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Emperor Murakami

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Reign
  
946–967

Spouse
  
Fujiwara no Anshi

Grandparents
  
Emperor Uda

Successor
  
Reizei

Parents
  
Emperor Daigo

Predecessor
  
Suzaku

Died
  
July 5, 967 AD, Heian-kyo

Coronation
  
31 May 946

Name
  
Emperor Murakami


Emperor Murakami httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Born
  
14 July 926 Heian Kyo (Kyoto) (
926-07-14
)

Burial
  
Murakami no misasagi (Kyoto)

Children
  
Emperor Reizei, Emperor En'yu

Grandchildren
  
Emperor Kazan, Emperor Ichijo, Emperor Sanjo

Similar People
  
Emperor Daigo, Emperor Uda, Emperor Kazan, Emperor Go‑Kameyama

Emperor Murakami (村上天皇, Murakami-tennō, 14 July 926 – 5 July 967) was the 62nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

Contents

Murakami's reign spanned the years from 946 to his death in 967.

Traditional narrative

Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Nariakira-shinnō (成明親王).

Nariakira-shinnō was the 14th son of Emperor Daigo, and the younger brother of Emperor Suzaku by another mother.

Murakami had ten Empresses and Imperial consorts and 19 Imperial sons and daughters. He had a very nice biwa called Kenjō.

Events of Murakami's reign

In 944, he was appointed crown prince and ascended the throne two years later.

  • 16 May 946 (Tengyō 9, 13th day of the 4th month): In the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Suzaku (朱雀天皇十六年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (the senso) was received by his younger brother, Nariakira-shinnō.
  • 31 May 946 (Tengyō 9, 28th day of the 4th month): Shortly thereafter, Emperor Murakami, who was 21 years old, acceded to the throne (the sokui).
  • Murakami's maternal uncle Fujiwara no Tadahira remained as the Sessho regent until 949. After the death of Tadahira, there was no regent and although contemporaries praised Murakami as the emperor who governed the state directly, in reality the Fujiwara clan seized power and ruled Japan. The brothers Fujiwara no Saneyori and Fujiwara no Morosuke became the de facto rulers of Japan.

  • 23 October 949 (Tenryaku 3, 29th day of the 9th month): The former-Emperor Yōzei died at the age of 82.
  • 951 (Tenryaku 5): The emperor ordered the compilation of Gosen Wakashū; this work was undertaken by the Five Men of the Pear Chamber under his patronage.
  • 6 September 952 (Tenryaku 6, 15th day of the 8th month): The former-Emperor Suzaku died at the age of 30.
  • 16 October 960 (Tentoku 4, 23rd day of the 9th month): The Imperial palace burned down, the first time it had been ravaged by fire since the capital was removed from Nara to Heian-kyō in 794.
  • Murakami was a central figure in Heian period culture. He was also a skilled flute and koto (Japanese harp) player.

  • 5 July 967 (Kōhō 4, 25th day of the 5th month): The former-Emperor Murakami died at the age of 42.
  • The actual site of Murakami's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Kyoto.

    The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Murakami's mausoleum. It is formally named Murakami no misasagi

    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 have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Murakami's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

  • Kampaku, Fujiwara no Tadahira (藤原忠平), 880–949.
  • Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no Tadahira (藤原忠平).
  • Sadaijin, Ono-no Miya Fujiwara no Saneyori (藤原実頼), 900–970.
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Saneyori (藤原実頼).
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Morosuke (藤原師輔), 908–960.
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Akitada (藤原顕忠).
  • Udaijin, Minamoto no Taka-akira (源高明).
  • Nadaijin
  • Dainagon
  • Eras of Murakami's reign

    The years of murakami's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.

  • Tengyō (938–947)
  • Tenryaku (947–957)
  • Tentoku (957–961)
  • Ōwa (961–964)
  • Kōhō (964–968)
  • Consorts and children

    Empress: Fujiwara no Anshi/Yasuko (藤原安子) (927–964), daughter of Fujiwara no Morosuke (藤原師輔)

  • Imperial Princess Shōshi (承子内親王) (948–951)
  • Imperial Prince Norihira (憲平親王) (950–1011) (2nd son) (Emperor Reizei)
  • Imperial Prince Tamehira (為平親王) (952–1010)
  • Imperial Princess Sukeko (輔子内親王) (953–992) (7th daughter), 32nd Saiō in Ise Shrine 968–969
  • Imperial Princess Shishi (資子内親王) (955–1015) (9th daughter)
  • Imperial Prince Morihira (守平親王) (959–991) (Emperor En'yu)
  • Imperial Princess Senshi (選子内親王) (964–1035) (10th daughter), 16th Saiin in Kamo Shrine 975–1031
  • Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Jutsushi/Nobuko (藤原述子) (933–947), daughter of Fujiwara no Saneyori (藤原実頼)

    Nyōgo: Princess Kishi (徽子女王) (929–985), daughter of Imperial Prince Shigeakira (重明親王)

  • Imperial Princess Kishi/Noriko (規子内親王) (949–986) (4th daughter), 34th Saiō in Ise Shrine 975–984
  • Nyōgo: Princess Sōshi/Takako (荘子女王) (930–1008), daughter of Imperial Prince Yoakira (代明親王)

  • Imperial Princess Rakushi (楽子内親王) (952–998) (6th daughter), 31st Saiō in Ise Shrine 955–967
  • Imperial Prince Tomohira (具平親王) (964–1009), called Nochi no Chūshoō (後中書王)
  • Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Hōshi (藤原芳子) (?–967), daughter of Fujiwara no Morotada (藤原師尹)

  • Imperial Prince Masahira (昌平親王) (956–961)
  • Imperial Prince Nagahira (永平親王) (965–988)
  • Koui: Minamoto no Kazuko (源計子) (?–?), daughter of Minamoto no Moroakira (源庶明)

  • Imperial Princess Rishi (理子内親王) (948–960)
  • Imperial Princess Seishi (盛子内親王) (?–998), married to Fujwiara no Akimitsu (藤原顕光) in 965
  • Koui: Fujiwara no Masahime (藤原正妃) (?–967), daughter of Fujiwara no Arihira (藤原在衡)

  • Imperial Princess Hoshi (保子内親王) (949–987) (3rd daughter), married to Fujiwara no Kaneie (藤原兼家)
  • Imperial Prince Munehira (致平親王) (951–1041)
  • Imperial Prince Akihira (昭平親王) (954–1013)
  • Koui: Fujiwara no Sukehime (藤原祐姫) (?–?), daughter of Fujiwara no Motokata (藤原元方)

  • Imperial Prince Hirohira (広平親王) (950–971) (1st son)
  • Imperial Princess Shūshi (緝子内親王) (?–970) (8th daughter)
  • Koui: Fujiwara no Shūshi (藤原脩子) (?–?), daughter of Fujiwara no Asahira (藤原朝成)

    Koui: Fujiwara no Yūjo (藤原有序) (?–?), daughter of Fujiwara no Arisuke (藤原有相)

    References

    Emperor Murakami Wikipedia