Emperor Shōkō

Emperor Shōkō (称光天皇 "Shōkō-tennō") (May 12, 1401 - August 30, 1428) was the 101st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1412 through 1428. [Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). "Annales des empereurs du japon," pp. 327-331.]

Genealogy

His personal name was Mihito (iniitally written as 躬仁, and later written as 実仁).He was the eldest son of Emperor Go-Komatsu. His mother was Hinonishi Motoko (日野西資子), daughter of Hino Sukekuni (日野資国). He had no children of his own, and was succeeded by his third cousin, Emperor Go-Hanazono, great-grandson of the Northern Pretender Emperor Sukō.

The name "Shōkō" (称光) was formed by taking one "kanji" from the names of the 48th and 49th imperial rulers Empress Shōtoku (称徳) and Emperor Kōnin (光仁).

: .................................Empress Shōtoku (称徳) :
: ........................................."Shōkō" (称光) :
: .....................................Emperor Kōnin (光仁)

Events of Shōkō's life

He reigned from October 5 1412 until his death on August 30 1428.

Shōkō became emperor upon the abdication of his father, Go-Komatsu-"tennō" in "Ōei" 18, in the 10th month (October 5, 1412). His actual coronation date was two years later.Titsingh, p. 327.]

The "retired" Go-Komatsu ruled as a Cloistered Emperor during Shōkō's reign.

Shōkō was connected to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and the Hino clan through his mother's side.

Shōkō"-tennō" was only 12 years old when he assumed the role of formal head of the "Daïri"; but "Go-Komatsu"-in" had direction of the court [and] the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi was charged with the general superintendence of affairs."Titsingh, p. 327.]

* "Ōei 18", 10th month (October 5, 1412): Emperor Shōkō became emperor upon the abdication of his father, Emperor Go-Komatsu. His actual coronation date was two years later. Shōkō was only 12 years old when he began living in the daïri; but Go-Komatsu, as a Cloistered Emperor still retained direction of the court and the Shogun was charged with the general superintendence of affairs. [shrine] ]
* "Ōei 20" (1413): Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi fell ill, and so he sent an ambassador to the Ise Shrine to pray for the return of his health. [see above] ]
* "Ōei 21", the 19th day of the 12th month (1414): Enthronement of Emperor Shōkō.
* "Ōei 26", the 26th day of the 6th month (1419): Oei Invasion. Korea invaded Tsushima Province.
* "Ōei 30" (1423): Shogun Yoshimochi retires in favor of his son, Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, who is 17 years old. [Titsingh, p.329.]
* "Ōei 32", on the 27th day of the 2nd month (1425): Shogun Yoshikatsu died at the age of 19 years, having administered the empire for only three years.Titsingh, p. 330.]

* "Shōchō 1", on the 18th day of the 1st month (称光元年; 1428): Shogun Yoshimochi, having taken power again after the death of his son, dies himself at the age of 43. [Titsingh, pp. 330-331.]
* "Shōchō 1", on the 20th day of the 7th month (1428): Shōkō died at he age of 27. [see above] ] :"Nipon o daï itsi ran" explains: "Ce prince, s'occupait de magie et du culte de démons, mens une vie pure, et observa rigoureusement l'abstinence et le jeùne." [This prince, who occupied himself with magic and the cult of demons, led a pure life, and rigorously observed abstinence and fasting.] [Titsingh, p. 330, 366. [http://www.formosa-translation.com/chinese/m/mm19.html] ]

Shōkō had no heirs of his own; and for this reason, Emperor Go-Komatsu selected Shōkō's third cousin for Shōkō to adopt as heir. This cousin would become Emperor Go-Hanazono following Shōkō's death.

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

Eras of Shōkō's reign

The years of Shōkō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or "nengō". [see above] ]
* "Ōei" (1394-1428)
* "Shōchō" (1428-1429)

References

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