Hino Tomiko

Hino Tomiko (日野 富子, 1440 – June 30, 1496) was a prominently placed figure in Muromachi period and the begin of the Sengoku period. She was daughter of Hino Shigemasa and the official wife of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate (at first Tomiko was betrothed to Ashikaga Yoshikatsu the 7th shōgun but Yoshikatsu died at age of 10), and the mother of Ashikaga Yoshihisa, the 9th shōgun. Her efforts in succession dispute are seen as one of the causes of the Ōnin War and led to the begin of the Sengoku period.[1]

In this Japanese name, the surname is Hino.
Ōmidaidokoro

日野 富子

Hino Tomiko
Hino family crest
Born1440
DiedJune 30, 1496 (aged ~56 years)
Known forOne of Leaders of the Ōnin War
Spouse(s)Ashikaga Yoshimasa
ChildrenAshikaga Yoshihisa
Imaimairi no Tsubone
Parent(s)Hino Shigemasa
Relatives Hino clan
Ashikaga shogunate

Early life

Hino Tomiko was born into the Hino family, a powerful family whose women became consorts to many previous Shoguns. These familial connections enhanced the Hino's power to control the Shogunate Court. Tomiko was important to strengthen the Hino family relationship with the Shogunate and grow ever more powerful. When Tomiko's social and political status emerged after her marriage to Ashikaga Yoshimasa, she decided to stay active in the shogunal government. She had her first child at ninth day of the first month of 1459, however, the child died the same day. Later she placed the blame for the child's death on its wet nurse, Imaimairi no Tsubone, later exiled to Oki Island on Lake Biwa where she committed suicide.

Ōnin War

In 1460, Yoshimasa decided to abdicate his position as Shogun. However, since Tomiko had not given birth to an heir, Yoshimasa convinced his younger brother Ashikaga Yoshimi to succeed him, first in office and then gradually claiming the title of Shogun. Tomiko was against it, although at the time she had no influence to contest Yoshimi's appointment, she stood at war with the shogunate officers and decided to rule until the birth of an heir. When she gave birth to the future Ashikaga Yoshihisa made her the mother of the future shogun. Tomiko went looking for military support to make sure the next successor was from her family lineage. She got support from the Ouchi, Hatakeyama, Shiba and others clans.

With her standing in the Hino family, and backed by Yamana Sozen, two clans developed in the capital, Hosokawa clan supporting the newly appointed Shogun, Yoshimi, and the Yamana clan the succession of Yoshihisa. Thus, this desire of Tomiko to place her son in line for the succession led to the Ōnin War.

She has been the subject of novels by Ryōtarō Shiba and Michiko Nagai. She also become subject of a novel named Fuyu No Rakijatsu by Eri Kawamaru. Hino Tomiko was a central character in the NHK Taiga drama Hana no Ran.[2]

References
  1. "Hino Tomiko". Daijirin. Archived from the original on 2009-08-04.
  2. 花の乱: NHK 大河ドラマ・ストリー (Hana no ran: NHK taiga dorama stōrī), 1994

See also


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