was the 72nd

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

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')
白河天皇 (72)
/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 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 Sadahito''-shinnō'' (貞仁親王). He was the eldest son of

Emperor Go-Sanjō was the 71st emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 陽成天皇 (71)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1068 through 1073. This 11th century sovereign was named ...

and Fujiwara Shigeko (藤原茂子). Shirakawa had one Empress and one Imperial Consort and nine Imperial sons and daughters. *Empress (chūgū): Fujiwara no Kenshi (藤原賢子)—Minamoto Akifusa‘s daughter, adopted by Fujiwara Morozane ** First Son: Imperial Prince Atsufumi (敦文親王; 1075–1077) ** First Daughter: Imperial

Princess Yasuko Princess Yasuko or Princess Teishi (媞子内親王, ''Teishi (Yasuko) Naishinō''; 1076–1096), later Ikuhomon’in (郁芳門院) was an Honorary Empress of Japan to her brother Emperor Horikawa. She was the first daughter of Emperor Shirakaw ...

(媞子内親王) later Ikuhomon’in (郁芳門院) ** Third Daughter: Imperial

Princess Reishi Princess Reishi (1078–1144) was the Empress of her nephew Emperor Toba of Japan. She was the daughter of Emperor Shirakawa and Fujiwara no Kenshi (1057-1084). Her father abdicated in favor of her brother in 1087. In 1107, her brother Emperor H ...

(令子内親王) ''saigū'' ** Third Son: Imperial Prince Taruhito (善仁親王) later

Emperor Horikawa was the 73rd emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 堀河天皇 (73)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Horikawa's reign spanned the years from 1087 through 1107. Biography Before his ascension to the ...

** Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess Shinshi (禛子内親王; 1081–1156)—Tsuchimikado Saiin (土御門斎院) *Consort (Nyogo): Fujiwara Michiko (藤原道子; 1042–1132), Fujiwara no Yoshinaga‘s daughter ** Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (善子内親王; 1076–1131) Rokkaku ''>saigū'' 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 . ...

*Lady-in-Waiting: Fujiwara Tsuneko (藤原経子), Fujiwara no Tsunehira's daughter ** Second Son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakugyō (覚行法親王; 1075–1105) * Court Lady: Minamoto Raishi (源師子; 1070–1148), Minamoto Akifusa's daughter ** Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakuhō (覚法法親王; 1092–1153) * Minamoto Yoriko (源頼子), Minamoto Yoritsune's daughter ** Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess Kanshi (官子内親王; b.1090)—Saiin (斎院) * Fujiwara Suesane's daughter ** Sixth Daughter: Imperial Princess Junko (恂子内親王; 1093-1132) * Kasuga-dono (春日殿), Fujiwara Morokane's daughter ** Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōe (聖恵法親王; 1094–1137) * Minamoto Masanaga's daughter ** Gyōkei (行慶; 1101–1165) * Bizen-dono (備前), Minamoto Arimune's daughter **Engyō (円行, b.1128) * Minamoto Akifusa's daughter ** Josho (静證) *Gion Nyōgo (祇園女御) *Gion Nyōgo‘s younger sister * Rō-no-Kata (廊御方), Fujiwara Michisue's daughter * Kamo Nyōgo (賀茂女御, 1070 - 1148）, Kamo Shigesuke's daughter * Kamo Nyōgo‘s younger sister, Kamo Shigesuke's daughter

Events of Shirakawa's life

He was the first emperor to ostensibly retire to a monastery, but in fact continue to exert considerable influence over his successor. This process would become known as

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 ...

. When he was very young, his relations with his

father A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. An adoptive fathe ...

were very cold but loving and in 1068, when his father was enthroned, he was proclaimed a ''shinnō'' (Imperial Prince), becoming Imperial Prince Sadahito. In 1069, he became

Crown Prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wif ...

and in due course, he became emperor at the age of 19. * January 18, 1073 (''

Enkyū was a after ''Jiryaku'' and before '' Jōhō.'' This period spanned the years from April 1069 through August 1074. The reigning emperors were and . Change of Era * 1069 (): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. T ...

4, on the 8th day of the 12th month''): In the 5th year of Emperor Go-Sanjō''-tennō''s reign (桓武天皇六年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Shirakawa is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). A '' kampaku'' was put in place, but Shirakawa attempted to rule directly, like his father. He attempted to regulate the ''shōen'' (manor) system, working to weaken the influence of the '' sekkan'' lines. * 1074 (''

Jōhō was a Japanese era name (年号, ''nengō'', lit. year name) after '' Enkyū'' and before '' Jōryaku.'' This period spanned the years from August 1074 through November 1077. The reigning emperor was . Change of Era * January 30, 1074 : The ne ...

1, 1st month''): ''Dianagon'' Minamoto- no Takakune asked to be relieved of his duties because of his age. He was 71, and he wanted to retire to Uji. In his retirement, he was visited by many friends with whom he pursued research into the history of Japan. He brought this work together in a book.Titsingh, p. 169. * 1074 (''Jōhō 1, 7th day of the 2nd month''): The former ''kampaku''

Fujiwara Yorimichi (992–1071) was a Japanese court noble. He succeeded his father Michinaga to the position of Sesshō in 1017, and then went on to become Kampaku from 1020 until 1068. In both these positions, he acted as Regent to the Emperor, as many of his ...

died at the age of 83. In this same period, his sister, the widow of Emperor Ichijo, died at the age of 87. * 1074 (''Jōhō 1, 3rd day of the 10th month''): Empress Jōtō-mon In died at the age of 87. * 1077 (''

Jōryaku was a Japanese era name (年号, ''nengō'', lit. year name) after ''Jōhō'' and before '' Eihō.'' This period spanned the years from November 1077 through February 1081. The reigning emperor was . Change of Era * January 27, 1077 : The new ...

1, 1st month''): Shirakawa went to the Kamo Shrines; and he visited

Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple located in eastern Kyoto, Japan. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site. History Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period. By 77 ...

and other Buddhist temples.Titsingh, p. 170. * 1077 (''Jōryaku 1, 2nd month''): ''Udaijin'' Minamoto no Morofusa died at of an ulcer at the age of 70. * 1077 (''Jōryaku 1''): The emperor caused

Hosshō-ji was a Buddhist temple in northeastern Kyoto, Japan, endowed by Emperor Shirakawa in fulfillment of a sacred vow. The temple complex was located east of the Kamo River in the Shirakawa district; and its chief architectural feature was a nine-s ...

(dedicated to the "Superiority of Buddhist Law") to be built at Shirakawa in fulfillment of a sacred vow. This temple became only the first of a series of "sacred vow" temples to be created by Imperial decree. Hosshō-ji's nine-storied pagoda would become the most elaborate Imperial-sponsored temple structure ever erected up to this time. * 1079 (''Jōryaku 3, i10th month''): The emperor visited the

Fushimi Inari-taisha is the head shrine of the ''kami'' Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is above sea level, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines ...

at the foot of Mount Fushimi and the

Yasaka Shrine Kanpei-taisha , once called , is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. The Yasaka shrine is ...

. * May 26, 1081 ('' Eihō 1, 15th day of the 4th month''): The Buddhist Temple of

Miidera , formally called , is a Buddhist temple in Japan located at the foot of Mount Hiei, in the city of Ōtsu in Shiga Prefecture. It is a short distance from both Kyoto, and Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. The head temple of the Jimon sect ...

was set on fire by the monks of a rival sect on Mt. Hiei.Brown, p. 316. * 1081 (''Eihō 1, 4th day of the 6th month''): Miidera was burned again by monks from Mt. Hiei. * 1083 (''Eihō 3, 10th month''): At Hosshō-ji, construction begins on a nine-story pagoda.Titsingh, p.171. * 1084 (''

Ōtoku was a after '' Eihō'' and before ''Kanji''. This period spanned the years from February 1084 through April 1087. The reigning emperor was . Change of Era * February 9, 1084 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. ...

1, 9th month''): The empress Kenshi, the emperor's principal consort, died. Shirakawa was afflicted with great grief, and for a time, he turned over the administration of the government to his ministers. * 1087 (''Ōtoku 3, 9th month''): Shirakawa announced his intention to abdicate in favor of his son. * January 3, 1087 (''Ōtoku 3, 26th day of the 11th month''): Shirakawa formally abdicated, and he took the title '' Daijō-tennō.'' Shirakawa had personally occupied the throne for 14 years; and for the next 43 years, he would exercise broad powers in what will come to be known as

. Go-Sanjō had wished for Shirakawa's younger half-brother to succeed him to the throne. In 1085, this half-brother died of an illness; and Shirakawa's own son, Taruhito''-shinnō'' (善仁親王) became Crown Prince. On the same day that Taruhito was proclaimed as his heir, Shirakawa abdicated;, and Taruhito became

. The now-retired Emperor Shirakawa was the first to attempt what became customary

. He exercised power, ruling indirectly from the Shirakawa-in (lit. "White River Mansion/Temple"); nevertheless, nominal ''sesshō'' and ''kampaku'' offices continued to exist for a long time. * 1087 (''

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 ...

1, 5th month''): '' Daijō-tennō'' Shirakawa retired himself to

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. ...

. * 1088 (''Kanji 2, in the 1st month''): The emperor paid a visit to his father's home.Titsingh, p. 173. * 1088 (''Kanji 2, 10th month''): Shirakawa visited the temples at Mt. Hiei. * 1088 (''Kanji 2, 14th day of the 12th''): The ''sesshō'' Fujiwara Morozane was given additional honors with the further title of ''

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 ...

''. In this context, it matters a great deal that the mother of Emperor Horikowa, formerly the daughter of ''udaijin'' Minamoto no Akifusa, was also formerly the adopted child of Morozane. * 1089 (''Kanji 3, 5th month''): Shirakawa made a second visit to Mt. Hiei; and this time, he stayed seven days. * 1090 (''Kanji 4, 12th month''): Fujiwara Morozane was relieved of his responsibilities as ''sesshō'' and he was simultaneously named ''kampaku.'' * 1094 (''Kanji 8, 8th day of the 3rd month''): Morozane resigned from his position as ''kampaku.'' * 1095 ('' Kahō 2, i4th month''): Emperor Horikawa paid visits to the

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 ...

Iwashimizu Shrine and to the Shinto Kamo Shrines.Titsingh, p. 176. * 1095 (''Kahō 2, 8th month''): The emperor was stricken with intermittent fevers; and he ordered prayers to be offered for his return to good health. After Horikawa recovered his health, he was generous and appreciative to 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 ...

priests who had prayed for his recovery. * 1095 (''Kahō 2, 11th month''): The Buddhist priests of

Mt. Hiei is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga Prefectures, Japan. The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first outpost of the Japanese Tendai (Chin. Tiantai) sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei by ...

came down from their mountain to protest a dispute with Minamoto Yoshitsuna and other government officials which had led to military action and bloodshed. The priests carried a portable shrine as far as the central hall of

Enryaku-ji is a Tendai monastery located on Mount Hiei in Ōtsu, overlooking Kyoto. It was first founded in 788 during the early Heian period (794–1185) by Saichō was a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Tendai school of Buddhism bas ...

, where a curse was laid on ''

'' Fujiwara Moromichi. * 1096 (''Kahō 3, 9th day of the 11th month''): Former-Emperor Shirakawa entered the Buddhist priesthood at the age of 44 and received the

Dharma name A Dharma name or Dhamma name is a new name acquired during both lay and monastic Buddhist initiation rituals in Mahayana Buddhism and monastic ordination in Theravada Buddhism (where it is more proper to call it Dhamma or Sangha name). The nam ...

Yūkan (融観). In 1096, on the occasion of his daughter's death, Shirakawa entered a monastery under the name of Yūkan (融観); and thus, he became a ''hō-ō'' (法皇), which is the title accorded to a former emperor who has become a monk. After the death of Emperor Horikawa, Shirakawa's grandson became

Emperor Toba was the 74th Emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 鳥羽天皇 (74)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chr ...

. Shirakawa was still alive when Toba abdicated in turn to his son, who became

Emperor Sutoku was the 75th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 崇徳天皇 (75)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Sutoku's reign spanned the years from 1123 through 1142. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chry ...

. By the time of his death in 1129, he had ruled 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 ...

for 41 years and through the reigns of three emperors who were effectively little more than figureheads. This emperor's posthumous name comes from ''Shirakawa-in'' (白河院), the name of the residence from which he conducted his

after abdicating the throne. Another name was Rokujō no Mikado (六条帝,

Mikado Mikado may refer to: * Emperor of Japan or Arts and entertainment * ''The Mikado'', an 1885 comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan * ''The Mikado'' (1939 film), an adaptation of the opera, directed by Victor Schertzinger * ''The Mikado'' (1967 f ...

being an old name for 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 ...

Kugyō

is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of 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 Shirakawa'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'', Fujiwara Norimichi, 997–1075.Brown, p. 315. * '' Kampaku'', Fujiwara Morozane, 1042–1101. * ''

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 ...

'', Fujiwara Morozane. * ''

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 ...

'', Fujiwara Moromichi, 1062–1099. * ''

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 ...

'', Minamoto no Takakuni.

Eras of Shirakawa's reign

The years of Shirakawa'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. 168-171; Brown, p. 315-316. * ''

'' (1069–1074) * ''

'' (1074–1077) * ''

'' (1077–1081) * '' Eihō'' (1081–1084) * ''

'' (1084–1087)

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979)
''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''
Berkeley: University of California Press.
OCLC 251325323
* Kitagawa, Hiroshi and Burce T. Tsuchida, ed. (1975). The Tale of the Heike. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.
OCLC 164803926
* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''

Nihon Odai Ichiran Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...