was the 69th

emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

Imperial Household Agency The (IHA) is an agency of the government of Japan in charge of state matters concerning the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family, and the keeping of the Privy Seal of Japan, Privy Seal and State Seal of Japan. From around the 8th century ...

(''Kunaichō'')
後朱雀天皇 (69)
/ref> according to the traditional

order of succession An order, line or right of succession is the line of individuals necessitated to hold a high office when it becomes vacated, such as head of state or an honour such as a title of nobility.1036 through 1045. This 11th-century sovereign was named after the 10th-century

Emperor Suzaku was the 61st emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 朱雀天皇 (61)/ref> according to the traditional List of emperors of Japan, order of succession. Suzaku's reign spanned the years from Heian period, 930 through 946. B ...

and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Suzaku". The Japanese word "''go''" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Suzaku, the second" or as "Suzaku II."

Biography

Before his ascension 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 (his ''imina'') was Atsunaga''-shinnō'' (敦良親王). His father was Emperor Ichijō. His mother was Fujiwara no Akiko/ Shōshi (藤原彰子), the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga (藤原道長). He was the younger brother and heir to Emperor Go-Ichijō. Go-Suzaku had five Empresses and seven Imperial children.Brown, p. 311.

Events of Go-Suzaku's life

* May 15, 1036 ('' Chōgen 9, 17th day of the 4th month'') : In the 9th year of Emperor Go-Ichijō's reign (後一条天皇九年), he died; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his younger brother. * 1036 ('' Chōgen 9, 7th month''): Emperor Go-Suzaku is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). * February 5, 1045 ('' Kantoku 2, 16th day of the 1st month''): Emperor Go-Suzaku abdicated. * February 7, 1045 ('' Kantoku 2, 18th day of the 1st month''): The former-Emperor Go-Suzaku ordained as a Buddhist monk and died the same day at the age of 37. His reign has lasted nine years—five in the ''nengō'' ''Chōryaku'', four in ''Chōkyu'', and 2 in ''Kantoku''. The actual site of Go-Suzaku's

grave A grave is a location where a cadaver, dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is burial, buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of buria ...

is unknown. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a

memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as home ...

Shinto , also called Shintoism, is a religion originating in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religions, East Asian religion by Religious studies, scholars of religion, it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan's indigenous religion and as ...

shrine A shrine ( "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred space">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...: ''escri ...

(''misasagi'') at Kyoto. The

designates this location as Go-Suzaku's

mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type o ...

. It is formally named ''Enjō-ji no misasagi''. Go-Suzaku is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryōan-ji Temple in Kyoto. The specific mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Go-Suzaku is today named ''Shu-zan.''Moscher, G. (1978). ''Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide,'' pp. 277–278. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Go-Suzaku died. These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers (''misasagi'') which were ordered by Emperor Meiji. The final resting place of Emperor Go-Suzaku's consort, Teishi Nai-shinnō (1013–1094), is here as well.

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 hereditary monarch and head of state of Japan. The emperor is defined by the Constitution of Japan as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, his position deriving from "the will of ...

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-Suzaku's reign, this apex of the ''

Daijō-kan The , also known as the Great Council of State, was (i) (''Daijō-kan'') the highest organ of Japan's premodern Imperial government under the Ritsuryō legal system during and after the Nara period or (ii) (''Dajō-kan'') the highest organ of Jap ...

'' included: * '' Sadaijin'', Fujiwara Yorimichi, 992–1074. * '' Udaijin'', Fujiwara Sanesuke, 957–1046. * '' Nadaijin'', Fujiwara Norimichi, 997–1075. * ''

Dainagon was a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century. This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century.Nussbaum, "Dainag ...

Eras of Go-Suzaku's reign

The years of Go-Suzaku's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or '' nengō''.Titsingh, p. 160-162. * '' Chōgen'' (1028–1037) * '' Chōryaku'' (1037–1040) * '' Chōkyū'' (1040–1044) * '' Kantoku'' (1044–1046)

Consorts and children

*Crown Princess (died before Emperor's accession): (藤原嬉子; 1007-1025), Fujiwara no Michinaga‘s 6th daughter ** First Son: Imperial Prince Chikahito (親仁親王) later Emperor Go-Reizei *Empress (''Kōgō''): Imperial Princess Teishi (禎子内親王; 1013–1094) later Yōmeimon’in (陽明門院), Emperor Sanjō‘s 3rd daughter ** First Daughter: Imperial Princess Nagako/''Ryōshi'' (良子内親王, 1029–1077) – Saiō at Ise Shrine 1036–1045 (Ippon-Jusangū, 一品准三宮) ** Second daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko/''Kenshi'' (娟子内親王, 1032–1103) – Saiin at Kamo Shrine 1036–1045, later married Minamoto Toshifusa ** Second Son: Imperial Prince Takahito (尊仁親王) later Emperor Go-Sanjo *Empress (''Chūgū''): Fujiwara no Genshi (藤原嫄子; 1016–1039), Imperial Prince Atsuyasu's daughter and Fujiwara no Yorimichi‘s adopted daughter **Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Sukeko/''Yūshi'' (祐子内親王; 1038–1105) – (Sanpon-Jusangū, 三品准三宮) ** Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess Miwako/''Baishi'' (禖子内親王; 1039–1096) (Rokujō Saiin, 六条斎院) – Saiin at Kamo Shrine 1046–1058 *Consort (''Nyōgo''): Fujiwara no Nariko/''Seishi'' (藤原生子; 1014–1068), Fujiwara no Norimichi‘s eldest daughter *Consort (''Nyōgo''): Fujiwara no Nobuko/''Enshi'' (藤原延子; 1016–1095), ‘s 2nd daughter ** Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess Masako/''Seishi'' (正子内親王; 1045–1114) (Oshinokōji-Saiin, 押小路斎院) – Saiin at Kamo Shrine 1058–1069

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979)
''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''
Berkeley: University of California Press. ; * Moscher, Gouverneur. (1978). ''Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide.'' ; * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. * Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). '' Nihon Odai Ichiran''; ou
''Annales des empereurs du Japon.''
Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. * Varley, H. Paul. (1980)
''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns.''
New York: Columbia University Press. ;