Emperor Kazan Totally Explained

Everything about Emperor Kazan totally explained

Emperor Kazan (花山天皇 Kazan-tennō) (October 26, 968–February 8, 1008) was the 65th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He ruled from 984 to 986.

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Morosada-shinnō (師貞親王).
Morasada was the eldest son of Emperor Reizei. The prince's mother was Fujiwara no Kaneko/Kaishi (藤原懐子), who was a daughter of sesshō Fujiwara no Koretada. Morasada was also was the brother of Emperor Sanjō.

Consorts and Children

Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Shishi (藤原忯子) (969-985), daughter of Fujiwara no Tamemitsu (藤原為光) Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Teishi (藤原諟子) (?-1035), daughter of Fujiwara no Yoritada (藤原頼忠) Nyōgo: Fujiwara no Chōshi (藤原姚子) (971-989), daughter of Fujiwara no Asateru (藤原朝光)
Court lady: A daughter of Taira no Sukeyuki (平祐之の娘), Nakatsukasa (中務) - Nurse of Emperor Kazan

Imperial Prince Kiyohito (清仁親王) (ca.998-1030) - Ancestor of Shirakawa family (白川家)
princess (?-1008)
princess (?-1008)

Taira no Heishi (平平子), daughter of Taira no suketada (平祐忠) and Nakatsukasa (中務)

Imperial Prince Akinori (昭登親王) (998-1035)

princess (?-1008)

princess (?-1025), a lady-in-waiting to Fujiwara no Shoshi (Empress consort of Emperor Ichijō) Fujiwara no Genshi (藤原厳子) (?-1016), daughter of Fujiwara no Tamemitsu (藤原為光); later, concubine of Fujiwara no Michinaga (藤原道長) (from unknown women)

Kakugen (覚源) (1000-1065), a bonze (Gon-no-Sōjō, 権僧正)

Shinkan (深観) (1001-1050), a bonze (Gon-no-Daisōzu, 権大僧都)

Events of Kazan's life

Morasada was seventeen years of age at the time of the succession.

Eikan 1, on the 27th day of the 8th month (984): In the 15th year of Emperor En'yu's reign (円融天皇15年), he abdicated; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by a nephew. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Kazan is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). He commissioned the Shūi Wakashū.

Kanna 1, in the 4th month (985): Fujiwara no Tokiakira and his brother, Yasusuke, contended with Fujiwara no Sukitaka and Ōe-no Masahira in a swordfight in Kyoto. Masahira lost the fingers of his left hand. The two brothers fled; and after careful searching, Tokiakira was eventually located in Ōmi Province.

Kanna 2, on the 16th day of the 7th month (986): Iyasada-shinnō was appointed as heir and crown prince at age 11. This followed the convention that two imperial lineages took the throne in turn, although Emperor Ichijō was in fact Iyasada's junior. He thus gained the nickname Sakasa-no moke-no kimi (the imperial heir in reverse). When Emperor Kanzan abandoned the world for holy orders, one grandson of Kaneie ascended to the throne as Emperor Ichijō (the 66th sovereign); and in due course, another grandson would follow on the throne as Emperor Sanjō (the 67th sovereign). Nyūkaku went on various pilgrimages and 're-founded' the Kannon pilgrimage, as a monk to the name of Tokudo Shonin (Some scholars doubt that Kazan, in his unstable mental health wasn't likely to have fonded it, thereby leaving all of the credit to Shonin) had supposedlly already created it. This pilgrimage involved travelling to 33 locations across the eight provinces of the Bando area.
   He was told to visit these 33 sites, in order to bring release from suffering, by Kannon Bosatsu in a vision.
   It is said that the first site of the pilgrimage was the Sugimoto-dera in Kamakura. This site is also the first site on the Kamakura pilgrimage.
   It is suggested by many scholars that the mental health of Kazan, particularly in later life, wasn't stable; and therefore, living as a monk may have caused deteriorating behavior. Daijō-tennō Kazan died at the age of 41 on the 8th day of the 2nd month of the fifth year of Kankō (1008).
   He is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto. The mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Kazan is today named Kinugasa-yama. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Kazan died. These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers (misasagi) which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.

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.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Kazan's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

Kampaku, Fujiwara no Yoritada, 924-989.

Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no Yoritada.

Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Kaneie, 929-990.

Naidaijin (not appointed)

Dainagon

Eras of Kazan's reign

The years of Kazan's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.

Eikan (983-985)

Kanna (985-986)

Further Information

Get more info on 'Emperor Kazan'.

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