The subject of Muromachi culture generally evokes images of either Kitayama culture or Higashiyama culture. The former flowered during the time Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was in power. It is known for the merging of the culture of the nobility and that of the samurai and the active introduction of Zen Buddhism and other elements of continental culture. Higashiyama culture covers the period of eighth shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa’s rule, the Ōnin War and later. Distinguished for outstanding paintings, architecture, gardens, literature, performing arts, and artistic disciplines (geidō), it is often described as the wellspring of Japanese culture. The Kitayama and Higashiyama cultures are represented by the Golden Pavilion and Silver Pavilion, respectively, the former located in the western part of Kyoto and the latter in the eastern part. The two pavilions are strong icons, so firmly fixing images of Kitayama and Higashiyama cultures that understandings of “Muromachi culture” have become quite rigid.
 Our research focuses on the half-century period—sandwiched by these two cultures— that extends from the Ōei to Eikyō eras, ruled by Ashikaga Yoshimochi and Yoshinori,and examines cultural phenomena of various sorts from multiple perspectives and approaches including history, literature (philology), art history, and intellectual history. The project thereby seeks to place this period clearly in the context of the cultural history of Japan and, in particular, of the Muromachi period.

Research Representative	大橋　直義	和歌山大学教育学部・准教授／国際日本文化研究センター・客員准教授
〃	呉座　勇一	国際日本文化研究センター・助教
Team Researcher	伊藤　慎吾	学習院女子大学／国際日本文化研究センター・非常勤講師／客員准教授
〃	高橋　悠介	慶應義塾大学附属研究所斯道文庫・准教授
〃	橋本　正俊	摂南大学外国語学部・教授
〃	小助川　元太	愛媛大学教育学部・教授
〃	小山　順子	京都女子大学文学部・教授
〃	貫井　裕恵	神奈川県立金沢文庫・学芸員
〃	山田　徹	同志社大学文学部・助教
〃	芳澤　元	明星大学人文学部・助教