Empress Koken
Encyclopedia
, also known as , was the 46th and the 48th emperor of Japan
respectively, according to the traditional order of succession. Empress Kōken first reigned from 749 to 758, then she reascended the throne as Empress Shōtoku from 765 until her death in 770.
In the history of Japan
, Kōken/Shōtoku was the sixth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The five female monarchs before Kōken/Shōtoku were (a) Suiko
, (b) Kōgyoku/Saimei
, (c) Jitō
, (d) Gemmei
, and (e) Genshō
; and the two women sovereigns reigning after Kōken/Shōtoku were (f) Meishō
, and (g) Go-Sakuramachi
.
, and her mother was Empress Kōmyō
.
Empress Kōken is traditionally venerated at her tomb; the Imperial Household Agency
designates , in Nara, Nara
, as the location of Kōken's mausoleum
. The site is publicly accessible.
The years of Shōtoku's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
. Today, she is remembered chiefly for her alleged affair with a Buddhist monk named Dōkyō
(道鏡), a man she honored with titles and power. An oracle from Usa Shrine
, the shrine of the kami in Usa
, is said to have proclaimed that the monk should be made emperor; but when the empress sent to verify the pronouncement, Hachiman decreed that only one of imperial blood should ascend to the throne.
As with the seven other reigning empresses whose successors were most often selected from amongst the males of the paternal imperial bloodline, she was followed on the throne by a male cousin, which is why some conservative scholars argue that the women's reigns were temporary and that male-only succession tradition must be maintained in the 21st century. Empress Gemmei
, who was followed on the throne by her daughter, Empress Genshō
, remains the sole exception to this conventional argument.
in pre-Meiji
eras.
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 Kōken's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The kugyō during Shōtoku's reign included:
Emperor of Japan
The 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...
respectively, according to the traditional order of succession. Empress Kōken first reigned from 749 to 758, then she reascended the throne as Empress Shōtoku from 765 until her death in 770.
In the history of Japan
History of Japan
The history of Japan encompasses the history of the islands of Japan and the Japanese people, spanning the ancient history of the region to the modern history of Japan as a nation state. Following the last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Japanese Archipelago fostered human...
, Kōken/Shōtoku was the sixth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The five female monarchs before Kōken/Shōtoku were (a) Suiko
Empress Suiko
was the 33rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Suiko's reign spanned the years from 593 until her death in 628....
, (b) Kōgyoku/Saimei
Empress Kogyoku
, also known as , was the 35th and 37th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Kōgyoku's reign spanned the years from 642-645. Her reign as Saimei encompassed 655-661...
, (c) Jitō
Empress Jito
was the 41st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697.In the history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The two female monarchs before Jitō were Suiko and Kōgyoku/Saimei...
, (d) Gemmei
Empress Gemmei
, also known as Empress Genmyō, was the 43rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Gemmei's reign spanned the years 707 through 715....
, and (e) Genshō
Empress Gensho
was the 44th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Genshō's reign spanned the years 715 through 724.In the history of Japan, Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The four female monarchs before Genshō were: Suiko, Kōgyoku/Saimei,...
; and the two women sovereigns reigning after Kōken/Shōtoku were (f) Meishō
Empress Meisho
was the 109th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Meishō's reign spanned the years from 1629 to 1643.In the history of Japan, Meishō was the seventh of eight women to become empress regnant. The six female monarchs who reigned before Meishō-tennō were Suiko, ...
, and (g) Go-Sakuramachi
Empress Go-Sakuramachi
was the 117th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sakuramachi's reign spanned the years from 1762 through 1771....
.
Traditional narrative
Empress Kōken's personal name (imina) was . Her father was Emperor ShōmuEmperor Shomu
was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...
, and her mother was Empress Kōmyō
Empress Komyo
was the Nara period consort of Japanese Emperor Shōmu .A member of the Fujiwara clan, her father was Fujiwara no Fuhito and her mother was Agata Inukai no Michiyo . During her life she was also known as Asukabehime 安宿媛, Kōmyōshi 光明子, and Tōsanjō 藤三娘...
.
Empress Kōken is traditionally venerated at her tomb; the Imperial Household Agency
Imperial Household Agency
The is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal...
designates , in Nara, Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, as the location of Kōken's mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
. The site is publicly accessible.
Events of Kōken's life
- August 19, 749 : In the 25th year of Shōmu-tennō 's reign (聖武天皇25年), the emperor died; and the succession (senso) was received by his daughter. Shortly thereafter, Empress Kōken is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).
- 758: She abdicated in favor of a cousin who would become known as Emperor JunninEmperor Junninwas the 47th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Junnin's reign spanned the years 758 to 764.-Traditional narrative:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Ōi-shinnō ....
. The Empress had reigned as Kōken for ten years.
- 764: In the sixth year of Junnin-tennō 's reign, the emperor was deposed by his adoptive mother, and the succession (senso) was received by former-Empress Kōken.
- January 26, 765 : Kōken formally reascended the throne (sokui) as Empress Shōtoku.
- August 28, 770 (: Empress Shōtoku died of smallpoxSmallpoxSmallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
at age 57, leaving the throne vacant. She was succeeded by her first cousin twice removed, Emperor KōninEmperor Koninwas the 49th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōnin's reign lasted from 770 to 781.-Traditional narrative:The personal name of Emperor Kōnin was given was As a son of Imperial Prince Shiki and a grandson of Emperor Tenji., his formal style was Prince Shirakabe...
. Empress Shōtoku had reigned for five years.
Eras of her reigns
The years of Kōken's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.- Tenpyō-kanpōTenpyo-kanpowas a after Tenpyō and before Tenpyō-shōhō. This period spanned mere months, April through July of 749. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
(749-749) - Tenpyō-shōhōTenpyo-shohowas a after Tenpyō-kanpō and before Tenpyō-hōji. This period spanned the years from July 749 through August 757. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
(749-757) - Tenpyō-hōjiTenpyo-hojiwas a after Tenpyō-shōhō and before Tenpyō-jingo. This period spanned the years from August 757 through January 765. The reigning empress was .-Change of era:* 757 ): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(757-765)
The years of Shōtoku's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
- Tenpyō-hōji (757-765)
- Tenpyō-jingoTenpyo-jingowas a after Tenpyō-hōji and before Jingo-keiun. This period spanned the years from January 765 through August 767. The reigning empress was . This was the same woman who had reigned previously as the former .-Change of era:...
(765-767) - Jingo-keiunJingo-keiunwas a after Tenpyō-jingo and before Hōki. This period spanned the years from August 767 through October 770. The reigning empress was . This was the same woman who had reigned previously as the former .-Change of era:...
(767-770)
Legacy
Empress Shōtoku's reign was exceedingly turbulent, and she survived coup attempts by both Tachibana Naramaro and Fujiwara no NakamaroFujiwara no Nakamaro
, later also given the name of by Emperor Kōnin, was an aristocrat and poet of Nara period in Japan. His father was Fujiwara no Muchimaro, founder of Nanke lineage of Fujiwara clan....
. Today, she is remembered chiefly for her alleged affair with a Buddhist monk named Dōkyō
Dokyo
was a Nara Period Japanese monk of the Dharma character school. As he was born in the family of Yuge, in the lineage of the Mononobe clan, Dōkyō was also known as . He was the brother of Yuge no Kiyoto.-Background:...
(道鏡), a man she honored with titles and power. An oracle from Usa Shrine
Usa Shrine
, also known as , is a Shinto shrine in the city of Usa in Ōita Prefecture in Japan. Emperor Ojin, who was deified as Hachiman-jin , is said to be enshrined in all the sites dedicated to him; and the first and earliest of these was at Usa in the early 8th century...
, the shrine of the kami in Usa
Usa, Oita
' is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. Usa is famous for being the location of the Usa Shrine, built in 725, the head shrine of all of Hachiman shrines in Japan.Usa is made up of three areas.*Usa, the area surrounding the Usa Shrine...
, is said to have proclaimed that the monk should be made emperor; but when the empress sent to verify the pronouncement, Hachiman decreed that only one of imperial blood should ascend to the throne.
As with the seven other reigning empresses whose successors were most often selected from amongst the males of the paternal imperial bloodline, she was followed on the throne by a male cousin, which is why some conservative scholars argue that the women's reigns were temporary and that male-only succession tradition must be maintained in the 21st century. Empress Gemmei
Empress Gemmei
, also known as Empress Genmyō, was the 43rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Gemmei's reign spanned the years 707 through 715....
, who was followed on the throne by her daughter, Empress Genshō
Empress Gensho
was the 44th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Genshō's reign spanned the years 715 through 724.In the history of Japan, Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The four female monarchs before Genshō were: Suiko, Kōgyoku/Saimei,...
, remains the sole exception to this conventional argument.
Kugyō
is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of JapanEmperor of Japan
The 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...
in pre-Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
eras.
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 Kōken's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- TaihōTaihoTaihō or Taiho can refer to:* Taihō , a Japanese name for the years 701–704* Taihō Code, a reorganization of the Japanese government at the end of the Asuka period.* Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō...
, Emi no Oshikatsu (formerly Fujiwara Nakamaro). - Daijō-daijin
- SadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Sadaijin in the context of a central...
, Tachibana no Moroe (formerly Katsuragi-ō, Prince Katsuragi) (half brother of Empress KōmyōEmpress Komyowas the Nara period consort of Japanese Emperor Shōmu .A member of the Fujiwara clan, her father was Fujiwara no Fuhito and her mother was Agata Inukai no Michiyo . During her life she was also known as Asukabehime 安宿媛, Kōmyōshi 光明子, and Tōsanjō 藤三娘...
). - UdaijinUdaijinUdaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Udaijin in the context of a central...
, Fujiwara no ToyonariFujiwara no Toyonariwas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period.-Career:Toyonari served as a minister during the reigns of Emperor Shōmu, Empress Kōken, Emperor Junnin and Empress Shōtoku....
(first son of Fujiwara no MuchimaroFujiwara no Muchimarowas a Japanese politician of the Asuka and Nara periods. The eldest son of Fujiwara no Fuhito, he founded Nanke , one of the principal kuge families led by the Fujiwara's. His mother was Soga no Shōsi, daughter of Soga no Murajiko...
). - Udaijin, Fujiwara no NakamaroFujiwara no Nakamaro, later also given the name of by Emperor Kōnin, was an aristocrat and poet of Nara period in Japan. His father was Fujiwara no Muchimaro, founder of Nanke lineage of Fujiwara clan....
(second son of Fujiwara no Muchimaro). - Nadaijin
- DainagonDainagonwas a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
The kugyō during Shōtoku's reign included:
- Daijō-daiji, Dōkyō.
- Sadaijin
- Udaijin, Kibi Makibi.
- Nadaijin
- Dainagon, Fujiwara Matate.
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...
- Japanese empressesJapanese empressesIn Japan, empress may refer to either or .- Empresses regnant :There were eight female imperial reigns in Japan's early history between 593 and 770, and two more in the early modern period...