| Emperor Sakuramachi 桜町天皇 | |||||
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| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 13 April 1735 – 9 June 1747 | ||||
| Predecessor | Nakamikado | ||||
| Successor | Momozono | ||||
| Shōguns | See list
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| Born | Teruhito (昭仁) (1720-02-08)8 February 1720 Kyoto,Tokugawa shogunate | ||||
| Died | 28 May 1750(1750-05-28) (aged 30) Kyoto, Tokugawa shogunate | ||||
| Burial | Tsuki no wa no misasagi, Kyoto | ||||
| Spouse | Nijō Ieko [ja] | ||||
| Issue |
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| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Emperor Nakamikado | ||||
| Mother | Konoe Hisako | ||||
Teruhito (Japanese:昭仁; 8 February 1720 – 28 May 1750), posthumously honored asEmperor Sakuramachi (桜町天皇,Sakuramachi-tennō) was the 115themperor of Japan, according to the traditionalorder of succession.[1][2] He was enthroned as Emperor in 1735, a reign that would last until 1747 with hisabdication.[3] As with previous Emperors during theEdo period, theTokugawa shogunate had control over Japan.
The Emperor's role was a religious figure who performed limited duties. This changed when Sakuramachi was granted permission from theShōgun to restore some Imperial rites. Ceremonies such as theHarvest Festival that had previously been absent for over 250 years were now allowed. Sakuramachi had one wife and aconcubine with whom he fathered 4 children. His first son would go on to becomeEmperor Momozono, while his second daughter would later beEmpress Go-Sakuramachi. Sakuramachi died on 28 May 1750, which was almost three years after hisabdication.
Before Sakuramachi's ascension to theChrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Teruhito (昭仁).[4] Teruhito was born on 8 February 1720 and was the firstborn son ofEmperor Nakamikado, he was also said to be thereincarnation ofPrince Shōtoku.[by whom?][citation needed] Teruhito's Imperial family lived with him in theDairi of theHeian Palace. Events during Teruhito's early life includedEdo becoming the world's largest city in 1721, with a population of 1.1 million people.[5] On 17 July 1728, Teruhito was namedcrown prince and held the pre-accession title ofWaka-no-miya (若宮).[6] The only other major event to occur afterwards was a disaster in 1732–33 called theKyōhō famine. This event was caused by swarms of locusts that devastated crops in agricultural communities around the inland sea.[7]
Prince Teruhito acceded to the throne on 13 April 1735 as Emperor when his father abdicated in his favor, the era's name was changed fromKyōhō toGenbun to mark this event.[8] While he held the political title ofEmperor, it wasin name only as theshoguns of the Tokugawa family controlled Japan. With the support ofTokugawa Yoshimune though, Sakuramachi worked for the restoration of some Imperial rites. Two of the first reinstated ceremonies were brought back in the form of rice offerings. Daijōsai (大嘗祭) is a rice-offering by a newly enthroned Emperor, while Shinjōsai (新嘗祭) is a rice-offering by the Emperor. In 1738, the Emperor performedEsotericShinto rituals known asDaijō-e (大嘗會).[9] A major event occurred on 11 January 1741 where a ceremony was performed to markNiiname-no-Matsuri (Harvest Festival). This specific ceremony had otherwise been held in abeyance for the previous 280 years. TheToyonoakari-no-sechiye ceremonies were also performed the following day.[10]
The era's name was changed toKanpō in February 1741 due to the belief inChinese astrology that the 58th year of the sexagenary cycle brings changes.[11] The provinces ofMusashi,Kōzuke,Shimotsuke, andShinano all had noteworthy devastation from a major flood that occurred in 1742. InHeian-kyō, theSanjo Bridge was also washed away in this destructive storm cycle.[10] During the close of the Kanpō era, a comet was seen and recorded in theNihon Ōdai Ichiran, a consensus by later researches state that the comet was likelyC/1743 X1 (De Cheseaux).[12] The fourth and final era during Sakuramachi's reign began in 1744, and was calledEnkyō (meaning "Becoming Prolonged"). This new era was created to mark the start of a new 60-year cycle of theChinese zodiac. The last two major events during Sakuramachi's reign occurred in 1745, whenTokugawa Ieshige became the new shogun. The first establishment of a market fair in the capital was to be found atHirano Shrine inŌmi Province, while inEdo a great fire swept through the city.[9]
Emperor Sakuramachi abdicated on 9 June 1747 in favor of his son Prince Toohito, who becameEmperor Momozono. Sakuramachi took on the title ofDaijō Tennō (Retired Emperor), and the era's name was changed toKan'en (meaning "Prolonging Lenience") to mark the occasion. Events that took place during his time as a Jōkō include a powerful storm that struck Kyoto on 7 October 1749. The damage done included the burning of thekeep ofNijō Castle after it was struck by lightning.[13] Sakuramachi died on 28 May 1750 which was almost three years after his abdication.[8] Sakuramachi'skami is enshrined in an Imperial mausoleum (misasagi),Tsuki no wa no misasagi, atSennyū-ji inHigashiyama-ku, Kyoto. Sakuramachi's immediate Imperial predecessors sinceEmperor Go-Mizunoo –Meishō,Go-Kōmyō,Go-Sai,Reigen,Higashiyama andNakamikado, are also enshrined along with his immediate Imperial successors, includingMomozono,Go-Sakuramachi andGo-Momozono.[14]
While the Emperor had no say, a major milestone occurred inJapanese monetary history when the shogunate published an edict in 1736 regardingcoinage. This edict declared that henceforth, authorized coinage in the empire would be those copper coins which were marked on the obverse with the character文 (Genbun, also pronouncedbun in Japanese).[9] The practice of placing the name of the era on coinage continues to present day withNaruhito (徳仁).
The years of Sakuramachi's reign are more specifically identified by more than oneera name ornengō.[15] WhileKugyō (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.
The following eras occurred during Sakuramachi's reign:
During Sakuramachi's reign, this apex of theDaijō-kan included:
Emperor Sakuramachi's family included at least 3 children who were born to 2 consorts:
| Position | Name | Birth | Death | Father | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chūgū | Nijō Ieko (二条舎子) | 1716 | 1790 | Nijō Yoshitada | • First daughter: Imperial Princess Noriko • Second daughter: Imperial Princess Toshiko (laterEmpress Go-Sakuramachi) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Father | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anegakōji Sadako (姉小路定子) | 1717 | 1789 | Anegakōji Sanetake | • First son: Imperial Prince Toohito (laterEmperor Momozono) |
Emperor Sakuramachi fathered a total of 3 children with a wife and a concubine.
| Status | Name | Birth | Death | Mother | Marriage | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First daughter | Imperial Princess Noriko (盛子内親王) | 1737 | 1746 | Nijō Ieko | — | — |
| Second daughter | Imperial Princess Toshiko (智子内親王) (laterEmpress Go-Sakuramachi) | 1740 | 1813 | Nijō Ieko | — | — |
| First son | Imperial Prince Toohito (遐仁親王) (laterEmperor Momozono) | 1741 | 1762 | Anegakōji Sadako | Ichijō Tomiko | • Imperial Prince Hidehito (laterEmperor Go-Momozono) • Imperial Prince Fushimi-no-miya Sadamochi |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Emperor of Japan: Sakuramachi 1735–1747 | Succeeded by |
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| Yamato |
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| Nara |
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| Heian |
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| Kamakura |
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| Northern Court |
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| Muromachi |
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| Azuchi–Momoyama |
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| Edo |
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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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