The Ashikaga Shogunate was a feudal military government in Japan that lasted from 1336 to 1573. Founded by Ashikaga Takauji, it marked the second shogunate in Japanese history, following the Kamakura Shogunate. The Ashikaga period is known for its cultural developments, including the flourishing of Zen Buddhism and the arts, particularly in the form of Noh theater and ink painting. During the Ashikaga Shogunate, political power was decentralized, leading to conflicts among regional lords, known as daimyō. This era saw the rise of the Warring States period, characterized by constant military strife and the struggle for power among various factions. The shogunate ultimately fell due to internal strife and the emergence of the Oda clan, leading to the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate.