Emperor Go-Yōzei

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Emperor Go-Yōzei (後陽成天皇 Go-Yōzei Tennō) (December 31, 1572 - September 25, 1617) was the 107th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from December 17, 1586 to May 9, 1611, corresponding to the transition between the Azuchi-Momoyama period and the Edo period. His personal name was originally Kazuhito (和仁), but was later changed to Katahito (周仁).

[edit] Genealogy

He was the eldest son of Prince Masahito (誠仁親王), later referred to as an honorary Retired Emperor, fifth-born son of Emperor Ōgimachi. His mother was a lady-in-waiting.
Children:

Court Lady: Konoe Sakiko (近衛前子) - Empress Dowager Chūka(中和門院)
- First daughter: Princess Shōkō (聖興女王)
- Second daughter: Princess Bunkō (文高女王)
- Third daughter: Imperial Princess Seishi (清子内親王)
- Third son: Imperial Prince Kotohito (政仁親王) (Emperor Go-Mizunoo)
- Fourth daughter: Princess Son'ei (尊英女王)
- Fourth son: Konoe Nobuhiro
- Seventh son: Imperial Prince Takamatsu-no-miya Yoshihito (高松宮好仁親王) (First Takamatsu-no-miya)
- Ninth son: Ichijō Akiyoshi (一条昭良)
- Fifth daughter: Imperial Princess Teishi? (貞子内親王)
- Tenth son: Imperial Prince Morochika (庶愛親王)
- Eleventh daughter: Princess Son'ren? (尊蓮女王)
Lady-in-waiting: Nakayama Chikako (中山親子)
- First son: Imperial Prince Katahito (良仁親王) (later Buddhist Priest)
- Second son: Imperial Prince ?? (幸勝親王) (later Buddhist Priest)
Lady-in-waiting: Hino Teruko (日野輝子)
- Fifth son: Imperial Prince Toshiatsu (毎敦親王) (later Buddhist Priest)
Lady-in-waiting: Jimyōin Motoko (持明院基子)
- Sixth son: Prince Gyōnen (尭然法親王) (Buddhist Priest)
Lady-in-waiting: Niwata Tomoko (庭田具子)
- Eighth son: Prince Ryōjun (良純法親王) (Buddhist Priest)
Lady-in-waiting: Hamuro Nobuko (葉室宣子)
- Tenth daughter: Princess Sonsei (尊清女王)
Handmaid?: Nishinotōin Tokiko (西洞院時子)
- Sixth daughter: Princess Eishū (永宗女王)
- Eleventh son: Kō'un'in-no-miya (高雲院宮)
Consort: Furuichi Taneko (古市胤子)
- Twelfth son: Rei'un'in-no-miya (冷雲院宮)
- Thirteenth son: Prince Dōkō (道晃法親王) (Buddhist Priest)
- Ninth daughter: Kūkain-no-miya (空花院宮)
Consort: Daughter of Chūtō Tokohiro (中東時広)
- Fourteenth son: Prince Dōshū (道周法親王) (Buddhist Priest)
- fifteenth son: Prince Ji'in (慈胤法親王) (Buddhist Priest)
Consort: Unknown
- Second daughter: Princess Bunkō (文高女王)

[edit] Life

Originally, Emperor Ōgimachi's son was supposed to succeed his father. However, the said heir died in 1586 of natural causes. For this reason, Prince Katahito was made crown prince on November 5 of that year, and two days later, his grandfather the Emperor abdicated, and Prince Katahito became Emperor Go-Yōzei.

His reign corresponds to the rise of Oda Nobunaga, the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the beginning of the Edo Bakufu. He was the tenno who confirmed their accession to power:

The Emperor gave Toyotomi Hideyoshi the rank of Taikō, originally a title given to the father of the Emperor's chief advisor (Kampaku), or a retired Kampaku, which was essential to increase his status and effectively stabilize his power. This also allowed the Imperial Family to recover its lost prestige.

In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu was given the title of Seii Taishōgun, which had recently become vacant, beginning the Edo Bakufu. He gradually began to interfere in the affairs of the Imperial Court. The right to grant ranks of court nobility and change the era became a concern of the bakufu. However, the Imperial Court's poverty during the Warring States Era became a thing of the past, as bakufu provided steadily for its financial needs.

In 1611 Go-Yozei abdicated in favor of his third son, who became the Emperor Go-Mizunoo. He had wanted to be succeeded by his younger brother, Imperial Prince Hachijō-no-miya Toshihito (八条宮智仁親王) (first of the Hachijō-no-miya line, later called Katsura-no-miya), who built the Katsura Imperial Villa.

He loved literature and art. He published the Kobun Kokyo and part of Nihonshoki with movable type dedicated to the emperor by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

He died on September 25, 1617.