Emperor Hanazono
Encyclopedia
Emperor Hanazono (August 14, 1297 – December 2, 1348) was the 95th emperor
of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1308 through 1318.
, his personal name (his imina) was Tomihito-shinnō (富仁親王).
He was the fourth son of the 92nd Emperor, Fushimi
. He belonged to the Jimyōin-tō branch of the Imperial Family.
.
Hanazono's father, the retired-Emperor Fushimi
, and Hanazono's brother, the retired-Emperor Go-Fushimi
, both exerted influence as cloistered emperors
during this reign.
In these years, negotiations between the Bakufu and the two imperial lines resulted in an agreement to alternate the throne between the two lines every 10 years (the Bumpō Agreement). This agreement was not long-lasting. The negotiated provisions would soon broken by Hanazono's successor.
In 1318, he abdicated to his second cousin, the Daikakuji-tō Emperor Go-Daigo
, who was the brother of Go-Nijō.
After his abdication, he raised his nephew, the future Northern Pretender
Emperor Kōgon
.
In 1335, he became a Buddhist
monk of the Zen
sect.
He died in 1348. Hanazono's imperial tomb is known as Jurakuin no ue no misasagi; it is located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
.
He excelled at tanka, and was an important member of the Kyōgoku School. He also left behind a diary, called Hanazono-in-Minki (Imperial Chronicles of the Flower Garden Temple or Hanazono-in) (花園院宸記). He was a very religious and literate person, never failing to miss his prayers to the Amitabha
Buddha
.
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 Hanazono's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
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...
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. His reign spanned the years from 1308 through 1318.
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 Tomihito-shinnō (富仁親王).
He was the fourth son of the 92nd Emperor, Fushimi
Emperor Fushimi
Emperor Fushimi was the 92nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
. He belonged to the Jimyōin-tō branch of the Imperial Family.
Events of Hanazono's life
Tomihito-shinnō became emperor upon the abdication of his second cousin, the Daikakuji-tō Emperor Go-NijōEmperor Go-Nijo
Emperor Go-Nijō was the 94th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from March 3, 1301 until September 10, 1308...
.
- TokujiTokujiwas a after Kagen and before Enkyō. This period spanned the years from December 1306 through October 1308. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1306 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
3, in the 8th month (1308): In the 8th year of Go-Nijo-tennōs reign (後二条天皇8年), the emperor died at the young age of 24; and the succession (senso) was received by his cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Hanazono is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui). - TokujiTokujiwas a after Kagen and before Enkyō. This period spanned the years from December 1306 through October 1308. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1306 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
3, in the 10th month (1308): The nengō was changed to Enkyō to mark the accession of Emperor Hanazono.
Hanazono's father, the retired-Emperor Fushimi
Emperor Fushimi
Emperor Fushimi was the 92nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
, and Hanazono's brother, the retired-Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi was the 93rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
, both exerted influence as cloistered emperors
Cloistered rule
The Insei system , or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan during the Heian period. In this bifurcated system, an Emperor abdicated, but he retained power and influence. The emperors who withdrew to live in monasteries continued to act in ways which were intended to...
during this reign.
In these years, negotiations between the Bakufu and the two imperial lines resulted in an agreement to alternate the throne between the two lines every 10 years (the Bumpō Agreement). This agreement was not long-lasting. The negotiated provisions would soon broken by Hanazono's successor.
In 1318, he abdicated to his second cousin, the Daikakuji-tō Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
, who was the brother of Go-Nijō.
After his abdication, he raised his nephew, the future Northern Pretender
Northern Court (Japan)
The , also known as the "Ashikaga Pretenders" or "Northern Pretenders", were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392...
Emperor Kōgon
Emperor Kōgon
Emperor Kōgon was the 1st of Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan...
.
In 1335, he became a Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism 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 of the Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
sect.
He died in 1348. Hanazono's imperial tomb is known as Jurakuin no ue no misasagi; it is located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
' is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was created in 1929 when it was split off from Shimogyō-ku. During the years 1931 to 1976 it also covered the area of present-day Yamashina-ku, which was an independent town until its merger into the city in 1931...
.
He excelled at tanka, and was an important member of the Kyōgoku School. He also left behind a diary, called Hanazono-in-Minki (Imperial Chronicles of the Flower Garden Temple or Hanazono-in) (花園院宸記). He was a very religious and literate person, never failing to miss his prayers to the Amitabha
Amitabha
Amitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
Buddha
Buddhahood
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
.
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 Hanazono's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- Sesshō, Kujō MoronoriKujo Moronori, son of regent Tadanori, was a kugyō or Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period . He held regent positions kampaku from 1305 to 1308 and sessho in 1308. A daughter of Emperor Kameyama was his consort; the couple adopted his brother Fusazane as their son. His other consort gave birth to...
, 1308 - Sesshō, Takatsukasa FuyuhiraTakatsukasa Fuyuhira, son of Kanetada and adopted son of Mototada, was kugyo or highest-ranking Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period . Morohira was his son. Fuyunori was his adopted son...
, 1308–1311 - Kampaku, Takatsukasa Fuyuhira, 1311–1313
- Kampaku, Konoe IehiraKonoe Iehira, son of Iemoto, was a kugyō or Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period . He held a regent position kampaku from 1313 and 1315. With a commoner he had a son Tsunetada.-References:...
, 1313–1315 - Kampaku, Takatsukasa Fuyuhira, 1315–1316
- Kampaku, Nijō MichihiraNijo Michihira, son of regent Nijō Kanemoto, was a Japanese kugyō of the late Kamakura period . He held a regent position kampaku from 1316 to 1318 and from 1327 to 1330. He married a daughter of Nijō Morotada and a daughter of Saionji 公顕...
, 1316–1318 - 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...
- Nadaijin
- 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 Hanazono's reign
The years of Hanazono's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- TokujiTokujiwas a after Kagen and before Enkyō. This period spanned the years from December 1306 through October 1308. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1306 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1306–1308) - Enkyō (1308–1311)
- ŌchōOchowas a after Enkyō and before Shōwa. This period spanned the years from April 1311 through February 1312. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1311 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1311–1312) - ShōwaShowa (first)was a after Ōchō and before Bunpō. This period spanned the years from March 1312 through February 1317. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 1311 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(1312–1317) - BumpōBumpo, also romanized as Bumpō, was a after Shōwa and before Gen'ō. This period spanned the years from February 1317 to April 1319. The reigning Emperors were and .-Change of era:...
(1317–1319)
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-HanazonoEmperor Go-Hanazonowas the 102nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1428 through] 1464....