Emperor Komyo
Encyclopedia
was the 2nd of the Ashikaga Pretenders
, although he was actually the first to be supported by the Ashikaga Bakufu
. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1336 through 1348.
Second son of Emperor Go-Fushimi
. His mother was Neishi (寧子), the daughter of Saionji Kinhira (西園寺公衡)
from September 20, 1336 to November 18, 1348.
When Ashikaga Takauji
, rebelling against Emperor Go-Daigo
's Kemmu Restoration
, entered Kyōto
in 1336, Go-Daigo fled to Enryakuji on Mount Hiei
. Despite lacking the sacred treasures, Prince Yutahito was enthroned as emperor, beginning the Northern Court. On the 12th day, 21st day, Go-Daigo escaped to Yoshino, founding the Southern Court.
On November 18, 1348, he abdicated in favor of the eldest son of his older brother, the former claimant to the throne Emperor Kōgon
, who became the Northern Pretender
Emperor Sukō
.
In 1352, taking advantage of the Kan'ō Disturbance, a family feud in the Ashikaga clan, the Southern Emperor Emperor Go-Murakami
entered Kyoto, capturing it and carrying away Kōmyō along with Emperor Kōgon
and Emperor Sukō
and the Crown Prince.
In the Shōhei
Reunification, Kōmyō and his companions were placed under house arrest in Yamato Province
, in what is today the village of Nishiyoshino
, Yoshino District
, Nara
. In 1355, returning to Kyōto
, he entered a monastery.
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...
, although he was actually the first to be supported by the Ashikaga Bakufu
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1336 through 1348.
Genealogy
His personal name was Yutahito (豊仁).Second son of Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi was the 93rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
. His mother was Neishi (寧子), the daughter of Saionji Kinhira (西園寺公衡)
Events of Kōmyō's life
In his own lifetime, Kōmyō and those around him believed that he occupied 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....
from September 20, 1336 to November 18, 1348.
When Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
, rebelling against Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
's Kemmu Restoration
Kemmu restoration
The is the name given to both the three year period of Japanese history between the Kamakura period and the Muromachi period, and the political events that took place in it...
, entered Kyōto
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:...
in 1336, Go-Daigo fled to Enryakuji on Mount Hiei
Mount Hiei
is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first outpost of the Japanese Tiantai sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei by Saichō in 788. Both Nichiren and Honen studied at the temple before...
. Despite lacking the sacred treasures, Prince Yutahito was enthroned as emperor, beginning the Northern Court. On the 12th day, 21st day, Go-Daigo escaped to Yoshino, founding the Southern Court.
On November 18, 1348, he abdicated in favor of the eldest son of his older brother, the former claimant to the throne Emperor Kōgon
Emperor Kōgon
Emperor Kōgon was the 1st of Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan...
, who became the 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 Sukō
Emperor Suko
) was the third of Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1348 through 1351.-Genealogy:...
.
In 1352, taking advantage of the Kan'ō Disturbance, a family feud in the Ashikaga clan, the Southern Emperor Emperor Go-Murakami
Emperor Go-Murakami
was the 97th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and a member of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period of rival courts. He reigned from September 18, 1339 until March 29, 1368 . His personal name was...
entered Kyoto, capturing it and carrying away Kōmyō along with Emperor Kōgon
Emperor Kōgon
Emperor Kōgon was the 1st of Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan...
and Emperor Sukō
Emperor Suko
) was the third of Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1348 through 1351.-Genealogy:...
and the Crown Prince.
In the Shōhei
Shohei
was a Japanese era name of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kōkoku and before Kentoku. This period spanned the years from December 1346 to July 1370. The Southern Court emperors in Yoshino were and...
Reunification, Kōmyō and his companions were placed under house arrest in Yamato Province
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
, in what is today the village of Nishiyoshino
Nishiyoshino, Nara
was a village located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 3,673 and a density of 39.98 persons per km²...
, Yoshino District
Yoshino District, Nara
Yoshino is a district located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 59,020 and a density of 26.14 persons per km²...
, Nara
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
. In 1355, returning to Kyōto
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:...
, he entered a monastery.
- July 26, 1380 (KōryakuKoryakuwas a Japanese era name of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Eiwa and before Eitoku. This period spanned the years from March 1379 through February 1381...
2, 24th day of the 6th month): The former emperor died at age 60.
Eras of Kōmyō's reign
The years of Kōmyō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- Nanboku-chō Northern court
- Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
Kemmuwas a Japanese era name of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Shōkei and before Ryakuō. Although Kemmu is understood by the Southern Court as having begun at the same time, the era was construed to have begun after Genkō and before Engen.This period spanned the...
(continued)
- Nanboku-chō Southern court
- Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
- EngenEngenEngen was a Japanese era of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kemmu and before Kōkoku, lasting from February 1336 to April 1340...
- KōkokuKokokuKōkoku was a Japanese era of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Engen and before Shōhei, lasting from April 1340 to December 1346. The emperor in Kyoto was...
- ShōheiShoheiwas a Japanese era name of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kōkoku and before Kentoku. This period spanned the years from December 1346 to July 1370. The Southern Court emperors in Yoshino were and...
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-KōmyōEmperor Go-Komyowas the 110th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Kōmyō's reign spanned the years from 1643 through 1654.This 17th century sovereign was named after the 14th century Nanboku-chō Emperor Kōmyō and go- , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he could be called...