Onin War

The New Heir

1458

Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the shogun of Japan, needed to choose a heir to his role, so he chose his brother.

The Birth of the Heir

1459

Yoshimasa's wife, Tomiko gave birth to his son who would automatically take position as heir.

The Start

1467

The Onin War started in February 1467 because the Yamana clan attacked and burned a mansion owned by the Hosokawa clan.

Revenge

Apr 19, 1467

After the burning of the Hosokawa Mansion, they attacked a Yamana rice shipment, and burned the mansion of a Yamana general.

Monastery Annihilation

Sep 13, 1467

On September 13, 1467, Yamana Sozen led an attack on a Buddhist monastery owned by the Hosokawa's

Silence

1468

Both sides were hiding in their trenches watching each other. The Hosokawa's ruined this peace by attacking Yamana territory, and declaring the whole family rebels.

Death

1473

Yamana Sozen and Hosokawa Katsumoto died on 1473 after engaging in political activities after 1469

Almost the End

1475

In 1475, Yoshimasa ordered the province leaders on both sides to leave Kyoto which would end the war, but many didn't leave which caused the fighting to continue.

The End

1477

An ally of the Yamana family agreed to the Shogun that he would leave for home. While he was going home he burnt the last relatively intact piece of land to the ground. After that, the war ended because neither side had the strength to fight.

Ikki

1478

After the soldiers left Kyoto, riots and mobs were everywhere. Yoshimasa did nothing as he built the Silver Pavillion. Villages gathered with lesser samurai to form armies to riot.

Money

1484

After the war the coin making industry boomed. They imported copper coins as well as minting their own which made people confused about the exchange rate.