Emperor Junna


Emperor Junna was the 53rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Junna reigned from 823 to 833.

Traditional narrative

Junna had six empresses and imperial consorts and 13 imperial sons and daughters. His personal name was Ōtomo.
Junna is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates, in Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, as the location of Junna's mausoleum.

Events of Junna's life

  • 810: After the rebellion of Emperor Heizei, he became the crown prince of Emperor Saga at 25 years of age.
  • 30 May 823 : In the 14th year of Emperor Saga's reign, he abdicated; the succession was received by Junna, Saga's younger brother and Emperor Kanmu's third son.
  • 22 March 833 : In the 10th year of Emperor Junna's reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession was received by his adopted son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Ninmyo is said to have acceded to the throne. After Junna stepped down from the throne, two former Emperors were alive. In this period, Saga was called the Senior Retired Emperor and Junna was known as the Junior Retired Emperor.
  • 11 June 840 (: Former-Emperor Junna died at the age of 55. Following his death, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa maneuvered to have Montoku, rather than the crown prince Tsunesada, put on the throne; Junna's death set the stage for the Fujiwara clan's ascendancy.

    Eras of Junna's reign

The years of Junna's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name.
  • Kōnin
  • ''Tenchō''

    Kugyō

Kugyō 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 would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Junna's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
  • Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu, 825–826.
  • Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Otsugu, 832–843.
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Otsugu, 825–832.
  • Udaijin, Kiyohara no Natsuno, 832–837.
  • Naidaijin
  • Dainagon, Fujiwara no Otsugu, 821–825.
  • Dainagon, Yoshimine no Yasuyo , 828–830.
  • Dainagon, Kiyohara no Natsuno, 828–832
  • Dainagon, Fujiwara no Mimori, 829–838

    Consorts and children

Empress: Imperial Princess Shōshi/Masako, Emperor Saga's daughter
Hi : Imperial Princess Koshi, Emperor Kanmu's daughter
  • First Son: Imperial Prince Tsuneyo
  • First Daughter: Imperial Princess Ujiko, 16th Saiō in Ise Shrine
  • Imperial Princess Yushi
  • Imperial Princess Sadako
Court lady: Princess Otsugu
Nyogō: Nagahara no Motohime
Nyogō: Tachibana no Ujiko, Tachibana no Nagana's daughter
  • Prince
Koui: Fujiwara no Kiyoko, Fujiwara no Nagaoka's daughter
Court lady: Kiyohara no Haruko, Kiyohara no Natsuno's daughter
  • Imperial Princess Meishi
Court lady: Ōnakatomi no Yasuko, Ōnakatomi Fuchiio's daughter
  • Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Yoshisada
Court lady: Ōno no Takako, Ōno no Masao's daughter
  • Imperial Princess Hiroko
Court lady: Tachibana no Funeko, Tachibana no Kiyono's daughter
  • Imperial Princess Takaiko
Court lady: Tajihi no Ikeko, Tajihi no Kadonari's daughter
  • Imperial Princess Tomoko
Unknown lady