo city was roughly completed as a first step. On the mountain side, the houses of government officers were built, and on the sea side, the houses of merchants and laborers were built. As a result, even now, the mountain side of Tokyo has many high-class residential areas and vise versa.
By the way, there were many fires in Edo city because almost all houses and buildings were made of wood. They said that fires and fights were the specialties of Edo city. Many teams of firemen that consisted of common men were organized and they were a hero in those days. There were fifteen major fires during the Edo period, and of course, there were so many minor fires too. As the cause of those fires, quite a few fires were caused by poor people to rob money. They were punished by capital punishment.
There was a large bells on scaffolds around Edo city to notify the break out of fires. Firemen also counted on those bells to go to work, and the height of a part of the roofs in Edo city was aligned for firemen running to fires. However and in spite of those devices, there were many times of major fires in which thousands of people were died. In several major fires, the number of deaths reached to over 10,000.Of course so many houses that were made of wood were lost in those fires.
By the way, the city of Edo was known as one of the cleanest city in the world. In fact, there are many foreigners who were impressed by the cleanliness of Edo city. There were scarcely trashes and people washed their body in the public bathes. Furthermore, a primitive flush toilet system had already existed and excrement from the people was gathered and used as fertilizer for cultivation in rural areas. Interestingly, farmers bought the excrement and there were workers who collect it.
Stray dogs were also a serious issue in Edo city because people who were bitten by them were infected with infectious diseases. Because those stray dogs had eaten horses and cows that died of some kind of diseases. So the government made some large farms for stray dogs in some parts of Edo city. For your information, the width of the largest farm was equivalent to twenty baseball stadiums. In the farm, around 100,000 dogs were living. There needed quite a few costs to feed them.
There was a controversial law that caused above troublesome situation. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi issued a law that banned people from killing animals unnecessarily, and there were even penalties for violators of that law. As a result many stray dogs had walked around Edo city and some effective measures were needed to content that situation. Of course, that law has been said as one of the worst laws in Japanese history. However, there are some theories that explain the real intention behind that law.
For example some historians have said that the law called "mercy-for-lives law (shorui-awaremino-rei in Japanese)" war issued for changing the mind of people. Because that time was right after the waring states period of Japan — people didn't think that killing another lives including humans' lives was a bad thing. There was another theory too. A priest said Yoshituna that the reason why you cannot have a baby is that you killed many lives in your previous life, so you should care other lives if you want to have a baby.
Thanks to that educational system, Japan was able to succeed to absorb the state of the art technology of western world in those days. The industrious personality of Japanese people was also an indispensable cause of that dramatic evolution of Japanese modern society and technology. Also distinguished common people who were not able to play active parts in the feudal society significantly contributed to that evolution. In other words, the change of the social system — feudalism to democracy — was a cause of the technological evolution.
In fact, the literacy rate of the Edo people showed the highest number in the world in those days. And the school attendance rate of the Edo city was about 70 to 86 percent as of around the 1850s. Contrary to this, the school attendance rate in London city was only about 20 to 25 percent as of 1837, and the literacy rate of the lower class citizens was only about 10 percent in those days. Commodore Perry of the U.S. Navy was also impressed by the higher literacy rate among Japan's common people.
More than anything, Tokyo, today's Japanese capital city, was established in this period. Before the Edo period, the area that included today's Tokyo was an almost completely undeveloped area. Tokugawa Ieyasu who established the Edo bakufu was dispatched to that area as a relegation by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and he patiently accepted that treatment and made great efforts to develop the Edo city, today's Tokyo. His patience and great foresight was a cause that created today's Tokyo because Ieyasu had been aware of the geographical advantage of that area.
In fact, the work of development was so hard and it was work from scratch. They made roads cutting down trees, and modified rivers to prevent them from flooding. By about the 1640s, the Edo city was roughly completed as a first step. On the mountain side, the houses of government officers were built, and on the sea side, the houses of merchants and laborers were built. As a result, even now, the mountain side of Tokyo has many high-class residential areas and vise versa.
By the way, there were many fires in Edo city because almost all houses and buildings were made of wood. They said that fires and fights were the specialties of Edo city. Many teams of firemen that consisted of common men were organized and they were a hero in those days. There were fifteen major fires during the Edo period, and of course, there were so many minor fires too. As the cause of those fires, quite a few fires were caused by poor people to rob money. They were punished by capital punishment.
There was a large bells on scaffolds around Edo city to notify the break out of fires. Firemen also counted on those bells to go to work, and the height of a part of the roofs in Edo city was aligned for firemen running to fires. However and in spite of those devices, there were many times of major fires in which thousands of people were died. In several major fires, the number of deaths reached to over 10,000.Of course so many houses that were made of wood were lost in those fires.
By the way, the city of Edo was known as one of the cleanest city in the world. In fact, there are many foreigners who were impressed by the cleanliness of Edo city. There were scarcely trashes and people washed their body in the public bathes. Furthermore, a primitive flush toilet system had already existed and excrement from the people was gathered and used as fertilizer for cultivation in rural areas. Interestingly, farmers bought the excrement and there were workers who collect it.
Stray dogs were also a serious issue in Edo city because people who were bitten by them were infected with infectious diseases. Because those stray dogs had eaten horses and cows that died of some kind of diseases. So the government made some large farms for stray dogs in some parts of Edo city. For your information, the width of the largest farm was equivalent to twenty baseball stadiums. In the farm, around 100,000 dogs were living. There needed quite a few costs to feed them.
There was a controversial law that caused above troublesome situation. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi issued a law that banned people from killing animals unnecessarily, and there were even penalties for violators of that law. As a result many stray dogs had walked around Edo city and some effective measures were needed to content that situation. Of course, that law has been said as one of the worst laws in Japanese history. However, there are some theories that explain the real intention behind that law.
For example some historians have said that the law called "mercy-for-lives law (shorui-awaremino-rei in Japanese)" war issued for changing the mind of people. Because that time was right after the waring states period of Japan — people didn't think that killing another lives including humans' lives was a bad thing. There was another theory too. A priest said Yoshituna that the reason why you cannot have a baby is that you killed many lives in your previous life, so you should care other lives if you want to have a baby.
2016年1月29日金曜日
Medieval times (2)
In the latter half of the Muromachi period, there are many battles between local samurai clans. And as a result of those prolonged battles, the central administration system of Japan became nominal, and therefore, many local powers came to aim at conquering all over Japan — this is the Japanese Warring states period. And in fact, it finished when Oda Nobunaga, an unprecedented and daring shogun, established the base of Japan's unification in the late 16th century.
Takeda Shingen & Uesugi Kenshin
One of the most pupular story in the warring states period is the battles between Takeda Shingen and Uesgi Kenshin. Those two shoguns had their territories in near area each other, and inevitably, had been rivals through their lives. They actually battled several times, and both of them has been respected by Japanese people as shoguns who have different character each other. In the photo below, the left is the left is Uesugi Kenshin and the right is Takeda Shingen.
Takeda Shingen is a typical shogun in this period, who had ambition, and liked scheming to defeat the enemies. He generally has known for his valorlous pesonality, and as one of the strongest shogun in this period. Meanwhile he was very careful of his own health and liked medichine very well. Besides, he valued gaining trust from his men, saying "people is castle, varricade, and moat." Even Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo bakuf, was once defeated by Takaeda Shingen.
On the other hand, Uesugi Kenshin has been known as a man of sincerity and dignity. He never fought for his own political desire, but fought for the justice he believed in. Therefore, he had been respected by the other shoguns. He also was a puriest of Buddhism and remained single all his life. Even now, there are many parents who name their son Kenshin. Interestingly, some historian argue that he was a woman, though it has been severely criticized by other historians.
The most famous battle between these two shoguns is the battle of Kawanaka-jima. In that battle they battled five times in twelve years — those five battles took place in 1553, 1555, 1557, 1561, and 1564. The most major battle of those five battles is the fourth battle in 1561. However, throughout those five battles, they were not able to decide the winner and loser. So in 2006, a TV program conducted a final battle between them with their descenders, using a borad game. In that battle, Uesgi won.
By the way, Uesugi-Kenshin had been respected even by Takeda Shingen. The one reason of it is as follows: When Shingen was sorrounded by his enemies, Kenshin sent his army salt, saying "Shingen, I want to defeat you in a battle." So, Singen said his son, "When I die, you should look to Kenshin because he is a reliable man." Indeed, the human relations in this period was so complicated. It cannot be simply explained that who is the enemy and who is the ally.
Date Masamune
Date Masamune is also a popular shogun in the warring states period. He has been know as a daring man, and therefore, his life was made into movies, novels, and TV drams, several times. He was born in 1567 and lost his one eyesight when he was a child. Also, he lost his father when he was eighteen years old. The sequence of the event was as follows: When one of his enemies came to Masamune's territory for a negotiation, he took Masamune's father hostage. However, since the father ordered Masamune to kill himself, Masamune was forced to kill his own father by himself.
Tokugawa Ieyasu is the shogun who built the foundation of today's Japan. He was a shogun under both Nobunaga and Hideyosi. After those two figures died, Ieyasu became the most powerful figure in Japan. People naturally came to say like, "Nobunaga milled the grain, Hideyosi kneaded the flour, and Ieyasu ate the cake." He has been known for his patience, and there is a saying like this, Nobunaga would kill the bird if it doesn't sing, Hideyoshi would lead it to sing, and Ieyasu would wait until it sings.
Akechi Mitsuhide is also one of the most popular general in the Japanese warring states period as he defeated and killed his boss Oda Nobunaga in the so-called Honno-ji Incident. The reason why he decided to carry out such a daring rebellion is still a topic of dispute. Some say he had been bullied by Nobunaga, and others say he was taken advantage of by aristocrats who had been hating Nobunaga because of his innovative politics. Anyway, he succeeded in the rebellion and seized power from Nobunaga.
However, since no one allied with Mitsuhide, he immediately was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Mitsuhide was killed in the way of escaping from the battle field by some farmers who aimed at getting treasures or something like that around there. This is the so-called "Mitsuhide's three-day rule". While there should be quite a little faction that disliked Nobunaga, Mitsuhide weren't justifiable to be a ruler as he killed his boss. Today, many historians say there was a fixer behind that incident.
However, there seems to be a fact that Nobunaga had been bullying Mitsuhide. Some historians say the competence of Mitsuhide irritated Nobunaga. Since Nobunaga had unconventional and innovative personality and Mitsuhide was a faithful man having distinguished abillity, these two men might not be able to get along with each other. Many historians believe that his hate against Nobunaga was one of the reasons this incident even though there might be a fixer behind it.
Akechi Mitsuhide
Takeda Shingen & Uesugi Kenshin
One of the most pupular story in the warring states period is the battles between Takeda Shingen and Uesgi Kenshin. Those two shoguns had their territories in near area each other, and inevitably, had been rivals through their lives. They actually battled several times, and both of them has been respected by Japanese people as shoguns who have different character each other. In the photo below, the left is the left is Uesugi Kenshin and the right is Takeda Shingen.
Takeda Shingen is a typical shogun in this period, who had ambition, and liked scheming to defeat the enemies. He generally has known for his valorlous pesonality, and as one of the strongest shogun in this period. Meanwhile he was very careful of his own health and liked medichine very well. Besides, he valued gaining trust from his men, saying "people is castle, varricade, and moat." Even Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo bakuf, was once defeated by Takaeda Shingen.
On the other hand, Uesugi Kenshin has been known as a man of sincerity and dignity. He never fought for his own political desire, but fought for the justice he believed in. Therefore, he had been respected by the other shoguns. He also was a puriest of Buddhism and remained single all his life. Even now, there are many parents who name their son Kenshin. Interestingly, some historian argue that he was a woman, though it has been severely criticized by other historians.
The most famous battle between these two shoguns is the battle of Kawanaka-jima. In that battle they battled five times in twelve years — those five battles took place in 1553, 1555, 1557, 1561, and 1564. The most major battle of those five battles is the fourth battle in 1561. However, throughout those five battles, they were not able to decide the winner and loser. So in 2006, a TV program conducted a final battle between them with their descenders, using a borad game. In that battle, Uesgi won.
By the way, Uesugi-Kenshin had been respected even by Takeda Shingen. The one reason of it is as follows: When Shingen was sorrounded by his enemies, Kenshin sent his army salt, saying "Shingen, I want to defeat you in a battle." So, Singen said his son, "When I die, you should look to Kenshin because he is a reliable man." Indeed, the human relations in this period was so complicated. It cannot be simply explained that who is the enemy and who is the ally.
Date Masamune
Date Masamune is also a popular shogun in the warring states period. He has been know as a daring man, and therefore, his life was made into movies, novels, and TV drams, several times. He was born in 1567 and lost his one eyesight when he was a child. Also, he lost his father when he was eighteen years old. The sequence of the event was as follows: When one of his enemies came to Masamune's territory for a negotiation, he took Masamune's father hostage. However, since the father ordered Masamune to kill himself, Masamune was forced to kill his own father by himself.
The above photo is Watanabe Ken as Date Masamune. Watanabe Ken is a popular Japanese actor who has been highly appreciated in the Hollywood, and the TV drama series titled "Dokugan-Ryu Date Masamune" was the work that brought him to stardom. For your information, Dokugan-Ryu means singke-eyed dragon. Although Masamune ended up in following Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the shogun who had the biggest power in those days, he bothered Hideyoshi several times with his wiseness and daring acts.
For example, when Masamune was suspected that he was behind a riot against Hideyoshi, he appeared in front of Hideyoshi, wearing white costume and carrying a cross.
The white costume means he was preparred to be killed, and so does the cross. As for the cross, he was a shogun who was lenient with Christianity. Hideyoshi examined Masamune with some question, but since Masamune answered to them so shreudly, Hideyoshi forgived Masamune because Hideyoshi kneeded talented human resourses.
He also has been known as a man who paid a lot of attention to fashion. Hem, in fact, often surprised people with his and his troops' novel closses and armors. Their fashion was so flashy that people came to call a flashy man "Date-mono" since then.
Even now, the word "Date" is used in our usual conversation like "My muscular body is not Date" — it means the muscle is not tin god. Besides, glasses only for show are referred to as "Date-Megane".What's more, men who are familier with fsahion are called "Date-Otoko".
While he has been known as a daring commander, he also had a keen sense of beauty and culture. He was able to enjoed his later life peaceflly, and therefore, live to be 70. By the way, there is a theory that he was a half Japanese and half Spanish. In fact, he had been plotting to give his country to the Spanish king and become an independent nation in Japan. Also, they say his right eye was an odd-eye that is frequently seen among falf white people.
Houjou Souun
He has been known as a man who opened the door of the warring states period in Japan. He once became a priest after surviving some battles. At that point, he already was a 36-year-old man, and it meant he withdraw from the race for the power.
However, he after that came back to the battle field and successfully took the Odawara caste by using a trick. At a night, he attached a torch to the horn of so many deers to pretended that there were so many soldiers with him. The lord of the Odawara castle surprised when seeing it, and Souun got the castle.
He frequently used surprise attack with meticulous and elaborate intelligence gathering in advance of it. While cruel to his enemy, he was so kind to his people that some farmers joined his troops. As for his attitude like that, he left words like, "Killing those who should be killed and helping those who should live is the politics." In fact, he shared a few foods with his soldier and allowed the farmers to complain about the tax. Such thoughts might be a reason why he quit to be a priest.
By the way, he has been defined to be the first "Sengoku daimyo", a military lords who held small but consolidated domains. He imposed tax on his people to manage his domain, though it was a relatively lenient tax system. That was one of the minimum requirements of a Sengoku daimyo. Maybe because he was a priest, he was merciful for farmers and common people involved in battles. He banned his soldier from plundering villages, and punished those who violated the rule.
Kuroda Kanbei
Kuroda Kanbei was one of the most eminent strategist in Japanese history who mainly served Toyotmi Hideyoshi. He was a very faithful and brave man. In fact, he often ventured into the enemy's territory alone to negotiate, and one time he was detained by enemy for about a year. Because of the one year prison life, he injured his one leg and became a lame man walking with a limp. It also is interesting that he served or related to all of three major Sengoku Daimyos, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
One of the most popular story about his achievements is as follows: When Oda Nobunaga, the person in the highest authority in those days, was killed by Akechi Mitsuhide in the Honnouji-temple, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Nobunaga's most faithful man, had been grieving. But Hideyoshi's strategist Kanbei advised him that now is the time for you to get the authority defeating the troops of Akechi Metsuhide. Following Kanbei's advice, Hideyoshi moved his troops to battle against Mitsuhide, and won. As the result, Hideyoshi got the post of the highest authority, succeeding Nobunaga.
However, Hideyoshi gradually came to afraid Knabei's talented ability. On day, Hideyoshi said that Knabei was the only man who can rule the whole country except for me. Kanbei was shocked to hear that remark because he had been serving Hideyoshi purely out of loyalty. He really felt disappointed, and so much so that he decided to step down from the post of Hideyoshi's strategist. After that he spent retirement life, changing his name to Josui (it means pure like water).
However, his political life didn't end at that point. After the death of Hideyoshi, major samurai clans were devided into two factions and the battle between them had been imminent. In fact, the battle (battle of Sekigahara) took place and it became one of the most famous historical battle in Japanse history. In such a situation, Kanbei came up with a plot to become a sole winner in that battle. The outline of his strategy is as follows: First he conquer Kyushu, the southend island of Japan, taking advantage of the confusion due to the battle of Sekigahara.
Next, as the second step of the process, he was to beat the one faction that would survive the battle of Sekigahara, which he had expected to be a war of attrition. Besides, he had his sun Kuroda Nagamasa join the one faction for avoiding himself from being suspected that he had an ambition of forming the third faction. However, his plot ended up being a failure because the battle of Sekigahara unexpectedly ended in just one day as the one clan went over to the enemy.
Kuroda Nagamasa
Consequently, Kanbei wasn't able to complete the conquest of Kyushu by the end of the battle of Sekigahara. What's worse, the winner of the battle wash't damaged because the battle finished in only one day. As a result, Kambei was compelled to give up his ambition. After the battle, he was surprised and upset to hear that his sun contributed to convince an enemy's clan to betray their troops and join the opposite troops. Kanbei's sun, Nagamasa, wasn't notified of Kanbei's aim.
Kanbei thought that it was necessary to even cheat his son to cheat his enemy. But it after all leaded to a fatal mistake. Nagamasa was greatly shocked to hear that his father had been aiming to conquering all over Japan. After that Kanbei spent his retirement life quietly in Kyushu. By the way, there is an interesting anecdote about his last days: he started swearing Nagamasa with dirty words. That was his last strategy to separate people's sentiments from himself in the aim of Nagamasa's smooth power succession.
Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga is one of the most popular shogun in the warring states period of Japan. He was a very innovative leader and had an aspect of tyrant. Considering his human natures like above it might be natural that he was killed by one of his subordinates in a rebellion called Honno-ji incident. The portrait below was drawn by a western missionary in those days. So he must have actually been having such an appearance. Since he generally is depicted as a handsome guy in movies, Japanese actors tend to want to play the part of him.
His adolescent yeas are an interesting part in his whole life as he had been regarded as a foolish young guy who were promised to succeed to the post of the feudal lord because of his blood. In fact,he had been messing around with his young friend in his young days. In particular the story of his father's funeral is well known by Japanese people. He appeared in flashy closes, and defiantly threw ash at his father's mortuary tablet —This afair is happened when he was 18 tears old. To put it simply, he was what is now called a bad boy.
However, he wasn't just a mere naughty boy. For example, he leaned military tactics through playing at war with kids near there. Having said that, it is undeniable that he was a kind of juvenile delinquent. He liked hanging around with kids in his age range and often trod in rice field or farm and ruined them. One of his subordinate, who was well older than him in age, committed suicide to stop Nobunaga's delinquent activity. The fact that Nobunaga was a bad boy had been spread inside and outside the territory his clan ruled.
However there was a feudal lord who highly estimated the ability of Nobunaga —Saito Dosan, the lord of the territory next to that of Nobunaga. Dosan rose from a mere oil vender to the lord in one generation. When he held a talk with Nobunaga, he was able to find out that Nobunaga was not just a foolish man, expected that his sons will end up reporting him. Dosan also said that when people say "that guy is a crazy in that way, the guy generally is not a fool."
Saito Dosan
Today, many historian has been appreciating Dosan's eye for judging people. Not only valuing Nobunaga, Dosan married his daughter off to Nobunaga for political purpose, saying that if Nobunaga was a real crazy, kill him this knife. It seems that even Dosan wasn't able to rely on Nobunaga. After all, these two lords were able to keep a good relationship after that, and Dosan attempt to entrust his territory to Nobunaga. However, Dosan was killed in a military coup caused by his sun in his territory. He died at the age of 62.
On hearing Dosan's death, Nobunaga was frustrated on the way on the way of going the battle field to help Dosan. However, his rapid advancement started since then. First, he defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto, a leading feudal lord in Sengoku Period, by a sudden attack called the battle of Okehazama.This victory led him to be known as one of the up-and-coming young feudal lord all over Japan. In that battle, Nobunaga won with only about 2000 to 3000 soldiers against Imagawa yosimoto's 25000 soldiers.
Imagawa Yoshimoto
Nobunaga attcked Imagawa when they were taking a banquet like meal in rain. Actually, the food and liquor they were eating and drinking were served to them by Nobunaga's spies disguising themselves as farmers.Just before that, Imagawa defeated Nobunaga's three small forts so he had been a good mood to hold a banquet in the battle field. Of course, some historians are suspecting that these forts were decoys. In fact, Nobunaga were singing and dancing like the movie below when hearing the loss of the three forts.
After the victory of the battle of Okehazama, he continued to win the battles and finally defeated the Muromachi Bakufu, the central government of Japan in those days. However it didn't mean he achieved the unity of Japan because there were some powers that conflicted against Nobunaga. The unity of Japan was achieved by his subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Although Hideyoshi originally was a son of a farmer, he was highly appreciated by Nobunaga and achieved a succesful career as a subordinate of Nobunaga.
Hideyoshi started his career from a son of a farmer. He was hired when he was 17 years old as a keeper of horses. As he combed the hair of horses in pockets of time, Nobunaga highly appreciate him and promote Hideyoshi to his attendant person. Hideyoshi's first assignment was to serve Nobunaga as a servant of footwear. In a cold winter's day, Hideyoshi warmed Nobunaga's footwear in his breast, which moved Nobunaga. These acts of dedication naturally lead Hideyoshi to become the most favorite man of Nobunaga.
After that, Hideyoshi eagerly worked for Nobunaga and as the spelt, he advanced to one of the most important subordinate of Nobunaga. There were many achievements he left behind that prove his excellent ability. For example, He constructed a fort only in three days by using a novel construction method that is now called prefabrication method. On another occasion, he divided construction workers into some teams to compete the speed of the work, which accelerate the process of the construction of the fence of Kiyosu Castle.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Other than that, Hideyoshi sent undercover spies into his enemy's territory well before a battle, and have them buy up rices at surprisingly low prices. As the result, the enemy's food stocks extremely run short when Hideyohsi's troops surround their territory. Consequently, that enemy's troops surrender to Hideyoshi in only about one month. The enemy's troops were so hunger that they forced to eat lizards and sneaks in their fort. Meanwhile Hideyoshi's troops took almost no human toll in that battle.
In 1582, when Nobunaga was killed by a rebel called Honnou-ji no Hen, Hideyoshi was tackling the battle against Mori clan in western Japan. When he heard the news of Nobunaga's death, he was very upset and grieved. However, as his adviser Kuroda Kanbei said that now is the time for you to defeat the rebel army and take the power, Hideyoshi decided to rush to the site of the battle and attack the rebel army and their boss Akechi Mitsuhide. It was a historically famous long march called "Chugoku O-gaeshi".
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
As I wrote above, Hideyoshi originally was a son of farmer and got success by being highly appreciated by Nobunaga. But actually, he was called "Saru (monkey in Japanse)" by Nobunaga — it was a way of expression of Nobunaga's attachment to Hideyoshi. Generally, Hideyoshi tends to be depicted as a frank and openhearted guy with a strong hungry spirit who eagerly dedicated to Nobunaga, and it perhaps is true. However, it also has been said that he became arrogant after he took power.
In his later life, he committed to the battle against Korea, which was for conquering all Asia to protect them from European powers. In particular, Spain was a big threat to Japan in those days. They dispatched Christian missionaries and some of them played the role of military spy. Therefore, believing in Christianity was sometimes prohibited in Japan's medieval times. As for the battle in Korea, it was a great war of attrition that diminished the power of Hideyoshi.
Hideyoshi also exhibit a strong curiosity about artistic activities. For example, he contributed to the development and spread of Sado, a Japanese tee ceremony, favorably treating Sen no Rikyu, one of the prestigious master of Sado. However, Sen no Rikyu was ordered Harakiri by Hideyoshi because Hideyoshi came to think Rikyu became stuck-up.
Other than that, Hideyoshi loved to hold Cherry blossom viewing, inviting so many influential people. He once allowed common people to attend his cherry blossom viewing party.
Hideyoshi also has known for his preference of flashy color. For example, he decorated his tea room with gold leaf. Not only that, he ordered his craftsmen to make the room that can be broke down and reassemble to move it far away.
Generally, this tea room has been considered to be one of the examples that express Hideyoshi's bad taste. Incidentally, such a flashy tea room completely didn't match with the philosophy of Sen no Rikyu, who insisted the value of being simple and austerity for everything in his life.
Some say that Hideyoshi's flashy preference was one of the reason why he came to hate Sen no Rikyu, who often criticized his flashy preference. However, the immediate reason why Hideyoshi killed Rikyu was his daring words against Hideyoshi that suggest putting a halt on the military activities in Korean peninsula. Besides, there are some theories in which Rikyu is considered to be a spy of someone conflicting with Hideyoshi. These kinds of theories cannot be dismissed as ridiculous ideas because tea ceremonies are hold between many politically powerful figures in those days.
Another thing that expresses his flashy preference is the cherry blossom viewing party in which he invited about 1300 women, transplanting about 700 trees of cherry blossom from the nearby areas. However, after five months of the cherry blossom viewing party called "Daigo no Hanami", Hideyoshi passed away by a high feever of unknown cause. As is usual, there are some theories that argue his death was a assassination. He was 62 years old when he died.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
He lived his childhood in several unrelated families because he had been a hostage child for avoiding wars. In those days, Samurai clans sent their children or wives to their allies family to avoid unnecessary battle or betraying, and sometimes a stronger clan requires other weaker clans to give hostages as a token of obedience. In such an environment, Ieyasu naturally grew up into a smart and socialized youth who can survive scenting other people's mood.
As a result, he was able to succeed in unifying Japan after working for Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, founding the Edo bakufu, which lasted for more than 260 years. His way of ruling was so shrewd. For example, he made it a rule for all the samurai clans to come to Edo, today's Tokyo, once a year. By doing so, they were forced to spend plenty of money, which made it difficult for them to strengthen the economic and political power. The ritual of traveling to traveling to Edo was referred to as "Sankin Kotai".
Other than that, He impose strict rules on other samurai clans, and when they violate those rules, he seized their authority for the violation. For example, municipal samurai clans were prohibited from renovating their castles without the permission from the Tokugawa bakufu. If violated, there even was a possibility that the authority of the clan was abolished. Ieyasu put emphasis on weakening powerful clans to establish and enhance the basis of his power.
By the way, the reason why Ieyasu chose Edo, namely today's Tokyo, as the base for his administration was not his own intention. Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered Ieyasu to go to Edo for managing the area, and it meat a demotion because there was nothing in Edo in those days expect a few villages. Nevertheless, Ieyasu obeyed to the order as he had scented a possibility that the land could flourish if they developed it.This Hideyoshi's decision eventually leaded Edo to become today's capital city of Japan.
After the death of Hideyoshi, major samurai clans were divided into two faculties to struggle for power. Ieyasu, in the circumstances, became the head of the east troops, and it won in the battle. After that, Ieyasu attacked the remnants of Toyotomi Family to uproot them. Toyotomi troops barricaded themselves in Osaka Castle, but they eventually were defeated by Ieyasu's troops. The summer and winter campaigns of the siege of Osaka are historically famous in Japanese History.
The Tokugawa bakufu lasted almost three centuries, and during their administration, the head of the bakufu was decided by the blood. As a result, the Shoguns of the Tokugawa bakufu were able to enjoy what they want to do.For example, the last and 15th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu loved to take photographs, painting, and hunting. He seemed to be interested in newly imported western cultures. The followings are his works and a portrait photograph.
Akechi Mitsuhide
Akechi Mitsuhide is also one of the most popular general in the Japanese warring states period as he defeated and killed his boss Oda Nobunaga in the so-called Honno-ji Incident. The reason why he decided to carry out such a daring rebellion is still a topic of dispute. Some say he had been bullied by Nobunaga, and others say he was taken advantage of by aristocrats who had been hating Nobunaga because of his innovative politics. Anyway, he succeeded in the rebellion and seized power from Nobunaga.
However, since no one allied with Mitsuhide, he immediately was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Mitsuhide was killed in the way of escaping from the battle field by some farmers who aimed at getting treasures or something like that around there. This is the so-called "Mitsuhide's three-day rule". While there should be quite a little faction that disliked Nobunaga, Mitsuhide weren't justifiable to be a ruler as he killed his boss. Today, many historians say there was a fixer behind that incident.
However, there seems to be a fact that Nobunaga had been bullying Mitsuhide. Some historians say the competence of Mitsuhide irritated Nobunaga. Since Nobunaga had unconventional and innovative personality and Mitsuhide was a faithful man having distinguished abillity, these two men might not be able to get along with each other. Many historians believe that his hate against Nobunaga was one of the reasons this incident even though there might be a fixer behind it.
Akechi Mitsuhide
Sanada Yukimura
Sanada Yukimura is one of the most popular figures in this period. When Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the remnants of Toyotomi clan, Yukimura helped them in spite of their disadvantageous situation.Tokugawa Ieyasu was forced into difficulty in the battle, being cornered enough to decide suicide. But eventually. Tokugawa Ieyasu won the battle and Yukimura reportedly died in that battle. As usual, there are some theories that argue Yukimura survived the battle. They generally say he took the sun of Toyotomi Hideyoshi to Kagoshima, island located in southern Japan.
By the way, Yokimura's father Sanada Masayuki is also popular historical figure. He decided to dived his family into two factions and dispatched each of them to two opposing factions in a battle in order to preserve his family line. Sanada's troops held flags marked with six coins that were thought to need to go to the heaven. This meant that his troops were ready to death in battles. Sanada's troops liked to wear red armors, which came from their previous boss, Takeda Shingen.
Sanada clan was loved people in the Edo period as their lives were dramatized, being added some adapted story. "Sanada Ten Braves" is the most popular one. It depicted ten Ninjas who assisted the warlord Sanada Yukimura during the warring states period of Japan. However, many of them have been said to be imaginary figures, even though there were some figures came from real entities. Even now, they appear in novels, comics, and movies.
Yamauchi Kazutoyo served all of three crucial figures in the late warring states period of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu. He liked to work in battle fields and worried when the warring states period was ending. He was allocated the land of Tosa, southern island of Japan. However, he struggled to govern the land because people who were attached to the previous ruler resisted him. His wife, Chiyo is also a popular historical figure and their lives have been dramatized recently.
By the way, Yokimura's father Sanada Masayuki is also popular historical figure. He decided to dived his family into two factions and dispatched each of them to two opposing factions in a battle in order to preserve his family line. Sanada's troops held flags marked with six coins that were thought to need to go to the heaven. This meant that his troops were ready to death in battles. Sanada's troops liked to wear red armors, which came from their previous boss, Takeda Shingen.
Sanada clan was loved people in the Edo period as their lives were dramatized, being added some adapted story. "Sanada Ten Braves" is the most popular one. It depicted ten Ninjas who assisted the warlord Sanada Yukimura during the warring states period of Japan. However, many of them have been said to be imaginary figures, even though there were some figures came from real entities. Even now, they appear in novels, comics, and movies.
Yamauchi Kazutoyo
Yamauchi Kazutoyo served all of three crucial figures in the late warring states period of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu. He liked to work in battle fields and worried when the warring states period was ending. He was allocated the land of Tosa, southern island of Japan. However, he struggled to govern the land because people who were attached to the previous ruler resisted him. His wife, Chiyo is also a popular historical figure and their lives have been dramatized recently.
2015年12月29日火曜日
Medieval times (1)
Japan's medieval times started with the Kamakura period, the first samurai administration established in 1192 in Japan. This form of samurai administration endured until 1868 when the Edo period ended. After the Kamakura bakufu, the power shifted into the hands of Muromachi bakufu located in Kyoto. From about later half of the Muromachi period, the power of central government became nominal and many powerful samurai clans became rampant in rural areas all over Japan.
That period is called "the warning states period", and its closure means the unification of Japan and beginning of the early modern period. So Japan's medieval period means the period from the Kamakura period to the end of the warning states period. This period basically is thought to be a period of samurai, and in fact, there were so many battles in this period. Therefore, cultures become robust and gorgeous compared with those created by noble people.
For example, there began a game in which samurais on horses shot dogs in a ground. Of course, arrows that were used in the game were made from soft material for not hurting the dogs. This game had existed even after the Edo period ended. In the Meiji period, the Russian emperor Nichoras II watched that game. However, the dog game is no longer done in Japan because of the cost and space needed for it, and the growing tendency of animal protection has made it difficult to revive.
That period is called "the warning states period", and its closure means the unification of Japan and beginning of the early modern period. So Japan's medieval period means the period from the Kamakura period to the end of the warning states period. This period basically is thought to be a period of samurai, and in fact, there were so many battles in this period. Therefore, cultures become robust and gorgeous compared with those created by noble people.
For example, there began a game in which samurais on horses shot dogs in a ground. Of course, arrows that were used in the game were made from soft material for not hurting the dogs. This game had existed even after the Edo period ended. In the Meiji period, the Russian emperor Nichoras II watched that game. However, the dog game is no longer done in Japan because of the cost and space needed for it, and the growing tendency of animal protection has made it difficult to revive.
As for sculptures, "Kongo-Rikishi-Zo" is popular as a sculpture that represents the Kamakura period. The literal translation of the word "Kongo-Rikishi-zo" is "statue of a golden and strong power man". Kongo-rikishi-zo consists of two statues that are set in the southern gate of the Todaiji temple, Nara prefecture. Each of those two statues was made by two different craftsmen. Their expressive style in which robust muscles are portrayed with a remarkable reality is representing the air of the Kamakura period.
As for architecture, China and India had influences on Japanese temple architecture in this period. Indian architecture was introduced via China. In those days, China had been governed by the Sung dynasty (960-1279), and Japan resumed the trade with China since the end of sending envoys to the Tang dynasty. Expect for those Chinese- and Indian-style temples, There were, Japanese-style ones and eclectic-style ones. Having said that, that Japanese style itself, in the first place, was introduced from China several hundred years ago of those days.
By the way, Kamakura is a city near Yokohama, in other words, it's fairly close to Tokyo. That is to say, the Kamakura bakufu is the first Japanese regime that is based in the east Japan. However, there are almost no architectural structures in Kamakura that is built in the Kamakura period. So if you want to see the structures built in the Kamakura period, you have to go to Kyoto or Nara. Now, only Daibutsu (huge statue of Buddha) and temple's huge bells are existing in Kamakura as structures built in the Kamakura period.
In the years before the Kamakura period, there were many battles in Kyoto and Nara. Consequently many temples were lost in the fires due to those battles. Kamakura bakufu started the reconstruction of those burnt-out temples, and as a result, there arose the demand for building so many statues to exhibit in those rebuilt temples. Inevitably many statues were built in this period and the characteristics of those ones was to be realistic, masculine, and powerful unlike those of the Heian period when aristocracies had been in power.
The Todaiji temple, one of the most famous temple in Japan that is located in Nara, also was burnt out through the battle the Heiji clan and Genji clan. The reconstruction of those burnt-out temples was one of the important national project for the Kamakura bakufu. They didn't only reconstruct those temples but also introduced new architectural technology into those temples. Daibutsuden (hall for the statue of buddha), and Nandaimon (Southern main gate) of the Toudaiji temple were built in the way of India.
It was a journey for donation endorsed by the Edo bakufu, and he raised sufficient money for the reconstructing in seven years. The amount of money he raised was about a billion yen in today's value. However, he died before the completion of the reconstruction of Daibutsu den, though only the repair of the statue of Buddha (Daibustsu) had been completed at that point. Eventually, the Daibutsuden completed in 1709, four years later later of his death.
By the way, the Kamakura period — more than any thing — is famous for Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura bakufu. His first battle participation was at the age of 13. He belonged to his farther's troops and his farther was the Shogun (general in English) of the Genji troops. In that battle against the Heiji clan, the Genji troops was defeated and forced to withdraw from Kyoto to the east Japan. On the way of the withdrawal, Yoritomo strayed from his father's company and got captured by the enemy troops.
Above photo is the Nandaimon. There are many deer around the gate. Actually, deer is a local specialty of Nara prefecture. What's more this gate has the Kongo-Rikishi-Zo in its both sides. They are in the red circle of above photo. Those statues each are about 8 meters tall, and they are completed in about two months. It was a fixed form to put statues in the gate of large temples like the Todaiji temple, and the purpose was to protect the sacred place from enemies.
As for Daibutsuden (hall for the statue of Buddha), existing building is one that was reconstructed in the Edo period. After the reconstruction in the Kamakura period, it again was burnt out in a battle in 1564. In the photos below, the right is a model of building reconstructed in the Kamakura period. And the right is the existing one. In the Edo period, priest Kokei determined to reconstruct the Daibutsuden. For realizing it, he started a journey to raise money for the reconstruction.
It was a journey for donation endorsed by the Edo bakufu, and he raised sufficient money for the reconstructing in seven years. The amount of money he raised was about a billion yen in today's value. However, he died before the completion of the reconstruction of Daibutsu den, though only the repair of the statue of Buddha (Daibustsu) had been completed at that point. Eventually, the Daibutsuden completed in 1709, four years later later of his death.
By the way, the Kamakura period — more than any thing — is famous for Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura bakufu. His first battle participation was at the age of 13. He belonged to his farther's troops and his farther was the Shogun (general in English) of the Genji troops. In that battle against the Heiji clan, the Genji troops was defeated and forced to withdraw from Kyoto to the east Japan. On the way of the withdrawal, Yoritomo strayed from his father's company and got captured by the enemy troops.
Yoritomo was almost executed by the Heiji clan, but a stepmother of the leader of the Heiji clan pleaded with him (the leader) not to killed Yoritomo, a 13-year-old boy, out of compassion. As the result, Yoritomo cheated death and was banished to a rural area.Time passed and he had turned 30 years old. In 1180, a rebellion led by the emperor famagainst the Heiji clan broke out, led by the emperor family, and Yoritomo raised his army in the battle — but also this time he was defeated again.
However, he was able to escape and survive also this time, and after that, he allied with many other clans and succeeded to expand his troops. By the early 1183, he conquered the east Japan and founded the basis of the future Kamakura bakufu. Being ready for fighting with the Heiji clan, he again headed down to Kyoto to defeat them, and this time, he succeeded. Consequently, he was approved as the shogun (head) of all samurai clans by the Emperor family, and at this point, the Kamakura bakufu was established.
By the way, his little brother, Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune is also famous in Japanese history. He was a short guy with high athletic ability, and was good at material arts. He parted from his big brother, Yoritomo, in his childhood, and reunited with Yoritomo in 1174 when he was 15 years old. It is said that they together were glad about their reunion with tears of joy. Yoshitsune respected and adored his big brother Yoritomo, and worked in battles enthusiastically.
Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune
He was nicknamed as Ushi-waka-maru (young bull in English), and this nickname even nows is given to athletes who are short but have high athletic ability. Although Yoshitsune showed remarkable performances, he gradually came to be hated by Yoritomo. That is because he was not familiar with politics, and therefore, unwittingly brought disadvantage to Yoritomo. Unfortunately, his excellence in the fields of battle did harm to himself — those who were unfavorable to Yoritomo came to make approaches to Yoshitsune, expecting his ability.
In those days, Yoritomo banned his subordinates from being awarded any official ranks from the emperor family without Yoritomo's permission. But yoshitsune violated that rule intentionally or unintentionally. In addition to his charismatic personality, Yoshitsune gradually came to have political power, which became a threat to Yoritomo. Evetually, Yoritomo determined to defeat Yoshitsune's troops. About the sequences of events between those two historical figures, there are various theories, and the truth remains an enigma.
Eventually, he was killed in the north east Japan, but that fact has been doubted by many historian. In those days, soldiers used to take enemy's head and bring back it to their base as a proof of their achievements. However, Yoshitsune's head had decayed when it was brought to Kamakura. That is because it took more than 40 days to arrive at Kamakura, and what's worse, it was summer. Also, he had a dummy who acted for him. Considering his charismatic personality, there might be people who didn't obey Yoritomo's order that required to kill his little brother.
Some historians has gone so far as to say Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune crossed the sea and became Genghis Khan, the king of Mongol. Although this theory now is considered to be an absurd theory like today's conspiracy theories, it originally was argued by scholars in the Edo period who visited Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. In Hokkaido, there were some oral legends saying Yositsune stayed there and went further north. After that, the theory was spread by a Dutch doctor Siebold in the late Edo period.
After the death of Yoritomo, his son Yoriie took over the post of Shogun. However, since he was a kind of dictator who disregarded traditional conventions, people in power employed a council system that consists of 13 men. As a result of that system, Yoriie became a lame duck and lost his position, and that position was took over by his little brother Minamoto-no-Sanetomo. However, he was a nominal Shogun because the real power had been seized by his aides Hojo-Yoshitoki and the mother Hojo-masako.
Hojo clan initiated new politic system. They didn't assume the position of Shogun on purpose but assume the post of its aides. Shogun was elected from noble people but was nominal, and the real power was grasped by Hojo clan. Hojo clan designated the noble people as a Shogun when they are kids and dismissed them when they became adults. Hojo clan repeated that until the end of the Kamakura bakufu. This politic system is called "shikken politics".
Hojo's politic system like above inevitably was frowned upon by other samurai clans. As a result, one general emerged as a leader of anti Hojo force. Many samurai clans gathered under him, and his name is Asikaga Takauji. He originally was a general to quell rebel force. But when he went over to the rebel force's side, many samurai clans support and allied with Takauji's army. That is because Hojo administration had been making light of samurai clans, valuing the Emperor family and noble people.
Eventually, Takauji established the Muromachi bakufu in 1338. Muromachi bakufu based in Kyoto and lasted until 1573 when Oda Nobunaga drove the 15th general Ashikaga Yoshiaki out of Kyoto. In the early Muromachi period, there was a conflict between two powers, each of which had based in southern and northern area of the west Japan. This conflict eventually was settled by the third general Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and the administration in which samurais had advantages over others was established.
However, the latter half of the Muromach bakufu period was a time of battle because there was The Onin War. The Onin War lasted 10 years (1467-1477) and involved over 270,000 soldiers — the biggest number in Japanese history before modern times. The Onin War was triggered by a succession race in Ashikaga clan. Strictly speaking, it was a matrimonial quarrel between the general (Shogun) and his wife that triggered The Onin War. This fact is one of the most famous stories in Japanese history.
The cause of The Onin War was as follwoing: Then general Ashikaga Yoshimasa and his wife respectively nominated different person as the next general. And what's worse, each of those two candidates was suported by different two powers.
As the war progressed, other factores were added to the war and it gradually went into chaos. As a result of that war, Kyoto city was largely destroyed and traditional social order was confused. In addition, many powers emerged in local regions, which leads to the time of the next major disruption, the Sengoku period (warning states period).
In the midth of the war, Ashikaga Yoshimasa lost interet in politics, indulging in drinking bout and cultural activity such as art collection and temple building. While he has been lowly evauated as a general, his contribution to the culture of the Muromachi period has been appreciated by today's histrians. Meanwhile, his wife, Hino Tomiko, was absorbed into economic activity. She built checkpoints around Kyoto to collect toll charge, and loan money to earn interest.
That is to say, the battle they caused had gone out of their controle. Interestingly, because of noble people and puriests freeing from disturbing Kyoto to rocal regions, the cultures of Kyoto spread to rural areas.
By the way, one of the most popular temple in this era is the Ginkakuji-Temple, which was built in Kyoto by Ashikaga Yoshimasa after The Onin War. Yoshimasa reflected his sense of beauty in that temple, and his sensibility about arts has been highly evaluated by today's art critics.
The name "Ginkaku" means silver palace, and this name is pairing with "Kinkaku" that means gold palace. The Kinkaku temple was renewed by Yoshimasa's ancestor Asikaga Yoshimitsu, and as the name suggests, the temple is decolated with gold foil like the poto below. Meanwhile, the Ginkakuji-temple isn't decolated with silver foil. As for it, some opinion exist: while someone says Yoshimasa died before decolating it with silver foil, and someone says there are no intention of decolating with silver foil.
Ginkakuji-temple and Kinkakuji-temple
Probably, there was no intention of decolating the Ginkakuji temple with silver foil because the culture style booming in those days featured simplenes. That culture style has been called "Higashiyama culture" and it was promoted by Ashikaga Yoshimasa. In that culture style, while flashiness was hated, simpleness and austereness are prefered. Art hystrians says that Japanese beauty like the photo below was established in this period. Considering those trend, it should be rational to think that there was no intention of decorating the Ginkakuji temple with silver foil.
Donald kneene, an American-born history scholar says the period of Higashiyama-culture (1483-1490) is the most brilliant period in the history of Japanese culture. Besides, he argues that the many features of Japanese traditional culture originate in the Higashiyama-culture. And those features, which is often expressed by the word of wabi-sabi, has been preserved up to the present time in the forms of various art works, cultural activities, and architectural styles.
The Higashiyama-culture is always compared with the Kitayama-cultre that flourished from the end of the 1300s to the eraly 1400th when Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, grandfather of Yoshimasa, was the general. The Kitayama-culture had been influenced by Chinese culture and therefore, it was a gorgeous culture. A Japanese musical drama called "Noh" is developed and estabilished in the period of the Kitayama-culture by Kan'ami and his son Zeami.
So then, let me cite some examples of the Higashiyama-culture.
(1)Sadoh (Japanese tea ceremony): Sadoh was established in the period of the Higashiyama-culture, influenced by Chinese Buddhism. In Sado, simplicity and austerity were valued and flashiness and luxury were hated. That is because getting calmness and the peace of mind were the aim of Sado. The culture of Sado influenced Japanese architecture (the photos below are the house for Sado).
(2)Suibokuga(Ink wash painting): Yoshimasa also had a profound sensibility on Suibokuga. He had an unknown painter drawing a Suibokuga, and the unknown painter then became a maestro of Suibokuga — his name was Kano Masanobu. His sect of Suibokuga dominated Japanese painting scene over 400 years after his debt. This proves Yoshimasa's great eye for art. One of the most histric painter, Sesshu Toyo, also succeeded in the period of Yoshimasa's administration.
Ink wash painting
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Sesshu is one of the most popular painter in Japanese history (above painting is a work of Sesshu), and there is a popular anecdote relating to him that many Japanese know in their school days. The contents are as follows: When he was a kid, he became a monk of a temple. However, since he didn't work hard as a priest , always drawing pictures, a senior monk tied him to a pillar to punish him. While he was tied on the pillar, he shed tears and started drawing a picture of a mouse with his toe.  The senior priest was moved by the picture of a mouse, and decided to let him draw pictures freely. Sesshu's evaluation as a painter rose in the Edo period when Kano school, successors of Kano Masanobu, highly evaluated Sessue's works, admiring him as a master of Suibokuga. (3) Japanese-style garden: As you can see in the photo below, there are no trees or flowers in the garden, and only some stones are randomly arranged on the floor paved with white pebbles. There is almost no color, and this simpleness and cleanliness embodies Japanese beauty.  By the way, this kind of gardens, in those days, were built by discriminated people. They were making a living with their specialized skills, including entertainment performance like today's musical. They generally were living by rivers, and therefore, called "kawara-mono (river side people)". Among others, Zen-ami is popular as an artist of the stone garden. He was also a discriminated people, but was valued by Ashikaga-Yosimasa. In his last days, when he was lay down on the bed with illness, Yoshimasa sent a messenger to give him medicine. Some say "Seki-tei (stone garden)" is the first ever abstract sculpture around the world. As you can see in Sadoh room, Suibokuga, and stone garden, there is a characteristic sense of beauty among those Japanese style art works. This kind of the sense of beauty is referred to as "Wabi-Sabi" in Japanese: Wabi means simpleness and austerity, and Sabi means antiqueness. The tea cups in the photo below embody the sense of Wabi-Sabi.  This kind of beauty is the characteristics of Japanese culture. Although Japan absorbed many cultures from China, Chinese culture was typically gorgeous and flashy as you can see in the photo below. They were clearly different from Japanese culture in terms of the sense of beauty.  However, Okinawa, the southernmost of Japan, has a sense of beauty like that of Chinese culture as you can see in the photo below. That's because they had been in close relationship before modern period. Okinawa's traditional temple  (4) Shoin-zukuri: The word "Shoin-zukuri" means a style of Japanese residential architecture, and it became the basis of today's Japanese traditional house. The word "shoin" means study and it has equipment for reading and writing. However, since the way of reading and writing have changed since then, these equipment, in today's life style, has became nominal existence. By the way, shoin was also used as a living room, and this kind of architectural style was preferred mainly by samurai classes because of its practicality. shoin  ================================================================ As I mentioned above, Higashiyama-culture formed the base of today's Japanese culture with its sense of beauty that is expressed by the word "wabi-sabi". When Japan went ahead with the modernization, absorbing western technology, and therefore was gradually forgetting the sense of wabi-sabi in the early 20th, german architect Bruno Tauto taught us our original sense of beauty. He particularly was moved by Katsura Rikyu because it exactly embodied the sense of wabi-sabi.  However, Bruno Tauto criticized the Ginkaku-ji temple to be a Chinese like temple. That is to say, he didn't see it embodying the word wabi-sabi, comparing with Katsura Rikyu. That was because in the period of Higashiyama-culture, the sense of Japanese culture style hadn't yet been completed. (Katsura Rikyu was built in the Edo period.) He integrated Japanese traditional architecture into modernism style architecture — they are common interns of their simplicity. Left: Katsura Rikyu / Right: Tauto's work 
Anyway, as a result of prolonged battle, The power balance in Japan plunged into the state of disorder — which leads to the beginning of the Warring states period (early 15th ~ late 16th). By the way, the end of the warring states period means the completion of the unification of Japan. And the warring states period is one of the most popular periods in Japanese history. So let me write on the history and cultural history of that period from the next page.
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