Born in Kyoto, the son of the kampaku Ichijō Tsunetsugu. The Ichijō, descended from the Fujiwara, were one of the regent houses, and the family owned many books handed down from their ancestors. Kaneyoshi grew up with them and showed an extraordinary gift for learning, it is said.
Around this time he is said to have written Kuji Kongen, a clear explanation of the origins and meaning of the court's events through the year. From a young age he was known as a scholar of court ceremony and ancient custom (yūsoku kojitsu).
He was appointed regent to Emperor Go-Hanazono. He left the post after about two months that time, but later rose to Grand Minister and kampaku. As head of a great house he took part in court politics while pursuing scholarship all his life.
He became kampaku and stood at the top of the court. Praised as the most gifted man in Japan, he was so sure of his Japanese and Chinese learning that he reportedly claimed to surpass Sugawara no Michizane in some ways.
Around this time he wrote Nihon Shoki Sanso, a commentary on the Age of the Gods chapters of the Nihon Shoki that also drew on Buddhist and Confucian ideas. It is one of the works that best show his way of reading the classics with broad knowledge.
In the year he again became kampaku, the Ōnin War broke out. Fighting between the Eastern Army and the Western Army turned Kyoto into a burnt wasteland, and the Ichijō mansion burned too. Amid the war, life grew hard for the court nobles.
His library, the Tōkabō, which held books collected over generations, also burned, and many precious volumes were lost. Kaneyoshi took refuge in Nara with his son Jinson, abbot of the Daijō-in at Kōfuku-ji, and continued his studies there.
In Nara he completed Kachō Yosei, a commentary on The Tale of Genji. Carefully explaining the meaning and background of the tale's words, it had a great influence on later study of The Tale of Genji.
He traveled to Mino (Gifu) to seek the support of the local strongman Saitō Myōchin, and described the trip in a travel account, Fujikawa no Ki. For nobles whose income had shrunk in the war, help from powerful provincial figures was vital.
When the Ōnin War at last ended, he returned to Kyoto. Around this time he received support from Hino Tomiko, wife of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, and wrote Sayo no Nezame for her, a book on conduct and culture.
At the request of the ninth shogun, Ashikaga Yoshihisa, he wrote Shōdan Chiyō, a guide to good government. It gathered advice for a shogun in troubled times, such as how to choose provincial governors and why to care for the people.
He died this year. Having kept up his studies even amid the chaos of the Ōnin War and left books in many fields, including waka, renga, the classics and court custom, Kaneyoshi is regarded as the greatest scholar of the Muromachi period.
Sugawara no MichizaneAshikaga YoshimasaHino Tomiko
Ashikaga YoshimochiAshikaga YoshinoriIkkyū SōjunAshikaga MochiujiYamana SōzenNisshinUesugi NorizaneRennyo
People of the Muromachi period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.