Emperor Kameyama


Emperor Kameyama was the 90th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1260 through 1274.

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Tsunehito-shinnō.
He was the 7th son of Emperor Go-Saga
  • Empress : Toin (Fujiwara Saneko) later Kyogoku-in, Toin Saneo's daughter
  • *First daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi
  • *First son: Imperial Prince Tomohito
  • *Second son: Imperial Prince Yohito later Emperor Go-Uda
  • Empress Saionji (Fujiwara) Kishi later Imadegawa-in, Saionji Kinsuke's daughter
  • Court Lady: Konoe Ishi later Shin-yōmeimon'in
  • *Eighth son: Imperial Prince Hirohito
  • *Tenth son: Imperial Prince Tsuguhito
  • Court Lady: Saionji Eiko later Shōkunmon'in
  • Lady-in-waiting: Koga Michiyoshi's daughter
  • *Third Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shokaku
  • Lady-in-waiting: Sanjō Sanehira's daughter
  • *Fourth son: Imperial Prince Priest Ryōjo
  • *Sixth son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōun
  • *Seventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakusei
  • *Fifth daughter: married Kujō Moronori
  • Lady-in-waiting: Fujiwara Saneto's daughter
  • *Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Moriyoshi
  • Lady-in-waiting: Fujiwara Masako, Hosshōji Masahira's daughter
  • *Second daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi – Empress Dowager Shōkeimon'in married Emperor Go-Daigo
  • Lady in waiting: Sochi-Naishi, Taira Tokinaka’s Daughter
  • *Ninth son: Imperial Prince Priest Junjo
  • *Eleventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Jidō
  • *Twentieth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōen
  • Court Lady: Toin Miwako, Toin Saneo's daughter
  • *Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Rishi
  • Court Lady: Nukigawa, Kyogoku temple's banished Priestess
  • *Daughter: married Konoe Iemoto
  • Court Lady: Priest Genkoma's daughter
  • *Son: Imperial Prince Kaneyoshi
  • Court Lady: Fujiwara Hisako, Fujiwara Kagefusa's daughter
  • *Son: Imperial Prince Sadayoshi later Imperial Prince Priest Eiun
  • Court Lady: Sanjo Kinchika’s daughter
  • *son: Imperial Prince Priest Sho'e
  • Court Lady: Ogura Kino’s daughter
  • *son: Imperial Prince Priest In’un 恒雲法親王)

Events of Kameyama's life

In 1258, he became Crown Prince at age 9.
Other names Emperor Kameyama had were:
  • Kongogen – his name as a monk
  • Zenrinji-dono – Literally "Lord Zen-Temple" From the fact that he had a Zen temple in the north wing of his Imperial Villa
  • Madenokō-ji-dono
  • Bun'ō Kōtei
The name Kameyama comes from the location of his tomb.9 January 1260 : In the 14th year of Go-Fukakusa-tennōs reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession was received by his younger brother. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Kameyama is said to have acceded to the throne.
In 1263, during the Kamakura Rebellion, the 6th shōgun, Imperial Prince Munetaka was recalled from Kamakura to be replaced by his son Imperial Prince Koreyasu.
In 1265 a delegation sent by Kublai Khan, ruler of the Mongol Empire, arrived. On its way to Japan, they looted islands. The Mongols invited Japan to submit to the rule of Kublai. The Emperor and the Imperial Court suggested compromise, but they were ignored by the shogun in Kamakura. The Mongol delegation was sent back.
In 1274, abdicating to his son, Emperor Go-Uda, he began his reign as cloistered emperor.
During his time as cloistered emperor, the Mongols invaded the second time. Kameyama personally prayed at the Grand Shrine of Ise. On 15 August 1281, Kameyama-Jokō asked for Amaterasu intervention on behalf of Japan.
However, the Bakufu watched Kameyama with suspicion, and in 1287, encouraged Emperor Go-Uda to abdicate, and pushed for the enthronement of Emperor Go-Fukakusa's son, who became Emperor Fushimi. Kameyama's cloistered rule was suspended by this.
Later, Imperial Prince Hisa'aki, Emperor Go-Fukakusa's son, became shōgun strengthening the position of the Jimyōin-tō. This caused Kameyama to become despondent, and in 1289 he entered the priesthood, joining the Zen sect. Because of this, Zen Buddhism slowly penetrated into the Court Nobility.
In 1291, he helped establish the Buddhist temple Nanzen-ji in Kyōto.
In 1305, he died. Emperor Kameyama is enshrined at Kameyama no Misasagi at Tenryū-ji in Kyoto; and this Imperial mausoleum is maintained by the Imperial Household.

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. Even during those years in which the court's actual influence outside the palace walls was minimal, the hierarchic organization persisted.
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 Kameyama's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:Kampaku :

Eras of Kameyama's reign

The years of Kameyama's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.Bun'ō Kōchō