The Onin War 1467-77

The story of the terrible Ōnin War has now been told. In this groundbreaking book the author has drawn on previously untranslated primary sources to set the famous yet misunderstood conflict in its true context. Its history begins with the glory days of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who made the position of shogun into something that was admired and respected, and left a legacy symbolized by his famous Golden Pavilion.Within decades all that he had achieved seemed to have been lost. In 1441 the reigning shogun Yoshinori, Yoshimitsu's son, had been murdered by a jealous rival. The Bakufu (shogunate) had somehow survived, but Yoshinori was succeeded first by a son who never reached manhood and then by another young son called Yoshimasa. He was to reign for 49 years in a turbulent age. Not only did Yoshimasa have to face up to his background of family tragedy, unprecedented waves of rioting by farmers shook the ruling classes as much as any wars could have done, and all this happened to a...

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More by Stephen Turnbull

More by Stephen Turnbull