The Ashikaga Shogunate's Sword Collection: The Connoisseurship of Dobosu and the Higashiyama御物 Swords

During the Muromachi period (1336–1573), the cultural status of Japanese swords underwent significant change. The blades that had functioned as "symbols of military oaths and fiefs" in the Kamakura period took on stronger aspects as "artworks and collectible items" in the Muromachi era, and the foundation of sword-appreciation culture in samurai society was established. At the center of this transformation were the Ashikaga shogun family and the "doboushuu" (同朋衆)—specialized cultural experts who served them.

The Ashikaga Shoguns and Sword Collecting—Formation of the "Gomosu" System

The Ashikaga shoguns actively collected artworks from the beginning of their rule, with Japanese swords forming an important pillar. The term "gomosu" (御物) referred to treasures managed by the shogun family, and among these, swords were the core assets demonstrating the authority of the samurai rulers.

Ashikaga Takauji (足利尊氏), the first shogun, accumulated celebrated blades seized or donated from temples, shrines, and military clans throughout the regions during the chaos of the Northern and Southern Courts. Takauji's collection of gomosu included numerous superior works from the Kamakura period—celebrated blades from Yamashiro and Bizen—which became the starting point for the Muromachi shogun family's sword collection.

Particularly enthusiastic about sword collecting were the sixth shogun, Ashikaga Yoshinori (足利義教), and the eighth shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利義政). Yoshinori accumulated a large number of celebrated blades through offerings from regional daimyo and temples as he strengthened shogunal authority. After the Onin War (1467–1477), Yoshimasa retired to the "Higashiyama-dono" (東山殿) (present-day area surrounding the Silver Pavilion) during a period of turmoil, devoting himself to the appreciation and collection of artworks. Yoshimasa's collection became known collectively as the "Higashiyama Gomosu" (東山御物), an important collection in the history of Japanese art appreciation.

The Doboushuu—The Ashikaga Shoguns' Sword Authentication Specialists

The group of experts who actually managed and authenticated the Ashikaga shoguns' sword collection were the "doboushuu" (同朋衆). The doboushuu were originally individuals who served close to the shogun, providing miscellaneous duties, entertainment, and cultural services, often bearing the title "ami" (阿弥) (examples: No-ami, Gei-ami, Sho-ami).

In the field of sword authentication, those among the doboushuu recognized for their ability as "mekiki" (目利き)—sword connoisseurs—were entrusted with managing the shogun family's sword collection. Their work was multifaceted: authenticating the genuineness and quality of newly offered or purchased blades, creating inventories and classifications of the entire collection, managing the storage environment of swords, selecting appropriate pieces when the shogun bestowed or exchanged blades, and handling the practical matters of sword exchanges in diplomatic settings.

The sword authentication of the doboushuu went beyond merely determining "genuine or fake." It required a systematic body of knowledge to judge "from which region, by which school, from which period, and at what level of craftsmanship was the piece made." To meet these demands, the doboushuu had opportunities to examine and compare celebrated blades from across the country, accumulating knowledge organized by period, region, and school characteristics.

This activity of the doboushuu functioned as "the genesis of Japanese sword authentication studies." The later scholarly development of Japanese sword authentication by the Hon'ami family (本阿弥家) developed on the basis of the practical knowledge system of the Muromachi doboushuu.

The Swords of the Higashiyama Gomosu—The Preferences of Medieval Samurai Collectors

The swords collected by the Ashikaga shoguns, particularly those gathered by Yoshimasa as part of the Higashiyama Gomosu, displayed certain clear tendencies. The most notable was an overwhelming preference for "works by celebrated masters of the Kamakura period (the earlier part of the Old Sword era)."

What Yoshimasa valued most highly were blades from the Kamakura period made in Yamashiro and Bizen, particularly swords by technical masters such as those of the "Ichimonji" and "Awataguchikouchi" schools. This reflects that Yoshimasa (and the discerning eye of the doboushuu) held the conviction that "ancient blades—especially those made by masters—are truly valuable."

This "veneration of old swords" value system spread throughout Muromachi samurai society, creating a cultural norm that "older celebrated blades are superior to newly made swords." This norm was inherited in the Edo period, becoming the foundation for demand in "old sword" collecting.

Sword Diplomacy—Celebrated Blades as Diplomatic Tools of the Ashikaga Shoguns

The Ashikaga shoguns actively utilized swords as diplomatic instruments. In Nichimin trade (日明貿易) with Ming China, Japanese swords were among the principal "tribute items" that the Japanese side presented to Ming.

The "Ming Shilu" (明実録) contains multiple records of Japanese swords being presented from the Ashikaga shogun family to the Ming emperor. In particular, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (足利義満), the third shogun, received the title "King of Japan" from Ming, and his diplomatic gifts included numerous swords. At the Ming court, Japanese swords were highly valued as "the pinnacle of craftsmanship uniting sharpness and beauty," becoming the point of origin for subsequent Chinese demand for Japanese blades.

This diplomatic sword exchange also influenced domestic sword production. The need to prepare large quantities of swords above a certain quality for presentation to Ming led to increased export-oriented production at sword-producing centers such as Osafune in Bizen. This became one factor in the "large-scale production system for Bizen swords" of the Muromachi period.

Dispersal After the Onin War—The Fate of the Higashiyama Gomosu

The Onin War (1467–1477) fundamentally shook the power base of the Ashikaga shogun family, devastating the Higashiyama Gomosu collection. The shogunal palaces were destroyed and plundered during the fighting, and the shogun family's treasures were scattered.

The swords of the Higashiyama Gomosu that survived the warfare subsequently changed hands through history. Oda Nobunaga seized the remaining treasures of the Ashikaga shogun family, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi further consolidated celebrated blades from throughout the country during his campaigns of national unification. As a result, many "swords that were once part of the Muromachi shogun family's gomosu" were subsequently given overwritten provenances such as "possessed by Nobunaga," "possessed by Hideyoshi," and "possessed by the Tokugawa shogun family."

Conclusion—The Legacy of Sword-Appreciation Culture Established in the Muromachi Period

The legacy of sword-appreciation culture established by the Ashikaga shoguns and the doboushuu was diverse. The "veneration of old swords" value system became the prototype of modern Japanese sword evaluation standards, and the practical authentication knowledge of the doboushuu connected to the later Hon'ami family and the scholarship of Japanese sword authentication. The practices surrounding the collection, management, and diplomatic use of the Higashiyama Gomosu established a perspective that positioned Japanese swords as "cultural property and diplomatic assets" rather than "mere weapons."

Though the institutional foundation of Muromachi sword culture was lost amid the chaos of the Sengoku period and the Onin War, its spiritual and cultural legacy continues to live in the depths of Japanese sword values.