Yoshimitsu and later ashikaga shoguns associated themselves with the arts to

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was a great patron of arts and culture and the later Shoguns continued this tradition.

This was mostly done for a political motive. The Shoguns believed that to legitimize their rule and properly administer the country.

Using arts and culture as a medium, the shoguns combined Samaruai and Zen themes in order to appeal to a broad spectrum of the population.