was the 90th

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 ...

, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1260 through 1274.

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 . He was the 7th son of

Emperor Go-Saga was the 88th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1242 through 1246. This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 8th-century Emperor Saga and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as ...

*Empress (Kōgō): Toin (Fujiwara Saneko) (洞院（藤原）佶子) later Kyogoku-in (京極院), Toin Saneo's daughter **First daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi (睍子内親王; 1262–1264) **First son: Imperial Prince Tomohito (知仁親王; 1265–1267) **Second son: Imperial Prince Yohito (世仁親王) later

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 literall ...

*Empress (Chūgū – a lower rank than Kōgō) Saionji (Fujiwara) Kishi (西園寺（藤原）嬉子) later Imadegawa-in (今出川院), Saionji Kinsuke's daughter *Court Lady: Konoe (Fujiwara) Ishi (近衛（藤原）位子) later Shin-yōmeimon'in (新陽明門; 1262–1296） **Eighth son: Imperial Prince Hirohito (啓仁親王; 1276–1278) **Tenth son: Imperial Prince Tsuguhito (継仁親王; 1279–1280) *Court Lady: Saionji (Fujiwara) Eiko later Shōkunmon'in (藤原（西園寺）瑛子; 昭訓門院; 1273–1336, Saionji Sanekane **Fourteenth Son: Imperial Prince Tokiwai-no-miya Tsuneakira (常盤井宮恒明親王; 1303–1351） *Lady-in-waiting: Koga (Minamoto) Michiyoshi's daughter **Third Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shokaku (性覚法親王; 1267–1293） *Lady-in-waiting: Sanjō Sanehira's daughter **Fourth son: Imperial Prince Priest Ryōjo (良助法親王; 1268–1318) **Sixth son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōun (聖雲法親王; 1271–1314) **Seventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakusei (覚雲法親王; 1272–1323) **Fifth daughter: married

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 ...

*Lady-in-waiting: Fujiwara Saneto's daughter **Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Moriyoshi (守良親王) *Lady-in-waiting: Fujiwara Masako (藤原雅子), Hosshōji Masahira's daughter **Second daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi (憙子内親王) – Empress Dowager Shōkeimon'in (昭慶門院) married

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 ...

*Lady in waiting: Sochi-Naishi (帥典侍), Taira Tokinaka’s Daughter **Ninth son: Imperial Prince Priest Junjo (順助法親王; 1279–1322) **Eleventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Jidō (慈道法親王; 1282–1341) **Twentieth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōen (行円法親王) *Court Lady: Toin (Fujiwara) Miwako (洞院禖子), Toin Saneo's daughter **Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Rishi (理子内親王; 1274–1282） *Court Lady: Nukigawa (貫川), Kyogoku temple's banished Priestess **Daughter: (d. 1329) married Konoe Iemoto *Court Lady: Priest Genkoma's daughter **Son: Imperial Prince Kaneyoshi (兼良親王) *Court Lady: Fujiwara Hisako (藤原寿子), Fujiwara Kagefusa's daughter **Son: Imperial Prince Sadayoshi (定良親王) later Imperial Prince Priest Eiun (叡雲法親王) *Court Lady: Sanjo Kinchika’s daughter **son: Imperial Prince Priest Sho'e (性恵法親王) *Court Lady: Ogura Kino’s daughter **son: Imperial Prince Priest In’un 恒雲法親王)

Events of Kameyama's life

In 1258, he became Crown Prince at age 9. Other names Emperor Kameyama had were: *Kongogen (金剛源) – his name as a monk *Zenrinji-dono (禅林寺殿) – Literally "Lord Zen-Temple" From the fact that he had a

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 ...

temple in the north wing of his Imperial Villa *Madenokō-ji-dono (from his residence) *Bun'ō Kōtei (From the era name; Kōtei is another word for Emperor) The name Kameyama comes from the location of his tomb. * 9 January 1260 (''

Shōgen was a after ''Shōka'' and before ''Bun'ō.'' This period spanned the years from March 1259 through April 1260. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * 1259 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The ...

1, 26th day of the 11th month''): In the 14th year of Go-Fukakusa''-tennō''s reign (後深草天皇十四年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (''senso'') was received by his younger brother. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Kameyama is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). In 1263, during the Kamakura Rebellion, the 6th ''

shōgun , 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 Kamak ...

'', Imperial Prince Munetaka (eldest son of

) was recalled from Kamakura to be replaced by his son Imperial Prince Koreyasu (age 2). In 1265 a delegation sent by Kublai Khan, ruler of the Mongol Empire, arrived. On its way to Japan, they looted islands. The Mongols invited Japan to submit to the rule of Kublai. The Emperor and the Imperial Court suggested compromise, but they were ignored by the shogun in Kamakura. The Mongol delegation was sent back. In 1274, abdicating to his son,

, he began his reign 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 time as cloistered emperor, the Mongols invaded the second time. Kameyama personally prayed at the

Grand Shrine of Ise The , located in Ise, Mie, Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is a shrine complex composed of many Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and . ...

. On 15 August 1281, Kameyama-Jokō asked for Amaterasu intervention on behalf of Japan. However, 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 Kamakura ...

watched Kameyama with suspicion, and in 1287, encouraged

to abdicate, and pushed for the enthronement of

Emperor Go-Fukakusa was the 89th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1246 through 1260. This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 9th-century Emperor Ninmyō and ''go-'' (後), translates literall ...

's son, who became

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 ...

. Kameyama's cloistered rule was suspended by this. Later, Imperial Prince Hisa'aki,

's son, became ''

'' strengthening the position of the Jimyōin-tō. This caused Kameyama to become despondent, and in 1289 he entered the priesthood, joining the

sect. Because of this, Zen Buddhism slowly penetrated into the Court Nobility. In 1291, he helped establish the

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 ...

temple

Nanzen-ji , or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly , is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Emperor Kameyama established it in 1291 on the site of his previous detached palace. It is also the headquarters of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. The precincts ...

Kyōto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the c ...

In 1305, he died. Emperor Kameyama is enshrined at Kameyama no ''Misasagi'' at

Tenryū-ji , formally known as , is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, located in Susukinobaba-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji in 1339, primarily to venerate Gautama Budd ...

in Kyoto; and this Imperial mausoleum is maintained by the Imperial Household.

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 Kameyama'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: * '' Kampaku'',

Takatsukasa Kanehira , fourth son of Konoe Iezane, was a court noble ('' kugyo'') of the Kamakura period of Japan, and founding father of the Takatsukasa family. His sons include Kanetada and Mototada. After holding some high-ranking positions in the court, in 12 ...

, 1254–1261 * ''Kampaku'',

Nijō Yoshizane , son of regent Kujō Michiie, was a Japanese ''kugyō'' (court noble) of the Kamakura period (1185–1333) of Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the north ...

, 1261–1265 * ''Kampaku'',

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 cour ...

, 1265–1267 * ''Kampaku'',

Konoe Motohira , son of Kanetsune, was a '' kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the early Kamakura period. He held a regent position kampaku from 1267 to 1268. and Iemoto were his sons. One of his daughter was a consort of regent Takatsukasa Kanetada , son of ...

, 1267–1268 * ''Kampaku'',

Takatsukasa Mototada , son of Kanehira, was a court noble ('' kugyo'') 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'' Minamoto no Y ...

, 1268–1273 * ''Kampaku'',

Kujō Tadaie , son of regent Norizane, was a ''kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period. He held regent positions kampaku from 1273 to 1274 and sessho in 1274. Tadanori and were his sons born by a daughter of Sanjō Kinfusa.三条公房 Fam ...

, 1273–1274 * '' Sadaijin'' * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 Kameyama's reign

The years of Kameyama'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. 255. * ''

Bun'ō was a after ''Shōka'' and before ''Kōchō.'' This period spanned the years from April 1260 to February 1261. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1260 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The years of ...

'' (1260–1261) * ''

Kōchō was a after '' Bun'ō'' and before ''Bun'ei.'' This period spanned the years from February 1261 to February 1264. The reigning emperor was .Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''Annales des empereurs du Japon'', pp. 255-261; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jin ...

'' (1261–1264) * ''

Bun'ei was a after ''Kōchō'' and before '' Kenji.'' This period spanned the years from February 1264 to April 1275. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1264 ; 1264: The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The pr ...

'' (1264–1275)

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''; ou
''Annales des empereurs du Japon.''
Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland
OCLC 5850691
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kameyama Japanese emperors 1249 births 1305 deaths

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 ...