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EspañolEMPEROR YōZEI
(Redirected from Emperor Yozei)
'Emperor Yōzei' (陽成天皇 ''Yōzei-tennō'') (869-949) was the '57th' emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. [1]
Yōzei was the oldest son of Emperor Seiwa. His mother was the Empress Fujiwara no Takakiko, who was also known after Seiwa's abdication as the Nijo empress.[2] Yōzei's mother was the sister of Fujiwara no Mototsune, who would figure prominently in the young emperor's life.[3]
His personal name before acceeding to the Chrysanthemum throne was Sadaakira.[2]
In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the ''Gempeitōkitsu'' (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the Minamoto clan (源氏)are also known as Genji, and of these, the ''Yōzei Genji'' (陽成源氏) are descended from the 57th emperor Yōzei.
After the abdication of his father, Yōzei accepted the succession (''senso'') in the 11th month of 876, but he did not formally accede to the throne (''sokui'') until the 1st month of 877.[2]
★ '''Jōgan 10''' (869): Yōzei was born, and he is named Seiwa's heir in the following year.[6]
★ '''Jōgan 17''', in the 11th month (876): Emperor Seiwa, in the 18th year of his reign, ceded his throne to his five-year-old son, which means that the young child received the succession (‘‘senso’’). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Yōzei formally acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).[7]
★ '''Gangyō gannen''' (元慶元年) or '''Gangyō 1''', on the 3rd day of the 1st month (877): Yōzei was formally enthroned at age 8; and the beginning of a new ''nengō'' was proclaimed. However, the new residence being constructed for the emperor (the ''"Daï kok den"'') had not been completed; and initially, he must live elsewhere in the palace compound (in the ''"Bou rak den"'' or ''"Fung lŏ tien"'').[8]
★ '''Gangyō 1''', in the 2nd month (877): Ambassadors from ''"Bok kaï"'' arrived in the province of Izumo; but they were turned back.[8]
★ '''Gangyō 1''', in the 6th month (877): There was a great drought; and sacrifices were made at the temples of Hachiman, Kamo and other temples in Ise province. Eventually, it rained.[6]
★ '''Gangyō 7''', in the 1th month (883): In his early teens, Yōzei often spent time alone; and sometimes he would feed live frogs to snakes so that he could watch the reptile swallowing; or sometimes, he would find pleasure in setting dogs and monkeys to fight. In time, these amusements became more dangerous. He himself executed criminals. When he became angry, he sometimes chased after those who dared speak up; and he sometimes tried to use his sword. Fujiwara no Mototsune, the ''Kanpaku'', used every possible opportunity to turn Yōzei towards more seemly conduct, but the emperor closed his ears to all remonstrances.[11]
★ '''Gangyō 8''', in the 1st month (884): The extravagant and dangerous habits of the emperor continued unabated. At one point, Mototsune came to the court and discovered that Yōzei had arranged a bizarre scenario for his diversion: He ordered some men to climb high into trees, and then he ordered others to use sharp lances to poke at these men in trees until they fell to their deaths. This extraordinary event convinced Motosune that the emperor was too "undignified" to reign. Mototsune reluctantly realized that someone needed to devise a strategy for deposing the emperor. Shortly thereafter, Mototsune approached Yōzei and remarked that it must be boring to be so often alone, and then Mototsune suggested that the emperor might be amused by a horse race. Yōzei was attracted to this proposition, and he eagerly encouraged Mototsune to set a time and place for the event. It was decided that this special amusement for the emperor would take place on the 4th day of the 2nd month of Gangyō 8.[12]
★ '''Gangyō 8''', on the 4th day of the 2nd month (884): The pretext of a special horse race enticed the emperor to leave his palace. Yōzei traveled in a carriage which was quickly surrounded by a heavy guard. The carriage was redirected to ''"Yo seí in"'' palace (''"Yang tchhing yuan"'') at ''"Ni zio"'', a town situated a short distance to the south-west of Miyako. Mototsune confronted the emperor, explaining that his demented behavior made him incapable of reigning, and that he was being dethroned. At this news, Yōzei cried sincerely, which did attract feelings of compassion from those who witnessed his contrition.[13]
According to very scanty information from the Imperial archives, including sources such as ''Rikkokushi,'' and ''Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku,'' Emperor Yōzei murdered one of his retainers, an action that caused massive scandal in the Heian court. Japanese society during the Heian era was very sensitive to issues of "pollution," both spiritual and personal. Deaths (especially killing animals or people) were the worst acts of pollution possible, and warranted days of seclusion in order to purify oneself. Since the Emperor was seen as a divine figure and linked to the deities, pollution of such extreme degree committed by the highest source was seen as extremely ruinous. Many of the high court officials construed Emperor Yōzei's actions as exceeding the bounds of acceptable behavior, and as justifiable cause for the emperor to be forcibly deposed.
In Kitabatake Chitafusa's 14th century account of Emperor Yōzei's reign, the emperor is described as possessing a "violent disposition" and unfit to be a ruler. In the end, when Fujiwara no Mototsune, who was ''Sesshō'' (regent for the child-emperor, 876-880), ''Kampaku'' (chief advisor or first secretary for the emperor, 880-890), and ''Daijō Daijin'' (Great Minister of the Council of State), decided that Yōzei should be removed from the throne, he discovered that there was general agreement amongst the ''kuge'' that this was a correct and necessary decision.[14]
Yōzei reigned for eight years until being deposed in 884; and he lived in retirement until the age of 81.[14]
Yōzei was succeeded by his father's uncle, Emperor Kōkō; and in the reign of Kōkō's son, Emperor Uda, the madness re-visited the tormented former emperor:
★
★ '''Kanpyō 1''', in the 10th month 899): The former emperor Yōzei was newly attacked by the mental illness. Yōzei would enter the palace and address courtiers he would meet with the greatest rudeness. He became increasingly furious. He garroted women with the strings of musical instruments and then threw the bodies into a lake. While riding on horseback, he directed his mount to run over people. Sometimes he simply disappeared into the mountains where he chased wild boars and red deer.[16]
''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.-- ''kugyō'' of Yozei-tennō (in French)
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 Yozei's reign, this apex of the ''Daijō-kan'' included:
★ ''Sesshō'', Fujiwara no Mototsune (藤原基経), 836-891.[17]
★ ''Kampaku'', Fujiwara no Mototsune (藤原基経)
★ ''Daijō-daijin'', Fujiwara no Mototsune.[18]
★ ''Sadaijin'', Minamoto no Tooru (源融)
★ ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Matotsune.[18]
★ ''Udaijin'', Minamoto no Masaru (源多)
The years of Yōzei's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or ''nengō''.[3]
★ ''Jōgan'' (859-877)
★ ''Gangyō'' (877-885)
1. >Titsigh, Isaac. (1834). ''Annales des empereurs du Japon,'' p. 121; Varley, H. Paul, ed. (1980). ''Jinō Shōtōki,'' p. 170.
2. Varley, p. 170.
3. Titsigh, p. 121.
4. Varley, p. 170.
5. Varley, p. 170.
6. Titsingh, p. 122.
7. Titsingh, p. 122; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō Shōtōki,'' 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.]
8. Titsingh, p. 122. [1834 transliteration, pre-Hepburn]
9. Titsingh, p. 122. [1834 transliteration, pre-Hepburn]
10. Titsingh, p. 122.
11. Titsingh, pp. 123-124.
12. Titsingh, p. 124.
13. Titsingh, p. 124
14. Varley, p.171.
15. Varley, p.171.
16. Titsing, p. 127.
17. Brown, p. 288.
18. Brown, P. 288.
19. Brown, P. 288.
20. Titsigh, p. 121.
★ Brown, Delmer and Ichiro Ishida, eds. (1979). ''Gukanshō; "The Future and the Past: a translation and study of the 'Gukanshō,' an interpretive history of Japan written in 1219" translated from the Japanese and edited by Delmer M. Brown & Ichirō Ishida.'' 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. --''Two copies of this rare book have now been made available online: (1) from the library of the University of Michigan, digitized January 30, 2007; and (2) from the library of Stanford University, digitized June 23, 2006.'' Click here to read the original text 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 0-86008-128-1
(From Ogura Hyakunin Isshu)
Tomb of Emperor Yōzei, Kyoto
'Emperor Yōzei' (陽成天皇 ''Yōzei-tennō'') (869-949) was the '57th' emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. [1]
| Contents |
| Genealogy |
| Events of Yōzei-''tennō's life |
| ''Kugyō'' |
| Eras of Yōzei''-tennō's reign |
| References |
| Notes |
| Further reading |
Genealogy
Yōzei was the oldest son of Emperor Seiwa. His mother was the Empress Fujiwara no Takakiko, who was also known after Seiwa's abdication as the Nijo empress.[2] Yōzei's mother was the sister of Fujiwara no Mototsune, who would figure prominently in the young emperor's life.[3]
His personal name before acceeding to the Chrysanthemum throne was Sadaakira.[2]
In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the ''Gempeitōkitsu'' (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the Minamoto clan (源氏)are also known as Genji, and of these, the ''Yōzei Genji'' (陽成源氏) are descended from the 57th emperor Yōzei.
Events of Yōzei-''tennō's life
After the abdication of his father, Yōzei accepted the succession (''senso'') in the 11th month of 876, but he did not formally accede to the throne (''sokui'') until the 1st month of 877.[2]
★ '''Jōgan 10''' (869): Yōzei was born, and he is named Seiwa's heir in the following year.[6]
★ '''Jōgan 17''', in the 11th month (876): Emperor Seiwa, in the 18th year of his reign, ceded his throne to his five-year-old son, which means that the young child received the succession (‘‘senso’’). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Yōzei formally acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).[7]
★ '''Gangyō gannen''' (元慶元年) or '''Gangyō 1''', on the 3rd day of the 1st month (877): Yōzei was formally enthroned at age 8; and the beginning of a new ''nengō'' was proclaimed. However, the new residence being constructed for the emperor (the ''"Daï kok den"'') had not been completed; and initially, he must live elsewhere in the palace compound (in the ''"Bou rak den"'' or ''"Fung lŏ tien"'').[8]
★ '''Gangyō 1''', in the 2nd month (877): Ambassadors from ''"Bok kaï"'' arrived in the province of Izumo; but they were turned back.[8]
★ '''Gangyō 1''', in the 6th month (877): There was a great drought; and sacrifices were made at the temples of Hachiman, Kamo and other temples in Ise province. Eventually, it rained.[6]
★ '''Gangyō 7''', in the 1th month (883): In his early teens, Yōzei often spent time alone; and sometimes he would feed live frogs to snakes so that he could watch the reptile swallowing; or sometimes, he would find pleasure in setting dogs and monkeys to fight. In time, these amusements became more dangerous. He himself executed criminals. When he became angry, he sometimes chased after those who dared speak up; and he sometimes tried to use his sword. Fujiwara no Mototsune, the ''Kanpaku'', used every possible opportunity to turn Yōzei towards more seemly conduct, but the emperor closed his ears to all remonstrances.[11]
★ '''Gangyō 8''', in the 1st month (884): The extravagant and dangerous habits of the emperor continued unabated. At one point, Mototsune came to the court and discovered that Yōzei had arranged a bizarre scenario for his diversion: He ordered some men to climb high into trees, and then he ordered others to use sharp lances to poke at these men in trees until they fell to their deaths. This extraordinary event convinced Motosune that the emperor was too "undignified" to reign. Mototsune reluctantly realized that someone needed to devise a strategy for deposing the emperor. Shortly thereafter, Mototsune approached Yōzei and remarked that it must be boring to be so often alone, and then Mototsune suggested that the emperor might be amused by a horse race. Yōzei was attracted to this proposition, and he eagerly encouraged Mototsune to set a time and place for the event. It was decided that this special amusement for the emperor would take place on the 4th day of the 2nd month of Gangyō 8.[12]
★ '''Gangyō 8''', on the 4th day of the 2nd month (884): The pretext of a special horse race enticed the emperor to leave his palace. Yōzei traveled in a carriage which was quickly surrounded by a heavy guard. The carriage was redirected to ''"Yo seí in"'' palace (''"Yang tchhing yuan"'') at ''"Ni zio"'', a town situated a short distance to the south-west of Miyako. Mototsune confronted the emperor, explaining that his demented behavior made him incapable of reigning, and that he was being dethroned. At this news, Yōzei cried sincerely, which did attract feelings of compassion from those who witnessed his contrition.[13]
According to very scanty information from the Imperial archives, including sources such as ''Rikkokushi,'' and ''Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku,'' Emperor Yōzei murdered one of his retainers, an action that caused massive scandal in the Heian court. Japanese society during the Heian era was very sensitive to issues of "pollution," both spiritual and personal. Deaths (especially killing animals or people) were the worst acts of pollution possible, and warranted days of seclusion in order to purify oneself. Since the Emperor was seen as a divine figure and linked to the deities, pollution of such extreme degree committed by the highest source was seen as extremely ruinous. Many of the high court officials construed Emperor Yōzei's actions as exceeding the bounds of acceptable behavior, and as justifiable cause for the emperor to be forcibly deposed.
In Kitabatake Chitafusa's 14th century account of Emperor Yōzei's reign, the emperor is described as possessing a "violent disposition" and unfit to be a ruler. In the end, when Fujiwara no Mototsune, who was ''Sesshō'' (regent for the child-emperor, 876-880), ''Kampaku'' (chief advisor or first secretary for the emperor, 880-890), and ''Daijō Daijin'' (Great Minister of the Council of State), decided that Yōzei should be removed from the throne, he discovered that there was general agreement amongst the ''kuge'' that this was a correct and necessary decision.[14]
Yōzei reigned for eight years until being deposed in 884; and he lived in retirement until the age of 81.[14]
Yōzei was succeeded by his father's uncle, Emperor Kōkō; and in the reign of Kōkō's son, Emperor Uda, the madness re-visited the tormented former emperor:
★
★ '''Kanpyō 1''', in the 10th month 899): The former emperor Yōzei was newly attacked by the mental illness. Yōzei would enter the palace and address courtiers he would meet with the greatest rudeness. He became increasingly furious. He garroted women with the strings of musical instruments and then threw the bodies into a lake. While riding on horseback, he directed his mount to run over people. Sometimes he simply disappeared into the mountains where he chased wild boars and red deer.[16]
''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.-- ''kugyō'' of Yozei-tennō (in French)
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 Yozei's reign, this apex of the ''Daijō-kan'' included:
★ ''Sesshō'', Fujiwara no Mototsune (藤原基経), 836-891.[17]
★ ''Kampaku'', Fujiwara no Mototsune (藤原基経)
★ ''Daijō-daijin'', Fujiwara no Mototsune.[18]
★ ''Sadaijin'', Minamoto no Tooru (源融)
★ ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Matotsune.[18]
★ ''Udaijin'', Minamoto no Masaru (源多)
Eras of Yōzei''-tennō's reign
The years of Yōzei's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or ''nengō''.[3]
★ ''Jōgan'' (859-877)
★ ''Gangyō'' (877-885)
References
Notes
1. >Titsigh, Isaac. (1834). ''Annales des empereurs du Japon,'' p. 121; Varley, H. Paul, ed. (1980). ''Jinō Shōtōki,'' p. 170.
2. Varley, p. 170.
3. Titsigh, p. 121.
4. Varley, p. 170.
5. Varley, p. 170.
6. Titsingh, p. 122.
7. Titsingh, p. 122; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō Shōtōki,'' 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.]
8. Titsingh, p. 122. [1834 transliteration, pre-Hepburn]
9. Titsingh, p. 122. [1834 transliteration, pre-Hepburn]
10. Titsingh, p. 122.
11. Titsingh, pp. 123-124.
12. Titsingh, p. 124.
13. Titsingh, p. 124
14. Varley, p.171.
15. Varley, p.171.
16. Titsing, p. 127.
17. Brown, p. 288.
18. Brown, P. 288.
19. Brown, P. 288.
20. Titsigh, p. 121.
Further reading
★ Brown, Delmer and Ichiro Ishida, eds. (1979). ''Gukanshō; "The Future and the Past: a translation and study of the 'Gukanshō,' an interpretive history of Japan written in 1219" translated from the Japanese and edited by Delmer M. Brown & Ichirō Ishida.'' 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. --''Two copies of this rare book have now been made available online: (1) from the library of the University of Michigan, digitized January 30, 2007; and (2) from the library of Stanford University, digitized June 23, 2006.'' Click here to read the original text 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 0-86008-128-1
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