The Kyushu factor in Ashikaga Yoshimitsu' dismissal of Tandai Imagawa Ryoshun

During the intercalary 7th month of Oei 2 (1395), the Muromachi Bakufu's Adjutant-Advocate General (Tandai) of the Island of Kyushu Imagawa Sadayo (ordained Ryoshun) was recalled to Bakufu headquarters in Kyoto and by the 2nd month of the following year was relieved of his post. This dismissal, which marked a very important turning point in the Bakufu's policy regarding Kyushu, is well known as an event indispensable to understanding the political history and regional governance characteristic of the shogunate of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, although there yet remain not a few points that require clarification concerning the political process of Ryoshun's dismissal, in particular, and the reasons why and in what way he was relieved of duty. In an attempt to clarify these points, the present article focuses on the state of affairs in Kyushu during the early years of the 1390s. <br>This study has compelled the author to argue that the reason for Ryoshun's dismissal should be sought in a breakdown of cooperative relations between the Tandai and the Island's provincial feudal warlords (daimyo) whom he administered・ leading to the collapse of the Bakufu's operations in Kyushu. How this state of affairs came about may be summarized as follows. <br>To begin with, the author looks at the Tandai's long and turbulent relations with the two main branches of the Shimazu Clan, which were peacefully resolved in 1391; however, since peace with the Shimazus could never be reconciled with the Tandai's protection of the interests of locally-based warrior-land proprietors (kokujin 国人) ; no sooner had peace been declared when local squabbling began to erupt in the Shimazu stronghold of southern Kyushu. In the midst of a desire on the part of the kokujin of southern Kyushu to form an anti-Shimazu mutual defense alliance (ikki 一揆), Ryoshun decided to dissolve the peace agreement with the Shimazus, and in the 2nd month of Meitoku 5 (1394) once more opened hostilities against the Shimizu branch clans. <br>Next the author turns to the Tandai's relations with the Otomo Clan, which in early years of Oei period was shaken by an internal dispute between Clan head Chikayo and two powerful branch families, the Tawara and Yoshihiro Clans. Ryoshun took the side of the branch families and broke off his relationship with Chikayo. Chikayo countered by allying the Otomo Clan with Ouchi Yoshihiro and the Shimazus, leaving Ryoshun's Tandai post facing the enmity of three of Kyushu's most powerful daimyo clans when the 2nd year of the Oei came along. This is what is meant by the collapse of the Bakufu's Kyushu operations due to a breakdown in cooperative relations between the Kyushu warlords and its Tandai, Imagawa Ryoshun. <br>Finally, the author switches the scene to Kyoto and the attitude of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, which contrary to the conventional wisdom, was one of support for Ryoshun, right up to the time he was recalled to the capital. However, as soon as Yoshimitsu was appraised of powerful daimyo turning against Ryoshun, meaning the imminent collapse of his Kyushu Tandai administration, Yoshimitsu had no other alternative than to relieve Ryoshun of duty. It was during the 2nd month of Oei 3 (1396) that it was announced that Shibukawa Mitsuyori would become the new Kyushu Tandai, marking the end of over two decades of Imagawa Ryoshun's administration of the Island.