was the 88th

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 ...

, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1242 through 1246. This 13th-century

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

was named after the 8th-century

Emperor Saga was the 52nd emperor of Japan,#Kunaichō, Emperor Saga, Saganoyamanoe Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency according to the traditional List of Emperors of Japan, order of succession. Saga's reign spanned the years from 809 through 823 ...

and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Saga". The Japanese word ''go'' has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Saga, the second", or as "Saga II".

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 second son of

Emperor Tsuchimikado was the 83rd emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 土御門天皇 (83)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' pp. 86–87. Tsuchimikado's reig ...

, and second cousin of his predecessor

Emperor Shijō (March 17, 1231 – February 10, 1242) was the 87th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1232 through 1242. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name ...

. *Empress: Saionji (Fujiwara) no Yoshi-ko (西園寺（藤原）姞子) Later Ōmiya-in (大宮院),

Saionji Saneuji Saionji Saneuji (西園寺実氏 1194 – 7 July 1269) was a ''waka'' poet and Japanese nobleman active in the early Kamakura period. He is designated as a member of the . Family Parents *Father: Saionji Kintsune (西園寺公経, 1171 – 24 Oc ...

’s daughter **Fourth son: Imperial Prince Hisahito (久仁親王) later

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 ...

**First daughter: Imperial Princess Osako (綜子内親王; 1247-1269）later Gekkamon-in (月華門院)Emergence of Japanese Kingship, p5 **Seventh son: Imperial Prince Tsunehito (恒仁親王) later

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 ...

**Eleventh son: Imperial Prince Masataka (雅尊親王; 1254-1256) **Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince Sadayoshi (貞良親王; 1256-1260) **Princess (b.1260) *Consort: Imperial Princess Taishi (体子内親王; 1231-1302) later Shinsenmon’in (神仙門院),

Emperor Go-Horikawa (March 22, 1212 – August 31, 1234) was the 86th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1221 CE through 1232 CE. This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 10th-century Emperor ...

’s daughter ** Princess (d.1281) *Court Lady: Saionji (Fujiwara) Kimiko (西園寺（藤原）公子), Saionji Kintsune's daughter ** Son: Imperial Prince Priest jijo (慈助法親王; 1254-1295） ** Daughter: Imperial Princess Etsuko (悦子内親王; 1260-1332）later Enseimon’in (延政門院) *Lady-in-waiting: Taira no Muneko (平棟子), Taira no Munemoto's daughter **Third son: Imperial Prince Munetaka (宗尊親王) *Handmaid?: Fujiwara Hiroko (藤原博子), Fujiwara Takatoki's daughter **Eighth son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakujo (覚助法親王; 1247-1336) **Princess **Sixth daughter: Imperial Princess Ekishi (懌子内親王; 1262-1294) later Gojo’in (五条院) *Court Lady: Fujiwara Fujiko (藤原藤子), Shijo Takahira's daughter ** Son: Imperial Prince Priest Saijo (最助法親王; 1253-1293） *Court Lady: Mikushige-dono (御匣殿), Sanjo Kinfusa's daughter ** Son: Imperial Prince Priest Chujo (忠助法親王; d.1290) ** Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōjo (性助法親王; 1247-1282） *Court Lady: Anegakoji Saneyo's daughter ** Son: Imperial Prince Priest Jōjo (浄助法親王; 1253-1280） *Court Lady: Emontoku-no-tsubone (右衛門督局), Ichijo Yoshiyasu's daughter ** Son: Imperial Prince Priest Enjo (円助法親王; 1236-1282） *Court Lady: Nijo-no-Tsubone (二条局), Fujiwara Toshimori's daughter ** Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Yasuko (愷子内親王; 1249-1284） *Court Lady: Ichijo-dono-no-tsubone (一条殿局),

Fujiwara no Kanefusa was the fourth son of the Japanese regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi, and Kaga, daughter of Fujiwara no Nakamitsu. His brothers were Motozane (regent), Motofusa (regent), Kanezane (regent), and Jien was a Japanese poet, historian, and Bud ...

’s daughter **Son: Imperial Prince Priest Nin’e (仁恵法親王; 1244-1298） *Court Lady: Dainagon-no-Tsubone (大納言局), Nakanoin Michikata's daughter ** Prince (1243) *Court Lady: Kujō Yoshihira's daughter *Court Lady: Minamoto no Yorimasa's granddaughter ** Priest Shojo *Court Lady: Fujiwara clan's descendant ** Second Son: Kōhō Ken'nichi (高峰顕日; 1241-1316)

Events of Go-Saga's life

He ruled from 21 February 1242, to 16 February 1246. When

moved to

Tosa Province was a province of Japan in the area of southern Shikoku. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Tosa''" in . Tosa bordered on Awa to the northeast, and Iyo to the northwest. Its abbreviated form name was . In terms of the Gokishichidō syste ...

(on

Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...

), he was raised by his mother's side of the family. Because of the sudden death of

at the age of 10, the question of succession arose. Because the expectations of the court nobility and 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 Kamakur ...

conflicted, the issue was bitterly contested.

Kujō Michiie Kujō Michiie (九条道家) (July 28, 1193 — April 1, 1252) was a Japanese regent in the 13th century. He was the father of Kujō Yoritsune and grandson of Kujō Kanezane (also known as Fujiwara no Kanezane). He was the father of Norizane a ...

and the court nobility supported Prince Tadanari (忠成王), a son of Retired Emperor Juntoku, but the ''

shikken The was a titular post held by a member of the Hōjō clan, officially a regent of the shogunate, from 1199 to 1333, during the Kamakura period, and so he was head of the ''bakufu'' (shogunate). It was part of the era referred to as . During rou ...

Hōjō Yasutoki Hōjō Yasutoki (; 1183 – July 14, 1242) was the third ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. He strengthened the political system of the Hōjō regency. Life He was the eldest son of second ''shikken'' Hōjō Yoshitoki. A ...

was opposed to the sons of Juntoku because of his involvement in the

Jōkyū War , also known as the Jōkyū Disturbance or the Jōkyū Rebellion, was fought in Japan between the forces of Retired Emperor Go-Toba and those of the Hōjō clan, regents of the Kamakura shogunate, whom the retired emperor was trying to overthrow ...

. Michiie instead supported Tsuchimikado's son Prince Kunihito as a neutral figure for Emperor. During these negotiations, there was a vacancy on the throne of 11 days. * 11 February 1242 (''

Ninji , also called Jinji, was a after ''En'ō'' and before '' Kangen.'' This period spanned the years from August 1240 to January 1243. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * 1240 : The era name was changed to mark an event or a number ...

3, 10th day of the 1st month''): In the 10th year of Shijō''-tennō'' 's reign (四条天皇10年), the emperor died suddenly; and despite a dispute over who should follow him as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (''senso'') was received by the second son of former Emperor Tsuchimikado. * 19 April 1242 (''Ninji 3, 18th day of the 3rd month''): Emperor Go-Saga is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). In 1242, Prince Kunihito became emperor. In 1246 he abdicated to his son,

, beginning 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 ...

. In 1259, he compelled

to abdicate to his younger brother,

. Imperial Prince Munetaka became ''

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 Kamakur ...

'' instead of the Hōjō regents. Henceforth, the ''shōguns'' of the Kamakura Bakufu came from the imperial house. Still, the Hōjō regents increased their control of the shogunate, setting up the system of rule by regents. The descendants of his two sons contested the throne between them, forming into two lines, the Jimyōin-tō (Go-Fukakusa's descendants) and the Daikakuji-tō (Kameyama's descendants). Their lines would eventually lead to the split between the Northern and Southern Courts. Go-Saga misasagi

In 1272, Go-Saga died. Go-Saga's final resting place is designated as an Imperial mausoleum (''misasagi'') at Saga no minami 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 Buddh ...

in Kyoto.

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 Go-Saga'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'',

Konoe Kanetsune , son of Iezane, was a ''Kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the early Kamakura period. He held regent positions as follows: * sesshō (1237–1242) * kampaku (1242) * sesshō (1247–1252) With a daughter of Kujō Michiie Kujō Michiie (� ...

, 1242 * ''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 ...

, 1242–1246 * ''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 ...

, 1246 * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 ...

'' * ''

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 Go-Saga's reign

The years of Go-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 ...

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. 245. * ''

'' (1240–1243) * ''

Kangen was a after ''Ninji'' and before '' Hoji.'' This period spanned the years from February 1243 to February 1247. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * ; 1243: The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The previou ...

'' (1243–1247)

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). iyun-sai_Rin-siyo/Hayashi_Gahō,_1652.html" ;"title="Hayashi_Gahō.html" ;"title="iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō">iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652">Hayashi_Gahō.html" ;"title="iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō">iyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652 ''Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou
Annales des empereurs du Japon.''
Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. * Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). Kitabatake_Chikafusa,_1359.html" ;"title="Kitabatake_Chikafusa.html" ;"title="Kitabatake Chikafusa">Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359">Kitabatake_Chikafusa.html" ;"title="Kitabatake Chikafusa">Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359 ''Jinnō Shōtōki'' (
A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki
'' New York:

Columbia University Press Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. It is currently directed by Jennifer Crewe (2014–present) and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fiel ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Go-Saga Japanese emperors 1220 births 1272 deaths

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 ...

1240s in Japan 13th-century Japanese monarchs

Genealogy

Events of Go-Saga's life

Kugyō

Eras of Go-Saga's reign

Ancestry

See also

Notes

References