Princess Yoshiko (1779-1846)

as a nun in her later life.

Lineage

* Father: Emperor Go-Momozono
* Mother: Konoe Koreko, daughter of Konoe Uchisaki
* Husband and adopted brother: Emperor Kōkaku - Yoshiko's second cousin twice removed in the biological male line
* Children: Prince Masuhito and Prince Toshihito

Biography

Yoshiko's father, Emperor Go-Momozono, died without a son when she was nine months old. To avoid dynastic interregnum, Retired Empress Go-Sakuramachi and her chief adviser had the dying Emperor adopt Prince Morohito, whose biological father was Prince Sukehito, the second Prince Kan'in. Morohito, who would be known as Emperor Kōkaku later, acceded to the throne at age 8 upon his adopted father's death.

Retired Empress Go-Sakuramachi engaged Yoshiko to the new Emperor. Yoshiko formally became Empress consort to Emperor Kōkaku at age 15. She bore two sons, both of whom died in infancy. She was bestowed the title of Empress Dowager in 1820. She became a Buddhist nun after Emperor Kōkaku's death, and often traveled around Kyoto.

Yoshiko died at age 67 and was buried in Nochi-no-Tsukinowa-no-Misasagi alongside with her husband.

References

* "Rekidai Kōgō Jimbutsu Keifu Sōfu", Shin-Jinbutsuoraisha, 2002, ISBN 440403024X
* Satoru Fujita, "Bakumatsu no Tennō", Kodansha, 1994, ISBN 4062580268