Emperor Go-Sanjō


Emperor Go-Sanjō was the 71st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Go-Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1068 through 1073.
This 11th century sovereign was named after Emperor Sanjō and go-, translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Sanjō", or, in some older sources, may be identified as "Sanjō, the second" or as "Sanjo II."
It was during, and due to, his reign that the Fujiwara grip on power was broken; following Go-Sanjo's rule, their power continued to wane until 1150, where any semblance of their power disappeared.

Biography

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Takahito-shinnō.
Takahito-shinnō was the second son of Emperor Go-Suzaku. His mother was Empress Sadako, the third daughter of Emperor Sanjō, making him the first Emperor in 170 years whose mother was not of Fujiwara descent paternally. His father and mother were grandchildren of Fujiwara no Michinaga maternally. The Empress mother of the future Emperor Go-Sanjō was also known as Tishi, and a Yōmei-mon In. His lack of connection with the Fujiwara meant he owed them no special loyalty - this meant that he could afford to oppose them.

Events of Go-Sanjō's life

Because Prince Takahito was not of Fujiwara descent, the Kampaku, Fujiwara no Yorimichi neglected him, but Emperor Go-Suzaku decreed that upon his elder brother Chikahito's enthronement, that Takahito would become the heir. As Go-Reizei had no children of his own, upon his death, Takahito became emperor.
Yorimichi's younger brother Norimichi became kampaku, but Go-Sanjō was determined to rule personally.
. Go-Sanjo is amongst six other emperors entombed near what had been the residence of Hosokawa Katsumoto before the Ōnin War.
Go-Sanjō is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryōan-ji in Kyoto.
The actual site of Go-Sanjō'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-Sanjō's mausoleum. It is formally named Yensō-ji no misasagi.
The mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Go-Sanjō is today named Shu-zan. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Go-Sanjō died.
These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.

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-Sanjō's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The years of Go-Sanjō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
Go-Sanjō had three consorts.
Empress : Imperial Princess Kaoruko later Saiin-no Kogo, Emperor Go-Ichijō‘s daughter
Consort: Fujiwara Shigeko, Fujiwara Kinnari‘s daughter and Fujiwara Yoshinobu‘s adopted daughter
Consort: Minamoto Motoko, Minamoto Motohira‘s daughter
Consort: Fujiwara Akiko, Fujiwara Yorimune’s daughter
Lady-in-waiting: Taira Chikako, Taira Tsunakuni’s daughter