(March 22, 1212 – August 31, 1234) was the 86th

emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his positio ...

, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1221 CE through 1232 CE. This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 10th-century

Emperor Horikawa was the 73rd emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 堀河天皇 (73)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Horikawa's reign spanned the years from 1087 through 1107. Biography Before his ascension to the ...

and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Horikawa". The Japanese word ''go'' has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Horikawa, the second," or as "Horikawa II."

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the

Chrysanthemum Throne The is the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term also can refer to very specific seating, such as the throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace. Various other thrones or seats that are used by the Emperor during official functions, ...

, his personal name (his ''imina'') was , also known as Motsihito''-shinnō''.Titsingh, p. 238. The third son of Imperial Prince Morisada (守貞親王) (Go-Takakura-in, 後高倉院), the second son of

Emperor Takakura was the 80th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1168 through 1180. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was Norihito''-shi ...

. *Empress (''Jingū''): Sanjō (Fujiwara) Ariuko (三条（藤原）有子) later Ankimon’in (安喜門院), Sanjo Kinfusa’s daughter *Empress (''Chūgū''): Konoe (Fujiwara)

Nagako Nagako is an uncommon Japanese given name for females. Although written romanized the same way, the kanji can be different. Notable people with the name include: *, later Empress Kōjun of Japan (香淳皇后) * Nagako Konishi (born 1945), a fema ...

(近衛（藤原）長子) Later Takatsukasa’in (鷹司院),

Konoe Iezane , son of Motomichi, was a court noble (''Kugyō'') of the early Kamakura period. His sons include: Takatsukasa Kanehira, and Konoe Kanetsune. In 1206 when Kujō Yoshitune died, he became the head of the Fujiwara family and Sesshō. The sam ...

’s daughter. *Empress (''Chūgū''): Kujō (Fujiwara) Shunshi (九条（藤原）竴子) Later Sōhekimon’in (藻璧門院),

Kujo Michiie Kujo is an American outdoor footwear company specializing in shoes made for yard work. The company is based out of Cleveland, OH, Cleveland, Ohio. History Kujo successfully launched on Kickstarter in June 2017, and began selling in February 20 ...

’s daughter **First son: Imperial Prince Mitsuhito (秀仁親王) later

Emperor Shijō (March 17, 1231 – February 10, 1242) was the 87th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1232 through 1242. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name ...

**Fourth daughter: Imperial Princess Hoshi (暤子内親王; 1232-1237) **Second Son: (1233) *Lady-in-waiting: Betto-Naishi (別当典侍), Jimyōin Ieyuki’s daughter **First daughter: Imperial Princess Kishi (暉子内親王; 1228-1300) later Muromachi-in (室町院) **Second daughter: Imperial Princess Taishi (体子内親王; 1231-1302) later Shinsenmon’in (神仙門院) *Lady-in-waiting: Dainagon-no-Tsubone (大納言局), Fujiwara Kaneyoshi’s daughter **Third daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko (昱子内親王; 1231-1246)

Events of Go-Horikawa's life

In 1221 CE, because of the Jōkyū Incident, an unsuccessful attempt by

Emperor Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198. This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; an ...

to seize real power, the

Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459. The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Y ...

completely excluded those of the imperial family descended from

from the

Chrysanthemum throne The is the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term also can refer to very specific seating, such as the throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace. Various other thrones or seats that are used by the Emperor during official functions, ...

, thus forcing

Emperor Chūkyō (October 30, 1218 – June 18, 1234) was the 85th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned only months in 1221, and he was not officially listed amongst the emperors until 1870 because of doubts caused ...

to abdicate. After the

Genpei War The was a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo, who appointed himself ...

, he, as the grandson of the late

, who was also a nephew of the then-exiled Retired Emperor Go-Toba, and Chūkyō's first cousin, was enthroned as Go-Horikawa. He ruled from July 29, 1221 CE to October 26 (?), 1232 CE. * 1221 CE (''

Jōkyū , also called Shōkyū, was a Japanese era name (年号, ''nengō'', lit. year name) after '' Kempō'' and before '' Jōō.'' This period spanned the years from April 1219 through April 1222.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Jōkyū''" i '' ...

3, 9th day of the 7th month''): In the 1st year of what is now considered to have been Chūkyō''-tennō''s reign (仲恭天皇一年), he abruptly abdicated without designating an heir; and contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by a grandson of former Emperor Go-Toba. * 1221 CE (''

3, 1st day of the 12th month''): Emperor Go-Horikawa acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). As Go-Horikawa was only ten-years-old at this time, his father Imperial Prince Morisada acted as

cloistered emperor A is the term for a Japanese emperor who had abdicated and entered the Buddhist monastic community by receiving the '' Pravrajya'' rite. The term can also be shortened to . Cloistered emperors sometimes acted as ''Daijō Tennō'' (retired emperor ...

under the name Go-Takakura-in. In 1232 CE, he began his own

cloistered rule was a form of government in Japan during the Heian period. In this bifurcated system, an emperor abdicated, but retained power and influence. Those retired emperors who withdrew to live in monasteries (''in'') continued to act in ways intended to ...

, abdicating to his 1-year-old son,

. However, he had a weak constitution, and his cloistered rule lasted just under two years before he died. Emperor Go-Horikawa's Imperial tomb (''misasagi'') is at Sennyū-ji in the .Sennyū-ji
images of front of Imperial mausoleum enclosure
/ref>

''Kugyō''

''Kugyō'' (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the

Emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his positio ...

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-Horikawa's reign, this apex of the ''

Daijō-kan The , also known as the Great Council of State, was (i) (''Daijō-kan'') the highest organ of Japan's premodern Imperial government under the Ritsuryō legal system during and after the Nara period or (ii) (''Dajō-kan'') the highest organ of Jap ...

'' included: * '' Sesshō'',

, d. 1242 CE.Brown, p. 345. * ''

Sadaijin The ''Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary'', Kenkyusha Limited, was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the ini ...

'',

Konoe Iemichi , son of Motomichi, was a court noble (''Kugyō'') of the early Kamakura period. His sons include: Takatsukasa Kanehira, and Konoe Kanetsune. In 1206 when Kujō Yoshitune died, he became the head of the Fujiwara family and Sesshō. The sam ...

, 1204–1224 CE. * ''

Udaijin was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the ''udaijin'' in the context of a central administr ...

'', Fujiwara Kintsugu, 1117–1227 CE. * ''

Naidaijin The , literally meaning "Inner Minister", was an ancient office in the Japanese imperial court, Japanese Imperial Court. Its role, rank and authority varied throughout the pre-Meiji period, Meiji period of Japanese history, but in general remain ...

'', Saionji Kintsune, 1171–1224 CE. * ''

Dainagon was a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century. This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century.Nussbaum, "Dainag ...

Eras of Go-Horikawa's reign

The years of Go-Horikawa's reign are more specifically identified by more than one

era name A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin ''regnum'' meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year o ...

or ''

nengō The , also known as , is the first of the two elements that identify years in the Japanese era calendar scheme. The second element is a number which indicates the year number within the era (with the first year being ""), followed by the literal ...

''. *

(1219–1222 CE) * Jōō (1222–1224 CE) *

Gennin ''For the formerly-German town of Gennin, see Jenin, Poland'' was a after '' Jōō'' and before '' Karoku.'' This period spanned the years from November 1224 to April 1225. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1224 : The era name was ...

(1224–1225 CE) *

Karoku was a after '' Gennin'' and before '' Antei.'' This period spanned the years from April 1225 to December 1227. The reigning emperor was .Titsingh, Isaac. (1834) ''Annales des empereurs du Japon'', pp. 238-240 Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō S ...

(1225–1227 CE) *

Antei was a after '' Gennin'' and before '' Kangi.'' This period spanned the years from December 1227 to March 1229. The reigning emperor was .Titsingh, Isaac. (1834) ''Annales des empereurs du Japon'', pp. 238-241 Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō S ...

(1227–1229 CE) *

Kangi , also romanized as Kanki, was a after ''Antei'' and before '' Joei.'' This period spanned the years from March 1229 to April 1232. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1229 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of even ...

(1229–1232 CE)

Notes

References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). Jien,_c._1220.html"_;"title="Jien.html"_;"title="Jien">Jien,_c._1220">Jien.html"_;"title="Jien">Jien,_c._1220_''Gukanshō.html" ;"title="Jien">Jien,_c._1220.html" ;"title="Jien.html" ;"title="Jien">Jien, c. 1220">Jien.html" ;"title="Jien">Jien, c. 1220 ''Gukanshō">Jien">Jien,_c._1220.html" ;"title="Jien.html" ;"title="Jien">Jien, c. 1220">Jien.html" ;"title="Jien">Jien, c. 1220 ''Gukanshō
The Future and the Past, a translation and study of the Gukanshō, an interpretative history of Japan written in 1219
.'' Berkeley: University of California Press. * Richard Ponsonby-Fane, Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). iyun-sai_Rin-siyo/Hayashi_Gahō,_1652.html" ;"title="Hayashi_Gahō.html" ;"title="iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō">iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652">Hayashi_Gahō.html" ;"title="iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō">iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652 ''Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou
Annales des empereurs du Japon.''
Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. * Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). Kitabatake_Chikafusa,_1359.html" ;"title="Kitabatake_Chikafusa.html" ;"title="Kitabatake Chikafusa">Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359">Kitabatake_Chikafusa.html" ;"title="Kitabatake Chikafusa">Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359 ''Jinnō Shōtōki'' (
A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki
'' New York:

Columbia University Press Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. It is currently directed by Jennifer Crewe (2014–present) and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fiel ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Go-Horikawa Japanese emperors 1212 births 1234 deaths

Emperor Go-Horikawa (March 22, 1212 – August 31, 1234) was the 86th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1221 CE through 1232 CE. This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 10th-century Emperor ...