Emperor En'yu
Encyclopedia
was the 64th emperor
of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession.
En'yū's reign spanned the years from 969 through 984.
, his personal name (imina) was Morihira-shinnō.
Morihira-shinnō was the fifth son of Emperor Murakami
by the empress consort Anshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Morosuke
, therefore the brother of Emperor Reizei
.
In 967, Morihira-shinnō was appointed as the crown prince, bypassing his elder brother by the same mother, since his brother had no support from the Fujiwara clan.
En'yū had five Empresses or Imperial consorts and one Imperial son.
In his reign there were a severe struggle between the Fujiwara clan over who would be appointed kampaku. Emperor En'yū followed his mother's advice and favored Fujiwara no Kanemichi
, his maternal uncle. He had only one son, later the emperor Emperor Ichijō
by Senshi, a daughter of his uncle Fujiwara no Kaneie
, who was another brother of his mother. He made the daughter of Kanemichi the empress consort, though she bore no children. Senshi and his father Kaneie were angry at this elevation of their rival and were absent from the court for a long time, staying at the mansion of Kaneie with the child.
Imperial processions to the Hachiman and Hirano Shrines were first made during the reign of Emperor En'yū.
The actual site of En'yū's grave
is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial
Shinto
shrine
(misasagi) at Kyoto.
The Imperial Household Agency
designates this location as En'yū's mausoleum
. It is formally named Nochi no Mukarami no misasagi.
in pre-Meiji
eras.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During En'yū's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
: Fujiwara no Kōshi
(藤原媓子) (947-979), daughter of Fujiwara no Kanemichi (藤原兼通)
Empress
: Fujiwara no Junshi
/Nobuko (藤原遵子) (957-1017), daughter of Fujiwara no Yoritada (藤原頼忠)
Nyōgo
: Imperial Princess Sonshi (尊子内親王) (966-985), daughter of Emperor Reizei
Nyōgo
(Kōtaigō): Fujiwara no Senshi (藤原詮子) (962-1002), daughter of Fujiwara no Kaneie (藤原兼家); later, Nyoin (女院) 'Higashi-sanjō In' (東三条院)
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, according to the traditional order of succession.
En'yū's reign spanned the years from 969 through 984.
Traditional narrative
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum ThroneChrysanthemum Throne
The is the English term used to identify the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term can refer to very specific seating, such as the takamikura throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace....
, his personal name (imina) was Morihira-shinnō.
Morihira-shinnō was the fifth son of Emperor Murakami
Emperor Murakami
was the 62nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Murakami's reign spanned the years from 946 to his death in 967.-Traditional narrative:...
by the empress consort Anshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Morosuke
Fujiwara no Morosuke
, also known as Kujō-dono or Hōjō udaijin, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:He was a minister during the reign of Emperor Murakami....
, therefore the brother of Emperor Reizei
Emperor Reizei
was the 63rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Reizei's reign spanned the years from 967 through 969.-Traditional narrative:...
.
In 967, Morihira-shinnō was appointed as the crown prince, bypassing his elder brother by the same mother, since his brother had no support from the Fujiwara clan.
En'yū had five Empresses or Imperial consorts and one Imperial son.
Events of En'yū's life
- September 27, 969 (AnnaAnna (era)was a after Kōhō and before Tenroku. This period spanned the years from August 968 through March 970. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 2, 968 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
2, 13th day of the 8th month): In the 3rd year of Emperor Reizei's reign (冷泉天皇3年), he abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by a younger brother. - 969 (Anna 2, 9th month): Emperor En'yu is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).
- June 8, 976 (Ten'en 2, 11th day of the 5th month): The Imperial Palace burned down; and the Sacred Mirror was blackened to such an extent that it reflected no light.
- December 31, 980 (TengenTengen (era)was a after Jōgen and before Eikan. This period spanned the years from November 978 through April 983. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* February 20, 978 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
3, 22nd day of the 11th month): The Imperial Palace burned down; and the Sacred Mirror was half destroyed. - December 5, 982 (Tengen 5, 17th day of the 11th month): The Imperial Palace burned down; and the Sacred Mirror was reduced to a lump of melted metal which was collected and presented to the emperor.
In his reign there were a severe struggle between the Fujiwara clan over who would be appointed kampaku. Emperor En'yū followed his mother's advice and favored Fujiwara no Kanemichi
Fujiwara no Kanemichi
was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Kanemichi served as a minister during the reign of Emperor En'yū...
, his maternal uncle. He had only one son, later the emperor Emperor Ichijō
Emperor Ichijo
was the 66th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011.-Traditional narrative:Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Kanehito-shinnō....
by Senshi, a daughter of his uncle Fujiwara no Kaneie
Fujiwara no Kaneie
was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Kaneie served as a minister during the reigns of Emperor En'yū, Emperor Kazan and Emperor Go-Ichijō....
, who was another brother of his mother. He made the daughter of Kanemichi the empress consort, though she bore no children. Senshi and his father Kaneie were angry at this elevation of their rival and were absent from the court for a long time, staying at the mansion of Kaneie with the child.
Imperial processions to the Hachiman and Hirano Shrines were first made during the reign of Emperor En'yū.
- September 24, 984 (EikanEikanwas a after Tengen and before Kanna. This period spanned the years from April 983 through April 985. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 16, 983 ]: The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
2, 27th of the 8th month): The emperor abdicated at age 26.
- September 16, 985 (KannaKannaKanna may refer to:*Sceletium tortuosum, a Southern African succulent used by indigenous people of the area and currently world-wide for its psychoactive qualities....
1, 29th of the 8th month): The former-Emperor En'yū took the tonsure, becoming a Buddhist priest and taking the name of Kongō Hō.
- March 1, 991 (ShōryakuShoryakuwas a after Eiso and before Chōtoku. This period spanned the years from November 990 through February 995. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 990 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
2, 12th of the 2nd month): En'yū, now known as Kongō Hō, died at age 33.
The actual site of En'yū's grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
(misasagi) at Kyoto.
The Imperial Household Agency
Imperial Household Agency
The is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal...
designates this location as En'yū's mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
. It is formally named Nochi no Mukarami no misasagi.
Kugyō
is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of JapanEmperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
in pre-Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
eras.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During En'yū's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- Kampaku, Ōno-no-miya Fujiwara no SaneyoriFujiwara no Saneyori, also known as Onomiya-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:He was a minister during the reigns of Emperor Reizei and Emperor En'yu....
(藤原実頼), 900-970. - Kampaku, Fujiwara no YoritadaFujiwara no YoritadaFujiwara no Yoritada , the second son of Saneyori, was a kugyo who served as regent for Emperor En'yū and Emperor Kazan. His mother was a daughter of Fujiwara no Tokihira. His elder brother from the same mother Atsutoshi died before father's death...
(藤原頼忠), 924-989. - Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no SaneyoriFujiwara no Saneyori, also known as Onomiya-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:He was a minister during the reigns of Emperor Reizei and Emperor En'yu....
. - Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no KoretadaFujiwara no KoretadaFujiwara no Koretada , also known as Fujiwara no Koremasa or Kentokuko, Ichijō sesshō and Mikawa-kō, was a Japanese statesman, courtier, politician and waka-poet during the Heian period....
(藤原伊尹) - Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no KanemichiFujiwara no Kanemichiwas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Kanemichi served as a minister during the reign of Emperor En'yū...
(藤原兼通) - Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no YoritadaFujiwara no YoritadaFujiwara no Yoritada , the second son of Saneyori, was a kugyo who served as regent for Emperor En'yū and Emperor Kazan. His mother was a daughter of Fujiwara no Tokihira. His elder brother from the same mother Atsutoshi died before father's death...
. - Sesshō, Fujiwara no KoretadaFujiwara no KoretadaFujiwara no Koretada , also known as Fujiwara no Koremasa or Kentokuko, Ichijō sesshō and Mikawa-kō, was a Japanese statesman, courtier, politician and waka-poet during the Heian period....
, 924-972. - UdaijinUdaijinUdaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Udaijin in the context of a central...
, Fujiwara no KoretadaFujiwara no KoretadaFujiwara no Koretada , also known as Fujiwara no Koremasa or Kentokuko, Ichijō sesshō and Mikawa-kō, was a Japanese statesman, courtier, politician and waka-poet during the Heian period....
. - Udaijin, Fujiwara no KaneieFujiwara no Kaneiewas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Kaneie served as a minister during the reigns of Emperor En'yū, Emperor Kazan and Emperor Go-Ichijō....
(藤原兼家), 929-990. - Udaijin, Fujiwara no KanemichiFujiwara no Kanemichiwas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Kanemichi served as a minister during the reign of Emperor En'yū...
, 925-977. - Naidaijin, Fujiwara no KanemichiFujiwara no Kanemichiwas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Kanemichi served as a minister during the reign of Emperor En'yū...
- DainagonDainagonwas a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
, Minamoto no Kaneakira (源兼明) - Dainagon, Fujiwara no Morouji (藤原師氏) (Gon-no-Dainagon, 権大納言)
- Dainagon, Fujiwara no Koretada (藤原伊尹)
- Dainagon, Fujiwara no Yoritada (藤原頼忠)
- Dainagon, Tachibana no Yoshifuru (橘好古)
- Dainagon, Minamoto no MasanobuMinamoto no Masanobu' , third son of Imperial Prince Atsumi , a kugyo of the Heian period. His mother was a daughter of Fujiwara no Tokihira. He became Sadaijin in 978. His daughter Rinshi was married to Fujiwara no Michinaga, when Michinaga was in far lower position...
(源雅信) - Dainagon, Fujiwara no Kaneie (藤原兼家)
- Dainagon, Minamoto no Nobumitsu (源延光) (Gon-no-Dainagon, 権大納言)
- Dainagon, Fujiwara no Tamemitsu (藤原為光)
- Dainagon, Fujiwara no Asateru (藤原朝光) (Gon-no-Dainagon, 権大納言)
- Dainagon, Minamoto no Shigenobu (源重信)
- Dainagon, Fujiwara no Naritoki (藤原済時) (Gon-no-Dainagon, 権大納言)
Eras of En'yū's reign
The years of En'yū's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- AnnaAnna (era)was a after Kōhō and before Tenroku. This period spanned the years from August 968 through March 970. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 2, 968 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(968-970) - TenrokuTenrokuwas a after Anna and before Ten'en. This period spanned the years from March 970 through March 973. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 970 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(970-973) - Ten'en (973-976)
- Jōgen (976-978)
- TengenTengen (era)was a after Jōgen and before Eikan. This period spanned the years from November 978 through April 983. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* February 20, 978 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
(978-983) - EikanEikanwas a after Tengen and before Kanna. This period spanned the years from April 983 through April 985. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 16, 983 ]: The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
(983-985)
Consorts and Children
EmpressJapanese empresses
In Japan, empress may refer to either or .- Empresses regnant :There were eight female imperial reigns in Japan's early history between 593 and 770, and two more in the early modern period...
: Fujiwara no Kōshi
Fujiwara no Koshi
Fujiwara no Koshi was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor En'yū of Japan.- Sources :...
(藤原媓子) (947-979), daughter of Fujiwara no Kanemichi (藤原兼通)
Empress
Japanese empresses
In Japan, empress may refer to either or .- Empresses regnant :There were eight female imperial reigns in Japan's early history between 593 and 770, and two more in the early modern period...
: Fujiwara no Junshi
Fujiwara no Junshi
Fujiwara no Junshi was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor En'yū of Japan.- Sources :...
/Nobuko (藤原遵子) (957-1017), daughter of Fujiwara no Yoritada (藤原頼忠)
Nyōgo
Kokyu
The is a traditional Japanese string instrument, the only one played with a bow. Although it was introduced to Japan from China along with the shamisen, its material, shape, and sound are unique to Japan...
: Imperial Princess Sonshi (尊子内親王) (966-985), daughter of Emperor Reizei
Emperor Reizei
was the 63rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Reizei's reign spanned the years from 967 through 969.-Traditional narrative:...
Nyōgo
Kokyu
The is a traditional Japanese string instrument, the only one played with a bow. Although it was introduced to Japan from China along with the shamisen, its material, shape, and sound are unique to Japan...
(Kōtaigō): Fujiwara no Senshi (藤原詮子) (962-1002), daughter of Fujiwara no Kaneie (藤原兼家); later, Nyoin (女院) 'Higashi-sanjō In' (東三条院)
- Imperial Prince Yasuhito (懐仁親王) (980-1011) (Emperor IchijōEmperor Ichijowas the 66th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011.-Traditional narrative:Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Kanehito-shinnō....
)
See also
- Emperor of JapanEmperor of JapanThe Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
- List of Emperors of Japan
- Imperial cultImperial cultAn imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors , are worshipped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense...
- Emperor Go-En'yūEmperor Go-En'yuwas the 5th of the Ashikaga Pretenders during the period of two courts. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1371 through 1382....