Emperor Murakami


Emperor Murakami was the 62nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Murakami's reign spanned the years from 946 to his death in 967.

Biography

Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Nariakira-shinnō.
Nariakira-shinnō was the 14th son of Emperor Daigo, and the younger brother of Emperor Suzaku by another mother.
Murakami had ten Empresses and Imperial consorts and 19 Imperial sons and daughters. He had a very nice biwa called Kenjō.

Events of Murakami's reign

In 944, he was appointed crown prince and ascended the throne two years later.
Murakami's maternal uncle Fujiwara no Tadahira remained as the Sessho regent until 949. After the death of Tadahira, there was no regent and although contemporaries praised Murakami as the emperor who governed the state directly, in reality the Fujiwara clan seized power and ruled Japan. The brothers Fujiwara no Saneyori and Fujiwara no Morosuke became the de facto rulers of Japan.
Murakami was a central figure in Heian period culture. He was also a skilled flute and koto player.
The actual site of Murakami's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine at Kyoto.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Murakami's mausoleum. It is formally named Murakami 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.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Murakami's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The years of murakami's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
: Fujiwara no Anshi/Yasuko, Fujiwara no Morosuke‘s daughter
Consort : Princess Kishi, Imperial Prince Shigeakira's daughter
Consort : Princess Sōshi/Takako, Imperial Prince Yoakira's daughter
Consort : Fujiwara no Jutsushi/Nobuko, Fujiwara no Saneyori‘s daughter
Consort : Fujiwara no Hōshi, Fujiwara no Morotada‘s daughter
Court Attendant : Minamoto no Kazuko, Minamoto no Moroakira's daughter
Court Attendant : Fujiwara no Seihi, Fujiwara no Arihira's daughter
Court Attendant : Fujiwara no Sukehime, Fujiwara no Motokata's daughter
Court Attendant : Fujiwara no Shūshi, Fujiwara no Asahira's daughter
Court Attendant : Fujiwara no Yūjo, Fujiwara no Arisuke's daughter
Court Lady: Fujiwara no Tōshi/Nariko, Fujiwara no Morosuke‘s daughter; later married Imperial Prince Shigeakira

Ancestry