Ashikaga Shogunate

The Ashikaga Shogunate was a military government in Japan that lasted from 1336 to 1573. It was established by the Ashikaga clan after overthrowing the Kamakura Shogunate. The period is known for the rise of feudalism, the flourishing of culture and arts, including Noh theater and Zen Buddhism, but also for political instability and civil wars. The Ashikaga shoguns struggled to maintain power over rival clans and local warlords. Ultimately, their influence waned, leading to the rise of the Sengoku period, marked by widespread conflict and the eventual unification of Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate.