was the 58th

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 ...

, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')
光孝天皇 (58)
/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.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 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 or ''Komatsu-tei''. He would later be identified sometimes as "the Emperor of Komatsu". This resulted in the later

Emperor Go-Komatsu was the 100th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')後小松天皇 (100) retrieved 2013-8-28. and the sixth and final Emperor of the Northern Court. He is officially cons ...

adopting this name (''go-'' meaning "later", so "Later Emperor Komatsu" or "Emperor Komatsu II"). Tokiyasu ''Shinnō'' was the third son of

Emperor Ninmyō was the 54th emperor of Japan, Emperor Ninmyō, Fukakusa Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency according to the traditional order of succession. Ninmyō's reign lasted from 833 to 850, during the Heian period. Traditional narrative Nin ...

. His mother was Fujiwara no Sawako. Kōkō had four Imperial consorts and 41 Imperial sons and daughters.Brown, p. 289.

Events of Kōkō's life

The first '' kampaku''

Fujiwara no Mototsune , also known as , was a Japanese statesman, courtier and aristocrat of the early Heian period.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Mototsune" in ; Brinkley, Frank ''et al.'' (1915). He was the first '' kampaku'', a regent of an adult ...

was influential in the process by which Kōkō became an emperor. At the time

Emperor Yōzei was the 57th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 陽成天皇 (57)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Yōzei's reign spanned the years from 876 through 884. Traditional narrative Before his ascension ...

was deposed, Prince Tokiaytsu was already Governor of Hitachi and Chief Minister of Ceremonies (''Jibu-kyō'', 治部卿) According to Kitabatake Chikafusa's 14th-century account, Mototsune resolved the problem of succession by simply going to visit Tokiyasu''-shinnō'', where the kampaku addressed the prince as a sovereign and assigned imperial guards. The prince signaled his acceptance by going into the imperial palanquin, which then conducted him to the emperor's residence within the palace. Curiously, he was still wearing the robes of a prince when he decided to take this ride into an entirely unanticipated future.Varley, p. 172. * February 4, 884 (''

Gangyō , also known as Genkei, was a after ''Jōgan'' and before '' Ninna.'' This period spanned the years from April 877 through February 885. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * January 18, 877 : The new era name was created to mark an event ...

8, 4th day of the 1st month''): In the 8th year of Emperor Yōzei's reign (陽成天皇八年), the emperor was deposed; and scholars then construed that the succession (''senso'') was received by the third son of former Emperor Ninmyō, who was then age 55. * March 23, 884 (''Gangyō 8, 23rd day of the 2nd month'): Emperor Kōkō is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). * 885 (''Gangyō 9''): The era name was changed accordingly in 885. During his reign, Kōkō revived many ancient court rituals and ceremonies, and one example is the imperial hawking excursion to Serikawa, which had been initiated in 796 by Emperor Kanmu. This ritual event was revived by Kōkō after a lapse of 50 years. * January 11, 886 (''

Ninna was a after ''Gangyō'' and before '' Kanpyō.'' This period spanned the years from February 885 through April 889. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * January 20, 885 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of ...

2, 14th day of the 12th month''): Kōkō traveled to Seri-gawa to hunt with falcons. He very much enjoyed this kind of hunting, and he often took time for this kind of activity. * September 17, 887 (''Ninna 3, 26th day of the 8th month '') 仁和三年八月二十六日 -->: Kōkō died at the age of 57. The actual site of Kōkō'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 grave ...

is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a

memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or works of a ...

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 sacred space, space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor worship, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, Daemon (mythology), daem ...

(''misasagi'') at Kyoto. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Kōkō's

mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be consid ...

. It is formally named ''Kaguragaoka no Higashi 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 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 Kōkō'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'',

(藤原基経) (Shōsen-kō, 昭宣公), 836–891. * ''

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 no Mototsune. * ''

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 ...

'', Minamoto no Tōru (源融). * ''

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 ...

'', Minamoto no Masaru (源多). * ''

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 ...

'' (not appointed) * ''

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 ...

'', Fujiwara no Yoshiyo (藤原良世) * ''

'', Fujiwara no Fuyuo (藤原冬緒)

Eras of Kōkō's reign

The years of Kōkō'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. 124.
/ref> * ''

'' (877–885) * ''

'' (885–889)

Consorts and children

Consort __NOTOC__ Consort may refer to: Music * "The Consort" (Rufus Wainwright song), from the 2000 album ''Poses'' * Consort of instruments, term for instrumental ensembles * Consort song (musical), a characteristic English song form, late 16th–earl ...

(later '' Kōtaigō''): Princess ''Hanshi'' (班子女王; 833–900) later Toin-Kisaki (洞院后), Imperial Prince Nakano's daughter (son of

Emperor Kanmu , or Kammu, was the 50th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 桓武天皇 (50) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Kanmu reigned from 781 to 806, and it was during his reign that the sco ...

) ** First Son: Minamoto no Motonaga (源元長; d. 883), die before Emperor Kōkō's succession ** Twelfth son: Imperial Prince Koretada (是忠親王; 857–922) ** Thirteenth Son: Imperial Prince Koresada (是貞親王; d. 903) ** Fifteenth Son: Imperial Prince Sadami (定省親王) later Emperor Uda ** Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess Tadako (忠子内親王; 854–904), married to

Emperor Seiwa was the 56th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 清和天皇 (56)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Seiwa's reign spanned the years from 858 through 876.He was also the predecessor of Takeda ryu. T ...

** Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Kanshi'' (簡子内親王; d. 914) ** Eighth Daughter: Imperial Princess Yasuko (綏子内親王; d. 925), married to

** Sixteenth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Ishi'' (為子内親王; d. 899), married to

Emperor Daigo was the 60th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 醍醐天皇 (60)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Daigo's reign spanned the years from 897 through 930. He is named after his place of burial. G ...

*Consort ( Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Kamiko (藤原佳美子; d. 898),

's daughter *Consort ( Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Genjiko (藤原元善子), Fujiwara no Yamakage's daughter *Consort ( Nyōgo): Taira no Motoko/''Tōshi'' (平等子), Taira no Yoshikaze's daughter *Court Attendant ( Koui): Shigeno no Naoko (滋野直子; d. 915) **Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess Shigeko (繁子内親王; d. 916), 23rd Saiō in

Ise Shrine The , located in 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 . The Inner ...

884–887 *Court Attendant ( Koui): Sanuki no Naganao's daughter ** Ninth Son: Minamoto no Motomi (源旧鑒; d. 908) *Court Attendant ( Koui): Fujiwara Motoko (藤原元子) *Court lady: Sugawara no ''Ruishi'' (菅原類子), Sugawara no Koreyoshi's daughter *Court lady: Princess Keishin (桂心女王), Prince Masami's daughter **Seventh Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Bokushi'' (穆子内親王; d. 903), 8th Saiin in Kamo Shrine 882–887 *Court lady: daughter of Tajihi clan (多治氏の娘) ** Minamoto no ''Kanshi''/Ayako (源緩子/綾子; d. 908) *Court lady: A daughter of Fuse clan (布勢氏の娘) ** Twelfth Son: Shigemizu no Kiyozane (滋水清実), given the family name "Shigemizu" by the Emperor (Shisei Kōka, 賜姓降下) in 886 *Court Attendant ( Koui): Fujiwara no Kadomune's daughter, later married Minamoto no Noboru **Thirteenth Son (adopted son): Minamoto no Koreshige (源是茂; 886–941), Minamoto no Noboru's son *(from unknown women) ** Second Son: Minamoto no Kaneyoshi (源兼善; d. 879) ** Third son: Minamoto no Nazane (源名実) ** Fourth Son: Minamoto no Atsuyuki (源篤行) ** Fifth Son: Minamoto no Seiyoshi (源最善) ** Sixth Son: Minamoto no Chikayoshi (源近善; d. 918) ** Seventh son: Minamoto no Ototsune (源音恒) ** Eighth Son: Minamoto no Koretsune (源是恒; d. 905) ** Tenth Son: Minamoto no Sadatsune (源貞恒; 857–908) ** Eleventh Son: Minamoto no Narikage (源成蔭) ** Fourteenth Son: Minamoto no Kuninori (源国紀; d. 909) ** Sixteenth Son: Minamoto no Kosen (源香泉) ** Seventeenth Son: Minamoto no Tomosada (源友貞) ** First Daughter: Minamoto no Osoko (源遅子) ** Second Daughter: Minamoto no Reishi (源麗子) ** Third Daughter: Minamoto no ''Onshi''/Kusuko (源音子/奇子; d. 919) **Sixth Daughter: Minamoto no Shushi (源崇子) ** Seventh Daughter: Minamoto no ''Renshi''/Tsurako (源連子; d. 905) ** Ninth Daughter: Minamoto no Reishi (源礼子) ** Tenth Daughter: Minamoto no ''Saishi'' (源最子; d. 886) ** Eleventh Daughter: Minamoto no ''Kaishi'' (源偕子) ** Twelve Daughter: Minamoto no ''Mokushi'' (源黙子; d. 902) ** Thirteenth Daughter: Minamoto no Koreko (源是子) ** Fourteenth Daughter: Minamoto no ''Heishi'' (源並子; d. 906) ** Fifteenth Daughter: Minamoto no ''Shinshi'' (源深子; d. 917) ** Seventeenth Daughter: Minamoto no ''Shūshi'' (源周子; d. 912) ** Eighteenth Daughter: Minamoto no Mitsuko (源密子) ** Minamoto no ''Washi'' (源和子; d. 947), married to

** Minamoto no ''Kenshi'' (源謙子; d. 924) ** Minamoto no Sayako (源袟子) ** Minamoto no ''Kaishi'' (源快子; d. 910) ** Minamoto no ''Zenshi'' (源善子)

Poetry

Emperor Kōkō is well-remembered for his poetry, and one of his ''waka'' appeared in the ''

Ogura Hyakunin Isshu is a classical Japanese anthology of one hundred Japanese ''waka'' by one hundred poets. ''Hyakunin isshu'' can be translated to "one hundred people, one poem ach; it can also refer to the card game of ''uta-garuta'', which uses a deck compos ...

'':

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979)
''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past''.
Berkeley: University of California Press. ; * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan''.
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. * 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. * Varley, H. Paul. (1980)
''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns''.
New York: Columbia University Press. ; {{DEFAULTSORT:Koko Japanese emperors 830 births 887 deaths 9th-century rulers in Asia 9th-century Japanese monarchs Hyakunin Isshu poets People from Kyoto