Emperor ShÅkÅ
ShÅkÅ | |
---|---|
Emperor of Japan | |
Reign | October 5, 1412 – August 30, 1428 |
Predecessor | Go-Komatsu |
Successor | Go-Hanazono |
Born | May 12, 1401 |
Died | August 30, 1428 (aged 27) |
Burial | Fukakusa no kita no Misasagi (Kyoto) |
Emperor ShÅkÅ (称光天皇 ShÅkÅ-tennÅ) (May 12, 1401 – August 30, 1428) was the 101st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.[1] His reign spanned the years from 1412 through 1428.[2]
Genealogy
His personal name was Mihito (initially written as 躬ä», and later written as 実ä»). He was the eldest son of Emperor Go-Komatsu. His mother was Hinonishi Motoko (日野西資å), daughter of Hino Sukekuni (日野資国). He had no children of his own, and was succeeded by his third cousin, Emperor Go-Hanazono, great-grandson of the Northern Pretender Emperor SukÅ.
The name "ShÅkÅ" (称光) was formed by taking one kanji from the names of the 48th and 49th imperial rulers Empress ShÅtoku (称徳) and Emperor KÅnin (å…‰ä»).
- Empress ShÅtoku (称徳)
- ↓
- "ShÅkÅ" (称光)
- ↑
- Emperor KÅnin (å…‰ä»)
- Empress ShÅtoku (称徳)
Events of ShÅkÅ's life
He reigned from October 5, 1412 until his death on August 30, 1428.
ShÅkÅ became emperor upon the abdication of his father, Go-Komatsu in ÅŒei 18, in the 10th month (October 5, 1412). His actual coronation date was two years later.[3]
The "retired" Go-Komatsu ruled as a Cloistered Emperor during ShÅkÅ's reign.
ShÅkÅ was connected to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and the Hino clan through his mother's side.
ShÅkÅ-tennÅ was only 12 years old when he assumed the role of formal head of the Daïri; but "Go-Komatsu-in" had direction of the court [and] the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi was charged with the general superintendence of affairs."[3]
- October 5, 1412 (ÅŒei 18, on the 18th day of the 9th month): Emperor ShÅkÅ was made the new sovereign upon the abdication of his father, Emperor Go-Komatsu; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received.[4]
ShÅkÅ was only 12 years old when he began living in the daïri; but Go-Komatsu, as a Cloistered Emperor still retained direction of the court and the Shogun was charged with the general superintendence of affairs.[5]
- 1413 (ÅŒei 20): Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi fell ill, and so he sent an ambassador to the Ise Shrine to pray for the return of his health.[6]
- January 29, 1415 (ÅŒei 21, on the 19th day of the 12th month): Enthronement of Emperor ShÅkÅ was two years after the senso was received. At this point, Emperor ShÅkÅ is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).[4]
- 1418 (ÅŒei 25): Ashikaga Yoshimochi ordered Asama Shrine, at the base of Mount Fuji in Suruga province, to be re-built.[7]
- July 18, 1419 (ÅŒei 26, on the 26th day of the 6th month): Oei Invasion. Korea invaded Tsushima Province.
- 1423 (ÅŒei 30, 2nd month): Shogun Yoshimochi retired in favor of his son, Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, who was 17 years old.[8]
- March 17, 1425 (ÅŒei 32, on the 27th day of the 2nd month): Shogun Yoshikatsu died at the age of 19 years, having administered the empire for only three years.[4]
- February 3, 1428 (ShÅchÅ 1, 18th day of the 1st month): Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi, having taken power again after the death of his son, died himself at the age of 43.[9]
- August 30, 1428 (ShÅchÅ 1, 20th day of the 7th month): Emperor ShÅkÅ died at the age of 27.[10]Nihon ÅŒdai Ichiran suggests a cause of death by explaining: "Ce prince, s'occupait de magie et du culte de démons, mens une vie pure, et observa rigoureusement l'abstinence et le jeùne." ("This prince, who occupied himself with magic and the cult of demons, led a pure life, and rigorously observed abstinence and fasting.")[11]
ShÅkÅ had no heirs of his own; and for this reason, Emperor Go-Komatsu selected ShÅkÅ's third cousin for ShÅkÅ to adopt as heir. This cousin would accede to the Chrysanthemum Throne at age 10 as Emperor Go-Hanazono on September 7, 1428 (ShÅchÅ 1, 29th day of the 7th month): Emperor Go-Hanazono accedes to the throne at age 10.[12]
He is enshrined with other emperors at the imperial tomb at Fukakusa no kita no Misasagi (æ·±è‰åŒ—陵) in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.
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 ShÅkÅ's reign, this apex of the DaijÅ-kan included:
Eras of ShÅkÅ's reign
The years of ShÅkÅ's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengÅ.[3]
Notes
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- ↑ Imperial Household Agency (KunaichÅ): 称光天皇 (101); retrieved 2013-8-28.
- ↑ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 327–331.
- 1 2 3 Titsingh, p. 327.
- 1 2 3 Titsingh, p. 330.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 326-327; Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial Family of Japan, pp. 105–106.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 328.
- ↑ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines, pp. 461–462.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 329.
- ↑ Titsingh, pp. 330–331.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 331.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 331; n.b. also, " æ³•é” (Muo-fa), or the science of demons, is the name the Chinese and the Japanese give to a specific "magic" discipline. Those who follow its rigorous regime of practice abandon all relationships with women. They are persuaded that by guarding their purity to focus attention, they can execute their magic arts with precision and success."
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 331-332.
References
- Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887
- ___________. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 3994492
- 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
See also
Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by Emperor Go-Komatsu |
Emperor of Japan: ShÅkÅ 1412–1428 |
Succeeded by Emperor Go-Hanazono |
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