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==Muromachi Shugo==
==Muromachi Shugo==
As the powers of the shugo in the Kamakura era were defined by the [[Joei shikimoku|Joei forumulary]], so the Muromachi shugo were initially defined by the [[Kemmu shikimoku|Kemmu formulary]]. Officially, this meant they were limited to tax collection, maintenance of public order, and apprehension of criminals.<ref>Grossberg, 2001</ref> In the beginning of the [[Muromachi bakufu]], [[Ashikaga Takauji]] grew his power partly by building on the traditional feudal structure of vassalage, which the shugo also used to their advantage. Many shugo grew their local power bases, becoming shugo daimyo, and the government became a balance between the shogun and the power of the collective shugo. To keep the power of the shugo in check, many were forced to reside in Kyoto or Kamakura, and permission of the shogun was required to leave the capital for any reason. This forced more shugo to rely on shugodai to administer their provinces in their absence.
Despite the problems associated with administering their lands, the shugo grew in wealth and power beyond what they had attained in the past. Their newfound wealth was channeled into arts and commerce, growing the urban society of Kyoto and of cities built in its image in their home provinces. This golden age changed with Ashikaga Yoshinori, who took for himself more autocratic powers. He pitted shugo against one another, and disrupted traditional bonds of loyalty. His assasination in 1441 began the decline of the power of the shogun, and with it the power of the bakufu.
Initially the shugo daimyo prospered as the power of the shogun weakened. But as the authority of the shogun crumbled, so did the authority of the bakufu whence came shugo legitimacy. Without the legitimacy of the bakufu behind their claims, many shugo found their power challenged by powerful landholders within their provinces. Chaos finally broke out with the [[Onin War]] in 1466, and the beginning of the Warring States period. Few shugo daimyo survived this era of [[gekokujo]]--the low overthrowing the high, and their power was usurped by the new sengoku daimyo.
==Notes==
==Notes==
