Emperor Go-Toba

Quick Facts: Who was Emperor Go-Toba?

Subject:

Emperor Go-Toba

Known for:

82nd Emperor of Japan; reigned 1183–1198, known for political upheaval.

Born:

1180-08-06

Died:

1239-03-28

Century / Era:

1180s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Emperor Go-Toba (後鳥羽天皇, Go-Toba-tennō; 6 August 1180 – 28 March 1239) was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198. This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and go- (後, lit. "later") and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Toba". The word go has also been translated to mean the "second one"; and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Toba the Second" or as "Toba II".

Career & Major Achievements

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Takahira-shinnō (尊成親王). He was also known as Takanari-shinnō He was the fourth son of Emperor Takakura, and thus grandson of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. His mother was Bōmon Shokushi (坊門殖子, Empress Dowager Shichijō-in, 七条院), daughter of Bōmon Nobutaka (坊門信隆) of the Fujiwara clan. Empress (chūgū): Fujiwara no Ninshi / Takako, later Gishūmon-in (宜秋門院), Kujō Kanezane's daughter First Daughter: Imperial Princess Shōshi, later Shunkamon-in (春華門院, 1195–1211) – unmarried Empress as adopted mother of Emperor Juntoku Consort: Minamoto no Zaishi / Ariko (源在子) later Shomeimon-in (承明門院; 1171–1257), Minamoto no Michichika's adopted daughter and priest Nōen's daughter First Son: Imperial Prince Tamehito (為仁親王) later Emperor Tsuchimikado Consort: Fujiwara no Shigeko (藤原重子) later Shumeimon-in (修明門院; 1182–1264), Takakura Norisue's daughter Third Son: Imperial Prince Morinari (守成親王) later Emperor Juntoku Imperial Prince Masanari (雅成親王, exiled after Jōkyū War) Imperial Prince Priest Sonkai (尊快法親王, 1204–1246) – Head Priest of Enryaku-ji Temple (Tendai Zasu, 天台座主) Court lady: Bōmon no Tsubone (坊門局), Bōmon Nobukiyo's daughter Imperial Prince Nagahito (長仁親王, 1196–1249) later Imperial Prince Priest Dōjo (道助法親王), become 8th Head priest of Ninna-ji Temple Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Reishi (礼子内親王; 1200–1273) later Kayōmon-in (嘉陽門院) Imperial Prince Yorihito (頼仁親王, 1201–1264) (exiled after Jōkyū Incident) Court lady: Hyōe-no-kami no Tsubone (兵衛督局), Minamoto no Nobuyasu's daughter Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Shukushi (粛子内親王; b.1196) (Takatsuji Saigū, 高辻斎宮) – Saiō at Ise Shrine 1199–1210 Court lady: Owari no Tsubone (尾張局, d.1204), priest Kensei's daughter Imperial Prince Dōkaku (道覚法親王; 1204–1250) – Head Priest of Enryaku-ji Temple (Tendai Zasu, 天台座主) Court lady: Ōmiya no Tsubone (大宮局), Fujiwara no Sadayoshi's daughter Imperial Prince Son'en (尊円法親王; 1207–1231) – Head Priest of Miidera Temple Gyōetsu (行超) – priest in Emryakuji Temple Court lady: Shonagon no Suke (少納言典侍) Dōshu (道守) – priest Court lady: Kamegiku (亀菊), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Court lady: Taki (滝; d.1265), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Imperial Prince Kakunin (覚仁法親王; 1198–1266) – Head priest of Onjō-ji Temple Court lady: Tamba no Tsubone (丹波局), Ishi (石), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Imperial Princess Hiroko (煕子内親王, b.1205) – Saiō served at Ise Shrine during the reigns of Emperor Juntoku and Emperor Chūkyō 1215–1221 Court lady: Himehōshi (姫法師), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Kakuyo (覚誉) – priest Dōi (道伊) – priest in Onjō-ji Temple Dōen (道縁) – priest in Ninna-ji Temple Mother Unknown: Son: Prince Ichijo (一条宮, 1201–1213) princess (1202–1207) Go-Toba took the throne at the age of three. 8 September 1183 (Juei 2, 20th day of the 8th month): In the 3rd year of Antoku-tennō's reign (安徳天皇三年), the emperor fled the capital rather than give in to pressures for his abdication.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In Antoku's absence, the cloistered former-Emperor Go-Shirakawa then elevated Antoku's younger brother by decree; and the young child was given the acceptance of abdication (juzen) rites. The anti-Taira faction intended that the succession (senso) was received; and shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Toba is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui). Although these formal rites and ceremonies were taking place in Heian-kyō, the imperial regalia were still held by Antoku. Thus, the senso and sokui of Go-Toba became the first in history to omit the ritual transmission of the sacred treasures from a sovereign to his successor. In 1192 Go-Shirakawa died and the first shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the emperor became a figurehead.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1180 (1180-08-06): Birth of Emperor Go-Toba — 82nd Emperor of Japan; reigned 1183–1198, known for political upheaval.
2. 1183: 1183 Milestone — His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198.
3. 1192: 1192 Milestone — In 1192 Go-Shirakawa died and the first shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the emperor became a figurehead.
4. 1195: 1195 Milestone — Empress (chūgū): Fujiwara no Ninshi / Takako, later Gishūmon-in (宜秋門院), Kujō Kanezane's daughter First Daughter: Imperial Princess Shōshi, later Shunkamon-in (春華門院, 1195–1211) – unmarried Empress as adopted mother of Emperor Juntoku Consort: Minamoto no Zaishi / Ariko (源在子) later Shomeimon-in (承明門院; 1171–1257), Minamoto no Michichika's adopted daughter and priest Nōen's daughter First Son: Imperial Prince Tamehito (為仁親王) later Emperor Tsuchimikado Consort: Fujiwara no Shigeko (藤原重子) later Shumeimon-in (修明門院; 1182–1264), Takakura Norisue's daughter Third Son: Imperial Prince Morinari (守成親王) later Emperor Juntoku Imperial Prince Masanari (雅成親王, exiled after Jōkyū War) Imperial Prince Priest Sonkai (尊快法親王, 1204–1246) – Head Priest of Enryaku-ji Temple (Tendai Zasu, 天台座主) Court lady: Bōmon no Tsubone (坊門局), Bōmon Nobukiyo's daughter Imperial Prince Nagahito (長仁親王, 1196–1249) later Imperial Prince Priest Dōjo (道助法親王), become 8th Head priest of Ninna-ji Temple Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Reishi (礼子内親王; 1200–1273) later Kayōmon-in (嘉陽門院) Imperial Prince Yorihito (頼仁親王, 1201–1264) (exiled after Jōkyū Incident) Court lady: Hyōe-no-kami no Tsubone (兵衛督局), Minamoto no Nobuyasu's daughter Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Shukushi (粛子内親王; b.
5. 1196: 1196 Milestone — 1196) (Takatsuji Saigū, 高辻斎宮) – Saiō at Ise Shrine 1199–1210 Court lady: Owari no Tsubone (尾張局, d.
6. 1204: 1204 Milestone — 1204), priest Kensei's daughter Imperial Prince Dōkaku (道覚法親王; 1204–1250) – Head Priest of Enryaku-ji Temple (Tendai Zasu, 天台座主) Court lady: Ōmiya no Tsubone (大宮局), Fujiwara no Sadayoshi's daughter Imperial Prince Son'en (尊円法親王; 1207–1231) – Head Priest of Miidera Temple Gyōetsu (行超) – priest in Emryakuji Temple Court lady: Shonagon no Suke (少納言典侍) Dōshu (道守) – priest Court lady: Kamegiku (亀菊), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Court lady: Taki (滝; d.
7. 1205: 1205 Milestone — 1205) – Saiō served at Ise Shrine during the reigns of Emperor Juntoku and Emperor Chūkyō 1215–1221 Court lady: Himehōshi (姫法師), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Kakuyo (覚誉) – priest Dōi (道伊) – priest in Onjō-ji Temple Dōen (道縁) – priest in Ninna-ji Temple Mother Unknown: Son: Prince Ichijo (一条宮, 1201–1213) princess (1202–1207) Go-Toba took the throne at the age of three.
8. 1239 (1239-03-28): Passing & Historical Legacy — Emperor Go-Toba passed away on 1239-03-28, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
9. 1265: 1265 Milestone — 1265), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Imperial Prince Kakunin (覚仁法親王; 1198–1266) – Head priest of Onjō-ji Temple Court lady: Tamba no Tsubone (丹波局), Ishi (石), a dancer (Shirabyōshi) Imperial Princess Hiroko (煕子内親王, b.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Emperor Go-Toba

True or False: “Did Go-Toba's initial accession to the throne in 1183 involve the formal ritual transmission of sacred imperial regalia?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): No, his succession was historically notable because it became the first recorded instance where the ritual transmission of sacred treasures was omitted.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Emperor Go-Toba