photo #3350367

The 9th Ashikaga Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshihisa was born on this day, December 11, 1465.The birth of Ashikaga Yoshihisa would lead to the Onin War, and the Sengoku period.Yoshihisa’s father was the 8th shogun, Yoshimasa. In 1464, being without an heir, the almost 30-year-old shogun adopted his younger brother, Ashikaga Yoshimi, to avoid a power struggle should Yoshimasa die. However, the following year, Yoshimasa's wife gave birth to a boy, and heir. This in turn created a dispute over the title, that would evolve into the Onin War (1467-1477) and in turn, the over century-long conflict now known as the Sengoku Period. Yoshimasa retired during the Onin hostilities, and while continuing to wield power, gave the title to his son, Yoshihisa. The Onin War left much of Kyoto destroyed and the authority of the shogun in disarray. In order to strengthen the position, Yshihisa led a campaign against Sasaki Takayori of Omi (Shiga Pref.) in 1487 and laid siege to the Sasaki at Magari-no-Sato. Unfortunately, Yoshihisa fell ill, and died during the campaign, aged just 25.Upon Yoshihisa’s death, his father, Yoshimasa, adopted another brother's son, and that boy, Yoshitane, would become the 10th shogun.