Emperor Go-Suzaku


Emperor Go-Suzaku was the 69th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Go-Suzaku's reign spanned the years from 1036 through 1045.
This 11th-century sovereign was named after the 10th-century Emperor Suzaku and go-, translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Suzaku". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Suzaku, the second" or as "Suzaku II."

Biography

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Atsunaga-shinnō.
His father was Emperor Ichijō. His mother was Fujiwara no Akiko/Shōshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga. He was the younger brother and heir to Emperor Go-Ichijō.
Go-Suzaku had five Empresses and seven Imperial children.

Events of Go-Suzaku's life

.
Go-Suzaku is amongst six other emperors entombed near what had been the residence of Hosokawa Katsumoto before the Ōnin War.
The actual site of Go-Suzaku'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-Suzaku's mausoleum. It is formally named Enjō-ji no misasagi.
Go-Suzaku is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto.
The specific mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Go-Suzaku is today named Shu-zan.
The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Go-Suzaku died.
These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.
The final resting place of Emperor Go-Suzaku's consort, Teishi Nai-shinnō, is here as well.

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-Suzaku's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The years of Go-Suzaku's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
Empress : Imperial Princess Teishi later Yōmeimon’in, Emperor Sanjō‘s 3rd daughter
Empress : Fujiwara no Genshi, Imperial Prince Atsuyasu's daughter and Fujiwara no Yorimichi‘s adopted daughter
Crown Princess : Fujiwara no Yoshiko, Fujiwara no Michinaga‘s 6th daughter
Consort : Fujiwara no Nariko/Seishi, Fujiwara no Norimichi‘s eldest daughter
Consort : Fujiwara no Nobuko/Enshi, Fujiwara no Yorimune‘s 2nd daughter