Emperor Go-Mizunoo

Quick Facts: Who was Emperor Go-Mizunoo?

Subject:

Emperor Go-Mizunoo

Known for:

The 108th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the early Edo period (1611–1629).

Born:

1596-06-29

Died:

1680-09-11

Century / Era:

1596s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Emperor Go-Mizunoo (後水尾天皇, Gomizunō Tennō; [ɡo̞mʲizɨno̞ː tẽ̞nːo̞ː]) (29 June 1596 - 11 September 1680), personal name Kotohito (Japanese: 政仁; IPA: [ko̞to̞çito̞], was the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629, and he was the first emperor to reign entirely during the Edo period. This 17th-century sovereign was named after the 9th-century Emperor Seiwa, sometimes posthumously referred to as Mizunoo (水尾) because this is the location of his tomb, while go translates as "later", and thus, he could be called the "Later Emperor Mizunoo". The Japanese word go has also been translated to mean the "second one", and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Mizunoo, the second" or "Mizunoo II". Before Go-Mizunoo's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Kotohito (政仁) or Masahito.

Career & Major Achievements

He was the third son of Emperor Go-Yōzei and his consort, Konoe Sakiko. Prince Kotohito had 11 full siblings (7 sisters and 4 brothers). He resided together with concubines in the Kyoto Imperial Palace. He had 33 children with his empress consort and 6 concubines. Consort and issue(s): Empress (Chūgū): Tokugawa Masako (徳川和子, 23 November 1607 – 2 August 1678), later known as Tōfuku-mon'in (東福門院), daughter of Tokugawa Hidetata and Lady Oeyo Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Okiko (興子内親王, 9 January 1624 – 4 December 1696), later Empress Meishō Third Daughter: Princess Onna-ni (女二宮, 14 October 1625 – 2 July 1651), Legal Wife of Konoe Hisatsugu Second Son: Prince Sukehito (高仁親王, 31 December 1626 – 11 July 1628) Third Son: Prince Waka (若宮, b.1628) Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko (女三宮昭子内親王, 13 October 1629 — 18 June 1675) Sixth Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (女五宮賀子内親王, 21 July 1632 – 2 August 1696) married Nijō Mitsuhira Seventh Daughter: Princess Kiku (菊宮, 1633–1634) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Yotsutsuji Yotsuko (四辻与津子, d.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

9 January 1639), later known as Meikyō'in (明鏡院), was the daughter of Yotsutsuji Kinto (四辻公遠) First Son: Prince Kamo (賀茂宮, 21 November 1618 – 4 November 1622) First Daughter: Princess Bunchi (文智女王, 30 July 1619 – 4 February 1697 ), Wife of Takatsukasa Norihira Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Sono (Fujiwara) Mitsuko (園光子) 1602– 6 March 1656, later known as Mibu'in (壬生院), Sadaijin, was the daughter of Sono Mototada (園基任) Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tsuguhito (紹仁親王, 20 April 1633 – 30 October 1654), later Emperor Go-Kōmyō Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Syuchō (守澄法親王, 3 September 1634 – 12 June 1680), abbot of Kan'ei-ji in Ueno Tenth Daughter: Princess Gensho (元昌女王, 1637–1662) Eleventh Daughter: Princess Sōchō (宗澄女王, 12 March 1639 – 27 March 1678) Thirteenth Daughter: Princess Katsura (桂宮, 1641–1644) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Kushige (Fujiwara) Takako (1604– 23 June 1685; 櫛笥隆子) later Hōshunmon-in (逢春門院), daughter of Kushige Takachika( 櫛笥隆致) Fifth Daughter: Princess Risho (理昌女王, 1631–1656) Fifth Son: Unnamed Prince (b.1633) Eight Daughter: Imperial Princess Ake-no-miya Teruko (光子内親王, 25 July 1634 – 18 November 1727) Eight Son: Imperial Prince Nagahito (秀宮良仁親王, 1 January 1638 – 22 March 1685), later Emperor Go-Sai Ninth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shosin (性真法親王; 1639 – 1696) Twelfth Daughter: Princess Masa (摩佐; 1640–1641) Fourteenth Daughter: Princess Richu (理忠女王; 1641 – 1689) Eleventh Son: Imperial Prince Hachijō-no-miya Yasuhito (八条宮穏仁親王, 15 June 1643 – 9 November 1665) Thirteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkan (道寛法親王; 1647–1676) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Sono (Fujiwara) Kuniko (1624 – 3 August 1677; 園国子) later Shin-Kogimon-in (新広義門院), daughter of Sono Motonari (園基音) Tenth Son: Prince Priest Gyojo (堯恕法親王; 29 November 1640 – 28 May 1695) Fifteenth Daughter: Imperial Princess Tsuneko (常子内親王; 8 April 1642 – 17 September 1702) Fourteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shinmu (眞敬法親王; 1649–1706) Sixteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonshoho (尊証法親王; 31 March 1651 – 1 December 1694) Nineteenth Son: Imperial Prince Satohito (高貴宮識仁親王, 9 July 1654 – 24 September 1732), later Emperor Reigen Seventeenth Daughter: Princess Eikyo (永享女王; 1657–1686). Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Yotsutsuji Tsuguko (四辻継子; d.13 August 1657), daughter of Yotsutsuji Suetsugu (四辻季継) Twelfth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonko (尊光法親王; 1645 – 1680) Eighteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Seiin (盛胤法親王; 1651 – 1680) Sixteenth Daughter: Princess Bunsatsu (文察女王; 1654 – 1683) Court Lady (Miyahito): Minase Ujiko (水無瀬氏子; 1607– 16 June 1672), daughter of Minase Ujinori (水無瀬氏成) Ninth Daughter: Princess Shin (新宮; 1635–1637) Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shojo (性承法親王; 1637 – 1678) Prince Masahito became emperor following the abdication of his emperor-father. The succession (the senso) was considered to have been received by the new monarch; and shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Mizunoo is said to have acceded (the sokui). A distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami. The events during Go-Mizunoo's lifetime shed some light on his reign.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1596 (1596-06-29): Birth of Emperor Go-Mizunoo — The 108th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the early Edo period (1611–1629).
2. 1607: 1607 Milestone — Consort and issue(s): Empress (Chūgū): Tokugawa Masako (徳川和子, 23 November 1607 – 2 August 1678), later known as Tōfuku-mon'in (東福門院), daughter of Tokugawa Hidetata and Lady Oeyo Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Okiko (興子内親王, 9 January 1624 – 4 December 1696), later Empress Meishō Third Daughter: Princess Onna-ni (女二宮, 14 October 1625 – 2 July 1651), Legal Wife of Konoe Hisatsugu Second Son: Prince Sukehito (高仁親王, 31 December 1626 – 11 July 1628) Third Son: Prince Waka (若宮, b.
3. 1611: 1611 Milestone — Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629, and he was the first emperor to reign entirely during the Edo period.
4. 1628: 1628 Milestone — 1628) Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko (女三宮昭子内親王, 13 October 1629 — 18 June 1675) Sixth Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (女五宮賀子内親王, 21 July 1632 – 2 August 1696) married Nijō Mitsuhira Seventh Daughter: Princess Kiku (菊宮, 1633–1634) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Yotsutsuji Yotsuko (四辻与津子, d.
5. 1633: 1633 Milestone — 1633) Eight Daughter: Imperial Princess Ake-no-miya Teruko (光子内親王, 25 July 1634 – 18 November 1727) Eight Son: Imperial Prince Nagahito (秀宮良仁親王, 1 January 1638 – 22 March 1685), later Emperor Go-Sai Ninth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shosin (性真法親王; 1639 – 1696) Twelfth Daughter: Princess Masa (摩佐; 1640–1641) Fourteenth Daughter: Princess Richu (理忠女王; 1641 – 1689) Eleventh Son: Imperial Prince Hachijō-no-miya Yasuhito (八条宮穏仁親王, 15 June 1643 – 9 November 1665) Thirteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkan (道寛法親王; 1647–1676) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Sono (Fujiwara) Kuniko (1624 – 3 August 1677; 園国子) later Shin-Kogimon-in (新広義門院), daughter of Sono Motonari (園基音) Tenth Son: Prince Priest Gyojo (堯恕法親王; 29 November 1640 – 28 May 1695) Fifteenth Daughter: Imperial Princess Tsuneko (常子内親王; 8 April 1642 – 17 September 1702) Fourteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shinmu (眞敬法親王; 1649–1706) Sixteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonshoho (尊証法親王; 31 March 1651 – 1 December 1694) Nineteenth Son: Imperial Prince Satohito (高貴宮識仁親王, 9 July 1654 – 24 September 1732), later Emperor Reigen Seventeenth Daughter: Princess Eikyo (永享女王; 1657–1686).
6. 1639: 1639 Milestone — 9 January 1639), later known as Meikyō'in (明鏡院), was the daughter of Yotsutsuji Kinto (四辻公遠) First Son: Prince Kamo (賀茂宮, 21 November 1618 – 4 November 1622) First Daughter: Princess Bunchi (文智女王, 30 July 1619 – 4 February 1697 ), Wife of Takatsukasa Norihira Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Sono (Fujiwara) Mitsuko (園光子) 1602– 6 March 1656, later known as Mibu'in (壬生院), Sadaijin, was the daughter of Sono Mototada (園基任) Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tsuguhito (紹仁親王, 20 April 1633 – 30 October 1654), later Emperor Go-Kōmyō Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Syuchō (守澄法親王, 3 September 1634 – 12 June 1680), abbot of Kan'ei-ji in Ueno Tenth Daughter: Princess Gensho (元昌女王, 1637–1662) Eleventh Daughter: Princess Sōchō (宗澄女王, 12 March 1639 – 27 March 1678) Thirteenth Daughter: Princess Katsura (桂宮, 1641–1644) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Kushige (Fujiwara) Takako (1604– 23 June 1685; 櫛笥隆子) later Hōshunmon-in (逢春門院), daughter of Kushige Takachika( 櫛笥隆致) Fifth Daughter: Princess Risho (理昌女王, 1631–1656) Fifth Son: Unnamed Prince (b.
7. 1657: 1657 Milestone — 13 August 1657), daughter of Yotsutsuji Suetsugu (四辻季継) Twelfth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonko (尊光法親王; 1645 – 1680) Eighteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Seiin (盛胤法親王; 1651 – 1680) Sixteenth Daughter: Princess Bunsatsu (文察女王; 1654 – 1683) Court Lady (Miyahito): Minase Ujiko (水無瀬氏子; 1607– 16 June 1672), daughter of Minase Ujinori (水無瀬氏成) Ninth Daughter: Princess Shin (新宮; 1635–1637) Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shojo (性承法親王; 1637 – 1678) Prince Masahito became emperor following the abdication of his emperor-father.
8. 1680 (1680-09-11): Passing & Historical Legacy — Emperor Go-Mizunoo passed away on 1680-09-11, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Emperor Go-Mizunoo

True or False: “Emperor Go-Mizunoo was the first emperor to reign entirely during the Edo period.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While his reign spanned into the early Edo period, he did not begin his entire life or reign solely within its established timeframe.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Emperor Go-Mizunoo