Emperor Go-Reizei
Encyclopedia
was the 70th emperor
of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession.
Go-Reizei's reign spanned the years 1045–1068.
This 11th century sovereign was named after the 10th century Emperor Reizei
and go- (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Reizei". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Reizei, the second," or as "Reizei II."
, his personal name (imina) was Chikahito-shinnō (親仁親王).
He was the eldest son of Emperor Go-Suzaku
. His mother was Fujiwara no Kishi (藤原嬉子), formerly Naishi-no kami, daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga
.
Go-Reizei has three Empresses and no Imperial sons or daughters.
The actual site of Go-Riezei'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 Go-Riezei's mausoleum
. It is formally named Enkyo-ji no misasagi.
Go-Riezei is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji
Temple in Kyoto
.
The mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Go-Riezei is today named Shu-zan. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Go-Reizei died.
These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers (misasagi) which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.
in pre-Meiji
eras. Even during those years in which the court's actual influence outside the palace walls was minimal, the hierarchic organization persisted.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Reizei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
(章子内親王) (1026–1105), first daughter of Emperor Go-Ichijō
, thus his first cousin
Empress (kōgō): Fujiwara no Hiroko/Kanshi
(藤原寛子) (1036–1127), eldest daughter of Fujiwara no Yorimichi
(藤原頼通)
Empress (kōgō): Fujiwara no Kanshi
(藤原歓子) (1021–1102), second daughter of Fujiwara no Norimichi
(藤原教通)
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.
Go-Reizei's reign spanned the years 1045–1068.
This 11th century sovereign was named after the 10th century 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:...
and go- (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Reizei". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Reizei, the second," or as "Reizei II."
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 Chikahito-shinnō (親仁親王).
He was the eldest son of Emperor Go-Suzaku
Emperor Go-Suzaku
was the 69th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Suzaku's reign spanned the years from 1036 through 1045.This 11th-century sovereign was named after the 10th-century Emperor Suzaku and go- , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the...
. His mother was Fujiwara no Kishi (藤原嬉子), formerly Naishi-no kami, daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga
Fujiwara no Michinaga
represents the highpoint of the Fujiwara regents' control over the government of Japan.-Early life:He was the fourth or fifth son of Fujiwara no Kaneie by his wife Tokihime, daughter of Fujiwara no Nakamasa...
.
Go-Reizei has three Empresses and no Imperial sons or daughters.
Events of Go-Reizei's life
- February 5, 1045 (KantokuKantokuwas a after Chōkyū and before Eishō. This period spanned the years from November 1044 through April 1046. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* 1044 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
2, 16th day of the 1st month) : Emperor Go-Suzaku abdicated; and his eldest son receive the succession (‘‘senso’’) on the same day. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Reizei formally accedes to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). The following year, the era name is changed to mark the beginning of Go-Reizei's reign. - February 7, 1045 (Kantoku 2, 18th day in the 1st month): Go-Suzaku died at the age of 37.
- 1051 (EishōEisho (Heian period)was a after Kantoku and before Tengi. This period spanned the years from April 1046 through January 1053. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:* 1046 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
6): In MichinokuMutsu Provincewas an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
, Abe no SadatōAbe no Sadatowas a samurai of the Abe during the Heian period of Japan. Sadato was the son of Abe no Yoritoki, the chinjufu shogun...
and MunetōAbe no Munetōwas a samurai of the Abe clan during the Heian period of Japan. He was the son of Abe no Yoritoki, the head of the Abe clan of Emishi who were allowed to rule the six Emishi districts in the Kitakami Basin from Morioka to Hiraizumi in what is now Iwate Prefecture. Abe no Yoritoki was the Chinjufu...
instigate a rebellion which becomes known as the Nine Years War (1051–1062) because, even though the period of strife lasts for 11 years, the actual fighting lasts for nine years. In response, Minamoto no YoriyoshiMinamoto no Yoriyoshiwas a head of Japan's Minamoto clan who is perhaps most notable for having led, along with his son Minamoto no Yoshiie, the Imperial forces against rebellious forces in the north...
is appointed governor of Mutsu and he is named chinjufu shōgun. He is given these titles and powers so that he will be able to restore peace in the north. Yoriyoshi would have been the first to receive this specific shogunal title, although his grandfather (Minamoto no TsunemotoMinamoto no Tsunemotowas a samurai and Imperial Prince during Japan's Heian period, the progenitor of the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan. He was the son of Sadazumi-shinnō and grandson of Emperor Seiwa....
) had been seitō fuku-shōgun (assistant commander for pacification of the east).
- May 22, 1068 (JiryakuJiryakuwas a after Kōhei and before Enkyū. This period spanned the years from August 1065 through April 1069. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of Era:* 1065 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
4, 19th day of the 4th month): The former-Emperor Go-Reizei died at the age of 44. Go-Reizei had no direct heirs.
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 Go-Riezei'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 Enkyo-ji no misasagi.
Go-Riezei is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji
Ryoan-ji
is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. Belonging to the Myoshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism, the temple and karesansui garden is one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
Temple in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
.
The mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Go-Riezei is today named Shu-zan. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Go-Reizei died.
These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers (misasagi) which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.
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. Even during those years in which the court's actual influence outside the palace walls was minimal, the hierarchic organization persisted.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Reizei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- Kampaku, Fujiwara Yorimichi, 992–1074.
- Kampaku, Fujiwara Norimichi, 997–1075.
- Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara Yorimichi.
- SadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", 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 Sadaijin in the context of a central...
, Fujiwara Norimichi. - SadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", 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 Sadaijin in the context of a central...
- 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 Sanesuke, 957–1046. - 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 Yorimune, 993–1065. - 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 Morozane, 1042–1101. - Nadaijin, Minamoto Morofusa, 1009–1077.
- 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....
Eras of Go-Reizei's reign
The years of Go-Reizei's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- KantokuKantokuwas a after Chōkyū and before Eishō. This period spanned the years from November 1044 through April 1046. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* 1044 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1044–1046) - EishōEisho (Heian period)was a after Kantoku and before Tengi. This period spanned the years from April 1046 through January 1053. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:* 1046 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1046–1053) - TengiTengiwas a after Eishō and before Kōhei, spanning the years from January 1053 through August 1058. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:* 1053 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1053–1058) - KōheiKoheiwas a after Tengi and before Jiryaku. This period spanned the years from August 1058 through August 1065. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:* 1058 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1058–1065) - JiryakuJiryakuwas a after Kōhei and before Enkyū. This period spanned the years from August 1065 through April 1069. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of Era:* 1065 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1065–1069)
Empresses and consorts
Empress (chūgū): Imperial Princess Akiko/ShōshiPrincess Shoshi
Princess Shoshi was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor Go-Reizei of Japan.- Sources :...
(章子内親王) (1026–1105), first daughter of Emperor Go-Ichijō
Emperor Go-Ichijo
was the 68th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 1016 through 1036.This 11th century sovereign was named after Emperor Ichijō and go- , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Ichijō"...
, thus his first cousin
Empress (kōgō): Fujiwara no Hiroko/Kanshi
Fujiwara no Hiroko
Fujiwara no Hiroko was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor Go-Reizei of Japan.- Sources :...
(藤原寛子) (1036–1127), eldest daughter of Fujiwara no Yorimichi
Fujiwara no Yorimichi
' , son of Michinaga, was a Japanese Court noble. He succeeded his father to the position of Sesshō in 1017, and then went on to become Kampaku from 1020 until 1068...
(藤原頼通)
Empress (kōgō): Fujiwara no Kanshi
Fujiwara no Kanshi
Fujiwara no Kanshi was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor Go-Reizei of Japan.- Sources :...
(藤原歓子) (1021–1102), second daughter of Fujiwara no Norimichi
Fujiwara no Norimichi
, fifth son of Michinaga, was a kugyo of the Heian period. His mother was Minamoto no Rinshi , daughter of Minamoto no Masanobu. Regent Yorimichi, Empress Shōshi , Empress Kenshi were his brother and sisters from the same mother...
(藤原教通)
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...