was the 112th

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 The (IHA) is an agency of the government of Japan in charge of state matters concerning the Imperial Family, and also the keeping of the Privy Seal and State Seal of Japan. From around the 8th century AD, up until the Second World War, it ...

(''Kunaichō'')
霊元天皇 (112)
/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.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', pp. 117. Reigen's reign spanned the years from 1663 through 1687.

Genealogy

Before Reigen's 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 ; and his pre-accession title was . Reigen was the 16th son of

Emperor Go-Sai , also known as , was the 111th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後西天皇 (111)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', pp. 116. Go-Sai ...

. His mother was the daughter of Minister of the Center Sonomotooto (内大臣園基音), Lady-in-Waiting Kuniko (新広義門院国子). Reigen's Imperial family lived with him in the Dairi of the

Heian Palace The was the original imperial palace of (present-day Kyoto), the capital of Japan, from 794 to 1227. The palace, which served as the imperial residence and the administrative centre for most of the Heian period (from 794 to 1185), was located a ...

. This family included at least 13 sons and 14 daughters: *Empress:

Takatsukasa Fusako , also known as , was an empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor Reigen. Life Her father was Takatsukasa Norihira, who had the post of ''sadaijin'' and the . Her half-siblings by other mothers included the '' kampaku'' Takatsuka ...

(鷹司房子) later Shin-jyōsaimon’in (新上西門院),

Takatsukasa Norihira , son of Nobuhisa, was a '' kugyo'' or Japanese court noble of the early Edo period (1603–1868). He did not hold regent positions kampaku and sessho. The regent Takatsukasa Fusasuke was his son. His other son Kujō Kaneharu was adopted by t ...

’s daughter. **Third daughter: Imperial Princess Masako (1673–1746; 栄子内親王) married Nijo Tsunahira *Lady-in-waiting: Bōjō Fusako (1652–1676; 坊城房子), Bōjō Toshihiro’s daughter **Second daughter: Imperial Princess Ken'shi (憲子内親王; 1669–1688) married

Konoe Iehiro , son of regent Motohiro, was a ''kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the Edo period (1603–1868). He held a regent position kampaku from 1707 to 1709 and from 1709 to 1712. Family Parents *Father: Konoe Motohiro (近衛基熈, 28 April 16 ...

*Lady-in-waiting: Chunagon-Naishi (1653–1691; 中納言典侍) **First son: Imperial Prince Priest Saishin (1671–1701; 済深法親王) *Lady-in-waiting: Matsuki Muneko (松木宗子) later Keihōmon’in (敬法門院), Mutsuki Muneatsu’s daughter **Fourth son: Imperial Prince Asahito (朝仁親王), also known as Tomohito Later

Emperor Higashiyama was the 113th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 東山天皇 (113)/ref> Higashiyama's reign spanned the years from 1687 through to his abdication in 1709 corresponding to ...

**Fifth daughter: Imperial Princess Tomiko (福子内親王; 1676–1707) married Imperial Prince Fushimi-no-miya Kuninaga **Sixth daughter: Princess Eisyū (永秀女王; 1677–1725) **Seventh son: Imperial Prince Kyōgoku-no-miya Ayahito (1680–1711; 京極宮文仁親王) – Sixth Kyōgoku-no-miya **Seventh daughter: Princess Ume (1681–1683; 梅宮) **Eighth daughter: Imperial Princess Katsuko (1686–1716; 勝子内親王) **Eighth son: Prince Kiyo (1688–1693; 清宮) *Handmaid: Atago Fukuko (1656–1681; 愛宕福子), Atago Michitomi’s daughter **Second son: Imperial Prince Priest Kanryū (1672–1707; 寛隆法親王) **Fourth daughter: Princess Tsuna (1675–1677; 綱宮) *Handmaid: Gojō Yōko (1660–1683; 五条庸子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter **Third son: Prince San (1675–1677; 三宮) **Fifth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōen (1676–1718; 尭延法親王) **Sixth son: Prince Tairei'in (1679; 台嶺院宮) *Handmaid: Higashikuze Hiroko (1672–1752; 東久世博子), Higashikuze Michikado’s daughter **Eleventh son: Prince Toku (1692–1693; 徳宮) **Twelfth son: Prince Riki (1697; 力宮) *Court lady: Onaikouji-no-Tsubone (?–1674; 多奈井小路局), Nishinotōin Tokinaga‘s Daughter **First daughter: Princess Chikōin (1669; 知光院宮) *Court lady:　Gojō Tsuneko (1673–?; 五条経子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter **Ninth son: Prince Saku (1689–1692; 作宮) **Tenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Syō'ou (1690–1712; 性応法親王) **Ninth daughter: Princess Bunki (1693–1702; 文喜女王) **Tenth daughter: Princess Gensyū (1696–1752; 元秀女王) *Court lady: Tōshikibu-no-Tsubone (d.1746; 藤式部局), Reizei Sadaatsu‘s Daughter **Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonsyō (1699–1746; 尊賞法親王) **Eleventh daughter: Princess Bun'ō (1702–1754; 文応女王) *Court lady: Irie Itsuko (?–1763; 入江伊津子), Irie Sukenao’s daughter **Fourteenth son: Prince Kachi (1709–1713; 嘉智宮) **Twelfth daughter: Princess Tome (1711–1712; 留宮) *Court lady: Chūjō-no-Tsubone (1691–1753; 中将局), Kurahashi Yasusada‘s Daughter **Fifteenth son: Prince Mine (1710–1713; 峯宮) *Court lady:　Matsumuro Atsuko (?–1746; 松室敦子),　Matsumuro Shigeatsu’s daughter **Sixteenth son: Imperial Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Yorihito (1713–1769; 有栖川宮職仁親王) – Fifth Arisugawa-no-miya **Thirteenth daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (吉子内親王, 1714–1758), betrothed to ''shōgun''

Tokugawa Ietsugu Tokugawa Ietsugu; 徳川家継 (August 8, 1709 – June 19, 1716) was the seventh ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1713 until his death in 1716. He was the son of Tokugawa Ienobu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Tsuna ...

**Eighteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōkyō (1717–1764; 尭恭法親王) *Court lady: Shōshō-no-Tsubone (1702–1728; 少将局), Minami Suketada’s daughter **Fourteenth daughter: Princess Yae (1721–1723; 八重宮) *Court lady:Matsumuro Nakako (1707–1751; 松室仲子), Matsumuro Shigenaka’s daughter **Seventeenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Son'in (1715–1740; 尊胤法親王) His

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given mostly to the notable dead in East Asian culture. It is predominantly practiced in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments or ...

was created during the

Meiji Era The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization b ...

by combining the ''

kanji are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...

'' from the names of two previous Emperors,

Emperor Kōrei , also known as was the seventh legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōrei is known as a " ...

(孝霊) and

Emperor Kōgen , also known as was the eighth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōgen is known as a "le ...

(孝元).

Events of Reigen's life

* 9 July 1654: The birth of an Imperial prince who will become known by the posthumous name of Reigen''-tennō''.Meyer, Eva-Maria. (1999)
''Japans Kaiserhof in der Edo-Zeit'', p. 186.
/ref> * 1654: Prince Satohito, who is also known as ''Ate-no-miya'', is named as heir before the death of his eldest brother,

Emperor Go-Kōmyō was the 110th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後光明天皇 (110)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Kōmyō's reign spanned the years from 1643 through 1654. This 17th-century sovereign was n ...

; however, the young prince is considered too young to become emperor. It is decided that until the young heir grows older, his elder brother will accede to the throne as

. * 5 March 1663 (''

Kanbun A is a form of Classical Chinese used in Japan from the Nara period to the mid-20th century. Much of Japanese literature was written in this style and it was the general writing style for official and intellectual works throughout the period. A ...

3, 26th day of the 1st month''):

abdicated; and Prince Satohito received the succession (''senso''). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Reigen formally acceded (''sokui'') and his reign began. * 1665 (''Kanbun 5, 6th month''): Courts of inquisition were established in all the villages of Japan. These courts were charged with discovering and eliminating any vestiges of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

in each community.Titsingh
p. 414.
/ref> *1666 (''Kanbun 6, 4th month''): ''Hokke shu'' Buddhist religious practices are preserved for those who believe that their spiritual and moral purity may be tainted by close association with others. * 1667 (''Kanbun 7''): After fire destroyed the main temple structure, work on rebuilding at Nara commenced. * 13 February 1668 (''Kanbun 8, 1st day of the 2nd month''): A great fire broke out in Edo—a conflagration lasting 45 days. The disastrous fire was attributed to arson. * 1669 (''Kanbun 9''):There was a famine in this year; and a military expedition was sent to northern Honshū against Shakushain's Revolt. * 1673 (''

Enpō (contemporarily written as 延寳) is the after '' Kanbun'' and before ''Tenna.'' This period spanned the years from September 1673 to September 1681. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1673 : The new era of ''Enpō'' (meaning "Prolong ...

1''): There was a great fire in Kyoto. * 21 May 1673 (''Enpō 1, 5th day of the 4th month''): The Chinese

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 ...

teacher

Ingen Ingen Ryūki () (December 7, 1592 – May 19, 1673) was a Chinese poet, calligrapher, and monk of Linji Chan Buddhism from China.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ingen" in ; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, ' ...

dies in the

Ōbaku The is one of several schools of Zen in Japanese Buddhism, in addition to Sōtō and Rinzai. History Often termed the third sect of Zen Buddhism in Japan, Ōbaku-shū was established in 1661 by a small faction of masters from China and their ...

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,

Manpuku-ji is a Buddhist temple located in Uji, Kyoto. It is the head temple of the Japanese Ōbaku Zen sect, named after Wanfu Temple in Fujian, China. The mountain is likewise named after Mount Huangbo, where the Chinese temple is situated. History The ...

Uji is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. ...

. * 1675 (''

3''): There was a great fire in Kyoto. * 4 June 1680 (''Enpō 8, 8th day of the 5th month''): ''Shōgun'' Ietsuna dies; and he is succeeded by

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was the fifth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the younger brother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, as well as the son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.Nussbaum, Louis-Fr ...

. * 15 June 1680 (''Enpō 8, 19th day of the 5th month''): Former-

Emperor Go-Mizunoo was the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629, and was the first emperor to reign entirely during the Edo period. This 17th-century sovereign was n ...

died. * 1680 (''Enpō 8, 8th month''): A great flood devastates Edo. * 1680 (''Enpō 8''):

Gokoku-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Tokyo's Bunkyō. History This Buddhist temple was established by the fifth shōgun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who dedicated it to his mother. It is notable for surviving the American air raids during World War II, w ...

is founded in Edo. * 1681 (''

Tenna was a after ''Enpō'' and before '' Jōkyō.'' This period spanned the years from September 1681 through February 1684. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * '': The new era name of ''Tenna'' (meaning "Heavenly Imperial Peace") was creat ...

1''): Tsunyoshi's investiture as ''shōgun''. * 5 February 1682 (''Tenna 1, 28th day of the 12th month''): A great fire sweeps through Edo.Titsingh
p. 415.
/ref> * 1681 (''Tenna 2''): A great famine devastates Kyoto and the surrounding area. * 1682 (''Tenna 3''): Tomohito-shinnō is proclaimed Crown Prince; and the ceremonial investiture is held (after being in abeyance for over 300 years). * 26 March 1685 (''

Jōkyō was a after ''Tenna'' and before ''Genroku.'' This period spanned the years from February 1684 through September 1688. The reigning emperors were and .Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''Annales des empereurs du japon'' p. 415./ref> Change of era * 1 ...

2, 22nd day of the 2nd month''): Former-

died; and a great comet was observed crossing the night sky. * 2 May 1687 (''Jōkyō 4, 21st day of the 3rd month''): Emperor Reigen abdicates in favor of his fifth son who will come to be known as

. * 1687: Former-Emperor Reigen begins to rule as a cloistered emperor; and after abdication, Reigen's new home will be called the '' Sentō-gosho'' (the palace for an ex-Emperor).Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1956). ''Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794–1869'', p. 342. * 4 December 1696 Former

Empress Meishō was the 109th monarch of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')明正天皇 (108)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 115. Her reign lasted from 1629 ...

died. * 1713: Former-Emperor Reigen enters a monastery under the name Sojō (素浄) * 1715: Former-Emperor Reigen's 13th daughter, Princess Yoshiko (1714-1758) married seventh Tokugawa ''shōgun'' Ietsugu * 1716: The seventh Tokugawa ''shōgun'' Ietsugu died, he was aged 7 * 24 September 1732 (''

Kyōhō , also pronounced Kyōho, was a after '' Shōtoku'' and before '' Gembun.'' This period spanned the years from July 1716 through April 1736. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * 1716 : The era name of ''Kyōhō'' (meaning "Underg ...

17, 24th day of the 9th month''): Reigen died; he was age 78. Emperor Reigen's memory is honored and preserved at his designated Imperial mausoleum (''misasagi''), ''

Tsuki no wa no misasagi is the name of a mausoleum in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto used by successive generations of the Japanese Imperial Family. The tomb is situated in Sennyū-ji, a Buddhist temple founded in the early Heian period, which was the hereditary temple or of th ...

'' at

Sennyū-ji , formerly written as , is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto, Japan. For centuries, Sennyū-ji has been a mausoleum for noble families and members of the Imperial House of Japan. Located within the temple grounds are the official tom ...

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 ...

. His immediate Imperial predecessors since

– Meishō, Go-Kōmyō and Go-Sai are also enshrined along with his immediate Imperial successors, including Higashiyama, Nakamikado, Sakuramachi, Momozono,

Go-Sakuramachi was the 117th monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後桜町天皇 (120)/ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 120. She was named after h ...

and Go-Momozono.Ponsonby-Fane, ''Imperial House'', p. 423.

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 Reigen'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'',

Nijō Mitsuhira , son of Nijō Yasumichi, was a Japanese ''kugyō'' (court noble) of the early Edo period. He held regent positions kampaku from 1653 to 1663 and sesshō from 1663 to 1664. Nijō Tsunahira was his adopted son. With Imperial Fifth Princess Yoshiko ...

, 1663–1664 * ''Sessho'',

Takatsukasa Fusasuke , son of Norihira, was a '' Kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the early Edo period (1603–1868). He held regent positions sesshō (from 1664 to 1668) and kampaku (from 1668 to 1682). Kanehiro and Sanesuke were his sons who he had with a daug ...

, 1664–1668 * '' Kampaku'',

, 1668–1682 * ''Kampaku'',

Ichijō Kaneteru , son of Norisuke, was a '' kugyō'' (court noble) of the Edo period (1603–1868) of Japan. He was also known as . He held regents positions kampaku from 1682 to 1687 and from 1689 to 1690, and sesshō from 1687 to 1689. He married Norihime, ...

, 1682–1687 * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 Reigen's reign

The years of Reigen'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 ...

''. * ''

'' (1661–1673) * ''

'' (1673–1681) * ''

'' (1681–1684) * ''

'' (1684–1688)

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Meyer, Eva-Maria. (1999)
''Japans Kaiserhof in der Edo-Zeit: unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Jahre 1846 bis 1867''.
Münster: LIT Verlag.
OCLC 42041594
* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1956). ''Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794–1869''. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. * __________. (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 Reigen's life

Kugyō

Eras of Reigen's reign

Ancestry

Notes

References

See also