Ashikaga

City in Tochigi prefecture, Japan, 85 km/53 mi north of Tokyo; population (1995 est) 165,800. The city's silk industry dates from the 8th century, but now mainly cotton, knitted goods, synthetic fibre textiles, chemicals, and machinery are produced.

Ashikaga was the original power-base of the Ashikaga family, founders of the Muromachi dynasty of shoguns (1338-1573). In 1439 the Ashikaga Gakko, a school mainly for monks, was founded by the Ashikaga family, and Confucianism and military science were taught there. After a long decline it finally closed in 1872, but its remains have been conserved as a historic site and its library contains 77 manuscripts designated as National Treasures. There is also a famous academy of Chinese studies in the city, said to date from the 9th century, with a huge library of Chinese literature.