was the 68th

emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the 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 position is derived from "the ...

, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')
後一条天皇 (68)
/ref> according to the traditional

order of succession An order of succession or right of succession is the line of individuals necessitated to hold a high office when it becomes vacated such as head of state or an honour such as a title of nobility.Emperor Ichijō was the 66th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 一条天皇 (66)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011. Biography Before he ascended to the Chrysanth ...

and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Ichijō", or, in some older sources, may be identified as " Emperor Ichijō, the second."

Biography

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 (''

imina in modern times consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, in that order. Nevertheless, when a Japanese name is written in the Roman alphabet, ever since the Meiji era, the official policy has been to cater to Western expecta ...

'') was Atsuhira ''-shinnō'' (敦成親王). He was also known as Atsunari''-shinnō''. Atsuhira was the second son of

Emperor Ichijō was the 66th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 一条天皇 (66)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011. Biography Before he ascended to the Chrysanth ...

. His mother, Fujiwara no Akiko/ Shōshi (藤原彰子) (988–1074), was a daughter of

Fujiwara no Michinaga was a Japanese statesman. The Fujiwara clan's control over Japan and its politics reached its zenith under his leadership. Early life Michinaga was born in Kyōto, the son of Kaneiye. Kaneiye had become Regent in 986, holding the position unt ...

. In her later years, Ichijō's ''chūgo'' consort was known as Jōtō-mon In (上東門院).

Events of Go-Ichijō's life

Atsuhira''-shinnō'' was used as a pawn in Imperial court politics when he was only a child. * 1012 (''

Chōwa was a after ''Kankō'' and before '' Kannin.'' This period spanned the years from December 1012 through April 1017. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * 1012 : The era name was changed to mark Emperor Sanjō's accession in the ...

1, 8th month''): Prince Atsuhira marries a daughter of ''sesshō'' and later ''kampaku''

. Atsuhira became emperor at the age of 8, upon the abdication of his

first cousin once removed Most generally, in the lineal kinship system used in the English-speaking world, a cousin is a type of familial relationship in which two relatives are two or more familial generations away from their most recent common ancestor. Commonly, ...

Emperor Sanjō was the 67th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 三条天皇 (67)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1011 through 1016. Biography Before his ascension to the Chry ...

. * March 10, 1016 (''Chōwa 5, 29th day of the 1st month''): In the 5th year of Emperor Sanjō's reign (三条天皇五年), he abdicated; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by a cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Ichijō is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). During the initial years of Go-Ichijō's reign,

actually ruled from his position as '' sesshō'' (

regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

). * June 5, 1017 (''

Kannin was a after ''Chōwa'' and before ''Jian.'' This period spanned the years from April 1017 through February 1021. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1017 : The era name was changed to mark an event or series of events. The previous e ...

1, 9th day of the 5th month''): The former-Emperor Sanjō died at the age of 41. * 1017 (''Kannin 1, 8th month''): Prince Atsuakira, the eldest son of Emperor Sanjo, had been named Crown Prince. But after he is struck by a skin disease and intense pressure from Michinaga; he withdrew from this role and his younger brother, Prince Atsunaga, was named Crown Prince in his place. * 1017 (''Kannin 1, 9th month''): Michinaga made a pilgrimage to the Iwashimizu Shrine accompanied by many courtiers. The travelers divided themselves amongst 15 boats for a floating trip down the Yotogawa River. One of the vessels overturned, and more than 30 people lost their lives.Titsingh, p. 157. * 1017 (''Kannin 1, 12th month''): Michinaga was elevated to the office of ''Daijō-Diajin''. * May 15, 1036 ('' Chōgen 9, 17th day of the 4th month''): Emperor Go-Ichijō died at the age of 27. The actual site of Go-Ichijō's

grave A grave is a location where a dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as grav ...

is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial

Shinto Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...

shrine A shrine ( la, scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred or holy space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they ...

(''misasagi'') at Kyoto. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Go-Ichijō's mausoleum. It is formally named ''Bodaijuin no misasagi''.

Kugyō

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 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 position is derived from "the ...

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-Ichijō'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 J ...

'' included: * '' Sesshō'',

Fujiwara Michinaga was a Japanese statesman. The Fujiwara clan's control over Japan and its politics reached its zenith under his leadership. Early life Michinaga was born in Kyōto, the son of Kaneiye. Kaneiye had become Regent in 986, holding the position unt ...

, 966–1027.Brown, p. 308-309. * '' Sesshō'',

Fujiwara Yorimichi (992–1071) was a Japanese court noble. He succeeded his father Michinaga to the position of Sesshō in 1017, and then went on to become Kampaku from 1020 until 1068. In both these positions, he acted as Regent to the Emperor, as many of his ...

, 992–1074.Brown, p. 309. * '' Kampaku'', Fujiwara Yorimichi.Brown, p. 309. * ''

Daijō-daijin The was the head of the ''Daijō-kan'' (Great Council of State) during and after the Nara period and briefly under the Meiji Constitution. Equivalent to the Chinese (Grand Preceptor). History Emperor Tenji's favorite son, Prince Ōtomo, wa ...

'', Fujiwara Michinaga. * ''

'', Kan'in Kinsue, 956–1029. * '' Sadaijin'', Fujiwara Michinaga. * '' Sadaijin'', Fujiwara Akimitsu, 944–1021. * '' Sadaijin'', Fujiwara Yorimichi. * ''

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 administ ...

'', Fujiwara Sanesuke, 957–1046. * ''

Nadaijin The , literally meaning "Inner Minister", was an ancient office in the Japanese Imperial Court. Its role, rank and authority varied throughout the pre- Meiji period of Japanese history, but in general remained as a significant post under the Ta ...

'', Fujiwara Norimichi, 997–1075. * ''

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-Ichijō's reign

The years of Go-Ichijō'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 of ...

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 ...

''.Titsingh, p. 156-159; Brown, p. 310. * ''

'' (1012–1017) * ''

'' (1017–1021) * ''

Jian The ''jian'' (pronunciation （劍）, English approximation: ) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the ''jian'' date to the 7th century BCE, during the Spring and ...

'' (1021–1024) * '' Manju'' (1024–1028) * '' Chōgen'' (1028–1037)

Consort and children

Go-Ichijō had one Empress and two Imperial daughters.Brown, p. 310. Empress ( C''hūgū''): ''

Fujiwara no Ishi Fujiwara no ''Ishi'' (藤原威子) (999–1036) was the Empress consort of Emperor Go-Ichijō of Japan. She was the third daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga. At the manor, she was trained by her older brother, Yorimichi, to be the empress. ...

'' (藤原威子; 999–1036),

’s third daughter * First Daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko/'' Shōshi'' (章子内親王) later Nijō-In (二条院), Empress (''chūgū'') to

Emperor Go-Reizei was the 70th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後冷泉天皇 (70)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Reizei's reign spanned the years 1045–1068. This 11th century sovereign was named after the ...

* Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Kaoruko/''Keishi'' (馨子内親王; 1029–1093) later Saien-no Kogo (西院皇后), Empress (''chūgū'') to

Emperor Go-Sanjō was the 71st emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 陽成天皇 (71)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1068 through 1073. This 11th century sovereign was named ...

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979)
''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''
Berkeley: University of California Press.
OCLC 251325323
* 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)
''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns.''
New York: Columbia University Press.
OCLC 59145842
{{DEFAULTSORT:Go-Ichijo Japanese emperors 1008 births 1036 deaths People of Heian-period Japan 11th-century Japanese monarchs People from Kyoto