Stories of the Japanese 01276 [Muromachi/Yoshimitsu Period] Genpuku Ceremony with Imperial Prince Status
Perhaps Ashikaga Yoshitsugu had the fastest promotion in Japanese history. I feel that no one faster than him has appeared since.
Please observe the momentum of the promotion of Yoshitsugu, who was rankless and office-less, starting from when he was first granted the Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade on February 27, 1408 (the 15th year of Oei).
First, on March 4, Yoshitsugu became Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade and Head of the Left Division of the Inner Palace Guards. This was a promotion in just one week. As an aside, on the same day, his younger brother of the same age, Harutora (1394–1441), was made to enter the priesthood at Shoren-in (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto) and was given the Buddhist name Gien. The fortunes of these two, born to the same father in the same year, were clearly divided, but surely no one could have predicted that Yoshitsugu would be killed halfway through his ambitions, while Gien, who had entered the priesthood, would later become the 6th Shogun, Yoshinori.
March 8. Emperor Go-Komatsu visited the Kitayama-dai and stayed for an astonishing 21 days. It is rare for an Emperor to visit a subject's residence, but staying for such a long period is extraordinary.
During this stay, Yoshimitsu laid out ungen-beri (multicolored striped) tatami mats for the Emperor's seat, and laid the same ones for his own seat as well. Ungen-beri mats were originally permitted only for Retired Emperors and Emperors, so he likely wanted to liken himself to a Retired Emperor. That said, since I have already introduced many episodes showing Yoshimitsu's majesty and arrogance, this level might lack impact.
Also, Yoshimitsu had Yoshitsugu sit in on this meeting with the Emperor at the Kitayama-dai, and on March 14, he had him perform the sho (a wind instrument) in front of the Emperor. The sho was considered important as a skill for the nobility, and Yoshitsugu seemed to have excellent talent for it. On the other hand, Yoshimochi seemed to be poor at the sho, so Yoshimitsu did not have him sit in and instead ordered him to guard the capital.
In society, people could not tell whether Yoshimochi or Yoshitsugu was Yoshimitsu's successor, and they began to call Yoshimochi the "Kyo-Gosho" (Capital Palace) and Yoshitsugu the "Shin-Gosho" (New Palace).
Then, on March 24, Yoshitsugu attained the Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade, and on March 28, he became a Middle Counselor. The momentum is such that one can only assume he was aiming to become the Grand Minister of State.
And the event that could be called the culmination of Yoshitsugu's promotion was the Genpuku (coming-of-age) ceremony on April 25. Yoshitsugu's Genpuku ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace, but originally, only Imperial Princes were permitted to use the Imperial Palace for their Genpuku. In other words, on this day, Yoshitsugu was treated as an equal to an Imperial Prince. The Minister of the Interior, Nijo Mitsumoto, served as the one to place the cap.
At the same time as his Genpuku, Yoshitsugu was promoted to the Junior Third Rank and became a Counselor.
It can be said that Yoshitsugu's life underwent a drastic change, as if he had won the lottery. At 14, he had a fateful reunion with his father, and despite being rankless and office-less at that time, he joined the ranks of the court nobles as a Junior Third Rank Counselor in just two months.
Let us consider what Yoshimitsu's true intentions were in promoting Yoshitsugu with such unprecedented momentum.