Emperor Reizei


Emperor Reizei was the 63rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Reizei's reign spanned the years from 967 through 969.

Biography

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Norihira-shinnō.
Norihira-shinnō was the second son of Emperor Murakami. His mother, Empress Yasuko, was a daughter of minister of the right Fujiwara no Morosuke. Soon after his birth he was appointed as crown prince. This decision was supposedly made under the influence of Morosuke and his brother Fujiwara no Saneyori who had seized power in the court.
From ancient times, there have been four noble clans, the Gempeitōkitsu. One of these clans, the Minamoto clan are also known as Genji, and of these, the Reizei Genji are descended from 63rd emperor Reizei.

Events of Reizei's reign

Questions about mental illness made Norihira-shinnōs succession somewhat problematic.
In 967 his father Murakami died and Reizei ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen.
The actual site of Reizei's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine at Kyoto.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Reizei's mausoleum. It is formally named Sakuramoto 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 would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Toba's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The years of Reizei's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
: Imperial Princess Masako later Kanon'in taigō, Emperor Suzaku’s daughter
Consort : Fujiwara no Kaishi/Chikako, Fujiwara no Koretada’s daughter
Consort : Fujiwara no Chōshi/Tōko, Fujiwara no Kaneie’s daughter
Consort : Fujiwara no Fushi/Yoshiko, Fujiwara no Morosuke’s daughter

Ancestry