was the 52nd

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 ...

, Emperor Saga, Saganoyamanoe Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency 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.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 ...

and

Fujiwara no Otomuro Fujiwara no Otomuro (藤原乙牟漏; �u͍ʑiwaɽa no otomuɽo 760 – April 28, 790) was a Japanese noblewoman and Empress consort of Japan. Her sister was Fujiwara no Moroane. Fujiwara no Otomuro was a daughter of a noble called Fujiwara no ...

. Brown and Ishida, p. 280. His personal name was . Saga was an "accomplished calligrapher" able to compose in Chinese who held the first imperial poetry competitions (). According to legend, he was the first Japanese emperor to drink

tea Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of ''Camellia sinensis'', an evergreen shrub native to East Asia which probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and north ...

. Saga is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates , in

Ukyō-ku, Kyoto is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. History The meaning of ''ukyō'' (右京) is "on the Emperor's right." When residing in the Kyoto Imperial Palace the emperor would sit facing south, thus the west ...

, as the location of Saga'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 ...

Events of Saga's life

* 806 Saga became the crown prince at age 21. * June 17, 809 (): In the 4th year of Emperor Heizei's reign, he fell ill and abdicated; and the succession (''senso'') was received by Kanmu's second son Saga, the eldest son having become a Buddhist priest. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Saga is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). Soon after his

enthronement An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. Enthronements may also feature as part of a larger coronation rite. ...

, Saga himself took ill. At the time the retired Heizei had quarreled with his brother over the ideal location of the court, the latter preferring the Heian capital, while the former was convinced that a shift back to the Nara plain was necessary, and Heizei, exploiting Saga's weakened health, seized the opportunity to foment a rebellion, known historically as the Kusuko Incident; however, forces loyal to Emperor Saga, led by '' taishōgun''

Sakanoue no Tamuramaro was a court noble, general and ''shōgun'' of the early Heian period of Japan. He served as Dainagon, Minister of War and ''Ukon'e no Taisho'' (Major Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards). He held the '' kabane'' of Ōsukune ...

, quickly defeated the Heizei rebels which thus limited the adverse consequences which would have followed any broader conflict. This same Tamuramaro is remembered in

Aomori is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 278,964 in 136,457 households, and a population density of 340 people per square kilometer spread over the city's total area of ...

's annual Nebuta Matsuri which feature a number of gigantic, specially-constructed, illuminated paper floats. These great lantern-structures are colorfully painted with mythical figures; and teams of men carry them through the streets as crowds shout encouragement. This early ninth century military leader is commemorated in this way because he is said to have ordered huge illuminated lanterns to be placed at the top of hills; and when the curious

Emishi The (also called Ebisu and Ezo), written with Chinese characters that literally mean "shrimp barbarians," constituted an ancient ethnic group of people who lived in parts of Honshū, especially in the Tōhoku region, referred to as in contemp ...

approached these bright lights to investigate, they were captured and subdued by Tamuramaro's men. * August 24, 842 (): Saga died at the age of 57.

Eras of Saga's reign

The years of Saga'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 ...

(''nengō''). * ''

Daidō was a after ''Enryaku'' and before '' Kōnin.'' This period spanned the years from May 806 through September 810. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * November 16, 806 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series o ...

'' (806–810) * '' Kōnin'' (810–824)

Legacy

In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the ''Gempeitōkitsu'' (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the

Minamoto clan was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were excluded from the line of succession and demoted into the ranks of the nobility from 1192 to 1333. The practice was most prevalent during the ...

are also known as Genji (源氏), and of these, the Saga Genji (嵯峨源氏) are descended from 52nd emperor Saga. Saga's son,

Minamoto no Tōru was a Japanese poet and statesman. He was born the son of Emperor Saga and a member of the Saga Genji clan. He is sometimes mentioned as the model for Hikaru Genji in important Japanese literary classic '' The Tale of Genji''. Under his titl ...

, is thought to be an inspiration for the protagonist of the novel '' The Tale of Genji''. Emperor Saga played an important role as a stalwart supporter of 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 ...

monk

Kūkai Kūkai (; 27 July 774 – 22 April 835Kūkai was born in 774, the 5th year of the Hōki era; his exact date of birth was designated as the fifteenth day of the sixth month of the Japanese lunar calendar, some 400 years later, by the Shingon sec ...

. The emperor helped Kūkai to establish the

Shingon file:Koyasan (Mount Koya) monks.jpg, Shingon monks at Mount Koya is one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan and one of the few surviving Vajrayana lineages in East Asia, originally spread from India to China through traveling monks suc ...

School of Buddhism by granting him

Tō-ji , also known as is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 796, it was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan. As such it has a long history, h ...

Temple in the capital

Heian-kyō Heian-kyō was one of several former names for the city now known as Kyoto. It was the official capital of Japan for over one thousand years, from 794 to 1868 with an interruption in 1180. Emperor Kanmu established it as the capital in 794, mov ...

(present-day

Kyoto 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 ci ...

Daikaku-ji

is a

Shingon Buddhist Shingon monks at Mount Koya is one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan and one of the few surviving Vajrayana lineages in East Asia, originally spread from India to China through traveling monks such as Vajrabodhi and Amoghavajra. Kn ...

temple in Ukyō-ku in Kyoto. The site was originally a residence of the emperor, and later various emperor conducted their

cloistered rule was a form of government in Japan during the Heian period. In this bifurcated system, an emperor abdicated, but retained power and influence. Those retired emperors who withdrew to live in monasteries (''in'') continued to act in ways intended to ...

from here. The artificial lake of the temple, Ōsawa Pond, is one of the oldest

Japanese garden are traditional gardens whose designs are accompanied by Japanese aesthetics and philosophical ideas, avoid artificial ornamentation, and highlight the natural landscape. Plants and worn, aged materials are generally used by Japanese garden desig ...

ponds to survive from the

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...

. The ''

Saga Go-ryū is a school of ''ikebana'', the Japanese traditional art of flower arrangement. The school is also known as ''Saga-ryū''. History The history goes back to Emperor Saga, who ruled from 809-823 CE during the Heian period. The emperor resided at ...

'' school of ''

ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as . The tradition dates back to Heian period, when floral offerings were made at altars. Later, flower arrangements were instead used to adorn the (alcove) of a traditional Japan ...

'' has its headquarters in the temple and is named in his honour.

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 Saga's reign (809–823), this ''kugyō'' included: * ''

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 ...

'',

Fujiwara no Uchimaro was a Japanese noble of the Nara period and early Heian period. He was the third son of the ''dainagon'' Fujiwara no Matate and thus a member of the Hokke. He reached the court rank of and the position of ''udaijin'', and posthumously of and ...

(藤原内麿), 806–812. * ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Sonohito (藤原園人), 812–818. * ''Udaijin'',

Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu was a Japanese noble, statesman, general, and poet of the early Heian period. A member of the Hokke, he was the second son of the ''udaijin'' Fujiwara no Uchimaro. He attained the court rank of and the position of '' sadaijin'', and posthum ...

(藤原冬嗣), 821–825. * ''Udaijin'', Tachibana no Ujikimi. * ''

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 ...

Consorts and children

Saga had 49 children with at least 30 different women. Many of the children received the surname Minamoto, thereby removing them from royal succession. *Empress:

Tachibana no Kachiko , also known as , was a Japanese empress, the chief consort of Emperor SagaPonsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' pp. 318-319. and the daughter of .Ponsonby-Fane, p. 319. The empress was a devout Buddhist. She founded ...

(橘嘉智子), also known as , Tachibana no Kiyotomo's daughter.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 318–319. **Second Son: Imperial Prince Masara (正良親王) later

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 ...

**Imperial

Princess Seishi was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the empress consort of her paternal uncle Emperor Junna. She became empress in 827. Her husband abdicated in 833. Either when she was widowed in 840, or when her son was deposed as crown prince in 842, S ...

(正子内親王; 810–879), married to

Emperor Junna was the 53rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Junna, Ōharano no Nishi no Minenoe Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency according to the traditional order of succession. Junna reigned from 823 to 833. Traditional narrative Junna had six empre ...

**Imperial Princess Hideko (秀子内親王; d. 850) **Imperial Prince Hidera (秀良親王; 817–895) **Imperial Princess Toshiko (俊子内親王; d. 826) **Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (芳子内親王; d. 836) **Imperial Princess Shigeko (繁子内親王; d. 865) *''Hi'' (deposed): Imperial Princess Takatsu (高津内親王; d. 841),

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 ...

’s daughter **Second Prince: Imperial Prince Nariyoshi (業良親王; d. 868) **Imperial Princess Nariko (業子内親王; d. 815) *''Hi'': Tajihi no Takako (多治比高子; 787–825), Tajihi no Ujimori's daughter *''Bunin'': Fujiwara no Onatsu (藤原緒夏; d. 855), Fujiwara no Uchimaro's daughter *Court lady (''Naishi-no-kami''): Kudara no Kyomyō (百済王慶命; d. 849), Kudara no Kyōshun's daughter **Minamoto no Yoshihime (源善姫; b. 814) **Minamoto no Sadamu (源定; 815–863) **Minamoto no Wakahime (源若姫) **Minamoto no Shizumu (源鎮; 824–881) *''Nyōgo'': Kudara no Kimyō (百済貴命; d. 851), Kudara no Shuntetsu's daughter **Imperial Prince Motora (基良親王; d. 831) **Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tadara (忠良親王; 819–876) **Imperial Princess Motoko (基子内親王; d. 831) *''Nyōgo'': Ōhara no Kiyoko (大原浄子; d. 841), Ōhara no Ietsugu's daughter **Tenth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Ninshi'' (仁子内親王; d. 889), 15th 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 ...

809–823 *''Koui'': Iidaka no Yakatoji (飯高宅刀自), Iidaka Gakuashi **Minamoto no Tokiwa (源常; 812–854) **Minamoto no Akira (源明; 814–852/853) *''Koui'': Akishino no Koko (秋篠高子/康子), Akishino no Yasuhito's daughter **Minamoto no Kiyoshi (源清) *''Koui'': Yamada no Chikako (山田近子) **Minamoto no ''Hiraku(?)'' (源啓; 829–869) **Minamoto no Mituhime (源密姫) *''Nyōgo'': Princess Katano (交野女王), Prince Yamaguchi's daughter **Eighth Daughter: Imperial Princess Uchiko (有智子内親王; 807–847), 1st Saiin in Kamo Shrine 810–831 *Court lady: Takashina no Kawako (高階河子), Takashina no Kiyoshina's daughter **Imperial Princess ''Sōshi'' (宗子内親王; d. 854) *Court lady: Hiroi no Otona's daughter **Seventh Son:

Minamoto no Makoto was the seventh son of the Japanese Emperor Saga, and was the first courtier to be given the name Minamoto. Initially an honorary name given to a number of unrelated courtiers by a number of different Emperors, the Minamoto clan would grow to be ...

(源信) *Court lady: Fuse no Musashiko (布勢武蔵子) **Minamoto no Sadahime (源貞姫; 810–880) **Minamoto no Hashihime (源端姫) *Court lady: Kamitsukeno clan’s daughter **Minamoto no Hiromu (源弘; 812–863) *Court lady: Abe no Yanatsu's daughter **Minamoto no Yutaka (源寛; 813–876) *Court lady: Kasa no Tsugiko (笠継子), Kasa no Nakamori's daughter **Minamoto no Ikeru (源生; 821–872) *Court lady: Awata clan's daughter **Minamoto no Yasushi (源安; 822–853) *Court lady: Ōhara no Matako (大原全子), Ōhara no Mamuro's daughter **

(源融), ''Sadaijin'' **Minamoto no Tsutomu (源勤; 824–881) **Minamoto no Mitsuhime (源盈姫) *Court lady: Ki clan's daughter **Minamoto no Sarahime (源更姫) *Court lady: Kura no Kageko (内蔵影子) **Minamoto no Kamihime (源神姫) **Minamoto no ''Katahime'' (源容姫) **Minamoto no Agahime (源吾姫) *Court lady: Kannabi no Iseko (甘南備伊勢子) **Minamoto no Koehime (源声姫) *Court lady: Fun'ya no Fumiko (文屋文子), Fun'ya no Kugamaro's daughter ** Imperial Princess ''Junshi'' (純子内親王; d. 863) ** Imperial Princess ''Seishi'' (斉子内親王; d. 853), married to Prince Fujii (son of Emperor Kanmu) ** Prince Atsushi (淳王) *Court lady: Tanaka clan's daughter **Minamoto no ''Sumu(?)'' (源澄) *Court lady: Koreyoshi no Sadamichi's daughter **Minamoto no Masaru (源勝) *Court lady: Ōnakatomi no Mineko (大中臣峯子) *Court lady: Tachibana no Haruko (橘春子) *Court lady: Nagaoka no Okanari's daughter **Minamoto no ''Sakashi(?)'' (源賢) *Court lady (''Nyoju''): Taima no Osadamaro's daughter ** Minamoto no Kiyohime (源潔姫; 810–856), married to

Fujiwara no Yoshifusa , also known as ''Somedono no Daijin'' or ''Shirakawa-dono'', was a Japanese people, Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Nakahira" in ; Brinkley, Frank ''et al.'' (1 ...

**Minamoto no Matahime (源全姫; 812–882), Naishi-no-kami (尚侍) *Lady-in-waiting: Sugawara Kanshi (菅原閑子) *(from unknown women) **Minamoto no ''Tsugu (?)'' (源継) **Minamoto no Yoshihime (源良姫) **Minamoto no Toshihime (源年姫)

Ancestry

Notes

References

* 嵯峨山上 * * * * *

External links

Another photo of Emperor Saga's mausoleum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saga, Emperor Japanese emperors 9th-century Japanese calligraphers 786 births 842 deaths 9th-century rulers in Asia 8th-century Japanese people 9th-century Japanese monarchs Japanese retired emperors