Emperor Reigen
Encyclopedia
was the 112th emperor
of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession.
Reigen's reign spanned the years from 1663 through 1687.
, his personal name (imina) was ; and his pre-accession title was .
Reigen was the 16th son of Emperor Go-Mizunoo
. His mother was the daughter of Minister of the Center Sonomotooto (内大臣園基音), Lady in Waiting Kuniko (新広義門院国子).
Regien's Imperial family lived with him in the Dairi
of the Heian Palace
. This family included at least 13 sons and 14 daughters:
His posthumous name
was created during the Meiji Era by combining the kanji
from the names of two previous Emperors, Emperor Kōrei
(孝霊) and Emperor Kōgen
(孝元).
Emperor Reigen's memory is honored and preserved at his designated Imperial mausoleum (misasagi), Tsukinowa no misasagi at Sennyū-ji
in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
. His immediate Imperial predecessors since Emperor Go-Mizunoo
-- Meishō
, Go-Kōmyō
and Go-Sai
are also enshrined along with his immediate Imperial successors, including Higashiyama
, Nakamikado
, Sakuramachi
, Momozono
, Go-Sakuramachi
and Go-Momozono
.
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 Reigen'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.
Reigen's reign spanned the years from 1663 through 1687.
Genealogy
Before Reigen's 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 ; and his pre-accession title was .
Reigen was the 16th son of Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Emperor Go-Mizunoo
was the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629.This 17th century sovereign was named after the 9th century Emperor Seiwa and , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he could be called the "Later...
. His mother was the daughter of Minister of the Center Sonomotooto (内大臣園基音), Lady in Waiting Kuniko (新広義門院国子).
Regien's Imperial family lived with him in the Dairi
Dairi
Dairi may refer to:* The building in which the Japanese Imperial family resided , the women of the Imperial family , the Imperial court of Japan, or an indirect way of referring to the Emperor himself....
of the Heian Palace
Heian Palace
The Heian Palace was the original imperial palace of Heian-kyō , the capital of Japan, from 794 to 1227. In Japan, this palace is called Daidairi...
. This family included at least 13 sons and 14 daughters:
- Empress: Takatsukasa FusakoFujiwara no FusakoFujiwara no Fusako , was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor Reigen of Japan.- Sources :...
(鷹司房子) (Empress Dowager Shin-jyōsai, 新上西門院)- Third daughter: Imperial Princess Masako (栄子内親王)
- Lady-in-waiting: Bōjō Fusako (坊城房子)
- Second daughter: Princess Ken'shi (憲子内親王)
- Lady-in-waiting: Daughter of Ogura Saneoki (小倉実起女)
- First son: Prince Saishin (済深法親王) (Buddhist priest)
- Lady-in-waiting: Matsuki Muneko (松木宗子) (Empress Dowager Keihō, 敬法門院)
- Fourth son: Imperial Prince Asahito (朝仁親王), also known as Tomohito (Emperor HigashiyamaEmperor Higashiyamawas the 113th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Higashiyama's reign spanned the years from 1687 through 1709.-Genealogy:...
) - Fifth daughter: Princess Tomiko (福子内親王)
- Sixth daughter: Princess Eisyū (永秀女王)
- 7th son: Imperial Prince Kyōgoku-no-miya Ayahito (京極宮文仁親王) - Sixth Kyōgoku-no-miya
- 7th daughter: Ume-no-miya (梅宮)
- 8th daughter: Princess Katsuko (勝子内親王)
- 8th son: Sei-no-miya (清宮)
- Fourth son: Imperial Prince Asahito (朝仁親王), also known as Tomohito (Emperor Higashiyama
- ??: Atago Fukuko? (愛宕福子)
- Second son: Prince Kanryū (寛隆法親王) (Buddhist priest)
- Fourth daughter: Tsuna-no-miya (綱宮)
- ??: Gojyō Yōko (五条庸子)
- Third son: San-no-miya (三宮)
- Fifth son: Prince Gyōen (尭延法親王) (Buddhist priest)
- Sixth son: Tairei'in-no-miya (台嶺院宮)
- ??: Higashikuze Hiroko (東久世博子)
- 11th son: Toku-no-miya (徳宮)
- 12th son: Riki-no-miya (力宮)
- ??: Daughter of ?? Sada'atsu (今城定淳女)
- 13th son: Prince Sonsyō (尊賞法親王) (Buddhist priest)
- 11th daughter: Princess Bun'ō (文応女王)
- Consort: Daughter of Nishi-no-tōin Tokinaga (西洞院時良女)
- First daughter: Chikōin-miya (知光院宮)
- Consort: Gojyō Tsuneko (五条経子)
- 9th son: Saku-no-miya (作宮)
- 10th son: Prince Syō'ou (性応法親王) (Buddhist priest)
- 9th daughter: Princess Bunki (文喜女王)
- 10th daughter: Princess Gensyū? (元秀女王)
- Consort: Irie Itsuko (入江伊津子)
- 14th son: Kachi-no-miya (嘉智宮)
- 12th daughter: Tome-no-miya (留宮)
- Consort: Daughter of Kurahashi Yasusada (倉橋泰貞女)
- 15th son: Mine-no-miya (峯宮)
- Consort: Matsumuro Atsuko (松室敦子)
- 16th son: Imperial Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Yorihito (有栖川宮職仁親王) - Fifth Arisugawa-no-miya
- 13th daughter: Princess Yoshiko (吉子内親王)
- 18th son: Prince Gyōkyō (尭恭法親王) (Buddhist priest)
- Consort: Matsumuro Nakako (松室仲子)
- 17th son: Prince Son'in (尊胤法親王) (Buddhist priest)
- Consort: Daughter of Hata ??tada (秦相忠女)
- 14th son: Yae-no-miya (八重宮)
His posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
was created during the Meiji Era by combining the kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
from the names of two previous Emperors, Emperor Kōrei
Emperor Korei
; also known as Ooyamatonekohikofutoni no Mikoto; was the seventh emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 290 BC–215 BC, but he may have lived in the...
(孝霊) and Emperor Kōgen
Emperor Kogen
, also known as Ooyamatonekohikokunikuru no Mikoto, was the eighth emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 214 BC–158 BC.-Legendary narrative:Modern...
(孝元).
Events of Reigen's life
- July 9, 1653: The birth of an Imperial prince who will become known by the posthumous name of Reigen-tennō.
- 1654: Prince Satohito, who is also known as Ate-no-miya, is named as heir before the death of his eldest brother, 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...
; however, the young prince is considered too young to become emperor. It is decided that until the young heir grows older, his elder brother will accede to the throne as Emperor Go-SaiEmperor Go-Sai, also known as was the 111th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sai's reign spanned the years from 1654 through 1663....
.
- March 5, 1663 (KanbunKanbun (era), also romanized as Kambun, was a after Manji and before Enpō. This period spanned the years from April 1661 to September 1673. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...
3, 26th day of the 1st month): Emperor Go-SaiEmperor Go-Sai, also known as was the 111th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sai's reign spanned the years from 1654 through 1663....
abdicated; and Prince Satohito received the succession (senso). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Reigen formally acceded (sokui) and his reign began.
- 1665 (Kanbun 5, 6th month): Courts of inquisition were established in all the villages of Japan. These courts were charged with discovering and eliminating any vestiges of Christianity in each community.
- 1666 (Kanbun 6, 4th month): Hokke shu Buddhist religious practices are preserved for those who believe that their spiritual and moral purity may be tainted by close association with others.
- 1667 (Kanbun 7): After fire destroyed the main temple structure, work on rebuilding at Nara commenced.
- February 13, 1668 (Kanbun 8, 1st day of the 2nd month): A great fire broke out in Edo—a conflagration lasting 45 days. The disastrous fire was attributed to arson.
- 1669 (Kanbun 9):There was a famine in this year; and a military expedition was sent to northern Honshū against Shakushain's RevoltShakushain's Revoltwas an Ainu rebellion against Japanese authority on Hokkaidō between 1669 to 1672. It was led by Ainu chieftain Shakushain against the Matsumae clan, who represented Japanese trading and governmental interests in the area of Hokkaidō then controlled by the Japanese .The war initially began as a...
.
- 1673 (EnpōEnpo, also Empo, was a after Kanbun and before Tenna. This period spanned the years from September 1673 to September 1681. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
1): There was a great fire in Kyoto.
- May 21, 1673 (Enpō 1, 5th day of the 4th month): The Chinese Buddhist teacher IngenIngenIngen Ryūki was a Chinese Linji Chán Buddhist monk, poet, and calligrapher....
dies in the ObakuObaku (school of Buddhism)The , is , one of three sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism.-History:Often termed the third sect of Zen Buddhism in Japan, it was established in 1661 by a small faction of masters from China and their Japanese students at Manpuku-ji in Uji, Japan.Today Manpuku-ji serves as the Ōbaku's head temple,...
ZenZenZen 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...
temple, Mampukuji at Uji.
- 1675 (EnpōEnpo, also Empo, was a after Kanbun and before Tenna. This period spanned the years from September 1673 to September 1681. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
3): There was a great fire in Kyoto.
- June 4, 1680 (Enpō 8, 8th day of the 5th month): Shogun IetsunaTokugawa Ietsunawas the fourth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan who was in office from 1651 to 1680. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.-Early Life :...
dies; and he is succeeded by Tokugawa TsunayoshiTokugawa Tsunayoshiwas the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the younger brother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, thus making him the son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu....
.
- June 15, 1680 (Enpō 8, 19th day of the 5th month): Former-Emperor Go-MizunooEmperor Go-Mizunoowas the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629.This 17th century sovereign was named after the 9th century Emperor Seiwa and , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he could be called the "Later...
died.
- 1680 (Enpō 8, 8th month): A great flood devastates Edo.
- 1680 (Enpō 8): Gokoku-jiGokoku-jiis a Shingon Buddhist temple in Tokyo's Bunkyō.-History:This Buddhist temple was established by the fifth shogun Tokugawa, Tsunayoshi, who dedicated it to his mother...
is founded in Edo.
- 1681 (TennaTennawas a after Enpō and before Jōkyō. This period spanned the years from September 1681 through February 1684. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
1): Tsunyoshi's investiture as shogun.
- February 5, 1682 (Tenna 1, 28th day of the 12th month): A great fire sweeps through Edo.
- 1681 (Tenna 2): A great famine devastates Kyoto and the surrounding area.
- 1682 (Tenna 3): Tomohito-shinnō is proclaimed Crown Prince; and the ceremonial investiture is held (after being in abeyance for over 300 years).
- March 26, 1685 (JōkyōJokyowas a after Tenna and before Genroku. This period spanned the years from February 1684 through September 1688. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...
2, 22nd day of the 2nd month): Former-Emperor Go-SaiEmperor Go-Sai, also known as was the 111th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sai's reign spanned the years from 1654 through 1663....
died; and a great comet was observed crossing the night sky.
- May 2, 1687 (Jōkyō 4, 21st day of the 3rd month): Emperor Reigen abdicates in favor of his fifth son who will come to be known as Emperor HigashiyamaEmperor Higashiyamawas the 113th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Higashiyama's reign spanned the years from 1687 through 1709.-Genealogy:...
.
- 1687: Former-Emperor Reigen begins to rule as a cloistered emperor; and after abdication, Reigen's new home will be called the Sentō-goshoSento Imperial PalaceThe Sentō Imperial Palace or Sentō-gosho is a large garden in Kyoto, Japan, formerly the grounds of a palace for retired emperors...
(the palace for an ex-Emperor).
- 1713: Former-Emperor Reigen enters a monastery under the name Sojō (素浄)
- September 24, 1732 (KyōhōKyohowas a after Shōtoku and before Gembun. This period spanned the years from July 1716 through April 1736. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...
17, 24th day of the 9th month): Reigen died; he was age 79.
Emperor Reigen's memory is honored and preserved at his designated Imperial mausoleum (misasagi), Tsukinowa no misasagi at Sennyū-ji
Sennyu-ji
, formerly written as , is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto, Japan. For centuries, Sennyū-ji was a mortuary temple for aristocrats and the imperial house. Located here are the official tombs of Emperor Shijō and many of the emperors who came after him....
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...
. His immediate Imperial predecessors since Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Emperor Go-Mizunoo
was the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629.This 17th century sovereign was named after the 9th century Emperor Seiwa and , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he could be called the "Later...
-- Meishō
Empress Meisho
was the 109th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Meishō's reign spanned the years from 1629 to 1643.In the history of Japan, Meishō was the seventh of eight women to become empress regnant. The six female monarchs who reigned before Meishō-tennō were Suiko, ...
, Go-Kōmyō
Emperor Go-Komyo
was 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...
and Go-Sai
Emperor Go-Sai
, also known as was the 111th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sai's reign spanned the years from 1654 through 1663....
are also enshrined along with his immediate Imperial successors, including Higashiyama
Emperor Higashiyama
was the 113th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Higashiyama's reign spanned the years from 1687 through 1709.-Genealogy:...
, Nakamikado
Emperor Nakamikado
was the 114th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Nakamikado's reign spanned the years from 1709 through 1735.-Genealogy:...
, Sakuramachi
Emperor Sakuramachi
was the 115th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Sakuramachi's reign spanned the years from 1735 through 1747.-Genealogy:...
, Momozono
Emperor Momozono
was the 116th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Momazono's reign spanned the years from 1747 until his death in 1762.-Genealogy:...
, Go-Sakuramachi
Empress Go-Sakuramachi
was the 117th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sakuramachi's reign spanned the years from 1762 through 1771....
and Go-Momozono
Emperor Go-Momozono
was the 118th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Momozono's reign spanned the years from 1771 through his death in 1779....
.
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 Reigen's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- Sessho, Nijō MitsuhiraNijo Mitsuhira, son of Nijō Yasumichi, was a Japanese kugyō of the early Edo period. He held regent positions kampaku from 1653 to 1663 and sesshō from 1663 to 1664. Nijō Tsunahira was his adopted son. A daughter of his was a consort of the third head of Kōfu Domain Tokugawa Tsunashige.-References:...
, 1663–1664 - Sessho, Takatsukasa FusasukeTakatsukasa Fusasuke, son of Norihira, was a Kugyō or Japanese court noble of the early Edo period . He held regent positions sesshō and kampaku...
, 1664–1668 - Kampaku, Takatsukasa FusasukeTakatsukasa Fusasuke, son of Norihira, was a Kugyō or Japanese court noble of the early Edo period . He held regent positions sesshō and kampaku...
, 1668–1682 - Kampaku, Ichijō KaneteruIchijo Kaneteru, son of Norisuke, was a kugyō of the Edo period of Japan. He was also known as . He held regents positions kampaku from 1682 to 1687 and from 1689 to 1690, and sesshō from 1687 to 1689. He married a daughter of Tokugawa Mitsusada, second head of Wakayama Domain, and the couple adopted Kaneka as...
, 1682–1687 - 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 Reigen's reign
The years of Reigen's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- KanbunKanbun (era), also romanized as Kambun, was a after Manji and before Enpō. This period spanned the years from April 1661 to September 1673. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...
(1661–1673) - EnpōEnpo, also Empo, was a after Kanbun and before Tenna. This period spanned the years from September 1673 to September 1681. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
(1673–1681) - TennaTennawas a after Enpō and before Jōkyō. This period spanned the years from September 1681 through February 1684. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
(1681–1684) - JōkyōJokyowas a after Tenna and before Genroku. This period spanned the years from February 1684 through September 1688. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...
(1684–1688)
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...