was the 74th

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'')
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 Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was Munehito''-shinnō'' (宗仁親王). He was the son of

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 C ...

. His mother was Empress Dowager Fujiwara no Ishi (藤原苡子) Toba had three Empresses, some consort ladies and 14 imperial sons and daughters.Brown, p. 321. * ''chūgū'' : Fujiwara no Tamako (藤原璋子) later Taikenmon’in (待賢門院), Fujiwara no Kinzane‘s daughter ** First Son: Imperial Prince Akihito (顕仁親王) later Emperor Sutoku ** First Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Yoshiko/Kishi'' (禧子内親王; 1122–1133) – Saiin at Kamo Shrine ** Second Son: Imperial Prince Michihito (通仁親王; 1124–1129) ** Third Son: Imperial Prince Kimihito (君仁親王; 1125–1143) ** Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Muneko (統子内親王) later Jōsaimon-in (上西門院), – Saiin at Kamo Shrine. ** Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Masahito (雅仁親王) later Emperor Go-Shirakawa ** Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Motohito? (本仁親王; 1129–1169) later Imperial Prince priest Kakushō (覚性法親王) * ''kōgō'':

Fujiwara no Yasuko Fujiwara no Taishi (藤原泰子, also read Fujiwara no Yasuko; 1095–1156) was an Empress consort of Japan. She was the consort of Emperor Toba was the 74th Emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 鳥羽天皇 (74)/ref> ...

/''Taishi'' (藤原泰子) later Kōyō-in (高陽院), Fujiwara no Tadazane’s daughter * ''kōgō'': Fujiwara no Nariko (藤原得子) later Bifukumon’in (美福門院), Fujiwara no Nagazane’s daughter. ** Daughter: Imperial Princess Toshiko/''Eishi'' (叡子内親王; 1135–1148) ** Daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko (暲子内親王; 1137–1211) later Hachijo’in (八条院) ** Ninth Son: Imperial Prince Narihito (体仁親王), later Emperor Konoe ** Daughter: Imperial Imperial Princess Yoshiko/''Shushi'' (姝子内親王) later Takamatsu’in（高松院), ''chūgū'' (Empress) to Emperor Nijō) * Court Lady Ki Ieko (紀家子), Mino-no-Tsubone (美濃局), Ki no Mitsukiyo’s daughter ** Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkei (道恵法親王; 1132–1168) ** Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakukai (覚快法親王; 1134–1181) ** Daughter: Aya Gozen (阿夜御前; d.1195) * Sanjō-no-Tsubone (三条局; d.1138), Fujiwara no Iemasa’s daughter ** Daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi (妍子内親王; d.1161) Yoshida ''saigū'' (Imperial Princess serving at Ise Shrine) * Kasuga-no-Tsubone (春日局), Tokudaiji Saneyosi‘s daughter ** Seventh Daughter: Imperial Princess Shōshi/Nobuko (頌子内親王; 1145–1208) * Fujitsubo-Nyogo (藤壺女御), Tachibana Toshitsuna‘s daughter ** Shin-yo? (真誉) – Buddhist nun * Tosa-no-Tsubone (土佐局), Minamoto no Mitsuyasu‘s daughter * Fujiwara no Sanehira‘s Daughter ** Daughter: Princess Takamatsu (高松宮) (apparently no connection with

Arisugawa-no-miya The was one of the shinnōke, branches of the Imperial Family of Japan which were, until 1947, eligible to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the event that the main line should die out. History The Arisugawa-no-miya house was founded by Pr ...

, which was originally named Takamatsu-no-miya) * Unknown ** Imperial Prince Priest Saichū (最忠法親王) ** Imperial Prince Dōka? (道果親王)

Events of Toba's life

When his mother died, his grandfather, former- Emperor Shirakawa, took him under his care and raised him. * August 9, 1107 ('' Kajō 2, 19th day of the 7th month''): In the 21st year of

's reign (堀河天皇21年), the emperor (''" tennō"'') died at the age of 29; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his only son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Toba is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). During the initial years of Toba's reign, the actual power was held by his grandfather, the "retired" Emperor Shirakawa, in a process 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 ...

. * 1110 (''

Ten'ei was a after ''Tennin'' and before '' Eikyū.'' This period spanned the years from July 1110 through July 1113. The reigning emperor was . Change of Era * January 22, 1110 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. ...

3, 6th month''): The Miidera-ji burned down. This was the second time the temple was destroyed by fire, the first time being in 1081.Brown, p. 322. * February 25, 1123 (''

Hōan was a after ''Gen'ei'' and before ''Tenji (era), Tenji.'' This period spanned the years from April 1120 through April 1124. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * February 1, 1120 : The new era name was created to mark an event or ...

4, 28th day of the 1st month''): In the 17th year of Emperor Toba's reign (鳥羽天皇17年), Toba was forced to abdicate by his grandfather, retired-Emperor Shirakawa. Toba gave up the throne in favor of his son Akihito, who would become Emperor Sutoku. Toba was only 20 years old when he renounced his title; and he had already reigned for 16 years: two in the ''nengō'' ''Tennin'', three in ''Ten'ei'', five in the ''nengō'' ''Eikyū'', two in ''Gen'ei'', and four in the ''nengō'' ''Hōan.'' At this time, Toba took the title ''Daijō-tennō.'' The succession (''senso'') was received by his son. * 1123 (''Hōan 4, 2nd month''): Emperor Sutoku is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui''). * 1129 ('' Daiji 4''): "retired" Emperor Shirakawa died; and Toba himself began to rule as cloistered emperor. Toba continued to hold power through the reigns of three emperors, Emperor Sutoku, Emperor Konoe, and Emperor Go-Shirakawa. * 1134 (''

Chōshō was a after '' Tenshō'' and before ''Hōen.'' This period spanned the years from August 1132 through November 1135. The reigning emperor was . Change of Era * January 20, 1132 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of event ...

3''): The former-Emperor Toba made a pilgrimage to the Kumano Shrines. He was accompanied by ''sadaijin'' Hanazono no Arahito and '' udaijin'' Naka-no-in Munetada. The excursion was enjoyed by all, and great quantities of sake were consumed.

Kugyō

''Kugyō'' (公卿) 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 Toba'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 J ...

included: * '' Sesshō'', Fujiwara Tadazane, 1078–1162. * '' Kampaku'', Fujiwara Tadazane. * '' Kampaku'', Fujiwara Tadamichi, 1097–1164. * '' Daijō-daijin'', Fujiwara Tadazane. * '' Sadaijin'', Fujiwara Tadamichi. * '' Sadaijin'', Hanazono no Arahito. * '' Udaijin'', Naka-no-in Munetada. * ''

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 Ta ...

'' * '' Dainagon''

Eras of Toba's reign

The years of Toba's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or '' nengō''.Titsingh
pp. 177–181
Brown, p.321. * '' Kajō'' (1106–1108) * ''

Tennin , which may include , , and the specifically female version, the , are a divine kind of spiritual beings found in Japanese Buddhism, the equivalent of Angels. They were seemingly imported from Chinese Buddhism,

'' (1108–1110) * '' Ten-ei'' (1110–1113) * ''

Eikyū was a after '' Ten-ei'' and before '' Gen'ei.'' This period spanned the years from July 1113 through April 1118. The reigning emperor was . Change of Era * January 20, 1113 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. ...

'' (1113–1118) * ''

Gen'ei was a after '' Eikyū'' and before '' Hōan.'' This period spanned the years from April 1118 through April 1120. The reigning emperor was . Change of Era * January 24, 1118 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. T ...

'' (1118–1120) * ''

'' (1120–1124)

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''; 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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toba Japanese emperors 1103 births 1156 deaths 12th-century Japanese monarchs People of Heian-period Japan Heian period Buddhist clergy Japanese Buddhist monarchs Japanese retired emperors