Emperor Go-Kameyama

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This Nanboku-chō "sovereign" was named after the 13th century Emperor Kameyama and "go-" (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he may be called the "Later Emperor Kameyama". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this would-be emperor may be identified as "Kameyama, the second," or as "Kameyama II."

Genealogy

He was the second son of Emperor Go-Murakami. His mother was Fujiwara Katsuko ?? (藤原勝子)

Little is known of his empress or other consorts. Imperial Prince Tsuneatsu (恒敦) is believed to be his son.

Events of Go-Kameyama's life

Go-Kameyama acceeded to the throne during the turbulent "Nanboku-chō" period during which rival claimants to the Chrysanthemum Throne gathered supporters around them in what were known as the Northern court and the Southern Court. Go-Kameyama became Emperor in what was called the Southern court when Emperor Chōkei abdicated in 1383. On October 15, 1392, at the insistence of the peace faction amongst his own courtiers, he applied to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu for peace; and he subsequently returned to the capital where he did hand over the Sacred Treasures to his Northern Court rival. In doing so, Go-Kameyama was understood to have abdicated. Since 1911, the Japanese government has declared the southern claimants were actually the rightful emperors because they retained possession of the three sacred treasures, thus converting the emperors of the former Northern court into mere pretenders.

By the conditions of the peace treaty, the Northern Court and the Southern Court were supposed to alternate control of the throne. However, this was thrown out in 1412, and all subsequent emperors came from the family of the former Northern Court rival, the ultimately successful Emperor Go-Komatsu.

Following his abdication, he went into seclusion; but, in 1410, he returned to Yoshino.

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. 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 Go-Kameyama's reign, this apex of the "Daijō-kan included:
* "Sadaijin"
* "Udaijin"
* "Nadaijin"
* "Dainagon"

Eras of Go-Kameyama's reign

The years of Go-Kameyama's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or "nengō".

:"Nanboku-chō" southern court
*Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
** "Kōwa" (1381-1384)
** "Genchū" (1384-1393)

:"Nanboku-chō" northern court
*Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
** "Eitoku" (1381-1384)
** "Shitoku" (1384-1387)
** "Kakei" (1387-1389)
** "Kōō" (1389-1390)
** "Meitoku" (1390-1393)‡

:Post"-Nanboku-chō" reunified court
*Eras merged as "Meitoku" 3 replaced "Genchū" 9 as Go-Kameyama abdicated.
** "Meitoku" (1393-1394)‡

References

* Titsingh, Isaac. (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, ful-text copy of this book (in French)]