Chigusa Kotoko (千種任子, July 19, 1855 - February 1, 1944) was the fourth concubine of
Emperor Meiji
, posthumously honored as , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the List of emperors of Japan, traditional order of succession, reigning from 1867 until his death in 1912. His reign is associated with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which ...
.
She gave birth to two daughters who died of
meningitis
Meningitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the meninges. The most common symptoms are fever, intense headache, vomiting and neck stiffness and occasion ...
in infancy. Although Meiji was the last Japanese emperor to have more than one consort, the official role at court was not abolished until 1924; surviving concubines remained as members of the imperial family in retirement.
See also
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Empress Shōken
, who adopted the imperial given name in 1867 and was posthumously honoured as , was the wife of Emperor Meiji of Japan. She was one of the founders of the Japanese Red Cross Society, whose charity work was known throughout the First Sino-Japa ...
, primary consort of Emperor Meiji, later Empress Dowager
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Hamuro Mitsuko, first concubine
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Hashimoto Natsuko, second concubine
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Yanagihara Naruko, third concubine of Emperor Meiji, mother of
Emperor Taishō
, posthumously honored as , was the 123rd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 1912 until his death in 1926. His reign, known as the Taishō era, was characterized by a liberal and democratic shift in ...
*
Sono Sachiko
Sono Sachiko (園祥子) (December 23, 1867 – July 7, 1947) was the fifth concubine of Emperor Meiji of Japan. Although Meiji was the last Japanese emperor to have more than one consort, the official role at court was not abolished until 1924; ...
, fifth concubine
References
*Ben-Ami Shillony, ''Enigma of the Emperors: Sacred Subservience in Japanese History'', 2021, page 152.
Imperial House of Japan
1855 births
1944 deaths
Japanese concubines
Emperor Meiji
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