Emperor Ichijō

Ichijō
Emperor of Japan

Ichijō
Reign 986–1011
Coronation 986
Predecessor Kazan
Successor Sanjō
Born July 15, 980
Heian Kyō (Kyōto)
Died July 25, 1011 (aged 31)
Heian Kyō (Kyōto)
Burial En'yū-ji no kita no misasagi (Kyoto)
Spouse Fujiwara no Teishi
Fujiwara no Shōshi
Father En'yū
Mother Fujiwara no Senshi

Emperor Ichijō (一条天皇 Ichijō-tennō, July 15, 980 – July 25, 1011) was the 66th emperor of Japan,[1] according to the traditional order of succession.[2]

Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011.[3]

Traditional narrative

Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Kanehito -shinnō.[4] Kanehito-shinnō was the first son of Emperor En'yū and Fujiwara no Senshi, a daughter of Fujiwara no Kaneie. Since there are no documented siblings, it is supposed that he was an only child.

Ichijō had five Empresses or Imperial consorts and five Imperial sons and daughters.[5]

Events of Ichijō's life

His reign coincided with the culmination of Heian period culture and the apex of the power of the Fujiwara clan.

In 984, he was appointed as crown prince under Emperor Kazan. It was rumored contemporarily that his maternal grandfather Kaneie plotted to have Kazan retire from the throne.

Ichijō ascended the throne at the age of six.

A son of Emperor Reizei, who was older than Ichijō, was appointed crown prince. Kaneie became the regent (Sesshō) and effectively ruled the state. After Kaneie died in 990, his first son and Ichijō's uncle Fujiwara no Michitaka was appointed regent.

Ichijō had two empress consorts. First was Teishi (or Fujiwara no Sadako), a daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka, second was Shōshi (or Akiko), a daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga, a younger brother of Michitaka. Most people thought it impossible to have two empress consorts, but Michinaga claimed that the empress held two separate titles, Chūgū and Kōgō, which were different in principle and could therefore given to two different women.

The courts of both empresses were known as centers of culture. Sei Shōnagon, author of The Pillow Book, was a lady in waiting to Teishi. Murasaki Shikibu was a lady in waiting to Shoshi. There were other famous poets in the courts of the empresses.

Ichijō loved literature and music. For this reason, high ranked courtiers felt the necessity for their daughter to hold cultural salons with many skillful lady poets. Particularly he was fond of the flute. Ichijō was known for his temperate character and was beloved by his subjects.

During Ichijō's reign, Imperial visits were first made to the following four shrines: Kasuga, Ōharano, Matsunoo, and Kitano; and in the years which followed, Emperors traditionally made yearly Imperial visits to these shrines and to three others: Kamo, Iwashimizu and Hirano.[11]

Decorative emblems (kiri) of the Hosokawa clan are found at Ryoan-ji. Ichijō is entombed near what had been the residence of Hosokawa Katsumoto before the Ōnin War.

The actual site of Ichijō's grave is known.[1] This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Kyoto.

The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Ichijō's mausoleum. It is formally named En'yū-ji no kita no misasagi.[12]

Ichijō is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto.[13] The mound which commemorates the Emperor Ichijō is today named Kinugasa-yama. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Ichijo died.

These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers (misasagi) which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.[14]

Kugyō

Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career.

During Kazan's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

Eras of Ichijō's reign

The years of Ichijō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.[18]

Consorts and children

Empress (Kōgō): Fujiwara no Teishi/Sadako (藤原定子) (977–1001), 1st daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka (藤原道隆)

Empress (Chūgū): Fujiwara no Shōshi/Akiko (藤原彰子) (988–1074), daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga (藤原道長); later Nyoin (女院) 'Jōtō-mon In' (上東門院)

Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Gishi (藤原義子) (974–1053), daughter of Fujiwara no Kinsue (藤原公季)

Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Genshi (藤原元子) (?–?), daughter of Fujiwara no Akimitsu (藤原顕光); later, married to Minamoto no Yorisada (源頼定)

Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Sonshi (藤原尊子) (984–1022), daughter of Fujiwara no Michikane (藤原道兼); later, married to Fujiwara no Michitō (藤原通任) in 1015

Court lady (Mikushige-dono-no-Bettō): 4th daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka (藤原道隆の娘) (?–1002)

Notes

Japanese Imperial kamon — a stylized chrysanthemum blossom
  1. 1 2 Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō): 一条天皇 (66)
  2. ↑ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 66–67.
  3. ↑ Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 302–307; Varley, Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 73; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 150–154., p. 150, at Google Books
  4. ↑ Varley, p. 192; Brown, p. 264; prior to Emperor Jomei, to the personal names of the emperors were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.
  5. ↑ Brown, p. 307.
  6. ↑ Titsingh, p. 149; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami.
  7. ↑ Brown, p. 302; Varley, p. 44.
  8. 1 2 Brown, p. 305.
  9. 1 2 Brown, p. 306.
  10. ↑ Titsingh, p. 154; Brown, p. 307; Varley, p. 44.
  11. ↑ Brown, p. 307 n22.
  12. ↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 421.
  13. ↑ The "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji are the burial places of Uda, Kazan, Ichijō, Go-Suzaku, Go-Reizei, Go-Sanjō, and Horikawa.
  14. ↑ Moscher, Gouverneur. (1978). Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide, pp. 277–278.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Brown, p. 302-303.
  16. 1 2 3 Brown, p. 303.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Brown, p. 304.
  18. ↑ Titsingh, p. 150.

References

See also

Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Kazan		 Emperor of Japan:
Ichijō
986–1011 		Succeeded by
Emperor Sanjō
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