Emperor Shijō
| Emperor Shijō 四条天皇 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Portrait from the Tenshi Sekkan Miei | |||||
| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 17 November 1232 – 10 February 1242 | ||||
| Enthronement | 16 January 1233 | ||||
| Predecessor | Go-Horikawa | ||||
| Successor | Go-Saga | ||||
| Shōgun | Kujō Yoritsune | ||||
| Born | 17 March 1231 | ||||
| Died | 10 February 1242 (aged 10) | ||||
| Burial | Tsukinowa no Misasagi (月輪陵) (Kyoto) | ||||
| Spouse | Kujō Genshi | ||||
| |||||
| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Emperor Go-Horikawa | ||||
| Mother | Kujō Shunshi (biological) Princess Rishi (adopted) | ||||
Emperor Shijō (四条天皇, Shijō-tennō) (17 March 1231 – 10 February 1242) was the 87th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years 1232 through 1242.[1]
Life
[edit]Emperor Shijō was born to Emperor Go-Horikawa and his wife Kujō Shunshi as Prince Mitsuhito.[2]
He succeeded to the throne shortly before his father's death, and since his father died shortly after, a relative named Princess Kinshi became head of the court in the emperor's minority, while Kujō Michiie and Saionji Kintsune helped carry out the affairs of state.[3][4] Additionally his aunt, Princess Rishi, became his honorary mother.[5]
In 1241 Kujō Genshi was appointed as his consort.[6]
Shijō was known to be mischievous and often played pranks.[7] One day, Shijō had talc spread all across the floors in the hopes that a court lady would trip on it and fall.[7] While he was playing with a court lady, the emperor tripped himself, which ultimately led to his death.[7][8][9]
Subsequent succession crisis
[edit]His death ultimately led to the Political Crisis of the Third Year of the Ninji Era.[10]
Kujō Michiie supported the ascension of Prince Tadanari, son of Emperor Juntoku, to the throne.[11] On the other hand, court noble Tsuchimikado Sadamichi supported Prince Kunihito, son of Emperor Tsuchimikado, to the throne.[11]
Both men sent envoys to the shōgun to seek his support and, after an oracle was called from Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kunihito was declared the valid successor to the throne.[11] Taira no Tsunetaka suggested in his diary that Tadanari's father, exiled former emperor Juntoku, may have stopped eating (ultimately leading to his death) due to the fact he knew he would never return to Heian-kyō.[12]
The court nobles originally opposed Kunihito, but Saionji Kintsune took advantage and had him enthroned in the house of the brother of Shijō Sadako (Sadako being his daughter in-law).[11] Kunihito became Emperor Go-Saga.[13]
Eras of Shijō's reign
[edit]The years of Shijō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.[14]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]
- ↑ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 242–245; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki. p. 227.
- ↑ "四条天皇(シジョウテンノウ)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ "女院領の中世的展開 (同成社中世史選書; 25) | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館". 国立国会図書館サーチ（NDLサーチ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ "中世王家の政治と構造 (同成社中世史選書; 30) | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館". 国立国会図書館サーチ（NDLサーチ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ Venning, Timothy (2023-06-30). A Compendium of Medieval World Sovereigns. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-86633-9.
- ↑ 中原師守 (1968). 師守記 (in Japanese). 続群書類従完成会.
- 1 2 3 "五代帝王物語". www.digital.archives.go.jp. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ Takekoshi, Yosaburo (2016-04-01). The Economic Aspects of the History of the Civilization of Japan. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-52373-1.
- ↑ Easton, Robert (2010-07-15). Royal Dates With Destiny. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-2031-2.
- ↑ 日本歴史学界の回顧と展望 (in Japanese). 山川出版社. 1987.
- 1 2 3 4 "鎌倉幕府連署制の研究 | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館". 国立国会図書館サーチ（NDLサーチ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ "明月記研究 第7号 記録と文学". 八木書店 出版物・古書目録 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ "後嵯峨天皇(ゴサガテンノウ)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ Titsingh, p. 242.
References
[edit]- Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887
- Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652], Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland.
- Varley, H. Paul, ed. (1980). [ Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359], Jinnō Shōtōki (A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-04940-4)
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