, posthumously honored as was the 112th

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 ...

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'')
霊元天皇 (112)
/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.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', pp. 117. Reigen's reign spanned the years from 1663 through 1687.

Genealogy

Before Reigen's 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 (''

imina in modern times consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name. Japanese names are usually written in kanji, where the pronunciation follows a special set of rules. Because parents when naming children, and foreigners when adoptin ...

'') was ; and his pre-accession title was . Reigen was the 16th son of

Emperor Go-Mizunoo , posthumously honored as , was the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional List of Emperors of Japan, order of succession. Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629, and he was the first emperor to reign entirely d ...

. His mother was the daughter of Minister of the Center Sonomotooto (内大臣園基音), Lady-in-Waiting Kuniko (新広義門院国子). Reigen's Imperial family lived with him in the Dairi of the

Heian Palace The was the original imperial palace of (present-day Kyoto), then the capital of Japan. Both the palace and the city were constructed in the late 700s and were patterned on Ancient Chinese urban planning, Chinese models and designs. The palace ...

. This family included at least 13 sons and 14 daughters: *Empress: Takatsukasa Fusako (鷹司房子) later Shin-jyōsaimon’in (新上西門院), Takatsukasa Norihira’s daughter. **Third daughter: Imperial Princess Masako (1673–1746; 栄子内親王) married Nijo Tsunahira *Lady-in-waiting: Bōjō Fusako (1652–1676; 坊城房子), Bōjō Toshihiro’s daughter **Second daughter: Imperial Princess Ken'shi (憲子内親王; 1669–1688) married Konoe Iehiro *Lady-in-waiting: Chunagon-Naishi (1653–1691; 中納言典侍) **First son: Imperial Prince Priest Saishin (1671–1701; 済深法親王) *Lady-in-waiting: Matsuki Muneko (松木宗子) later Keihōmon’in (敬法門院), Mutsuki Muneatsu’s daughter **Fourth son: Imperial Prince Asahito (朝仁親王), also known as Tomohito, later Emperor Higashiyama **Fifth daughter: Imperial Princess Tomiko (福子内親王; 1676–1707) married Imperial Prince Fushimi-no-miya Kuninaga **Sixth daughter: Princess Eisyū (永秀女王; 1678–1725) **Seventh son: Imperial Prince Kyōgoku-no-miya Ayahito (1680–1711; 京極宮文仁親王) – Seventh Kyōgoku-no-miya **Seventh daughter: Princess Ume (1681–1683; 梅宮) **Eighth daughter: Imperial Princess Katsuko (1686–1716; 勝子内親王) **Eighth son: Prince Kiyo (1688–1693; 清宮) *Handmaid: Atago Fukuko (1656–1681; 愛宕福子), Atago Michitomi’s daughter **Second son: Imperial Prince Priest Kanryū (1672–1707; 寛隆法親王) **Fourth daughter: Princess Tsuna (1675–1677; 綱宮) *Handmaid: Gojō Yōko (1660–1683; 五条庸子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter **Third son: Prince San (1675–1677; 三宮) **Fifth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōen (1676–1718; 尭延法親王) **Sixth son: Prince Tairei'in (1679; 台嶺院宮) *Handmaid: Higashikuze Hiroko (1672–1752; 東久世博子), Higashikuze Michikado’s daughter **Eleventh son: Prince Toku (1692–1693; 徳宮) **Twelfth son: Prince Riki (1697; 力宮) *Court lady: Onaikouji-no-Tsubone (?–1674; 多奈井小路局), Nishinotōin Tokinaga‘s Daughter **First daughter: Princess Chikōin (1669; 知光院宮) *Court lady:　Gojō Tsuneko (1673–?; 五条経子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter **Ninth son: Prince Saku (1689–1692; 作宮) **Tenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Syō'ou (1690–1712; 性応法親王) **Ninth daughter: Princess Bunki (1693–1702; 文喜女王) **Tenth daughter: Princess Gensyū (1696–1752; 元秀女王) *Court lady: Tōshikibu-no-Tsubone (d.1746; 藤式部局), Reizei Sadaatsu‘s Daughter **Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonsyō (1699–1746; 尊賞法親王) **Eleventh daughter: Princess Bun'ō (1702–1754; 文応女王) *Court lady: Irie Itsuko (?–1763; 入江伊津子), Irie Sukenao’s daughter **Fourteenth son: Prince Kachi (1709–1713; 嘉智宮) **Twelfth daughter: Princess Tome (1711–1712; 留宮) *Court lady: Chūjō-no-Tsubone (1691–1753; 中将局), Kurahashi Yasusada‘s Daughter **Fifteenth son: Prince Mine (1710–1713; 峯宮) *Court lady:　Matsumuro Atsuko (?–1746; 松室敦子),　Matsumuro Shigeatsu’s daughter **Sixteenth son: Imperial Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Yorihito (1713–1769; 有栖川宮職仁親王) – Fifth

Arisugawa-no-miya The was one of the shinnōke, branches of the Imperial Family of Japan which were, until 1947, eligible to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the event that the main line should die out. History The Arisugawa-no-miya house was founded by Pr ...

**Thirteenth daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (吉子内親王, 1714–1758), betrothed to ''shōgun'' Tokugawa Ietsugu **Eighteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōkyō (1717–1764; 尭恭法親王) *Court lady: Shōshō-no-Tsubone (1702–1728; 少将局), Minami Suketada’s daughter **Fourteenth daughter: Princess Yae (1721–1723; 八重宮) *Court lady:Matsumuro Nakako (1707–1751; 松室仲子), Matsumuro Shigenaka’s daughter **Seventeenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Son'in (1715–1740; 尊胤法親王) His

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary Personal name, name given mainly to revered dead people in East Asian cultural sphere, East Asian culture. It is predominantly used in Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. ...

was created during the

Meiji Era The was an Japanese era name, era of History of Japan, Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feu ...

by combining the ''

kanji are logographic Chinese characters, adapted from Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script, used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are ...

'' from the names of two previous Emperors, Emperor Kōrei (孝霊) and Emperor Kōgen (孝元).

Events of Reigen's life

* 9 July 1654: The birth of an Imperial prince who will become known by the posthumous name of Reigen''-tennō''.Meyer, Eva-Maria. (1999)
''Japans Kaiserhof in der Edo-Zeit'', p. 186.
/ref> * 1654: Prince Satohito, who is also known as ''Ate-no-miya'', is named as heir before the death of his eldest brother, Emperor Go-Kōmyō; however, the young prince is considered too young to become emperor. It is decided that until the young heir grows older, his elder brother will accede to the throne as

Emperor Go-Sai , posthumously honored as , also known as , was the 111th emperor of Japan, 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 th ...

. * 5 March 1663 (''

Kanbun ''Kanbun'' ( 'Han Chinese, Han writing') is a system for writing Literary Chinese used in Japan from the Nara period until the 20th century. Much of Japanese literature was written in this style and it was the general writing style for offici ...

3, 26th day of the 1st month''):

abdicated; and Prince Satohito received the succession (''senso''). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Reigen formally acceded (''sokui'') and his reign began. * 1665 (''Kanbun 5, 6th month''): Courts of inquisition were established in all the villages of Japan. These courts were charged with discovering and eliminating any vestiges of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

in each community.Titsingh
p. 414.
/ref> *1666 (''Kanbun 6, 4th month''): ''Hokke shu'' Buddhist religious practices are preserved for those who believe that their spiritual and moral purity may be tainted by close association with others. * 1667 (''Kanbun 7''): After fire destroyed the main temple structure, work on rebuilding at Nara commenced. * 13 February 1668 (''Kanbun 8, 1st day of the 2nd month''): A great fire broke out in Edo—a conflagration lasting 45 days. The disastrous fire was attributed to arson. * 1669 (''Kanbun 9''):There was a famine in this year; and a military expedition was sent to northern Honshū against Shakushain's Revolt. * 1673 (''

Enpō (contemporarily written as 延寳) is the after ''Kanbun'' and before '' Tenna.'' This period spanned the years from September 1673 to September 1681. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1673 : The new era of ''Enpō'' (meaning "Prolon ...

1''): There was a great fire in Kyoto. * 21 May 1673 (''Enpō 1, 5th day of the 4th month''): The Chinese

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

teacher Ingen dies in the Ōbaku

Zen Zen (; from Chinese: ''Chán''; in Korean: ''Sŏn'', and Vietnamese: ''Thiền'') is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty by blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Madhyamaka phil ...

temple, Manpuku-ji at Uji. * 1675 (''

3''): There was a great fire in Kyoto. * 4 June 1680 (''Enpō 8, 8th day of the 5th month''): ''Shōgun'' Ietsuna dies; and he is succeeded by Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. * 15 June 1680 (''Enpō 8, 19th day of the 5th month''): Former-

died. * 1680 (''Enpō 8, 8th month''): A great flood devastates Edo. * 1680 (''Enpō 8''): Gokoku-ji is founded in Edo. * 1681 ('' Tenna 1''): Tsunayoshi's investiture as ''shōgun''. * 5 February 1682 (''Tenna 1, 28th day of the 12th month''): A great fire sweeps through Edo.Titsingh
p. 415.
/ref> * 1681 (''Tenna 2''): A great famine devastates Kyoto and the surrounding area. * 1682 (''Tenna 3''): Tomohito-shinnō is proclaimed Crown Prince; and the ceremonial investiture is held (after being in abeyance for over 300 years). * 26 March 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-

died; and a great comet was observed crossing the night sky. * 2 May 1687 (''Jōkyō 4, 21st day of the 3rd month''): Emperor Reigen abdicates in favor of his fifth son who will come to be known as Emperor Higashiyama. * 1687: Former-Emperor Reigen begins to rule as a cloistered emperor; and after abdication, Reigen's new home will be called the '' Sentō-gosho'' (the palace for an ex-Emperor).Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1956). ''Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794–1869'', p. 342. * 4 December 1696 Former Empress Meishō died. * 1713: Former-Emperor Reigen enters a monastery under the name Sojō (素浄) * 1715: Former-Emperor Reigen's 13th daughter, Princess Yoshiko (1714-1758) married seventh Tokugawa ''shōgun'' Ietsugu * 1716: The seventh Tokugawa ''shōgun'' Ietsugu died, he was aged 7 * 24 September 1732 ('' Kyōhō 17, 24th day of the 9th month''): Reigen died; he was age 78. Emperor Reigen's memory is honored and preserved at his designated Imperial mausoleum (''misasagi''), '' Tsuki no wa no misasagi'' at Sennyū-ji in

Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto is one of the eleven Wards of Kyoto, wards in the Municipalities of Japan, city of Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. History It was created in 1929 when it was split off from Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, Shimogyō-ku. During the years ...

. His immediate Imperial predecessors since

– Meishō, Go-Kōmyō and Go-Sai are also enshrined along with his immediate Imperial successors, including Higashiyama, Nakamikado, Sakuramachi, Momozono, Go-Sakuramachi and Go-Momozono.Ponsonby-Fane, ''Imperial House'', p. 423.

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 Reigen'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: * '' Sesshō'', Nijō Mitsuhira, 1663–1664 * ''Sessho'', Takatsukasa Fusasuke, 1664–1668 * '' Kampaku'', Takatsukasa Fusasuke, 1668–1682 * ''Kampaku'', Ichijō Kaneteru, 1682–1687 * ''

Sadaijin The ''Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary'', Kenkyusha Limited, was a government position in Japan during the Asuka to Meiji era. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the ''Sadaijin'' in the context of a cent ...

'' * ''

Udaijin was a government position in Japan during the Asuka to Meiji era. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 701. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the ''Udaijin'' in the context of a central administrat ...

'' * '' Naidaijin'' * ''

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 Reigen's reign

The years of Reigen'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 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 rule, a t ...

or ''

nengō The or , 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 "", meaning "origin, basis"), followed b ...

''. * ''

'' (1661–1673) * ''

'' (1673–1681) * '' Tenna'' (1681–1684) * ''

'' (1684–1688)

Ancestry

Notes

References

* 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. (1956). ''Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794–1869''. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. * __________. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan''. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''

Nihon Ōdai Ichiran , ', is a 17th-century chronicle of the serial reigns of Japanese emperors with brief notes about some of the noteworthy events or other happenings. According to the 1871 edition of the ''American Cyclopaedia'', the 1834 French translation of ...

''; 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