was the 94th

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. He reigned from 1301 to his death in 1308. This 14th-century

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

was named after the 12th-

century A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c. A centennial or ...

Emperor Nijō was the 78th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1158 through 1165. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was Morihito''-sh ...

, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Nijō", or, in some older sources, may be identified as "Nijō, the second" or as "Nijo 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 . Go-Nijō was the eldest son of the 91st emperor

Emperor Go-Uda was the 91st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1274 through 1287. This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 9th-century Emperor Uda and ''go-'' (後), translates literally ...

. He belonged to the Daikakuji-tō branch of the Imperial Family. Emperess:

Fujiwara no Kinshi , also known as , was an empress consort of Emperor Go-Nijō. The Clear Mirror: A Chronicle of the Japanese Court During the Kamakura' She was the eldest daughter of Daijō-daijin Tokudaiji Kintaka. Her mother was , the third daughter of Naida ...

(藤原忻子) later Chōrakumon-in (長楽門院), Tokudaiji Kintaka's daughter Naishi: Fujiwara Tamako (藤原頊子) later Banshūmon-in（万秋門院; 1268 - 1338),

Ichijō Sanetsune , son of regent Michiie, was a ''kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period (1185–1333). He was the founding father of the Ichijō family, one of the five regent houses which monopolized regent positions in Japan's imperial court. ...

’s daughter Lady-in-waiting: Fujiwara Muneko (藤原宗子) also Chunagon'no-tenji (中納言典侍), Itsutsuji Munechika’s daughter * First Son: Imperial Prince Kuniyoshi (邦良親王; 1300 - 1326） * Second Son: Imperial Prince Hanamachi-no-miya-Kunimi (花町宮邦省親王; 1302-1375) Naishi: Koto Naishi, Taira Munetoshi’s daughter * First Daughter: Imperial Princess Benshi (㛹子内親王; 1302 - 1362）later Jyuseimon'in/jyujoumon'in (壽成門院/寿成門院) Court Lady: Dainagon-no-tsubone (fujiwara), Sanjo Kinyasu’s daughter * Third Son: Imperial Prince Priest Yujo (祐助法親王; 1302 - 1359） * Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shoson (聖尊法親王; 1303 - 1370） * Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Eiko (栄子内親王) * Fifth Daughter Court Lady: Lady Mikushige (fujiwara), Sanjo Kinchika * Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Sonsai (尊済法親王; 1304 - 1329) Court Lady: Taira Nobusuke’s daughter * Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess Choshi (瑒子内親王) Court Lady: Shindainagon-no-Tsubone * Second daughter: Imperial Princess Minshi (珉子内親王)

Events of Go-Nijō's life

Kuniharu''-shinnō'' was made an imperial prince by Imperial proclamation in 1286. In 1296, he became

crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wif ...

(heir) to the ''Jimyōin-tō''

Emperor Go-Fushimi was the 93rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1298 to 1301. This 13th-century sovereign was named after his father, Emperor Fushimi and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as ...

, his second cousin. * 2 March 1301 (''

Shōan is an era in Japanese history. This era spanned the years from April 1299 through November 1302. Preceding it was the Einin era, and following it was the Kengen era. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * 1299 : The new era name was ...

3, 21st day of the 1st month''): In the 5th year of Go-Fushimi''-tennō''s reign (後伏見天皇五年), the emperor was forced to abdicate; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Nijō is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). Go-Nijō's father, the

reigned 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 ...

during his reign. The succession dispute between the Daikakuji and Jimyōin branches of the Imperial Family continued during his reign. His grandfather, the retired Emperor

Emperor Kameyama was the 90th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1260 through 1274. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was . He was t ...

was said to have acted through the

Bakufu , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...

to ensure Go-Nijō's enthronement. On 10 September 1308, Go-Nijō died of illness. Go-Nijō is buried at ''Kitashirakawa no misasagi'' (北白河陵) in

Sakyō-ku, Kyoto is one of the eleven Wards of Kyoto, wards in the Municipalities of Japan, city of Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is located in the northeastern part of the city. History The meaning of ''sakyō'' (左京) is "on the Em ...

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 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. 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 Nijō'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: * '' Kampaku'',

Nijō Kanemoto , son of regent Nijō Yoshizane and adopted son of Nijō Morotada, was a Japanese ''kugyō'' (court noble) of the Kamakura period (1185–1333) of Japan. He held regent positions sesshō in 1298 and kampaku from 1300 to 1305. Regent Nijō Michih ...

, 1300–1305 * ''Kampaku'',

Kujō Moronori , son of regent Tadanori, was a '' kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period (1185–1333). He held regent positions kampaku from 1305 to 1308 and sessho in 1308. A daughter of Emperor Kameyama was his consort; the couple adopted ...

, 1305–1308 * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 Tai ...

'' * ''

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-Nijō's reign

The years of Go-Nijō'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 ...

''.Titsingh, p. 275. * ''

'' (1299–1302) * ''

Kengen was a after ''Shōan'' and before ''Kagen.'' This period spanned the years from November 1302 through August 1303. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1302 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The prev ...

'' (1302–1303) * ''

Kagen was a after '' Kengen'' and before '' Tokuji.'' This period spanned the years from August 1303 through December 1306. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1303 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The pre ...

'' (1303–1306 * ''

Tokuji was a after ''Kagen'' and before '' Enkyō.'' This period spanned the years from December 1306 through October 1308. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1306 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The pre ...

'' (1306–1308)

Notes

References

* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan''.
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''

Nihon Ōdai Ichiran , ', is a 17th-century chronicle of the serial reigns of Japanese emperors with brief notes about some of the noteworthy events or other happenings. According to the 1871 edition of the ''American Cyclopaedia'', the 1834 French translation of ...

''; 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

Genealogy

Events of Go-Nijō's life

Kugyō

Eras of Go-Nijō's reign

Notes

References

See also