Emperor Konoe

Konoe
Emperor of Japan
Reign 1142–1155
Predecessor Sutoku
Successor Go-Shirakawa
Born June 16, 1139
Died August 22, 1155 (aged 16)
Burial Anrakuju-in no minami no Misasagi (Kyoto)
Spouse Fujiwara no Tashi

Emperor Konoe (近衛天皇 Konoe-tennō, June 16, 1139 – August 22, 1155) was the 76th emperor of Japan,[1] according to the traditional order of succession.[2]

Konoe's reign spanned the years from 1142 through 1155.[3]

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina)[4] was Narihito-shinnō (体仁親王).[5] He was also known as Tosihito-shinnō.[6]

Emperor Konoe was the eighth son of Emperor Toba.[6] His mother was Fujiwara Tokuko (1117–1160), the wife of Emperor Toba.[7]

Kōgō Fujiwara Masuko (1140–1201) was the wife of Emperor Konoe; and after his death, she married Emperor Nijo. Later, she was called Grand Empress Dowager Omiya.[8]

Events of Konoe's life

Konoe was named heir shortly after he was born in 1139; and he was proclaimed emperor at the age of 3.

At that time, the Kampaku Fujiwara-no Tadamichi became Sesshō or regent. The Cloistered Emperor Toba continued to direct all the affairs of government, while the retired Emperor Sutoku had no powers. This conflict resulted in many controversies during Konoe's reign.[6]

During Konoe's reign, the Enshō (Superiority of Duration) Temple. After this, successive emperors no longer build Imperial-prayer temples.[16]

Emperor Konoe's reign lasted for 13 years: 2 years in the nengō Kōji, 1 year in Ten'yō, 6 years in Kyūan, 3 years in Ninpei, and 2 years in Kyūju.[13]

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 Konoe's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

Eras of Konoe's reign

The years of Konoe's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.[18]

See also

Notes

Japanese Imperial kamon — a stylized chrysanthemum blossom
  1. Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō): 近衛天皇 (76)
  2. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 80.
  3. Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 186–188; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 324–326; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki. p. 205.
  4. Brown, pp. 264. [Up until the time of Emperor Jomei, the personal names of the emperors (their imina) were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.]
  5. Brown, p. 324; Varley, p. 205.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Titsingh, p. 186.
  7. Kitagawa, H. (1975). The Tale of the Heike, p. 240.
  8. Kitagawa, p. 298.
  9. Titsingh, p. 185.
  10. Titsingh, p. 186; Brown, p. 324; Varley, p. 44. [A distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Go-Murakami.]
  11. 1 2 3 4 Titsingh, p. 187.
  12. Titsingh, p. 187-188.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Titsingh, p. 188.
  14. Brown, pp. 324–325.
  15. Titsingh, p. 189; Brown, p. 326; Varley, p. 44.
  16. Brown, p. 326.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brown, p. 325.
  18. Titsingh, pp. 185–188; Brown, pp. 325–326.

References

Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Sutoku
Emperor of Japan:
Emperor Konoe

1142–1155
Succeeded by
Emperor Go-Shirakawa
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