Emperor Go-Daigo
Go-Daigo | |
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Emperor of Japan | |
![]() Go-Daigo | |
Reign | March 29, 1318 – September 18, 1339 |
Predecessor | Hanazono |
Successor | Go-Murakami |
Born |
November 26, 1288 Heian KyÅ (KyÅto) |
Died |
September 18–19, 1339 (aged 50) Yoshino no Angū (Nara) |
Burial | TÅ-no-o no misasagi (Nara) |
Spouse |
Fujiwara no Kishi Imperial Princess Junshi |
Father | Go-Uda |
Mother | Fujiwara no Chūshi |
Emperor Go-Daigo (後é†é†å¤©çš‡ Go-Daigo-tennÅ) (November 26, 1288 – September 19, 1339) was the 96th emperor of Japan,[1] according to the traditional order of succession.[2]
Post-Meiji historians construe Go-Daigo's reign to span 1318–1339; however, pre-Meiji accounts of his reign considered the years of his reign to encompass only between 1318–1332. Pre-Meiji scholars also considered Go-Daigo a pretender emperor in the years from 1336 through 1339.[3]
This 14th-century sovereign was named after the 9th-century Emperor Daigo and go- (後), translates as "later", and he is thus sometimes called the "Later Emperor Daigo". The Japanese word go has also been translated to mean the "second one"; and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Daigo, the second", or as "Daigo II".
Biography
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Takaharu-shinnŠ(尊治親王).[4]
He was the second son of the Daikakuji-tÅ emperor, Emperor Go-Uda. His mother was Fujiwara no ChÅ«shi/Tadako (è—¤åŽŸå¿ å), daughter of Fujiwara no Tadatsugu (Itsutsuji Tadatsugu) (è—¤åŽŸå¿ ç¶™/äº”è¾»å¿ ç¶™). She became Nyoin called Dantenmon-in (談天門院).
Emperor Go-Daigo's ideal was the Engi era (901–923) during the reign of Emperor Daigo, a period of direct imperial rule. An emperor's posthumous name was normally chosen after his death, but Emperor Go-Daigo chose his personally during his lifetime, to share it with Emperor Daigo.
Events of Go-Daigo's life

Emperor Go-Daigo became emperor at the age of 31, in the prime of his life.
- 1308 (EnkyÅ 1): At the death of Emperor Go-NijÅ, Hanazono accedes to the Chrysanthemum Throne at age 12 years; and Takaharu-shinnÅ, the second son of former-Emperor Go-Uda is elevated as Crown Prince and heir apparent under the direction of the Kamakura shogunate.[5]
- March 29, 1318 (BunpÅ 2, 26th day of 2nd month): In the 11th year of Hanazono's reign (花園天皇å一年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by his cousin, the second son of former-Emperor Go-Uda. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Daigo is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).[6]
- 1319 (BunpÅ 3, 4th month): Emperor Go-Daigo caused the nengÅ to be changed to Gen'Å to mark the beginning of his reign.[7]
In 1324, with the discovery of Emperor Go-Daigo's plans to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate, the Rokuhara Tandai disposed of his close associate Hino Suketomo in the ShÅchÅ« Incident.
In the GenkÅ Incident of 1331, Emperor Go-Daigo's plans were again discovered, this time by a betrayal by his close associate Yoshida Sadafusa. He quickly hid the Sacred Treasures in a secluded castle in Kasagiyama (the modern town of Kasagi, SÅraku District, KyÅto Prefecture) and raised an army, but the castle fell to the Shogunate's army the following year, and they enthroned Emperor KÅgon, exiling Daigo to Oki Province (the Oki Islands in modern-day Shimane Prefecture),[8] the same place to which Emperor Go-Toba had been exiled after the JÅkyÅ« War of 1221.
In 1333, Emperor Go-Daigo escaped from Oki with the help of Nawa Nagatoshi and his family, raising an army at Funagami Mountain in HÅki Province (the modern town of Kotoura in TÅhaku District, Tottori Prefecture). Ashikaga Takauji, who had been sent by the shogunate to find and destroy this army, sided with the emperor and captured the Rokuhara Tandai. Immediately following this, Nitta Yoshisada, who had raised an army in the east, laid siege to Kamakura. When the city finally fell to Nitta, HÅjÅ Takatoki, the shogunal regent, fled to TÅshÅ temple, where he and his entire family committed suicide. This ended HÅjÅ power and paved the way for a new military regime.[8]:15–21
Upon his triumphal return to Kyoto, Daigo took the throne from Emperor KÅgon and began the Kenmu Restoration. The Restoration was ostensibly a revival of the older ways, but, in fact, the emperor had his eye set on an imperial dictatorship like that of the emperor of China. He wanted to imitate the Chinese in all their ways and become the most powerful ruler in the East. Impatient reforms, litigation over land rights, rewards, and the exclusion of the samurai from the political order caused much complaining, and his political order began to fall apart. In 1335, Ashikaga Takauji, who had travelled to eastern Japan without obtaining an imperial edict in order to suppress the Nakasendai Rebellion, became disaffected. Daigo ordered Nitta Yoshisada to track down and destroy Ashikaga. Ashikaga defeated Nitta Yoshisada at the Battle of Takenoshita, Hakone. Kusunoki Masashige and Kitabatake Akiie, in communication with Kyoto, smashed the Ashikaga army. Takauji fled to KyÅ«shÅ«, but the following year, after reassembling his army, he again approached KyÅto. Kusunoki Masashige proposed a reconciliation with Takauji to the emperor, but Go-Daigo rejected this. He ordered Masashige and Yoshisada to destroy Takauji. Kusunoki's army was defeated at the Battle of Minatogawa.
When Ashikaga's army entered KyÅto, Emperor Go-Daigo resisted, fleeing to Mount Hiei, but seeking reconciliation, he sent the imperial regalia to the Ashikaga side. Takauji enthroned the JimyÅin-tÅ emperor, KÅmyÅ, and officially began his shogunate with the enactment of the Kenmu Law Code.[8]:54–58
Go-Daigo escaped from the capital in Jan. 1337, the regalia that he had handed over to the Ashikaga being counterfeit, and set up the Southern Court among the mountains of Yoshino, beginning the Period of Northern and Southern Courts in which the Northern Dynasty in KyÅto and the Southern Dynasty in Yoshino faced off against each other.[8]:55,59
Emperor Go-Daigo ordered Imperial Prince Kaneyoshi to Kyūshū and Nitta Yoshisada and Imperial Prince Tsuneyoshi to Hokuriku, and so forth, dispatching his sons all over, so that they could oppose the Northern Court.
- September 18, 1339 (RyakuÅ 2, 15th day of the 8th month): In the 21st year of Go-Daigo's reign, the emperor abdicated at Yoshino in favor of his son, Noriyoshi-shinnÅ, who would become Emperor Go-Murakami.[9]
- September 19, 1339 (RyakuÅ 2, 16th day of the 8th month): Go-Daigo died;[10]

The actual site of Go-Daigo's grave is settled.[1] This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Go-Daigo's mausoleum. It is formally named TÅ-no-o no misasagi.[11]
Genealogy
Consorts and children
Empress (ChÅ«gÅ«): Saionji Kishi (西園寺禧å) (Go-KyÅgoku-in, 後京極院) (1303–1333), daughter of Saionji Sanekane (西園寺実兼)
- Princess (1314–?), died young
- Imperial Princess Kanshi (懽å内親王) (Senseimon-in, 宣政門院) (1315–1362), SaiÅ at Ise Shrine; later, married to Emperor KÅgon
Empress (ChÅ«gÅ«): Imperial Princess Junshi (ç£å内親王) (Shin-Muromachi-in, 新室町院) (1311–1337), daughter of Emperor Go-Fushimi
- Imperial Princess Yukiko (幸å内親王) (1335–?)
NyÅgo: Fujiwara no Eishi (è—¤åŽŸæ „å), daughter of NijÅ Michihira
Court lady: Minamoto no Chikako (æºè¦ªå), daughter of Kitabatake Morochika (åŒ—ç• å¸«è¦ª)
- Imperial Prince Moriyoshi (or Morinaga) (è·è‰¯è¦ªçŽ‹) (1308–1335) – Head Priest of Enryakuji (Tendai-zasu, 天å°åº§ä¸») (Buddhist name: Prince Son'un, 尊雲法親王)
- Imperial Princess Hishi (妣å内親王) – nun in Imabayashi
Court lady: Fujiwara no Ishi/Tameko (藤原為å) (?–1311/2), daughter of NijÅ Tameyo (二æ¡ç‚ºä¸–)
- Imperial Prince Takayoshi (also Takanaga) (尊良親王) (1306/8–1337)
- Imperial Prince Munenaga (also Muneyoshi) (宗良親王) (1311–1385?) – Head Priest of Enryakuji (Tendai-zasu, 天å°åº§ä¸») (Buddhist name: Prince SonchÅ, 尊澄法親王)
- Imperial Princess Tamako (ç“Šå内親王) (1316–1339) – nun
- Imperial Princess Kinshi (欣å内親王) – nun in Imabayashi
Court lady: IchijÅ no Tsubone (一æ¡å±€), daughter of Saionji Sanetoshi (西園寺実俊)
- Imperial Prince Tokiyoshi (also Yoyoshi) (世良親王) (1306/8–1330)
- Imperial Prince JÅson (é™å°Šæ³•è¦ªçŽ‹) (Imperial Prince Keison, æµå°Šæ³•è¦ªçŽ‹) – priest in ShÅgoin (è–è·é™¢)
- princess – nun in Imabayashi
Court lady: Fujiwara no Renshi (Ano Renshi) (藤原廉å/阿野廉å) (Shin-Taikenmon-in, 新待賢門院) (1301–1359), daughter of Ano Kinkado (阿野公廉)
- Imperial Prince Tsunenaga (also Tsuneyoshi) (æ’良親王) (1324–1338)
- Imperial Prince Nariyoshi (also Narinaga) (æˆè‰¯è¦ªçŽ‹) (1326–1338/1344)
- Imperial Prince Noriyoshi (義良親王) (Emperor Go-Murakami) (1328–1368)
- Imperial Princess Shoshi (祥å内親王) – SaiÅ at Ise Shrine 1333–1336; later, nun in HÅan-ji
- Imperial Princess Ishi (惟å内親王) – nun in Imabayashi
Court lady: Gon-no-Dainagon no Sammi no Tsubone (権大ç´è¨€ä¸‰ä½å±€) (?–1351), daughter of NijÅ Tamemichi (二æ¡ç‚ºé“)
- Imperial Prince HÅnin (法ä»æ³•è¦ªçŽ‹) (1325–1352) – priest in Ninna-ji
- Prince Kaneyoshi (also Kanenaga) (æ‡è‰¯è¦ªçŽ‹) (1326–1383) – Seisei TaishÅgun (å¾è¥¿å¤§å°†è») 1336–?
- princess
Princess: a daughter of Emperor Kameyama
- KÅshÅ (æ’性) (1319–1333) – priest
Court lady: ShÅshÅ no Naishi (少将内ä¾), daughter of Sugawara no Arinaka (è…原在仲)
- Imperial Prince Seijo (è–助法親王) (?–?) – Head Priest of OnjÅ-ji
Court lady: Fujiwara no Chikako (藤原親å), daughter of Kazan'in Munechika (花山院宗親)
- Imperial Prince Mitsuyoshi (満良親王)
Court lady: Fujiwara no Shushi/Moriko (藤原守å), daughter of TÅin Saneyasu (洞院実泰)
- Imperial Prince Gen'en (玄円法親王) – Head Priest of KÅfuku-ji
Court lady: Konoe no Tsubone (近衛局)
- Prince Tomoyoshi (知良王)
Court lady: ShÅnagon no Naishi (å°‘ç´è¨€å†…ä¾), daughter of ShijÅ Takasuke (å››æ¡éš†è³‡)
- Sonshin (尊真) – priest
Court lady: Gon-no-ChÅ«nagon no Tsubone (権ä¸ç´è¨€å±€), daughter of SanjÅ Kinyasu (三æ¡å…¬æ³°)
- Imperial Princess Sadako (貞å内親王)
Court lady: Mimbu-kyÅ no Tsubone (民部å¿å±€)
- princess – married to Konoe Mototsugu (divorced later)
(unknown women)
- Imperial Prince Saikei (最æµæ³•è¦ªçŽ‹) – priest in MyÅhÅ-in
- Mumon Gensen (無文元é¸) (1323–1390) – founder of HÅkÅ-ji (Shizuoka)
- YÅdÅ (?–1398) – 5th Head Nun of TÅkei-ji
Go-Daigo had some other princesses from some court ladies.
KugyÅ
KugyÅ (å…¬å¿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan 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 Go-Daigo's reign, this apex of the DaijÅ-kan included:
- Kampaku, NijŠMichihira, 1316–1318
- Kampaku, IchijŠUchitsune, 1318–1323
- Kampaku, KujŠFusazane, 1323–1324
- Kampaku, Takatsukasa Fuyuhira, 1324–1327
- Kampaku, NijŠMichihira, 1327–1330
- Kampaku, Konoe Tsunetada, 1330
- Kampaku, Takatsukasa Fuyunori, 1330–1333
- Sadaijin
- Udaijin
- Naidaijin
- Dainagon
Eras of Go-Daigo's reign
The years of Go-Diago's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengÅ. Emperor Go-Daigo's eight era name changes are mirrored in number only in the reign of Emperor Go-Hanazono, who also reigned through eight era name changes.[12]
- Pre-Nanboku-chÅ court
- BunpŠ(1317–1319)
- Gen'Š(1319–1321)
- GenkŠ(1321–1324)
- ShÅchÅ« (1324–1326)
- Karyaku (1326–1329)
- Gentoku (1329–1331)
- GenkŠ(1331–1334)
- Kemmu (1334–1336)
- Nanboku-chÅ southern court
- Eras as reckoned by legitimate sovereign's Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
- Engen (1336–1340)
- Nanboku-chÅ northern Court
- Eras as reckoned by pretender sovereign's Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
In popular culture
Emperor Go-Daigo appears in the alternate history novel Romanitas by Sophia McDougall.
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emperor Go-Daigo. |
Notes

- 1 2 Imperial Household Agency (KunaichÅ): 後é†é†å¤©çš‡ (96); retrieved 2013-8-28.
- ↑ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 95.
- ↑ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 281-294; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). JinnÅ ShÅtÅki, pp. 241–269.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 281, p. 281, at Google Books; Varley, p. 241.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 278, p. 278, at Google Books; Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959) The Imperial House of Japan, p. 204.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 281, p. 281, at Google Books; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except JitÅ, YÅzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami.
- ↑ Varley, p. 243.
- 1 2 3 4 Sansom, George (1961). A History of Japan, 1334-1615. Stanford University Press. pp. 7–11. ISBN 0804705259.
- ↑ Varley, p. 270.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 295., p. 295, at Google Books
- ↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 281-294., p. 281, at Google Books
References
- Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887
- Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
- Varley, H. Paul. (1980). JinnÅ ShÅtÅki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5; OCLC 59145842
External links
- Kansai Digital Archives: Go-Daigo mausoleum enclosure, image
Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by Emperor Hanazono |
Emperor of Japan: Go-Daigo 1318–1339 |
Succeeded by Emperor Go-Murakami __________ Emperor KÅgon (Pretender) |
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