June 17, 809 : In the 4th year of Emperor Heizei's reign, he fell ill and abdicated; and the succession was received by Kanmu's second son Saga, the eldest son having become a Buddhist priest. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Saga is said to have acceded to the throne.
Soon after his enthronement, Saga himself took ill. At the time the retired Heizei had quarreled with his brother over the ideal location of the court, the latter preferring the Heian capital, while the former was convinced that a shift back to the Nara plain was necessary, and Heizei, exploiting Saga's weakened health, seized the opportunity to foment a rebellion, known historically as the Kusuko Incident; however, forces loyal to Emperor Saga, led by taishōgunSakanoue no Tamuramaro, quickly defeated the Heizei rebels which thus limited the adverse consequences which would have followed any broader conflict. This same Tamuramaro is remembered in Aomori's annual Nebuta Matsuri which feature a number of gigantic, specially-constructed, illuminated paper floats. These great lantern-structures are colorfully painted with mythical figures; and teams of men carry them through the streets as crowds shout encouragement. This early ninth century military leader is commemorated in this way because he is said to have ordered huge illuminated lanterns to be placed at the top of hills; and when the curious Emishi approached these bright lights to investigate, they were captured and subdued by Tamuramaro's men.
The years of Saga's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name.
Daidō
Kōnin
Legacy
In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the Gempeitōkitsu. One of these clans, the Minamoto clan are also known as Genji, and of these, the Saga Genji are descended from 52nd emperor Saga. Saga's son, Minamoto no Tōru, is thought to be an inspiration for the protagonist of the novelThe Tale of Genji. In the 9th century, Emperor Saga made a decree prohibiting meat consumption except fish and birds and abolished capital punishment in 818. This remained the dietary habit of Japanese until the introduction of European dietary customs in the 19th century. Emperor Saga played an important role as a stalwart supporter of the Buddhist monkKūkai. The emperor helped Kūkai to establish the ShingonSchool of Buddhism by granting him Tō-ji Temple in the capital Heian-kyō.
Daikaku-ji
is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Ukyō-ku in Kyoto. The site was originally a residence of the emperor, and later various emperor conducted their cloistered rule from here. The artificial lake of the temple, Ōsawa Pond, is one of the oldest Japanese garden ponds to survive from the Heian period. The Saga Go-ryū school of ikebana has its headquarters in the temple and is named in his honour.
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 Saga's reign, this kugyō included:
Saga had 49 children by at least 30 different women. Many of the children received the surname Minamoto, thereby removing them from royal succession. Empress: Tachibana no Kachiko, also known as Empress Danrin, Tachibana no Kiyotomo's daughter.
Hi: Tajihi no Takako, Tajihi no Ujimori's daughter Bunin: Fujiwara no Onatsu, Fujiwara no Uchimaro's daughter Court lady : Kudara no Kyomyō, Kudara no Kyōshun's daughter
Minamoto no Yoshihime
Minamoto no Sadamu
Minamoto no Wakahime
Minamoto no Shizumu
Nyōgo: Kudara no Kimyō, Kudara no Shuntetsu's daughter
Imperial Prince Motora
Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tadara
Imperial Princess Motoko
Nyōgo: Ōhara no Kiyoko, Ōhara no Ietsugu's daughter
Tenth Daughter: Imperial Princess Ninshi, 15th Saiō in Ise Shrine 809–823
Koui: Iidaka no Yakatoji, Iidaka Gakuashi
Minamoto no Tokiwa
Minamoto no Akira
Koui: Akishino no Koko, Akishino no Yasuhito's daughter
Minamoto no Kiyoshi
Koui: Yamada no Chikako
Minamoto no Hiraku
Minamoto no Mituhime
Nyōgo: Princess Katano, Prince Yamaguchi's daughter
