Reign 967–969 Father Murakami Coronation 967 Name Emperor Reizei | Predecessor Murakami Parents Emperor Murakami Successor En'yu Grandparents Emperor Daigo | |
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Born June 12, 949
Heian Kyo (Kyoto) ( 949-06-12 ) Burial Sakuramoto no misasagi (Kyoto) Died November 21, 1011, Heian-kyo Children Emperor Kazan, Emperor Sanjo Grandchildren Princess Teishi, Kakugen, Imperial Prince Akinori Similar People Emperor Murakami, Emperor Kazan, Emperor Daigo, Emperor Jimmu, Kakuei Tanaka | ||
Emperor Reizei (冷泉天皇, Reizei-tennō, June 12, 950 – November 21, 1011) was the 63rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Contents
- Traditional narrative
- Events of Reizeis reign
- Kugy
- Eras of Reizeis reign
- Consorts and children
- References
Reizei's reign spanned the years from 967 through 969.
Traditional narrative
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Norihira-shinnō (憲平親王).
Norihira-shinnō was the second son of Emperor Murakami. His mother, Empress Yasuko, was a daughter of minister of the right Fujiwara no Morosuke. Soon after his birth he was appointed as crown prince. This decision was supposedly made under the influence of Morosuke and his brother Fujiwara no Saneyori who had seized power in the court.
From ancient times, there have been four noble clans, the Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the Minamoto clan (源氏) are also known as Genji, and of these, the Reizei Genji (冷泉源氏) are descended from 63rd emperor Reizei.
Events of Reizei's reign
Questions about mental illness made Norihira-shinnō's succession somewhat problematic.
In 967 his father Murakami died and Reizei ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen.
The actual site of Reizei'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 Reizei's mausoleum. It is formally named Sakuramoto 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 would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Toba's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
Eras of Reizei's reign
The years of Reizei's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
Consorts and children
Empress: Imperial Princess Masako (昌子内親王) (950–999), daughter of Emperor Suzaku
Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Fushi/Yoshiko (藤原怤子) (?–?), daughter of Fujiwara no Morosuke (藤原師輔);later, Naishi-no-Kami (尚侍) 982–989
Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Kaishi/Chikako (藤原懐子) (945–975), daughter of Fujiwara no Koretada (藤原伊尹)
Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Chōshi/Tōko (藤原超子) (?–982), daughter of Fujiwara no Kaneie (藤原兼家)