Emperor Go-Ichijō


Emperor Go-Ichijō was the 68th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Go-Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 1016 through 1036.
This 11th century sovereign was named after Emperor Ichijō and go-, translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Ichijō", or, in some older sources, may be identified as " Emperor Ichijō, the second."

Biography

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Atsuhira -shinnō. He was also known as Atsunari-shinnō.
Atsuhira was the second son of Emperor Ichijō. His mother, Fujiwara no Akiko/Shōshi , was a daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga. In her later years, Ichijō's chūgo consort was known as Jōtō-mon In.

Events of Go-Ichijō's life

Atsuhira-shinnō was used as a pawn in Imperial court politics when he was only a child.
Atsuhira became emperor at the age of 8, upon the abdication of his first cousin once removed, Emperor Sanjō.
During the initial years of Go-Ichijō's reign, Fujiwara no Michinaga actually ruled from his position as sesshō.
The actual site of Go-Ichijō's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine at Kyoto.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Go-Ichijō's mausoleum. It is formally named Bodaijuin no misasagi.

Kugyō

Kugyō is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor 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-Ichijō's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The years of Go-Ichijō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
Go-Ichijō had one Empress and two Imperial daughters.
Empress : Fujiwara no Ishi, Fujiwara no Michinaga’s third daughter