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〔His name had originally been written with the characters 高氏，but he later received from Emperor Go-Daigo the right to use those 尊氏, under which he would become famous. According to Sansom (1977:87), in contemporary chronicles he is rarely called with his name, but referred to as or ''Dainagon'' (Great Concillor).〕 was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate.〔"Ashikaga Takauji" in ''The New Encyclopaedia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625.〕 His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358. He was a descendant of the samurai of the (Minamoto) Seiwa Genji line (meaning they were descendants of Emperor Seiwa) who had settled in the Ashikaga area of Shimotsuke Province, in present-day Tochigi Prefecture. According to famous Zen master and intellectual Musō Soseki, who enjoyed his favor and collaborated with him, Takauji had three qualities. First, he kept his cool in battle and was not afraid of death.〔Matsuo (1997:105)〕 Second, he was merciful and tolerant.〔 Third, he was very generous with those below him.〔 ==Career== Takauji was a general of the Kamakura shogunate sent to Kyoto in 1333 to put down the Genkō War which had started in 1331. After becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Kamakura shogunate over time, Takauji joined the banished Emperor Daigo II and Kusunoki Masashige, and seized Kyoto. Soon after, Nitta Yoshisada joined their cause, and laid siege to Kamakura. When the city fell to Nitta, the Shogunal regent, Hōjō Takatoki, and his clansmen committed suicide. This ended the Kamakura shogunate, as well as the Hōjō clan's power and influence. Daigo was enthroned once more as emperor, reestablishing the primacy of the Imperial court in Kyoto and starting the so-called Kemmu restoration. However, shortly thereafter, the samurai clans became increasingly disillusioned with the reestablished imperial court, which sought to return to the social and political systems of the Heian period. Sensing their discontent, Takauji pleaded with the emperor to do something before rebellion would break out, however his warnings were ignored. Hōjō Tokiyuki, son of Takatoki, took the opportunity to start the Nakasendai rebellion to try to reestablish the shogunate in Kamakura in 1335. Takauji put down the rebellion and took Kamakura for himself. Taking up the cause of his fellow samurai, he claimed the title of ''Sei-i Taishōgun'' and allotted land to his followers without permission from the court. Takauji announced his allegiance to the imperial court, but Emperor Daigo sent Nitta Yoshisada to reclaim Kamakura. Takauji defeated Yoshisada in battle and afterwards marched to Kyoto. He captured it only to be driven out and to Kyūshū by the regrouped forces of Yoshisada with Masashige. Takauji allied himself with the clans native to Kyūshū and again marched to Kyoto. At the decisive Battle of Minatogawa in 1336, Takauji defeated Yoshisada again and killed Masashige, allowing him to seize Kyoto for good. Emperor Kōmyō of the illegitimate Northern Court (see below) was installed as emperor by Takauji in opposition to the exiled Southern Court, beginning the turbulent Northern and Southern Court period (''Nanboku-chō''), which saw two emperors fight each other and which would last for almost 60 more years. Besides other honors, Emperor Daigo II had given Takauji the title of ''Chinjufu-shogun'', or Commander-in-chief of the Defense of the North, and the courtly title of the Fourth Rank, Junior Grade.〔〔Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ashikaga Takauji」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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