Emperor Go-Kashiwabara (後柏原天皇,Go-Kashiwabara-tennō, November 19, 1462 – May 18, 1526) was the 104themperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned fromNovember 16, 1500, to May 19, 1526. His personal name was Katsuhito (勝仁). His reign marked thenadir of Imperial authority during theAshikaga shogunate.[1]
In 1500, he became Emperor upon the death of his father, theEmperor Go-Tsuchimikado. However, because of the after-effects of theŌnin War, the Imperial Family was left so impoverished that he was unable to perform the formalcoronation ceremony.[2] On the 3rd month, 22nd day of 1521, thanks to contributions from Honganji Jitsunyo (本願寺実如,Rennyo's son) and theMuromachi Bakufu, the Emperor was finally able to carry out this ceremony.
Because of the Ōnin War, the scattering of the Court Nobility, and the poverty of theImperial Court, the Emperor's authority fell to a low point.
Bunki 1 (1501): The former ShōgunAshikaga Yoshimura was exiled; and he retired toSuō Province. The former shōgun lived in exile in the home of the daimyō of that han. He changed his name toAshikaga Yoshitane. He had many supporters, and he summoned the military forces of western Japan to come to his aid.Hosokawa Masamoto was made master of all the provinces which encircled theKinai.[3]
Bunki 2, in the 7th month (1502):Minamoto Yoshitane was elevated to the 2nd tier of the 4th class ofkuge officials; and he expressed thanks to the emperor for that honor. In the same month, the name ofAshikaga Yoshitaka was changed to that ofYoshizumi.[4]
Bunki 3 (1503): There was a great drought in the summer of this year.[4]
Eishō 5, in the 1st month (1508): A new revolt in Miyako and the assassination of Hosokawa Masamoto encouraged former-ShōgunAshikaga Yoshitane in believing that this would be a good opportunity to re-take Miyako. He assembled his troops and marched at their head towards the capital; and by the 6th month ofEishō 5, he was once more in command of the streets of Miyako. Starting in 1508, Yoshitane is known as theMuromachi period's 10th shōgun[5]
Eishō 9, following theThree Ports Riots of 1510 inJoseon Korea, the Emperor made concessions that led to the Agreement of 1512 and reconciliation with the Korean government.[6]
Daiei 5, on the 1st day of the 1st month (1525): All ceremonies in the court were suspended because of the lack of funds to support them.[7]
Daiei 6, on the 7th day of the 4th month (1525): Go-Kashiwabara died at the age of 63 years. He had reigned 26 years; that is, his reign lasted 3 years in the nengōBunki, 17 years in the nengōEishō, and 6 years in the nengōDaiei. The emperor was found dead in his archives.[7]
Emperor Go-Kashiwabara is enshrined with other emperors at the imperial tomb calledFukakusa no kita no misasagi (深草北陵) inFushimi-ku, Kyoto.[8]
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of theEmperor of Japan 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-Kashiwabara's reign, this apex of theDaijō-kan included:
^Titsingh, Isaac. (1834).Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 364–372.
^Titsingh, pp. 363–364; Varley, H. Paul. (1980).Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 44; n.b., a distinct act ofsenso is unrecognized prior toEmperor Tenji; and all sovereigns exceptJitō,Yōzei,Go-Toba, andFushimi havesenso andsokui in the same year until the reign ofEmperor Go-Murakami.
