was the 71st

emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the 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 position is derived from "the ...

, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')
陽成天皇 (71)
/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.Emperor Sanjō was the 67th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 三条天皇 (67)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1011 through 1016. Biography Before his ascension to the Chry ...

and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Sanjō", or, in some older sources, may be identified as "Sanjō, the second" or as "Sanjo II." It was during, and due to, his reign that the Fujiwara grip on power was broken; following Go-Sanjo's rule, their power continued to wane until 1150, where any semblance of their power disappeared.

Biography

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 (''

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 Takahito''-shinnō'' (尊仁親王). Takahito''-shinnō'' was the second son of

Emperor Go-Suzaku was the 69th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後朱雀天皇 (69)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Suzaku's reign spanned the years from 1036 through 1045. This 11th-century sovereign was name ...

. His mother was Empress (''kōgō'') Sadako (禎子内親王), the third daughter of

Emperor Sanjō was the 67th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 三条天皇 (67)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1011 through 1016. Biography Before his ascension to the Chry ...

, making him the first Emperor in 170 years (since Emperor Uda) whose mother was not of Fujiwara descent paternally. His father and mother were grandchildren of

Fujiwara no Michinaga was a Japanese statesman. The Fujiwara clan's control over Japan and its politics reached its zenith under his leadership. Early life Michinaga was born in Kyōto, the son of Kaneiye. Kaneiye had become Regent in 986, holding the position unt ...

maternally. The Empress mother of the future Emperor Go-Sanjō was also known as Tishi, and a Yōmei-mon In (1012–94).Brown, p. 314. His lack of connection with the Fujiwara meant he owed them no special loyalty - this meant that he could afford to oppose them.

Events of Go-Sanjō's life

Because Prince Takahito was not of Fujiwara descent, the '' Kampaku'', Fujiwara no Yorimichi neglected him, but

decreed that upon his elder brother Chikahito's enthronement (as

Emperor Go-Reizei was the 70th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後冷泉天皇 (70)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Reizei's reign spanned the years 1045–1068. This 11th century sovereign was named after the ...

), that Takahito would become the heir (''kōtaitei''). As Go-Reizei had no children of his own, upon his death, Takahito became emperor. * May 22, 1068 (''

Jiryaku was a after '' Kōhei'' and before ''Enkyū.'' This period spanned the years from August 1065 through April 1069. The reigning emperors were and . Change of Era * 1065 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The ...

4, 19th day of the 4th month''): In the 4th year of Emperor Go-Reizei's reign (後冷泉天皇四年), he died at age 44; and the succession (''senso'') was received by his younger half-brother. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Sanjo is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). Yorimichi's younger brother Norimichi became ''kampaku'', but Go-Sanjō was determined to rule personally. * 1069 (''Enkyū 1''): Go-Sanjō issued the ''Enkyū'' Shōen Regulation Decree ( Enkyū is the name of the era in which the decree was issued); and the emperor called for the establishment of a government office to certify Shōen records. * 1070 (''Enkyū 2''): Go-Sanjō ordered a preliminary system of laws and a bureaucracy for regulating silk. * 1072 (''Enkyū 4''): As the Ritsuryō system of centralized authority had largely failed by this time, Go-Sanjō became interested in strengthening the finances of the Imperial Household. * January 18, 1073 (''Enkyū 4, 8th day of the 12th month''): In the 6th year of Emperor Go-Sanjō's reign (桓武天皇六年), the emperor abdicated in favor of his son, and the succession (''senso'') was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Shirakawa is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). * May 11, 1073 (''Enkyū 5, 21st day of the 4th month''): Go-Sanjō entered the Buddhist priesthood; and his new priestly name became Kongō-gyō.Brown, p. 315. * June 15, 1073 (''Enkyū 5, 7th day of the 5th month''): The former-Emperor Go-Sanjō died at the age of 40. Go-Sanjō is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at

Ryōan-ji Ryōan-ji ( ja, 竜安寺, label=Shinjitai, ja, 龍安寺, label=Kyūjitai, ''The Temple of the Dragon at Peace'') is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism. T ...

in Kyoto. The actual site of Go-Sanjō'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 grav ...

is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial

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 space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they ...

(''misasagi'') at Kyoto. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Go-Sanjō's mausoleum. It is formally named ''Yensō-ji no misasagi''. The mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Go-Sanjō is today named ''Shu-zan''. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Go-Sanjō died.Moscher, G. (1978). ''Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide,'' pp. 277–278 These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers (''misasagi'') which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.

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 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 position is derived from "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 Go-Sanjō's reign, this apex of the '' Daijō-kan included: * '' Kampaku'', Fujiwara Norimichi (997–1075). * ''

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 Norimichi. * '' Sadaijin'', Fujiwara Morozone, 1042–1101. * ''

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 administ ...

'' * ''

Naidaijin 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-Sanjō's reign

The years of Go-Sanjō'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 ...

''. * ''

'' (1065–1069) * '' Enkyū'' (1069–1074)

Consorts

Go-Sanjō had three consorts. Empress (''chugū''): Imperial Princess Kaoruko (馨子内親王) later Saiin-no Kogo (西院皇后), Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1915). ''The Imperial Family of Japan,'' p. x.

Emperor Go-Ichijō was the 68th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後一条天皇 (68)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 1016 through 1036. This 11th century sovereign was nam ...

‘s daughter Consort: Fujiwara Shigeko (藤原茂子; d.1062), Fujiwara Kinnari‘s daughter and Fujiwara Yoshinobu‘s adopted daughter * First Daughter: Imperial Princess Satoko (聡子内親王; 1050-1131) * First son: Imperial Prince Sadahito (貞仁親王) later

Emperor Shirakawa was the 72nd emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 白河天皇 (72)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Shirakawa's reign lasted from 1073 to 1087. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Thr ...

* Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Toshiko (俊子内親王; 1056-1132) * Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (佳子内親王; 1057-1130) * Fourth Daughter: Imperial

Princess Tokushi Princess Tokushi (篤子内親王; 1060–1114) was a princess and an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of her nephew, Emperor Horikawa. Life She was the fourth daughter of Emperor Go-Sanjō and his cousin Princess Kaoruko, Imperial ...

(篤子内親王; 1060–1114) married

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 ...

Consort: Minamoto Motoko (源基子; 1047-1134), Minamoto Motohira‘s daughter * Second son: Imperial Prince Sanehito (実仁親王; 1071-1085) * Third son: Imperial Prince Sukehito (輔仁親王; 1073-1119) Consort: Fujiwara Akiko (藤原昭子), Fujiwara Yorimune’s daughter Lady-in-waiting: Taira Chikako (平親子), Taira Tsunakuni’s daughter * Son: Fujiwara Arisuke (藤原有佐; d.1131), adopted by

Fujiwara no Akitsuna Fujiwara no Akitsuna (藤原顕綱; dates uncertain, ? – ) was a Japanese nobleman and '' waka'' poet of the Heian period. Life Fujiwara no Akitsuna was a son of , a member of the Michitsuna lineage (道綱流) of the Northern Branch of the F ...

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979)
''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''
Berkeley: University of California Press.
OCLC 251325323
* Moscher, Gouverneur. (1978). ''Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide.''
OCLC 4589403
* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). '' Nihon Odai Ichiran''; 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