Emperor Montoku


Emperor Montoku was the 55th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Montoku's reign lasted from 850 to 858.

Traditional narrative

Before Montoku's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Michiyasu. He was also known as Tamura-no-mikado or Tamura-tei.
He was the eldest son of Emperor Ninmyō. His mother was Empress Dowager Fujiwara no Junshi, daughter of the minister of the left, Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu.
Montoku had six Imperial consorts and 29 Imperial children.

Events of Montoku's life

  • 6 May 850 : In the 17th year of Ninmyō-tennōs reign, the emperor died; and his eldest son received the succession.
  • 850 : Emperor Montoku formally acceded to the throne.
  • 850 : The widow of Emperor Saga, who was also the mother of Emperor Ninmyō and the grandmother of Emperor Montoku, died. This very devout Buddhist had founded a temple called Danrin-ji on the site of present-day Tenryū-ji – more formally known as Tenryū Shiseizen-ji, located in what is now Susukinobaba-chō, Ukyō Ward in Kyoto, Before her death, the former empress had been known by the honorific title, Danrin-kōgō ; and she had been honored as if she were a saint.
  • 850 : The emperor named Korehito-shinnō, the 4th son of Emperor Montoku as his heir. This 9-month-old baby was also the grandson of udaijin Fujiwara no Yoshifusa.
  • 853 : The emperor visited the home of udaijin Yoshifusa, the grandfather of his designated heir.
  • 11 July 854 : The sadaijin Minamoto no Tokiwa, also known as Minamoto no Tsune, died at age 43.
  • 855 : The Emishi organized a rebellion; and in response, a force of 1,000 men and provisions were sent to the north.
  • 855 : The head of the great statute of Buddha in the Tōdai-ji fell off; and in consequence, the emperor ordered the then dainagon Fujiwara no Yoshisuke, the brother of sadaijin Yoshifusa, to be in charge of gathering the gifts of the pious from throughout the empire to make another head for the Daibutsu.
Events during his reign included the repression of insurrections among the Ebisu people in Mutsu Province in 855, and among the people of the island of Tsushima two years later.
The actual site of Montoku's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine at Kyoto.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Montoku's mausoleum. It is formally named Tamura no misasagi.

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 Montoku's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
  • Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa　, 804–872.
  • Sadaijin, Minamoto no Tokiwa　, 812–854.
  • Sadaijin, Minamoto no Makoto　, 810–868.
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa　, 804–872.
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Yoshimi　, 813–867.
  • Naidaijin
  • ''Dainagon''

    Eras of Montoku's reign

The years of Montoku's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
  • Kashō
  • Ninju
  • Saikō
  • ''Ten'an''

    Consorts and children

  • Consort : Fujiwara no Akirakeiko, also known as Somedono-no-Kisaki, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa's daughter.
  • *Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Korehito later Emperor Seiwa
  • *Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Gishi, 6th Saiin in Kamo Shrine 859–876
  • Consort : Fujiwara no Koshi/Furuko, Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu's daughter
  • Consort : Fujiwara no Takakiko, Fujiwara no Yoshimi's daughter
  • Consort : Princess Azumako
  • Consort : Fujiwara no Nenshi/Toshiko
  • Consort : Fujiwara no Koreko
  • Consort : Tachibana no Fusako, Tachibana no Ujikimi's daughter
  • Consort : Tachibana no Chushi, Tachibana no Ujikimi's daughter
  • Consort : Ki no Shizuko, Ki no Natora's daughter
  • *First Son: Imperial Prince Koretaka
  • *Second son: Imperial Prince Koreeda
  • *Imperial Princess Tenshi, 20th Saiō in Ise Shrine 859–876
  • *Fifth daughter: Imperial Princess Jutsushi, 5th Saiin in Kamo Shrine 857–858
  • *Imperial Princess Chinshi
  • Court lady: Shigeno no Okuko, Shigeno no Sadanushi's daughter
  • *Third Son: Imperial Prince Korehiko
  • *Imperial Princess Nōshi
  • *Imperial Princess Shōshi
  • Court lady: Fujiwara no Konshi/Imako, Fujiwara no Sadamori's daughter
  • *Imperial Prince Koretsune
  • *Imperial Princess Reishi
  • *Seventh Daughter: Imperial Princess Keishi, 22nd Saiō in Ise Shrine 882–884
  • Court lady: Fujiwara no Retsushi, Fujiwara no Koreo's daughter
  • *First Daughter: Imperial Princess Anshi, 19th Saiō in Ise Shrine 850–858
  • *Eighth Daughter: Imperial Princess Akirakeiko, 4th Saiin in Kamo Shrine 850–857
  • Court lady: Shigeno no Mineko, Shigeno no Sadao's daughter
  • *Minamoto no Motoari
  • *Minamoto no Noriari
  • *Minamoto no Fuchiko/Shigeko
  • Court lady: Tomo clan's daughter
  • *Minamoto no Yoshiari, Udaijin 896–897
  • Court lady: Fuse clan's daughter
  • *Minamoto no Yukiari
  • Court lady: Tajihi clan's daughter
  • *Minamoto no Tsuneari
  • Court lady: Kiyohara clan's daughter
  • *Minamoto no Tokiari
  • Court lady: Sugawara clan's daughter
  • *Minamoto no Sadaari
  • *Minamoto no Tomiko
*
  • *Minamoto no Tomiari
  • *Minamoto no Hyōshi
  • *Minamoto no Kenshi
  • *Minamoto no Okuko
  • *Minamoto no Retsushi
  • *Minamoto no Seishi, married to Emperor Seiwa
  • *Minamoto no ''Shuko''

    Ancestry