Emperor Go-Toba

Infobox_Monarch
name = Emperor Go-Toba
title =82nd Emperor of Japan


caption =
reign =The 20th day of 8th month of Juei 2 (1183) - The 11th day of 1st month of Kenkyū 9 (1198)
coronation =The 28th day of 7th month of Juei 3 (1184)
predecessor =Emperor Antoku
successor =Emperor Tsuchimikado
suc-type =
heir =
consort = Empress Fujiwara no "Ninshi"
issue =
royal house =
royal anthem =
father =Emperor Takakura
mother =Fujiwara no "Shokushi" (Shichijō-in)
date of birth =The 14th day of 7th month of Jishō 4 (August 6, 1180)
place of birth =Gojō-machi no Tei (五条町の亭), Heian Kyō (Kyōto)
date of death =The 22nd day of 2nd month of En'ō 1 (March 28, 1239)
place of death =Karita Gosho (苅田御所), Oki Island (Shimane)
place of burial=Ōhara no "Misasagi" (大原陵) (Kyōto)|nihongo|Emperor Go-Toba|後鳥羽天皇|Go-Toba-tennō (August 6, 1180 – March 28, 1239) was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198. [Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). "Annales des empereurs du Japon," pp. 207-221; Brown, Delmer "et al." (1979). "Gukanshō," pp. 334-339; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). "Jinnō Shōtōki." pp. 215-220.]

This 12th century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba and "go-" (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Toba". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Toba, the second," or as "Toba II".

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his "imina") [Brown, pp. 264. [Up until the time of Emperor Jomei, the personal names of the emperors (their "imina") were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.] ] was nihongo| Takahira"-shinnō" |尊成親王. [Varley, p. 215.] He was also known as Takanari"-shinnō" [Titsingh, p. 207; Brown, p. 334]

He was the fourth son of Emperor Takakura, and thus grandson of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. His mother was Bōmon "Shokushi" (坊門殖子) (Empress Dowager Shichijō-in, 七条院), daughter of Bōmon Nobutaka (坊門信隆) of the Fujiwara clan.

Consorts and children

Empress ("chūgū"): Empress Dowager Gishūmon-in (宜秋門院) Fujiwara no "Ninshi"/Takako (藤原任子) (1173-1239), daughter of regent Kujō Kanezane (九条兼実)
* Imperial Princess "Shōshi" (昇子内親王) (1195-1211) - unmarried Empress as adopted mother of Emperor Juntoku (Shunkamon-in, 春華門院)

Court lady: Empress Dowager Shomeimon-in (承明門院) Minamoto no "Zaishi"/Ariko (源在子) (1171-1257), adopted daughter of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Minamoto no Michichika (内大臣源通親) (daughter of priest Nōen, 能円)
* Imperial Prince Tamehito (為仁親王) (Emperor Tsuchimikado) (1196-1231)

Court lady: Empress Dowager Shumeimon-in (修明門院) Fujiwara no Shigeko (藤原重子) (1182-1264), daughter of Takakura Norisue (高倉範季)
* Imperial Prince Morinari (守成親王) (Emperor Juntoku) (1197-1242)
* Imperial Prince Masanari (雅成親王) (1200-1255) (exiled after Jōkyū War)
* Imperial Prince Sonkai (尊快法親王) (1204-1246) - Head Priest of Enryaku-ji Temple ("Tendai Zasu", 天台座主)

Court lady: "Bōmon no Tsubone" (坊門局), daughter of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Bōmon Nobukiyo (坊門信清)
* Imperial Prince Nagahito (長仁親王) (1196-1249) - 8th Head priest of Ninna-ji Temple (Dōjo Hosshinnō, 道助法親王)
* Imperial Princess Reiko (礼子内親王) (1200-1273) (Kayōmon-in, 嘉陽門院)
* Imperial Prince Yorihito (頼仁親王) (1201-1264) (exiled after Jōkyū Incident)

Court lady: "Hyōe-no-kami no Tsubone" (兵衛督局), daughter of Minamoto no Nobuyasu (源信康)
* Imperial Princess "Shukushi" (粛子内親王) ("Takatsuji Saigū", 高辻斎宮) (1196-?) - Saiō at Ise Shrine 1199-1210

Court lady: Taki (滝) (?-1265), a dancer (Shirabyōshi)
* Imperial Prince Kakunin (覚仁法親王) (1198-1266) - Head priest of Onjō-ji Temple

Court lady: Owari no Tsumone (尾張局) (?-1204), daughter of priest Kensei (顕清)
* Imperial Prince Dōkaku (道覚法親王) (1204-1250) - Head Priest of Enryaku-ji Temple ("Tendai Zasu", 天台座主)

Court lady: "Tamba no Tsubone" (丹波局), Ishi (石), a dancer (Shirabyōshi)
* Imperial Princess Hiroko (煕子内親王) ("Fukakusa Saigū", 深草斎宮) (1205-?) - Saiō served at Ise Shrine during the reigns of Emperors Emperor Juntoku and Emperor Chūkyō 1215-1221

Court lady: "Ōmiya no Tsubone" (大宮局), daughter of Gon-no-Dainagon Fujiwara no Sadayoshi (藤原定能)
* Imperial Prince Son'en (尊円法親王) (1207-1231) - Head Priest of Miidera Temple
* Gyōetsu (行超) - priest in Emryakuji Temple

Court lady: "Shonagon no Suke" (少納言典侍)
* Dōshu (道守) - priest

Court lady: Himehōshi (姫法師), a dancer (Shirabyōshi)
* Kakuyo (覚誉) - priest
* Dōi (道伊) - priest in Onjō-ji Temple
* Dōen (道縁) - priest in Ninna-ji Temple

Events of Go-Toba's life

Go-Toba took the throne at the age of three. .

* "Juei 2", on the 20th day of the 8th month (1183): In the 3rd year of Antoku"-tennō"'s reign (安徳天皇25年), the emperor fled the capital rather than give in to pressures for his abdication. In Antoku's absence, the cloistered former-Emperor Go-Shirakawa then elevated his young brother by decree; and the young child was given the acceptance of abdication ("juzen") rites.Varley, p. 216.] The anti-Taira faction intended that the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received; and shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Toba is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). [Titsingh, pp. 206-207; Brown, p. 334; Varley, p. 44. [A distinct act of "senso" is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have "senso" and "sokui" in the same year until the reign of Go-Murakami.] ]

Although these formal rites and ceremonies were taking place in Heian-kyō, the imperial regalia were still held by Antoku. Thus, the "senso" and "sokui" of Go-Toba became the first in history to omit the ritual transmission of the sacred treasures from a sovereign to his successor. [see above] ]

In 1192 Go-Shirakawa died and the first shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the emperor became a figurehead. Despite the limits on his political powers, he developed skills as a calligrapher, painter, musician, poet and editor.

In 1198, the shōgun forced Go-Toba, who was still in his teens, to abdicate. Two of Go-Toba's sons succeeded him on the throne, but they were each in turn also forced to abdicate.

Go-Toba reigned as cloistered Emperor from 1198 till 1221 during reigns of three emperors, but his power was more limited than former cloistered Emperors in the Heian era.

It was during this time that Go-Toba decreed that the followers of the Pure Land sect in Kyoto, let by Hōnen, be banished or in some cases executed. Originally this was prompted by complaints of clergy in Kyoto who were concerned about the rise in popularity of the new sect, but Go-Toba personally ordered the decree after two of his ladies in waiting converted to the sect without his knowing. [ [http://www.jodo.org/about_hs/ho_life.html JODO SHU English ] ]

In 1221, the shōgun installed Go-Toba's three-year-old grandson, Emperor Chūkyō, as emperor, but Go-Toba chose to stage a rebellion in an attempt to reclaim the throne and overthrow the Kamakura shogunate. This is known as the Jōkyū War after the era in which it occurred. Samurai around Kyōto who were against the Shogunate supported him but most of samurai, particularly in Kantō supported the Shogunate with encouragement of Hōjō Masako, the widow of Yoritomo. She persuaded samurai gathering in Kamakura that if they would not support the Shogunate, then the contemporary status and privileges that samurai had attained would be lost, and the court and kuge would regain their power and influence. Go-Toba's rebellion was defeated and Chūkyō was replaced as emperor by Go-Horikawa, a nephew of Go-Toba.

Go-Toba was a great lover of swords, and over the course of several years summoned the most talented swordsmiths in the land to his court where they were given honorary titles and invited to teach the emperor their craft. He became a respectable swordsmith himself, and it was his patronage and encouragement of this art that gave birth to Japan's 'Golden Age' of swordsmithing. His contribution to the art is still held in such high esteem, that even today a tradition is maintained in sword literature that he is the first swordsmith to be discussed.

His greatest contribution to literature is the Shin Kokinshū (The New Anthology of Ancient and Modern Waka), which Japanese has considered one of three major influential waka anthologies along Man'yōshū and Kokin Wakashū. He ordered its creation and took part in the working group as an editor. He revived the Office of Waka (和歌所) and made it the headquarters of this edition. He held many "utakai" (waka parties) and "utaawase" (waka competitions). Not only the creator and organizer, he acted as a critic, and wrote the style of waka in general and criticism of his contemporary poets.

After the rebellion Go-Toba was exiled to the Oki Islands. He died and was buried there. Later a part of his body was buried in Ohara, Kyōto.

During his exile, he continued to recite hundreds waka and to edit both anthologies from his creation in Oki Islands and a private edition of Shin Kokinshū for 18 years, getting rid of around 400 wakas from the former edition, while its edition had been officially declared to be completed in 1204, and further elaborations finished even in 1216. While he declared his private edition should be authentic, today the 1216 version is considered as the authentic and others as variants. His edition is today called Oki-bon Shin Kokinshū (Oki edition). One of his 31-syllable poems was chosen by Fujiwara no Teika as Number 99 in the very popular anthology Hyakunin Isshu.

"Kugyō"

"Kugyō" (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

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-Toba's reign, this apex of the "Daijō-kan" included:
* "Sesshō", Konoe Motomichi, 1160-1233.Brown, p. 335.]
* "Sesshō", Matsu Morie, 1172-1238. [see above] ]
* "Sesshō", Kujō Kanezane. [see above] ]
* "Daijō-daijin", Kujō Kanezane. [see above] ]
* "Daijō-daijin", Kujō Kanefusa, d. 1217. [Brown, p. 335. [Kanefusa was the brother of Jien, the author of "Gukanshō".] ]
* "Sadaijin", Ōimikado Tsunemune, 1119-1189. [see above] ]
* "Sadaijin", Todaiji Sanesada, 1139-1191.Brown, p. 336.]
* "Sadaijin", Sanjō Sanefusa, 1147-1225. [see above] ]
* "Sadaijin", Ōimikado Yorizane, 1155-1225. [see above] ]
* "Udaijin", Tokudaiji Sanesada. [see above] ]
* "Udaijin", Sanjō Sanefusa. [see above] ]
* "Udaijin", Ōimikado Yorizane. [see above] ]
* "Nadaijin", Matsu Morie.{see above] ]
* "Nadaijin", Tokudaiji Sanesada.{see above] ]
* "Nadaijin", Konoe Motomichi.{see above] ]
* "Nadaijin", Kujō Kanefusa.{see above] ]
* "Nadaijin", Kujō Yoshimichi, 1167-1188. [see above] ]
* "Nadaijin", Fujiwara Tudachida, d. 1195. [see above] ]
* "Nadaijin", Kujō Yoshitsine, 1169-1206. [Brown, p. 337.]
* "Dainagon"

Eras of Go-Toba's reign

The years of Go-Toba's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or "nengō". [Titsingh, pp. 207; Brown, p. 337.]
* "Juei" (1182-1184)
* "Genryaku" (1184-1185)
* "Bunji" (1185-1190)
* "Kenkyū" (1190-1199)

References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). [ Jien, 1221] , "Gukanshō (The Future and the Past, a translation and study of the Gukanshō, an interpretative history of Japan written in 1219)." Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-03460-0
* Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652] , "Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon, tr. par M. Isaac Titsingh avec l'aide de plusieurs interprètes attachés au comptoir hollandais de Nangasaki; ouvrage re., complété et cor. sur l'original japonais-chinois, accompagné de notes et précédé d'un Aperçu d'histoire mythologique du Japon, par M. J. Klaproth." Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. [http://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran ...Click link for digitized, full-text copy of this book (in French)]
* Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). [ Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359] , "Jinnō Shōtōki ("A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa" translated by H. Paul Varley)." New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-04940-4