Emperor Konoe
Encyclopedia
was the 76th emperor
of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession.
Konoe's reign spanned the years from 1142 through 1155.
, his personal name (his imina) was Narihito-shinnō (体仁親王). He was also known as Tosihito-shinnō.
Emperor Konoe was the eighth son of Emperor Toba
. His mother was Fujiwara Tokuko (1117–1160), the wife of Emperor Toba
.
Kōgō Fujiwara Masuko (1140–1201) was the wife of Emperor Konoe; and after his death, she married Emperor Nijo
. Later, she was called Grand Empress Dowager Omiya.
At that time, the Kampaku Fujiwara-no Tadamichi became Sesshō or regent. The Cloistered Emperor
Toba
continued to direct all the affairs of government, while the retired Emperor Sutoku
had no powers. This conflict resulted in many controversies during Konoe's reign.
(太上法皇), visited his mother. Kōji 2, in the 5th month (1143): Konoe passed his days praying at Todai-ji
and also at the temples on Mount Hiei.
Ten'yō
gannen or Ten'yō 1, in the 7th month (1145): A comet was sighted in the sky; and for this reason, the name of the nengō was changed to Kyūan.
Kyūan 2, in the 2nd month (1146), Konoe visited Toba-no -Hōō.
Kyūan 2, in the 12th month (1146), Konoe joined in a celebration honoring Sesshō Fujiwara no Tadamichi
(the regent) on his 58th birthday. This event was important because, in each sexagenary cycle
, the first and the fifty-eighth years were considered to be auspicious according to Chinese astrological principles
. Kyūan 4, in the 6th month (1148: The imperial palace was consumed by flames.
Kyūan 6, in the 1st month (1150): Konoe assumed the role of a mature adult; and he married Fujiwara-no Tokoku, who had been raised by Sadaijin
Yorinaga. Tokoku was the daughter of Dainagon
Taira-no Kiyomori. This bride became Kōkōgō (皇皇后) or first empress.
Kyūan 6, in the 3rd month (1150): Konoe married again, this time to "Feï-si," who had been raised by Sesshō Fujiwara-no Tadamichi. She was the daughter of Dainagon Fujiwara-no Koremichi. This bride became Chūgū (中宮) or second empress. Konoe was so very much enamoured of this second wife that he neglected his first wife, which caused discord in the kugyō
, especially between Tadamichi and Yorinaga.
Kyūan 6, in the 12th month (1150): Sesshō Minamoto-no Tadamichi, resigns his position and is named Daijō Daijin. In this same month, Minamoto-no Yoshikane became head of the Ashikaga clan in Shimotsuke province.
During Konoe's reign, the Enshō (Superiority of Duration) Temple. After this, successive emperors no longer build Imperial-prayer temples.
Emperor Konoe's reign lasted for 14 years: 2 years in the nengō Kōji, 1 year in Ten'yō, 6 years in Kyūan, 3 years in Ninpei, and 2 years in Kyūju.
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 Konoe's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
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.
Konoe's reign spanned the years from 1142 through 1155.
Genealogy
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 (his imina) was Narihito-shinnō (体仁親王). He was also known as Tosihito-shinnō.
Emperor Konoe was the eighth son of Emperor Toba
Emperor Toba
was the 74th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123.- Genealogy :...
. His mother was Fujiwara Tokuko (1117–1160), the wife of Emperor Toba
Emperor Toba
was the 74th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123.- Genealogy :...
.
Kōgō Fujiwara Masuko (1140–1201) was the wife of Emperor Konoe; and after his death, she married Emperor Nijo
Emperor Nijo
Emperor Nijō was the 78th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spaned the years from 1158 through 1165.- Genealogy :...
. Later, she was called Grand Empress Dowager Omiya.
Events of Konoe's life
Konoe was named heir shortly after he was born in 1139; and he was proclaimed emperor at the age of 3.- EijiEijiwas a after Hōen and before Kōji. This period spanned the years from July 1141 through April 1142. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of Era:* February 9, 1141 : The old era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
1, in the 3rd month (1141): The former emperor Toba accepted the tonsure and became a Buddhist monk at the age of 39 years. - Eiji 1, on the 7th day of the 12th month (永治元年; 1141): In the 18th year of Sutoku-tennōs reign (崇徳天皇18年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by a younger brother, the 8th son of former Emperor Toba. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Konoe is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).
At that time, the Kampaku Fujiwara-no Tadamichi became Sesshō or regent. The Cloistered Emperor
Cloistered Emperor
Daijō Hōō or Daijō Hō , term sometimestranslated in English as cloistered Emperor, was a Japanese Emperor who abdicated and entered the Buddhist monastic community by receiving the Pravrajya rite...
Toba
Emperor Toba
was the 74th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123.- Genealogy :...
continued to direct all the affairs of government, while the retired Emperor Sutoku
Emperor Sutoku
was the 75th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Sutoku's reign spanned the years from 1123 through 1142.-Genealogy:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Akihito ....
had no powers. This conflict resulted in many controversies during Konoe's reign.
- Kōji 2, in the 1st month (1143): Cloistered EmperorCloistered EmperorDaijō Hōō or Daijō Hō , term sometimestranslated in English as cloistered Emperor, was a Japanese Emperor who abdicated and entered the Buddhist monastic community by receiving the Pravrajya rite...
Go-TobaEmperor Go-Tobawas the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198....
-in, now known by the title
Hoo
Hoo is used in placenames in the east of England to indicate coastal peninsulas and promontories. It appears in:* Fort Hoo, a fort on an island in the River Medway, Kent* Hoo St Werburgh and Cliffe-at-Hoo on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent* Hoo, Suffolk...
(太上法皇), visited his mother.
Todai-ji
, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ...
and also at the temples on Mount Hiei.
Ten'yo
was a after Kōji and before Kyūan. This period spanned the year from February 1144 through July 1145. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:* February 6, 1144 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
gannen or Ten'yō 1, in the 7th month (1145): A comet was sighted in the sky; and for this reason, the name of the
- KyūanKyuan, also romanized as Kyū-an, was a after Ten'yō and before Ninpei. This period spanned the years from July 1145 through January 1151. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:...
1, in the 8th month (1145): The mother of former Emperor SutokuEmperor Sutokuwas the 75th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Sutoku's reign spanned the years from 1123 through 1142.-Genealogy:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Akihito ....
(also known as
Fujiwara no Tadamichi
was the eldest son of the Japanese regent Fujiwara no Tadazane and a member of the politically powerful Fujiwara clan. He was the father of Fujiwara no Kanefusa and Jien.In the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156, Tadamichi sided with the Emperor Go-Shirakawa....
(the regent) on his 58th birthday. This event was important because, in each sexagenary cycle
Sexagenary cycle
The Chinese sexagenary cycle , also known as the Stems-and-Branches , is a cycle of sixty terms used for recording days or years. It appears, as a means of recording days, in the first Chinese written texts, the Shang dynasty oracle bones from the late second millennium BC. Its use to record years...
, the first and the fifty-eighth years were considered to be auspicious according to Chinese astrological principles
Chinese astrology
Chinese astrology is based on the traditional astronomy and calendars. The development of Chinese astrology is tied to that of astronomy, which came to flourish during the Han Dynasty ....
.
Sadaijin
, 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...
Yorinaga. Tokoku was the daughter of Dainagon
Dainagon
was 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....
Taira-no Kiyomori. This bride became Kōkōgō (皇皇后) or first empress.
Kugyo
is the collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. The kugyō was broadly divided into two groups: the , comprising the Chancellor of the Realm, the Minister of the Left, and the Minister of the Right; and the , comprising the...
, especially between Tadamichi and Yorinaga.
- NinpeiNinpei, also romanized as Nimpyō, was a after Kyūan and before Kyūju. This period spanned the years from January 1151 through October 1154. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
1, in the 1st month (1151): Sadaijin Yorinaga was given additional power as "Naï-ken," which gave him the duty and opportunity of reading formal written requests before they should be presented to the emperor. This had been amongst the powers of the Sesshō or the Kampaku. Factions in the court who favored Yorinaga tened to dislike Tadamichi, and they employed any means possible to help elevate Yorinaga's position. However, Yorinaga was himself generally disliked because of his capricious character. his tactics and stragtegy for enhancing his own prestige were focused primarily on diminishing Tadamichi's role in the court. - Ninpei 2, on the 7th day of the 3rd month (1152): Konoe visited the home of Toba-no-Hōō to celebrate his father's 50th birthday; and the emperor stayed until the next day, amusing himself with dances and with listening to musical performances.
- Ninpei 3, on the 2nd day of the 1st month (1153): Konoe visited his father's home; and in the same month Taira-no Tadamori, the head of the criminal tribunal, died; and this position was soon filed by his son, Taira-no Kiyomori.
- KyūjuKyujuwas a after Ninpei and before Hōgen. This period spanned the years from October 1151 through April 1154. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 14, 1154 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
gannen or Kyūju 1, in the 5th month (1154): Udaijin Minamoto-no Masasada retired from public life to become a priest at age 61. He died several years later. - Kyūju gannen or Kyūju 1, in the 8th month (1154): Fujiwara-no Saneyoshi, Grand General of the Right, was elevated to the role of Grand General of the Left; and the former Dainagon Fujiwara-no Kanenaga (aged 17) was elevated to take on the newly vacated role of Grand General of the Right.
- Kyūju 2, on the 23rd day of the 7th month (1155): Emperor Konoe died at the age of 17 years without leaving any heirs.
- Kyūju 2, on the 24th day of the 7th month (大同元年; 1155): In the 14th year of Konoe-tennōs reign (近衛天皇14年), the emperor died; and despite an ensuring dispute over who should follow her as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (enso) was received by a younger brother, the 14th on of former-Emperor Toba. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Shirakawa is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).
During Konoe's reign, the Enshō (Superiority of Duration) Temple. After this, successive emperors no longer build Imperial-prayer temples.
Emperor Konoe's reign lasted for 14 years: 2 years in the nengō Kōji, 1 year in Ten'yō, 6 years in Kyūan, 3 years in Ninpei, and 2 years in Kyūju.
Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) 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 Konoe's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- Sesshō, Fujiwara Tadamichi, 1099–1164.
- Daijō-daijin, Sanjō Saneyuki, 1079–1162.
- 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 Yorinaga, 1120–1156. - 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...
, Minamoto Arihito, 1103–1147. - 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...
, Sanjō Saneyuki, 1079–1162. - 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...
, Minamoto Arihito, 1103–1147. - Nadaijin, Minamoto Arihito, 1103–1147.
Eras of Konoe's reign
The years of Konoe's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- Kōji (1142–1144)
- Ten'yōTen'yowas a after Kōji and before Kyūan. This period spanned the year from February 1144 through July 1145. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:* February 6, 1144 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1144–1145) - KyūanKyuan, also romanized as Kyū-an, was a after Ten'yō and before Ninpei. This period spanned the years from July 1145 through January 1151. The reigning emperor was .-Change of Era:...
(1145–1151) - NinpeiNinpei, also romanized as Nimpyō, was a after Kyūan and before Kyūju. This period spanned the years from January 1151 through October 1154. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
(1151–1154) - KyūjuKyujuwas a after Ninpei and before Hōgen. This period spanned the years from October 1151 through April 1154. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 14, 1154 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
(1154–1156)