Emperor Junna

Updated on Oct 26, 2023

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Reign 810–823 Predecessor Saga Parents Emperor Kanmu Coronation 810 Successor Ninmyo Children Prince Tsunesada		Reign 823–833 Name Emperor Junna Uncles Prince Sawara Enthronement 30 May 823 Died May 8, 840 AD, Heian-kyo

Grandparents Emperor Konin, Takano no Niigasa Similar People Emperor Saga, Emperor Kanmu, Emperor Heizei, Emperor Uda, Emperor Go‑Kameyama

Tendai Lotus School Pt. 1 - Preface

Emperor Junna (淳和天皇, Junna-tennō, c. 785 – 11 June 840) was the 53rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Junna reigned from 823 to 833.

Traditional narrative

Junna had six Empresses and Imperial consorts and 13 Imperial sons and daughters. His personal name (imina) was Ōtomo (大伴).

Junna is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates Ōharano no Nishi no Minenoe no Misasagi (大原野西嶺上陵, Ōharano no Nishi no Minenoe Imperial Mausoleum), in Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, as the location of Junna's mausoleum.

Events of Junna's life

810: After the rebellion of Emperor Heizei, he became the crown prince of Emperor Saga at 25 years of age.

30 May 823 (Kōnin 14, 17th day of the 4th month): In the 14th year of Emperor Saga's reign, he abdicated; the succession (senso) was received by Junna, Saga's younger brother and Emperor Kanmu's third son.

22 March 833 (Tenchō 10, 28th day of the 2nd month): In the 10th year of Emperor Junna's reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by his adopted son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Ninmyo is said to have acceded to the throne. After Junna stepped down from the throne, two former Emperors were alive. In this period, Saga was called the Senior Retired Emperor and Junna was known as the Junior Retired Emperor.

11 June 840 (Jōwa 7, 8th day of the 5th month: Former-Emperor Junna died at the age of 55. Following his death, Fujiwara Yoshifusa maneuvered to have Montoku, rather than the crown prince Tsunesada, put on the throne; Junna's death set the stage for the Fujiwara clan's ascendancy.

Eras of Junna's reign

The years of Junna's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name (nengō).

Kōnin (810–824)

Tenchō (824–834)

Kugyō

Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan 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 Junna's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu (藤原冬嗣), 825–826.

Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Otsugu (藤原緒嗣), 832–843.

Udaijin, Fujiwara no Otsugu (藤原緒嗣), 825–832.

Udaijin, Kiyohara no Natsuno (清原夏野), 832–837.

Naidaijin (not appointed)

Dainagon, Fujiwara no Otsugu (藤原緒嗣), 821–825.

Dainagon, Yoshimine no Yasuyo (良峯安世) (half brother of Emperor Junna), 828–830.

Dainagon, Kiyohara no Natsuno (清原夏野), 828–832

Dainagon, Fujiwara no Mimori (藤原三守), 829–838

Consorts and children

Empress: Imperial Princess Shōshi/Masako (正子内親王) (810–879), daughter of Emperor Saga

Imperial Prince Tsunesada (恒貞親王) (825–884), the Crown Prince (deposed in 842)

Imperial Prince Tsunefusa (恒統親王) (830–842)

Imperial Prince Motosada (基貞親王) (?–869)

Hi (Empress as posthumous honors): Imperial Princess Koshi (高志内親王) (789–809), daughter of Emperor Kanmu

Imperial Prince Tsuneyo (恒世親王) (806–826)

Imperial Princess Ujiko (氏子内親王) (?–885), 16th Saiō in Ise Shrine(823–827)

Imperial Princess Yushi (有子内親王) (?–862)

Imperial Princess Sadako (貞子内親王) (?–834)

Nyogō: Nagahara no Motohime (永原原姫)

Nyogō: Tachibana no Ujiko (橘氏子), daughter of Tachibana no Nagana

Koui: Fujiwara no Kiyoko (藤原潔子), daughter of Fujiwara no Nagaoka

Court lady: Princess Otsugu (緒継女王) (787–847)

Court lady: Ōnakatomi no Yasuko (大中臣安子), daughter of Ōnakatomi no Fuchiio

Imperial Prince Yoshisada (良貞親王) (?–848)

Court lady: Ōno no Takako (大野鷹子), daughter of Ōno no Masao

Imperial Princess Hiroko (寛子内親王) (?–869)

Court lady: Tachibana no Funeko (橘船子), daughter of Tachibana no Kiyono

Imperial Princess Takaiko (崇子内親王) (?–848)

Court lady: Tajihi no Ikeko (丹犀池子), daughter of Tajihi no Kadonari

Imperial Princess Tomoko (同子内親王) (?–860)

Court lady: Kiyohara no Haruko (清原春子), daughter of Kiyohara no Natsuno

Imperial Princess Meishi (明子内親王) (?–854)

Unknown lady

Mune no Chushi (統忠子) (?–863), removed from the Imperial Family by receiving the family name from Emperor (Shisei Kōka, 賜姓降下) in 862.

References

Emperor Junna Wikipedia

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