was the 95th

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 1308 through 1318.

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 Tomihito''-shinnō'' (富仁親王). He was the fourth son of the 92nd Emperor, Fushimi. He belonged to the ''Jimyōin-tō'' branch of the Imperial Family. *Consort: Ogimachi Michiko (正親町実子) later Senkomon’in (宣光門院, 1297–1360), Ogimachi Saneakira’s daughter ** First Daughter: Imperial Princess Hisako (1318–1358; 寿子内親王) later Kianmon-in (徽安門院), married

Emperor Kogon An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( e ...

** Second Son: Imperial Prince Nobunaga (業永親王; 1327–1353) later Imperial Prince priest Genshi (源性入道親王) ** Third son: Imperial Prince Naohito (直仁親王; 1335–1398) ** Daughter: Imperial Princess Noriko (儀子内親王; d. 1348) ** Priest Shōgoin ** Daughter married to Kazan’in clan *Consort: Ichijo-no-Tsubone (d. 1325), Ogimachi Saneakira’s daughter ** First Son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakuyo (1320–1382; 覚誉法親王) *Lady-in-waiting: Wamuro Yoriko (葉室頼子), Wamuro Yorito’s daughter ** Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess Noriko (祝子内親王) – Nun ** Princess

Events of Hanazono's life

Tomihito''-shinnō'' became emperor upon the death of his second cousin, the Daikakuji-tō

Emperor Go-Nijō was the 94th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from 1301 to his death in 1308. This 14th-century sovereign was named after the 12th- century Emperor Nijō, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as ...

. *

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 ...

3, in the 8th month (1308): In the 8th year of Go-Nijo''-tennōs reign (後二条天皇八年), the emperor died at the young age of 24; and the succession (''senso'') was received by his cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Hanazono is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). *

3, in the 10th month (1308): The

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 ...

was changed to Enkyō to mark the accession of Emperor Hanazono. Hanazono's father, the retired-

Emperor Fushimi was the 92nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1287 through 1298. Name Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was . Although the ...

, and Hanazono's brother, the retired-

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 ...

, both exerted influence as cloistered emperors during this reign. In these years, negotiations between 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 ...

and the two imperial lines resulted in an agreement to alternate the throne between the two lines every 10 years (the Bumpō Agreement). This agreement was not long-lasting. The negotiated provisions would soon broken by Hanazono's successor. In 1318, he abdicated to his second cousin, the Daikakuji-tō

Emperor Go-Daigo Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇 ''Go-Daigo-tennō'') (26 November 1288 – 19 September 1339) was the 96th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')後醍醐天皇 (96) retrieved 2013-8-28. according to the traditional order ...

, who was Nijō's brother. After his abdication, he raised his nephew, the future Northern Pretender

Emperor Kōgon was the first of the Emperors of Northern Court during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan. His reign spanned the years from 1331 through 1333. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Nanboku-chō throne, his personal name (h ...

In 1335, he became a

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

monk of the

Zen Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...

sect, and under his sponsorship, his palace became the temple of

Myōshin-ji is a temple complex in Kyoto, Japan, and head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. The Myōshin-ji school is by far the largest school in Rinzai Zen, approximately as big as the other thirteen branches combined: it contains with ...

, now the largest network in Rinzai Buddhism. Many places and institutions in the area are named for him, including

Hanazono University is a private university in Kyoto, Japan that belongs to the Rinzai sect (specifically the Myōshin-ji temple complex, which it is next to). The university and the neighborhood are named for Emperor Hanazono, whose donated his palace to make Myōsh ...

(the Rinzai university) and Hanazono Station. He died in 1348. Hanazono's imperial tomb is known as ''Jurakuin no ue no misasagi''; it is located in

Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. History It was created in 1929 when it was split off from Shimogyō-ku. During the years 1931 to 1976 it also covered the area of present-day Yamashina-ku, which ...

. He excelled at

waka Waka may refer to: Culture and language * Waka (canoe), a Polynesian word for canoe; especially, canoes of the Māori of New Zealand ** Waka ama, a Polynesian outrigger canoe ** Waka hourua, a Polynesian ocean-going canoe ** Waka taua, a Māori w ...

composition, and was an important member of the Kyōgoku School. He also left behind a diary, called Hanazono-in-Minki (Imperial Chronicles of the Flower Garden Temple or ''Hanazono-in'') (花園院宸記). He was a very religious and literate person, never missing his prayers to the Amitabha

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...

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 Hanazono'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'',

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 ...

, 1308 * ''Sesshō'',

Takatsukasa Fuyuhira , son of Kanetada and adopted son of Mototada, was '' kugyo'' or highest-ranking Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 11 ...

, 1308–1311 * '' Kampaku'', Takatsukasa Fuyuhira, 1311–1313 * ''Kampaku'',

Konoe Iehira , son of Iemoto, was a ''kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Mina ...

, 1313–1315 * ''Kampaku'', Takatsukasa Fuyuhira, 1315–1316 * ''Kampaku'',

Nijō Michihira was a Japanese ''kugyō'' (court noble) of the late Kamakura period. He was the son of regent Nijō Kanemoto. Michihira held the position of '' kampaku'' (chief advisor to the emperor) from 1316–1318 and from 1327–1330. He married a ...

, 1316–1318 * ''

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 Hanazono's reign

The years of Hanazono'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 ''

''.Titsingh, p. 278. * ''

'' (1306–1308) * '' Enkyō'' (1308–1311) * ''

Ōchō was a after '' Enkyō'' and before '' Shōwa.'' This period spanned 11 months from April 1311 through February 1312. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1311 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previ ...

'' (1311–1312) * '' Shōwa'' (1312–1317) * '' Bumpō'' (1317–1319)

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 Hanazono's life

Kugyō

Eras of Hanazono's reign

Notes

References

See also