Emperor Nijō (二条天皇,Nijō-tennō, July 31, 1143 – September 5, 1165) was the 78themperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from1158 through 1165.[1]
Nijō was proclaimed as heir to Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
Hōgen 1, 2nd day of the 7th month (1156): CloisteredEmperor Toba-in died at age 54.[5]
Hōgen 1, 10th–29th days of the 7th month (1156): TheHōgen Rebellion,[6] also known as theHōgen Insurrection or theHōgen War.
Hōgen 4, on the 11th day of the 8th month (1158): In the third year of Go-Shirakawa-tennō's reign (後白河天皇二十五年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his eldest son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Nijō is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).[7]
After Nijō was formally enthroned, the management of all affairs continued to rest entirely in the hands of the retired emperor, Go-Shirakawa.[8]
Heiji 1, 9th–26th day of the 12th month (1159): TheHeiji Rebellion,[6] also known as theHeiji Insurrection or theHeiji War.
Chōkan 2, on the 26th day of the 8th month (1164):The former-Emperor Sutoku died at the age of 46.[9]
Eiman 1 (1165): The infant son of Emperor Nijō was named heir apparent and therefore Crown Prince, and would soon after becomeEmperor Rokujō.[6]
Eiman 1, on the 25th day of the 6th month (1165): In the seventh year of Nijō-tennō's reign (桓武天皇七年), the emperor fell so very ill that he abdicated; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Rokujō is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).[10]
Eiman 1, 27th–28th day of the 7th month (1165): The former Emperor Nijō died at age 22.[11]
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.
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 Nijō's reign, this apex of theDaijō-kan included:
^Titsingh, Isaac. (1834).Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp.191–194; Brown, Delmeret al. (1979).Gukanshō, pp.327–329; Varley, H. Paul. (1980).Jinnō Shōtōki. pp. 208–212.
^Brown, pp. 264; n.b., up until the time ofEmperor Jomei, the personal names of the emperors (theirimina) were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.
^Titsingh, p. 191; Brown, p. 327; Varley, p. 44, 209; 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.
