Emperor Kōgon
Encyclopedia
Emperor Kōgon (August 1, 1313 – August 5, 1364) was the 1st of Ashikaga Pretenders
during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts
in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1332 through 1334.
He was the third son of Emperor Go-Fushimi
of the Jimyōin line. His mother was Kōgimon'in Neishi (広義門院寧子). He was adopted by his uncle, Emperor Hanazono
.
from October 22, 1331 until July 7, 1333.
Kazuhito-shinnō was named Crown Prince
and heir to Emperor Go-Daigo
of the Daikakuji line in 1326. At this time in Japanese history, by decision of the Kamakura shogunate
, the throne would alternate between the Daikakuji and Jimyōin lines every ten years. However, Go-Daigo did not comply with this negotiated agreement.
In 1331, when Go-Daigo's second attempt to overthrow the shogunate became public, the Shogunate seized him, exiled him to Oki island and enthroned Kōgon on October 22. Emperor Go-Daigo used the 17 petal chrysanthemum mon during his exile. He escaped Oki in 1333, with the help of Nawa Nagatoshi and his family, and raised an army at Funagami Mountain in Hōki Province
(the modern town of Kotoura in Tōhaku District
, Tottori Prefecture
).
Meanwhile, Ashikaga Takauji
(足利 尊氏), the chief general of the Hōjō family, turned against the Hōjō and fought for Emperor Go-Daigo in the hopes of being named shogun. Takauji attacked Hōjō Nakatomi and Hōjō Tokimasu, the Rokuhara Tandai
, or chiefs of the Kamakura shogunate in Kyoto. They both fled to the east, but were captured in Ōmi Province
. On July 7, 1333, Go-Daigo seized the throne from Emperor Kōgon and attempted to re-established Imperial control in what is referred to as the Kemmu Restoration
(1333–1336). Go-Daigo's attempt failed, however, after Ashikaga Takauji
turned against him.
In 1336, Takauji installed Kōgon's younger brother on the throne as Emperor Kōmyō
. Go-Daigo fled to Yoshino
, in Yamato Province
and continued to lay proper claim to the throne, establishing what would come to be known as the Southern Court. Kōmyō's court remained in Kyoto and would come to be known as the Northern Dynasty
. This marked the beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts Period
of Japanese history, which lasted until 1392.
In 1352, taking advantage of a family feud in the Ashikaga clan known as the Kan'ō Disturbance, Emperor Go-Murakami
of the Southern Court entered Kyōto, captured it and carried away Kōgon along with Emperor Kōmyō, Emperor Sukō
and the Crown Prince. Following this, Kōgon was held under house arrest
for the remainder of his life. In his final years, he converted to Zen Buddhism, and died on August 5, 1364.
Northern Court (Japan)
The , also known as the "Ashikaga Pretenders" or "Northern Pretenders", were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392...
during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1332 through 1334.
Genealogy
Before his ascension to the Nanboku-chō throne, his personal name (his imina) was Kazuhito-shinnō (量仁親王).He was the third son of Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi
Emperor Go-Fushimi was the 93rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
of the Jimyōin line. His mother was Kōgimon'in Neishi (広義門院寧子). He was adopted by his uncle, Emperor Hanazono
Emperor Hanazono
Emperor Hanazono was the 95th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
.
- Empress: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (懽子内親王) (First daughter of Emperor Go-DaigoEmperor Go-DaigoEmperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
)- Imperial Princess Mitsuko (光子内親王)
- Consort: Imperial Princess Hisako (寿子内親王) (Daughter of Emperor HanazonoEmperor HanazonoEmperor Hanazono was the 95th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession...
) - Lady-in-waiting: Sanjō Shūshi (三条秀子) Empress Dowager Yōroku (陽禄門院)
- First son: Imperial Prince Okihito (興仁親王) (Emperor SukōEmperor Suko) was the third of Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1348 through 1351.-Genealogy:...
) - Second son: Imperial Prince Iyahito (弥仁親王) (Emperor Go-KōgonEmperor Go-KogonEmperor Go-Kōgon was the 4th of the Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts...
) - Imperial Prince Yoshihito (義仁親王)
- First son: Imperial Prince Okihito (興仁親王) (Emperor Sukō
- Consort: Unknown
- Imperial Prince Sonchō (尊朝親王)
- Egon (恵厳)
Events of Kōgon's life
In his own lifetime, Kōgon and those around him believed that he occupied the Chrysanthemum ThroneChrysanthemum Throne
The is the English term used to identify the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term can refer to very specific seating, such as the takamikura throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace....
from October 22, 1331 until July 7, 1333.
Kazuhito-shinnō was named Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
and heir to Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
of the Daikakuji line in 1326. At this time in Japanese history, by decision of the Kamakura shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
, the throne would alternate between the Daikakuji and Jimyōin lines every ten years. However, Go-Daigo did not comply with this negotiated agreement.
In 1331, when Go-Daigo's second attempt to overthrow the shogunate became public, the Shogunate seized him, exiled him to Oki island and enthroned Kōgon on October 22. Emperor Go-Daigo used the 17 petal chrysanthemum mon during his exile. He escaped Oki in 1333, with the help of Nawa Nagatoshi and his family, and raised an army at Funagami Mountain in Hōki Province
Hoki Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today the western part of Tottori Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Hōki bordered on Inaba, Mimasaka, Bitchū, Bingo, and Izumo Provinces....
(the modern town of Kotoura in Tōhaku District
Tohaku District, Tottori
is a district located in Tottori, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 65,944 and a density of 109.54 persons per km². The total area is 602.02 km².-Towns and villages:*Hokuei*Kotoura*Misasa*Yurihama-Mergers:...
, Tottori Prefecture
Tottori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.- History :Before the Meiji Restoration, Tottori encompassed the old provinces of Hōki and Inaba...
).
Meanwhile, Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
(足利 尊氏), the chief general of the Hōjō family, turned against the Hōjō and fought for Emperor Go-Daigo in the hopes of being named shogun. Takauji attacked Hōjō Nakatomi and Hōjō Tokimasu, the Rokuhara Tandai
Rokuhara Tandai
was the post of the chiefs of the Kamakura shogunate in Kyoto whose agency kept responsibility for security in Kinai and judicial affairs on western Japan, and negotiated with the imperial court. Despite keeping security, they were also a sort of secret police and widely feared.Rokuhara Tandai was...
, or chiefs of the Kamakura shogunate in Kyoto. They both fled to the east, but were captured in Ōmi Province
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
. On July 7, 1333, Go-Daigo seized the throne from Emperor Kōgon and attempted to re-established Imperial control in what is referred to as the Kemmu Restoration
Kemmu restoration
The is the name given to both the three year period of Japanese history between the Kamakura period and the Muromachi period, and the political events that took place in it...
(1333–1336). Go-Daigo's attempt failed, however, after Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
turned against him.
In 1336, Takauji installed Kōgon's younger brother on the throne as Emperor Kōmyō
Emperor Komyo
was the 2nd of the Ashikaga Pretenders, although he was actually the first to be supported by the Ashikaga Bakufu. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1336 through 1348.-Genealogy:...
. Go-Daigo fled to Yoshino
Yoshino
Yoshino may refer to:* Somei Yoshino, a flowering cherry tree Prunus × yedoensis* Japanese cruiser Yoshino- Places :* Yoshino, Nara, a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan...
, in Yamato Province
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
and continued to lay proper claim to the throne, establishing what would come to be known as the Southern Court. Kōmyō's court remained in Kyoto and would come to be known as the Northern Dynasty
Northern Court (Japan)
The , also known as the "Ashikaga Pretenders" or "Northern Pretenders", were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392...
. This marked the beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts Period
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
of Japanese history, which lasted until 1392.
In 1352, taking advantage of a family feud in the Ashikaga clan known as the Kan'ō Disturbance, Emperor Go-Murakami
Emperor Go-Murakami
was the 97th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and a member of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period of rival courts. He reigned from September 18, 1339 until March 29, 1368 . His personal name was...
of the Southern Court entered Kyōto, captured it and carried away Kōgon along with Emperor Kōmyō, Emperor Sukō
Emperor Suko
) was the third of Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1348 through 1351.-Genealogy:...
and the Crown Prince. Following this, Kōgon was held under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
for the remainder of his life. In his final years, he converted to Zen Buddhism, and died on August 5, 1364.
Eras of Kōgon's reign
The years of Kōgon's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- Pre-Naboku-chō period
-
- Genkō (1331–1334)
- KenmuKemmuwas a Japanese era name of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Shōkei and before Ryakuō. Although Kemmu is understood by the Southern Court as having begun at the same time, the era was construed to have begun after Genkō and before Engen.This period spanned the...
(1334–1336)
-
- Naboku-chō Southern court
- Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)'
- ...
- Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)'
- Naboku-chō Northern court
- Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
- ShōkeiShokei (Japanese era)was a brief initial Japanese era of the Northern Court during the Kamakura Period, after Gentoku and before Kemmu, lasting from April 1332 to April 1333...
(1332–1338)
- Shōkei
- Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
See also
- Emperor of JapanEmperor of JapanThe Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
- List of Emperors of Japan
- Imperial cultImperial cultAn imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors , are worshipped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense...
- Emperor Go-KōgonEmperor Go-KogonEmperor Go-Kōgon was the 4th of the Ashikaga Pretenders during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts...