Prince Fushimi Yoshihito


Prince Fushimi Yoshihito was a member of the Japanese imperial family during the Northern and Southern Courts period. He was the eldest son of Emperor Sukō and the founder of the Fushimi-no-miya branch of the imperial family.

Biography

Fushimi was born to Emperor Sukō and a lady-in-waiting in 1352, the first year of the emperor's reign. In 1368, the 23rd year of the Shōhei era, he was named Imperial Prince Yoshihitō. Fushimi underwent a coming-of-age ceremony in November 1375 and received the title of Nihon, the second-highest rank for a prince.
Sukō hoped that Yoshihito, the first prince of the Jimyoin imperial line, would succeed him as emperor. However, at the time, the Japanese imperial house was separated into several branches, including Sukō's Northern Court line and another line led by his younger brother Emperor Go-Kōgon. It was thus difficult for Yoshihito to become the undisputed emperor of Japan.
After the abdicated Sukō died in 1398, Imperial Prince Yoshihito lost his most powerful political supporter and joined the priesthood in May 1398.
In 1416, Prince Yoshihito began to suffer from illness. His fellow priests attempted to cure him with several Buddhist rituals, none of which were successful. Buddhists were brought in to deliver an unsuccessful healing incantation as well. Yoshihito died on 9 December 1416. The senior monks at Daikōmyōji made incense offerings on his behalf. The prince's body was cremated four days later.
Yoshihito's posthumous Buddhist name was Daitsuin.

Genealogy

Parents
  • Father: Emperor Sukō
  • Mother: Niwata Motoko, Niwata Shigemoto's daughter
Consort and issue:
  • Consort : Sanjō Haruko, later known as Nishi-no-Kata, daughter of Sanjō Mitsuji
  • * Son: Prince Fushimi Haruhitō
  • * Son: Prince Fushimi Sadafusa, father of Emperor Go-Hanazono
  • Wife : Lady Hojūan, daughter of Sanjō Sanane
  • * Son: Prince Nōkin
  • * Daughter: Unnamed Princess
  • Wife : Okata no Azuma, daughter of Sanjō Sanetsugu
  • * Son: Prince Megumi
  • * Son: Unnamed Prince
  • * Son: Unnamed Prince
  • Wife : Rō-no-Kata, daughter of Hinonishi Sukekuni
  • * Son: Lord Shiinōji
  • Wife : Unknown
  • * Son: Prince Hongin