, also known as , was the 111th

emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his position is derived from "the wi ...

Imperial Household Agency The (IHA) is an agency of the government of Japan in charge of state matters concerning the Imperial Family, and also the keeping of the Privy Seal and State Seal of Japan. From around the 8th century AD, up until the Second World War, it wa ...

(''Kunaichō'')
後西天皇 (111)
/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', pp. 116. Go-Sai's reign spanned the years from 1655 through 1663.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834)
''Annales des empereurs du japon'', p. 413.
/ref> This 17th-century sovereign was named after the 9th-century

Emperor Junna was the 53rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Junna, Ōharano no Nishi no Minenoe Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency according to the traditional order of succession. Junna reigned from 823 to 833. Traditional narrative Junna had six empre ...

and ''go-'' (後), translates as ''later'', and thus, he could have been called the "Later Emperor Junna". Emperor Go-Sai could not pass the throne onto his descendants. For this reason, he was known as the ''Go-Saiin'' emperor, after an alternate name of

, who had confronted and reached an accommodation with similar issues. This emperor was also called . The Japanese word ''go'' has also been translated to mean ''the second one'', and thus, this emperor might be identified as "Junna II". During the Meiji era, the name became just Go-Sai.

Genealogy

Before Go-Sai's accession to the

Chrysanthemum Throne The is the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term also can refer to very specific seating, such as the throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace. Various other thrones or seats that are used by the Emperor during official functions, ...

, his personal name ('' imina'') was or Yoshihito; and his pre-accession title was or ''Momozono-no-miya''. He was the eighth son of

Emperor Go-Mizunoo was the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629, and was the first emperor to reign entirely during the Edo period. This 17th-century sovereign was n ...

. He was raised as if he were the son of Tōfuku-mon'in; both former Empress Meishō and former

Emperor Go-Kōmyō was the 110th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後光明天皇 (110)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Kōmyō's reign spanned the years from 1643 through 1654. This 17th-century sovereign was n ...

were his older half-siblings. Emperor Go-Sai's Imperial family lived with him in the Dairi of the Heian Palace. This family included at least 16 sons and 17 daughters, none of whom would ascend to the throne. *Nyōgo: Princess Akiko (明子女王; 1638–1680) later Myokichijou’in (妙吉祥院), Imperial Prince Takamatsu-no-miya Yoshihito's daughter **First daughter: Imperial Princess Tomoko (1654–1686; 誠子内親王) **First son: Imperial Prince Hachijō-no-miya Osahito (1655–1675; 八条宮長仁親王) – fourth Hachijō-no-miya, Hachijō-no-miya Yasuhito's adopted son *Lady-in-waiting: Seikanji Tomoko (d.1695; 清閑寺共子), Seikanji Tomotsuna's daughter **Second son: Imperial Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Yukihito (1656–1695; 有栖川宮幸仁親王) – 3rd Arisugawa-no-miya **Second daughter: Second Princess (Onna-Ni-no-miya, 1657–1658; 女二宮) **Third daughter: Princess Sōei (1658–1721; 宗栄女王) **Fourth daughter: Princess Sonsyū (1661–1722; 尊秀女王) **Fourth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gien (1662–1706; 義延法親王) **Sixth daughter: Princess Enkōin (1663; 円光院宮) **Fifth son: Imperial Prince Priest Tenshin (1664–1690; 天真法親王) **Seventh daughter: Princess Kaya (1666–1675; 賀陽宮) **Tenth daughter: Imperial Princess Mashiko (1669–1738; 益子内親王) married

Kujo Sukezane Kujo is an American outdoor footwear company specializing in shoes made for yard work. The company is based out of Cleveland, Ohio. History Kujo successfully launched on Kickstarter Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation bas ...

**Eleventh daughter: Princess Rihō (1672–1745; 理豊女王) **Thirteenth daughter: Princess Zuikō (1674–1706; 瑞光女王) *Consort: Iwakura Tomoki's Daughter **Third son: Imperial Prince Priest Eigo (1659–1676; 永悟法親王) *Consort: Ukyō-no-Tsubone (右京局), Tominokōji Yorinao's Daughter **Fifth daughter: Princess Tsune (1661–1665; 常宮) *Consort: Umenokōji Sadako (梅小路定子), Umenokōji Sadanori's adopted daughter and Kōgenji Tomohide's daughter **Eighth daughter: Princess Kaku (1667–1668; 香久宮) **Ninth daughter: Princess Syō'an (1668–1712; 聖安女王) **Sixth son: Imperial Prince Priest Kōben (1669–1716; 公弁法親王) **Seventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōyū (1670–1691; 道祐法親王) **Eighth son: Imperial Prince Hachijō-no-miya Naohito (1671–1689; 八条宮尚仁親王) – fifth Hachijō-no-miya **Twelfth daughter: Princess Mitsu (1672–1677; 満宮) **Fourteenth daughter: Princess Sonkō (1675–1719; 尊杲女王) **Fifteenth daughter: Princess Sonsyō (1676–1703; 尊勝女王) **Eleventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Ryō'ou (1678–1708; 良応法親王) **Sixteenth daughter: Ryougetsuin (1679; 涼月院) (there is still doubt about birth mother) *Consort: Azechi-no-tsubone (按察使局, Takatsuji Toyonaga's Daughter **Ninth son: Imperial Prince Priest Sondō (道尊法親王) (1676–1705; Buddhist Priest) *Consort: Matsuki Atsuko (松木条子), Matsuki Muneatsu's Daughter **Tenth son: Prince Roei’in (槿栄院宮; 1677) **Sixteenth son: Imperial prince Satohito, later Emperor Reigen

Events of Go-Sai's life

Nagahito-shinnō became emperor when his emperor-brother died. This death left the throne vacant and the succession (''senso'') was received by the new monarch. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Sai is considered to have acceded to the throne (''sokui'').Titsingh
p. 413.
A distinct act of ''senso'' is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except

Jitō were medieval territory stewards in Japan, especially in the Kamakura and Muromachi shogunates. Appointed by the ''shōgun'', ''jitō'' managed manors including national holdings governed by the provincial governor ( kokushi). There were also d ...

, Yōzei,

Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198. This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; an ...

, and Fushimi have ''senso'' and ''sokui'' in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami – ''see'' Varley, H. Paul. (1980).''Jinnō Shōtōki,'' p. 44. The events during his lifetime shed light on his reign. The years of Go-Sai's reign correspond with a period in which Tokugawa Ietsuna was the leader at the pinnacle of the Tokugawa shogunate. Go-Sai married the daughter of the first ; and he succeeded as second Takamatsu-no-miya. Then this Imperial prince became the emperor as a temporary measure until his younger brother, could grow older. * January 1, 1638: The birth of an Imperial prince who will become known by the posthumous name of Go-Sai''-tennō''.Meyer, Eva-Maria. (1999)
''Japans Kaiserhof in der Edo-Zeit'', p. 186.
/ref> * January 5, 1655: The death of Go-Kōmyō caused the succession (''senso'') to be passed to his brother; and when the succession (''senso'') was received, the reign of Emperor Go-Sai was deemed to commence. * 1655 (''

Meireki was a of the Edo period, after the '' Jōō'' era and before '' Manji'' era. This era's period spanned the years from April 1655 to July 1658. The reigning emperor was .Titsingh, Change of era * 1655 : The era name was changed to mark the e ...

1''): The new ambassador of Korea, arrived in Japan. * March 2–3, 1657 (''Meireki 3, 18–19th days of the 1st month''): Great Fire of Meireki: The city of

Edo Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the ''de facto'' capital of ...

was devastated by a violent fire. * 1659 ('' Manji 5''): In Edo, construction begins on the

Ryōgoku Bridge The is a bridge in Tokyo built in 1659 spanning the Sumida River just upstream of its confluence with the Kanda River. Its name, meaning "two provinces", came from its joining Edo (the forerunner of Tokyo in Musashi Province) and Shimōsa Pr ...

(''ryōgokubashi''). * 1661 ('' Manji 6''): Imperial Palace in Kyoto is burnt to the ground; and the Gekū at Yamada was seriously damaged by fire. * March 20, 1662 (''

Kanbun A is a form of Classical Chinese used in Japan from the Nara period to the mid-20th century. Much of Japanese literature was written in this style and it was the general writing style for official and intellectual works throughout the period. A ...

2, 1st day of the 2nd month''): There was a violent earthquake in Kyoto which destroyed the tomb of the Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. * 1662 (''Kanbun 2''): Emperor Gosai ordered Tosa Hiromichi 土佐広通 (1561–1633), a Tosa-school disciple, to adopt the name Sumiyoshi (probably in reference to a 13th-century painter, Sumiyoshi Keinin 住吉慶忍), upon assuming a position as official painter for the Sumiyoshi Taisha 住吉大社). * March 5, 1663 (''

3, 26th day of the 1st month''): Emperor Go-Sai abdicated, which meant that the Prince Satohito received the succession (''senso''). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Reigen formally acceded to the throne (''sokui''). After abdicating, Go-sai put his heart into scholarship and he left behind many books, including the "Water and Sun Collection" (''Suinichishū'', 水日集). He was talented in ''

waka Waka may refer to: Culture and language * Waka (canoe), a Polynesian word for canoe; especially, canoes of the Māori of New Zealand ** Waka ama, a Polynesian outrigger canoe ** Waka hourua, a Polynesian ocean-going canoe ** Waka taua, a Māori ...

''; and he had a profound understanding of the classics. During his reign, because of great fires at the Grand Ise Shrine, Osaka Castle, and the Imperial Palace, among others, the Great ''Meireki'' Fire, earthquakes in the region, and because of repeated floods, many people blamed the Emperor, saying he lacked moral virtue. * March 26, 1685 (''

Jōkyō was a after '' Tenna'' and before ''Genroku.'' This period spanned the years from February 1684 through September 1688. The reigning emperors were and .Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''Annales des empereurs du japon'' p. 415./ref> Change of era * ...

2, 22nd day of the 2nd month''): Former-Emperor Go-Sai died; and a great comet was observed crossing the night sky. Emperor Go-Sai is enshrined in the imperial mausoleum, '' Tsuki no wa no misasagi,'' at Sennyū-ji in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. Also enshrined are Go-Sai's immediate predecessors,

, Empress Meishō and Go-Kōmyō. Go-Sai's immediate Imperial successors, including Reigen, Higashiyama, Nakamikado, Sakuramachi, Momozono,

Go-Sakuramachi was the 117th monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 後桜町天皇 (120)/ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 120. She was named after he ...

and Go-Momozono, are enshrined here as well. At the Kitano Shrine, a tablet over the ''Chu-mon'' entryway reads ''tenmangu'' in the calligraphy of Emperor Go-sai.Martin, John. (2002). ''Kyoto: A Cultural Guide to Japan's Ancient Imperial City,'' pp. 287–288.

Kugyō

is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the

Emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his position is derived from "the wi ...

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-Sai's reign, this apex of the '' Daijō-kan included: * '' Kampaku'', Nijō Mitsuhira, 1653–1663 * '' Sadaijin'' * '' Udaijin'' * '' Naidaijin'' * '' Dainagon''

Eras of Go-Sai-tennō's reign

The years of Go-Sai's reign are more specifically identified by more than one

era name A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin ''regnum'' meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year of ...

or ''

nengō The , also known as , is the first of the two elements that identify years in the Japanese era calendar scheme. The second element is a number which indicates the year number within the era (with the first year being ""), followed by the literal ...

''. * '' Jōō'' (1652–1655) * ''

'' (1655–1658) * '' Manji'' (1658–1661) * ''

'' (1661–1673)

Ancestry

References

* Martin, John H. and Phyllis G. Martin. (2002)
''Kyoto: A Cultural Guide to Japan's Ancient Imperial City''.
Tokyo:

Tuttle Publishing Tuttle Publishing, originally the Charles E. Tuttle Company, is a book publishing company that includes Tuttle, Periplus Editions, and Journey Editions.

.
OCLC 243831939
* Meyer, Eva-Maria. (1999)
''Japans Kaiserhof in der Edo-Zeit: unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Jahre 1846 bis 1867''.
Münster: LIT Verlag.
OCLC 42041594
* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan''.
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). '' Nihon Ōdai Ichiran''; ou
''Annales des empereurs du Japon''.
Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland
OCLC 5850691
* Varley, H. Paul. (1980)
''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns''.
New York: Columbia University Press.
OCLC 59145842

External links

* National Museum of Japanese Histor

{{DEFAULTSORT:Go-Sai Japanese emperors 1638 births 1685 deaths Emperor Go-Sai Emperor Go-Sai Emperor Go-Sai 17th-century Japanese monarchs