| Emperor Reizei 冷泉天皇 | |||||
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| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | July 5, 967 – September 27, 969 | ||||
| Enthronement | November 15, 967 | ||||
| Predecessor | Murakami | ||||
| Successor | En'yū | ||||
| Born | June 12, 949 Heian Kyō (Kyōto) | ||||
| Died | November 21, 1011(1011-11-21) (aged 62) Heian Kyō (Kyōto) | ||||
| Burial | Sakuramoto no misasagi (櫻本陵) (Kyoto) | ||||
| Spouse | Masako | ||||
| Issue |
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| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Emperor Murakami | ||||
| Mother | Fujiwara no Anshi | ||||
Emperor Reizei (冷泉天皇,Reizei-tennō; June 12, 949 – November 21, 1011) was the 63rdemperor of Japan,[1] according to the traditionalorder of succession.[2]
Reizei's reign spanned the years from967 through 969, ending with his abdication and retirement.[3]
Before his ascension to theChrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (hisimina) was Norihira-shinnō (憲平親王).[4]
Norihira-shinnō was the second son ofEmperor Murakami. His mother, Empress Yasuko, was a daughter of minister of the rightFujiwara no Morosuke.[5] Soon after his birth he was appointed as crown prince, displacing the Emperor's first-born son with the daughter of Fujiwara no Motokata. This decision was supposedly made under the influence of Morosuke and his brotherFujiwara no Saneyori who had seized power in the court. Motokata soon died, in despair at having lost the prospect of being grandfather to the next emperor. The malevolent influence of Motokata's vengeful spirit (怨霊,onryō) was blamed for Norihira-shinnō's mental illness, which resulted in Saneyori acting asregent for the duration of his short reign.[6]
From ancient times, there have been four noble clans, theGempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘). One of these clans, theMinamoto clan (源氏) are also known asGenji, and of these, theReizei Genji (冷泉源氏) are descended from 63rd emperor Reizei.
Questions about mental illness made Norihira-shinnō's succession somewhat problematic.
In 967 his father Murakami died and Reizei ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen.
The actual site of Reizei'sgrave is known.[1] This emperor is traditionally venerated at amemorialShinto shrine (misasagi) at Kyoto.
TheImperial Household Agency designates this location as Reizei'smausoleum. It is formally namedSakuramoto no misasagi[10]
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 would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Toba's reign, this apex of theDaijō-kan included:
The years of Reizei's reign are more specifically identified by more than oneJapanese era name (年号,nengō):[11]
Empress (Chūgū):Imperial Princess Masako (昌子内親王) later Kanon'in taigō (観音院太后),Emperor Suzaku’s daughter
Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara noKaishi/Chikako (藤原懐子, 945–975),Fujiwara no Koretada’s daughter
Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara noChōshi/Tōko (藤原超子; d.982),Fujiwara no Kaneie’s daughter
Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara noFushi/Yoshiko (藤原怤子),Fujiwara no Morosuke’s daughter
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| Preceded by | Emperor of Japan: Reizei 967–969 | Succeeded by |
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| Nara |
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| Kamakura |
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| Empire of Japan |
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| Japan |
Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are inCE / AD *Imperial Consort andRegentEmpress Jingū is not traditionally listed. | ||||||||
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