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Ashikaga Yoshitane

1466 – 1523

Tenth shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate of Japan (1490–1493, 1508–1521)

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About Ashikaga Yoshitane

Lived 1466 – 1523 (aged 56). Ashikaga Yoshitane was a Japanese samurai.

, also known as , was the 10th shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate who headed the shogunate first from 1490 to 1493 and then again from 1508 to 1521 during the Muromachi period of Japan.

Yoshitane was the son of Ashikaga Yoshimi and grandson of the sixth shōgun Ashikaga Yoshinori. In his early life, he was named Yoshiki (sometimes translated as Yoshimura), and then Yoshitada — including the period of when he is first installed as shōgun; however, he changed his name to Yoshitane in 1501 in a period when he was temporarily exiled, and it is by this name that he is generally known today.

The 9th shōgun Ashikaga Yoshihisa died in 1489 on a battlefield of southern Ōmi Province. Yoshihisa left no heir; and Yoshitane became Sei-i Taishōgun a year later.

Events of Yoshitane's bakufu Yoshitane was appointed shōgun in 1490. Hōjō Sōun gains control of Izu the following year. In 1493, Hatakeyama Yoshitoyo forced Yoshitane to abdicate after he lost in a power struggle against Hosokawa Masamoto.

Emperor Go-Kashiwabara acceded to the throne in 1500. Ōuchi Yoshioki restored Yoshitane to the position of Sei-i Taishōgun from Yoshizumi. In 1520, a succession crisis occurred over Hosokawa Takakuni's post. When Takakuni became Kanrei (shogun's deputy), Yoshitane strongly opposed him and he was driven out.

Yoshitane's heirs and successors Shōgun Yoshitane adopted the son of Yoshizumi who was his cousin, Ashikaga Yoshitsuna and he designated Yoshitsuna as his heir and as his anticipated successor as shogun. However, when Yoshitane died prematurely, he was not succeeded by who he had chosen; rather, his father's newly designated heir was accepted by the shogunate as shōgun Yoshizumi.

In other words, after the death of his son, shōgun Yoshimasa adopted the son of his brother, Yoshimi. After the death of his adopted son, Yoshimasa adopted the son of another brother, Masatomo. Shogun Yoshimasa was succeeded by shōgun Yoshihisa (Yoshimasa's natural son), then by shōgun Yoshitane (Yoshimasa's first adopted son), and then by shōgun Yoshizumi (Yoshimasa's second adopted son). Yoshizumi's progeny would become shōguns in due course. Entoku (1489–1492) Meiō (1492–1501) Bunki (1501–1504) Eishō (1504–1521) Daiei (1521–1528)

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Shogun
Also known as
Ashikaga Yoshiki, Ashikaga Yoshitada

People in Ashikaga Yoshitane's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ashikaga Yoshitane's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ashikaga Yoshitane?

Tenth shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate of Japan (1490–1493, 1508–1521)

When was Ashikaga Yoshitane born?

Ashikaga Yoshitane was born on 9 September 1466.

When did Ashikaga Yoshitane die?

Ashikaga Yoshitane died on 23 May 1523 in Muya.

What was Ashikaga Yoshitane's occupation?

Ashikaga Yoshitane was a samurai.

What nationality was Ashikaga Yoshitane?

Ashikaga Yoshitane was Japanese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ashikaga Yoshitane

· Wikidata: Q708527

· DBpedia: Ashikaga Yoshitane

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ashikaga Yoshitane. https://biography.guide/ashikaga-yoshitane/

MLA: "Ashikaga Yoshitane." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ashikaga-yoshitane/.

Chicago: "Ashikaga Yoshitane." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ashikaga-yoshitane/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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