足利将軍 (Ashikaga shōgun) refers to the military leaders of the Ashikaga shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1336 to 1573. This period is known as the Muromachi period, named after the district in Kyoto where the shogunate was based. The Ashikaga shōgunate was established by Ashikaga Takauji after he overthrew the Kamakura shogunate. The Ashikaga shōgunate is notable for its cultural developments, including the flourishing of Zen Buddhism and the arts, such as Noh theater and ink painting. However, the shogunate faced internal conflicts and power struggles, leading to its eventual decline and the rise of the Sengoku period.