The Poet Who Challenged the Shogun: Asukai Masayo and Shinshoku Kokin Wakashū

Abstract

Abstract: During Japan's late medieval era, the Ashikaga shoguns wished to merge the imperial and warrior governments and establish a feudal monarchy. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori made considerable efforts to acquire cultural capital and start a new imperial dynasty. He understood the symbolic importance of ancient traditions for the realization of his ambitions. One gesture aimed at acquiring cultural authority was his initiation and sponsorship of a literary project known today as the last imperial anthology of waka, Shinshoku kokin wakashū . The collection reveals that its compiler, Asukai Masayo, challenged the shogun with an agenda that undermined Yoshinori's authority.