Emperor Sanjō was the 67th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1011 through 1016.
Biography
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Iyasada-shinnō. He was also known as Sukesada-shinnō, and as Okisada-shinnō. Iyasada was the second son of Emperor Reizei. He was the half-brother of Emperor Kazan, who was Reizei's first-born son. Ieyasada's mother was Fujiwara no Chōshi , who was the daughter of the sesshō, Fujiwara no Kaneie. Chōshi was posthumously elevated to the rank of empress mother. 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 Sanjō Genji are descended from the 67th emperor Sanjō.
Events of Sanjō's life
After his mother died when he was seven, his maternal grandfather Fujiwara no Kaneie raised him at Kaneie's mansion.
August 23, 986 : Iyasada-shinnō was appointed as heir and crown prince at age 11. This followed the convention that two imperial lineages took the throne in turn, although Emperor Ichijō was in fact Iyasada's junior. He thus gained the nicknameSakasa-no moke-no kimi. When Emperor Kanzan abandoned the world for holy orders, this grandson of Kaneie ascended to the throne as Emperor Ichijō.
July 16, 1011 : In the 25th year of Emperor Ichijō's reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession was received by his cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Sanjō is said to have acceded to the throne at age 36.
August 29, 1011 : Daijō-tennō Emperor Ichijō died at the age of 32.
August 30, 1011 : Fujiwara Michinaga is granted the extraordinary privilege of travelling to and from the court by ox-drawn cart.
November 28, 1011 : Daijō-tennōReizei, who was Emperor Sanjō's father, died at age 62.
1011 : Prince Atsunari, the second son of former-Emperor Ichijo, is proclaimed Crown Prince. Sanjō's eldest son, Prince Atsuakira, had been the officially designated heir; but pressure from Michinaga forced the young prince abandon his position.
Kaneie died in the early part of Ichijō's reign. His three uncles, sons of Kaneie, made their daughters consorts of Ichijo and each aimed to seize power as the grandfather of a future emperor. These courtiers therefore sought to exclude Okisada from the Imperial succession, though each of them married their daughter to him. Later Ichijō had two sons by Fujiwara no Shōshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga, and Michinaga expected his grandson to ascend to the throne as soon as possible. Michinaga became the kampaku of Japan during the reign of Ichijō and expected to hold this position in Sanjō's government as well.
1012 : The era name was changed to mark Emperor Sanjō's accession; and in the 8th month, he married a daughter of kampaku Michinaga.
1013 : Sanjō sent an offering of grain to the gods of the 21 principal temples of Japan.
1013 : Sanjō visited the home of Michinaga.
1013 : Sanjō visited the Shrine of Iwashimizu Hachiman, and successive emperors would emulate his example visiting this shrine annually.
1013 : Sanjō visited the Shrines of Kamo, and successive emperors would emulate his example visiting this shrine annually.
1013 : Fujiwara no Masanobu, an officer of the chūgo’s guard, was killed by Fujiwara no Korekane; and Michinaga ordered the assassin imprisoned.
1014 : Sanjō visited the home of Michinaga where he enjoyed himself with horse riding and archery.
1015 : The reconstruction of the palace is completed.
1015 : Michinaga's 50th birthday is celebrated.
1015 : The palace is again reduced to cinders after a devastating fire.
1016 : Sanjō grew increasingly blind; he abdicated at the age of 40, having reigned for six years in the nengōChōwa. He took the title Daijō-tennō.
March 10, 1016 : In the 6th year of Emperor Sanjō's reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession was received by his cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Ichijō is said to have acceded to the throne at age 9.
May 21, 1017 : The era name was changed to Kannin to mark the beginning of Emperor Go-Ichijō's reign.
May 27, 1017 : Sanjō entered the Buddhist priesthood.
June 5, 1017 : The former-Emperor Sanjō died at age 42. He was given the posthumous name of Sanjō-in after the palace where he spent his life after abdication. During the Meiji Era, the in was dropped and replaced with tennō.
The actual site of Sanjō's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorialShinto shrine at Kyoto. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Sanjō's mausoleum. It is formally named Kitayama no misasagi. Michinaga gifted Atsuakira a status equal to the retired emperor, with the title of Ko-ichijo-in. Although no son of Sanjō ascended to the throne, a future emperor was child of Princess Teishi, Sanjō's daughter, and thus his blood remained in the imperial bloodline.
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 Sanjō's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
