Ashikaga Yoshimasa was the eighth shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan, ruling from 1449 to 1473. He is known for his patronage of the arts and culture, which led to the flourishing of the Muromachi period. His reign was marked by political instability and conflicts, including the Onin War, which significantly weakened the shogunate. Despite the turmoil, Yoshimasa's support for the arts resulted in notable developments in tea ceremony, Noh theater, and ink painting. He established the famous Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) in Kyoto, which remains a symbol of his artistic legacy and influence on Japanese aesthetics.