Emperor Heizei
Encyclopedia
, also known as Heijō-tennō. was the 51st emperor of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession. Heizei's reign lasted from 806 to 809.
and his empress Fujiwara no Otomuro, who was the daughter of nadaijin Fujiwara Yoshitsugu. Heizei had three Empresses and seven Imperial sons and daughters.
Emperor Heizei is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency
designates , in Nara, Nara
, as the location of Kammu's mausoleum
. The site is publicly accessible.
.
His title Heizei was derived from the official name of the capital in Nara, Heizei Kyō.
During Heizei's reign, the bodyguards were reorganized; the existing Imperial Bodyguards became the Left Imperial Bodyguards, while the Middle Bodyguards became the Right Imperial Bodyguards. Both sides were given a new Senior Commander; at this time Heizei appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
(758-811) as Senior Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards of the Right. Under Emperor Kammu
, Tamuramaro had been appointed as shogun
of a military expedition against the Emishi
.
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 would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Heizei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
When the daughter of a chūnagon
became the favored consort of the Crown Prince Ate (later known as Heizei-tennō), her father's power and position in court was affected. Kammu disapproved of , daughter of Fujiwara no Tadanushi; and Kammu had her removed from his son's household. After Kammu died, Heize restored this one-time favorite as part of his household; and this distinction had cosequences.
Hi: Imperial Princess Asahara (朝原内親王) (779-817), daughter of Emperor Kammu
Hi: Imperial Princess Ōyake (大宅内親王) (?-849), daughter of Emperor Kammu
Shōshi Court lady (Naishi-no-kami): , daughter of Chūnagon Fujiwara no Tadanushi
Court lady: Fujii no Fujiko/Tōshi (葛井藤子), daughter of Fujii no Michiyori
Court lady: Ise no Tsugiko (伊勢継子) (772-812), daughter of Ise no Ōna
Court lady: Ki no Iokazu (紀魚員), daughter of Ki no Kotsuo
Emperor 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...
, according to the traditional order of succession. Heizei's reign lasted from 806 to 809.
Traditional narrative
He was the eldest son of the Emperor KammuEmperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
and his empress Fujiwara no Otomuro, who was the daughter of nadaijin Fujiwara Yoshitsugu. Heizei had three Empresses and seven Imperial sons and daughters.
Emperor Heizei is traditionally venerated at his tomb; 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 , in Nara, Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, as the location of Kammu'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...
. The site is publicly accessible.
Events of Heizei's life
Before he ascended to the throne, his liaison with Fujiwara no Kusuko, the mother of his one consort, caused a scandal. Because of this scandal his father considered depriving him of the rank of crown princeCrown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
.
- 785: : Heizei was appointed Crown Prince at the age of 12.
- April 9, 806 : In the 25th year of Emperor Kammu's reign, he died; and despite an ensuring dispute over who should follow him as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (senso) was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Heizei is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).
His title Heizei was derived from the official name of the capital in Nara, Heizei Kyō.
During Heizei's reign, the bodyguards were reorganized; the existing Imperial Bodyguards became the Left Imperial Bodyguards, while the Middle Bodyguards became the Right Imperial Bodyguards. Both sides were given a new Senior Commander; at this time Heizei appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
was a general and shogun of the early Heian Period of Japan. He was the son of Sakanoue no Karitamaro.-Military career:Serving Emperor Kammu, he was appointed shogun and given the task of conquering the Emishi , a people native to the north of Honshū, which he subjugated...
(758-811) as Senior Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards of the Right. Under Emperor Kammu
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
, Tamuramaro had been appointed as shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
of a military expedition against the Emishi
Emishi
The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...
.
- 809 : After a reign of four years, Heizei fell ill; and fearing that he would not survive, Heizei abdicated in favor of his younger brother, who would later come to be known as Emperor SagaEmperor Sagawas the 52nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Saga's reign spanned the years from 809 through 823.-Traditional narrative:...
. After abdicating, Heizei moved to NaraNara, Narais the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
and was henceforth known as Nara no Mikado, the "Emperor of Nara".
- May 18, 809 : Emperor Saga was enthroned at age 24.
- 810 (KōninKonin (era)was a after Daidō and before Tenchō. This period spanned the years from September 810 through January 824. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 9, 810 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
1): In Heizei's name, the former emperor's ambitious third wife, , and her brother Nakanari organized an attempted rebellion, but their forces were defeated. Kusuko died in poison and her brother was executed. Heizei took the tonsure and became a BuddhistBuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
monk.
- August 5, 824 : Heizei died at age 51, 14 years after he had abdicated due to illness.
Era of Heizei's reign
The years of Genshō's reign are encompassed within one era name (nengō).- DaidōDaidowas a after Enryaku and before Kōnin. This period spanned the years from May 806 through September 810. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* November 16, 806 : The new era name 'was created to mark an event or series of events...
(806-810)
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 would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Heizei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- 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...
(not appointed) - 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...
, Miwa-no-Oh ou Miwa-no-Ohkimi (神王), 798-806. - Udaijin, Fujiwara no Uchimaro (藤原内麿), 806-812.
- Naidaijin
- 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....
, Fujiwara no Otomo (藤原雄友), 806-807
When the daughter of a chūnagon
Chunagon
was a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705...
became the favored consort of the Crown Prince Ate (later known as Heizei-tennō), her father's power and position in court was affected. Kammu disapproved of , daughter of Fujiwara no Tadanushi; and Kammu had her removed from his son's household. After Kammu died, Heize restored this one-time favorite as part of his household; and this distinction had cosequences.
- ChūnagonChunagonwas a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705...
, Fujiwara no Tadanushi
Consorts and children
Empress (posthumously elevated Kōgō): Fujiwara no Tarashiko (藤原帯子) (?-794), also known as Taishi, daughter of Fujiwara no MomokawaFujiwara no Momokawa
was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period. His original name was .-Career at court:He was a minister during the reigns of Empress Kōken/Shōtoku and Emperor Kōnin....
Hi: Imperial Princess Asahara (朝原内親王) (779-817), daughter of Emperor Kammu
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
Hi: Imperial Princess Ōyake (大宅内親王) (?-849), daughter of Emperor Kammu
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
Shōshi Court lady (Naishi-no-kami): , daughter of Chūnagon Fujiwara no Tadanushi
Court lady: Fujii no Fujiko/Tōshi (葛井藤子), daughter of Fujii no Michiyori
- Imperial Prince Abo (阿保親王) (792-842)
Court lady: Ise no Tsugiko (伊勢継子) (772-812), daughter of Ise no Ōna
- Imperial Prince Takaoka (高丘親王) (799-881), the Crown Prince in 809(deposed in 810)
- Imperial Prince Kose (巨勢親王) (?-882)
- Imperial Princess Kamitsukeno (上毛野内親王) (?-842)
- Imperial Princess Isonokami (石上内親王) (?-846)
- Imperial Princess Ōhara (大原内親王) (?-863), 14th SaiōSaioA , also known as "Itsuki no Miko", was an unmarried female relative of the Japanese emperor, sent to Ise to serve at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century. The Saiō's residence, Saikū , was approximately 10 km north-west of the shrine...
in Ise ShrineIse Shrineis a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and ....
(806-809)
Court lady: Ki no Iokazu (紀魚員), daughter of Ki no Kotsuo
- Imperial Princess Enu (叡努内親王) (?-835)
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...