Emperor Go-Sanjō

Emperor Go-Sanjō (後三条天皇, Go-Sanjō-tennō, 3 September 1034-15 June 1073) was the 71st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.[1] His reign started in 1068 and ended in 1073.[2]

This 11th century sovereign was named after Emperor Sanjō and go- (後), translates literally as "later." He is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Sanjō". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Sanjō, the second," or as "Sanjo II."

Traditional narrative

His personal name (imina) was Takahito-shinnō (尊仁親王).[3]

He was the second son of Emperor Go-Suzaku, and his mother was Empress Sadako, the third daughter of Emperor Sanjō. This made him the first Emperor in 170 years whose mother was not of the Fujiwara family.[4]

Events of Go-Sanjō's life

  • 22 May 1068 (Jiryaku 4, 19th day of the 4th month): In the 4th year of Emperor Go-Reizei's reign, he died at age 44; and the succession (senso) was received by a his son. Soon after, Emperor Go-Sanjo accepted the monarch's role and duties and powers (sokui).[5] This was confirmed in ceremonies.[6]
  • 1069 (Enkyū 1): Go-Sanjō ordered the creation of a government land records office.[source?]
  • 1070 (Enkyū 2): Go-Sanjō ordered a preliminary system of laws and a bureaucracy for regulating silk.[source?]
  • 18 January 1072 (Enkyū 4, 8th day of the 12th month): In the 6th year of Emperor Go-Sanjō's reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by his son. Soon after, Emperor Shirakawa accepted his new role in the monarchy (sokui).[7]
  • 11 May 11 (Enkyū 5, 21st day of the 4th month): Go-Sanjō became a Buddhist priest.[8]
  • 15 June 1073 (Enkyū 5, 7th day of the 5th month): Former-Emperor Go-Sanjō died at the age of 40.[8]

Era names

The Japanese era names (nengō) of his reign were

Notes and references

The chrysanthemum symbol of the Japanese emperor and his family.
  1. ↑ Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 後三条天皇 (71); retrieved 2012-10-7.
  2. ↑ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 166–168; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 314–315; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 198-199.
  3. ↑ Titsingh, p. 166; Brown, p. 314; Varley, p. 198.
  4. ↑ Brown, p. 314.
  5. ↑ Titsingh, p. 166; Brown, p. 313.
  6. ↑ 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 Emperor Go-Murakami. Compare Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), Ceremony of Accession (Sokui-no-Rei); retrieved 2012-10-15.
  7. ↑ Titsingh, p. 169; Brown, p. 314; Varley, p. 44.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Brown, p. 315.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Titsingh, p. 165-168; Brown, p. 313-315.
Preceded by
Emperor Go-Reizei 		Emperor or Tennō:
Go-Sanjō
1068–1073 		Succeeded by
Emperor Shirakawa