Emperor Go-Yōzei

Quick Facts: Who was Emperor Go-Yōzei?

Subject:

Emperor Go-Yōzei

Known for:

The 107th Emperor of Japan whose reign spanned the transition from Azuchi–Momoyama to Edo.

Born:

1571-12-31

Died:

1617-09-25

Century / Era:

1571s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Emperor Go-Yōzei (後陽成天皇, Go-Yōzei-tennō; Japanese pronunciation: [ɡo̞jo̞ːze̞ː tẽ̞nːo̞ː]) (December 31, 1571 – September 25, 1617) was the 107th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Go-Yōzei's reign spanned the years 1586 through to his abdication in 1611, corresponding to the transition between the Azuchi–Momoyama period and the Edo period. This 16th-century sovereign was named after the 9th-century Emperor Yōzei, and go- (後), translates as later, and thus, he could be called the "Later Emperor Yōzei". The Japanese word go has also been translated to mean the second one, and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Yōzei, the second", or as "Yōzei II". Before Go-Yōzei's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Katahito (周仁) or Kazuhito (和仁).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was the eldest son of Prince Masahito (誠仁親王, Masahito-shinnō; 1552–1586), also known as Prince Sanehito and posthumously named Yōkwōin daijō-tennō, who was the eldest son of Emperor Ōgimachi. His mother was a lady-in-waiting. Go-Yōzei's Imperial family lived with him in the Imperial Palace. The family included at least 35 children. Consort and issue(s): Empress (Nyōgo): Fujiwara (Konoe) Sakiko (藤原近衛 前子)(1575 – 11 August 1630), later Chukamonin (中和門院), daughter of Konoe Sakihisa (近衛 前久) First Daughter: Princess Shōkō (聖興女王; 1590–1594) Second Daughter: Princess Ryūtōin (龍登院宮; 1592–1600) Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Seishi (清子内親王; 1593–1674), married Takatsukasa Nobuhisa Fourth Daughter: Princess Bunkō (文高女王; 1595–1644) Third Son: Imperial Prince Kotohito (政仁親王, 29 June 1596 – 11 September 1680), later Emperor Go-Mizunoo Fifth Daughter: Princess Son'ei (尊英女王; 1598–1611) Fourth Son: Konoe Nobuhiro (近衛 信尋, 24 June 1599 – 15 November 1649) Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Takamatsu-no-miya Yoshihito(29 April 1603 – 14 July 1638; 高松宮好仁親王) Ninth Son: Ichijō Akiyoshi (一条 昭良, 12 June 1605 – 11 March 1672) Sixth Daughter: Imperial Princess Teishi (貞子内親王; 1606–1675) married Nijō Yasumichi Tenth Son: Imperial Prince Morochika (庶愛親王) later Imperial Prince Priest Sonkaku (1608–1661; 尊覚法親王) Twelfth Daughter: Princess Son'ren (尊蓮女王; 1614–1627) Consort (Hi): Kiyohara (Furuichi) Taneko (清原古市 胤子, 1583–1658), daughter of Furuichi Tanehide (古市胤栄) Ninth Daughter: Princess Rei'un'in (冷雲院宮; 1611) Eleventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkō (道晃法親王; 8 April 1612 – 5 August 1679) Tenth Daughter: Princess Kūkain (空花院宮; 1613) Consort (Hi): Daughter of Chūtō Tokohiro (中東時広, d.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

1680) Twelfth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōshū (道周法親王; 1613–1634) Thirteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Ji'in (慈胤法親王; 1617–1699) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Nakayama) Chikako (藤原中山親子; 1576–1608), daughter of Namayama Oyatsuna (中山親綱) First Son: Imperial Prince Katahito (1588–1648; 良仁親王), later Imperial Prince Priest Kakushin Second Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōkai (承快法親王; 1591–1609) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Hino) Teruko (藤原日野 輝子, 1581–1607), daughter of Hino Terusuke (日野輝資) Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Toshiatsu (1602–1651; 毎敦親王) later Imperial Prince Priest Sonsei (尊性法親王) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Jimyōin) Motoko (藤原持明院 基子; d. 1644), daughter of Jimyōin Motonori (持明院基孝) Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Tsuneyoshi (常嘉親王), later Imperial Prince Priest Gyōnen (尭然法親王; 1602–1661) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Minamoto (Niwata) Tomoko (源庭田 具子; d. 1626), daughter of Niwata Shigetomo (庭田重具) Eight Son: Imperial Prince Priest Ryōjun(良純法親王; 1603–1669) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Hamuro) Nobuko (藤原葉室 宣子; d. 1679), daughter of Hamuro Yorinobu (葉室頼宣) Eleventh Daughter: Princess Sonsei (尊清女王; 1613–1669) Handmaid (Naishi-no-Jō): Taira (Nishinotōin) Tokiko (平西洞院 時子, d. 1661), daughter of Nishinotōin Tokiyoshi (西洞院時慶) Seventh Daughter: Princess Eishū (永崇女王; 1609–1690) Eighth Daughter: Princess Kō'un'in (高雲院宮; 1610–1612) Prince Katahito became emperor when his grandfather abdicated.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1552: 1552 Milestone — He was the eldest son of Prince Masahito (誠仁親王, Masahito-shinnō; 1552–1586), also known as Prince Sanehito and posthumously named Yōkwōin daijō-tennō, who was the eldest son of Emperor Ōgimachi.
2. 1571 (1571-12-31): Birth of Emperor Go-Yōzei — The 107th Emperor of Japan whose reign spanned the transition from Azuchi–Momoyama to Edo.
3. 1575: 1575 Milestone — Consort and issue(s): Empress (Nyōgo): Fujiwara (Konoe) Sakiko (藤原近衛 前子)(1575 – 11 August 1630), later Chukamonin (中和門院), daughter of Konoe Sakihisa (近衛 前久) First Daughter: Princess Shōkō (聖興女王; 1590–1594) Second Daughter: Princess Ryūtōin (龍登院宮; 1592–1600) Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Seishi (清子内親王; 1593–1674), married Takatsukasa Nobuhisa Fourth Daughter: Princess Bunkō (文高女王; 1595–1644) Third Son: Imperial Prince Kotohito (政仁親王, 29 June 1596 – 11 September 1680), later Emperor Go-Mizunoo Fifth Daughter: Princess Son'ei (尊英女王; 1598–1611) Fourth Son: Konoe Nobuhiro (近衛 信尋, 24 June 1599 – 15 November 1649) Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Takamatsu-no-miya Yoshihito(29 April 1603 – 14 July 1638; 高松宮好仁親王) Ninth Son: Ichijō Akiyoshi (一条 昭良, 12 June 1605 – 11 March 1672) Sixth Daughter: Imperial Princess Teishi (貞子内親王; 1606–1675) married Nijō Yasumichi Tenth Son: Imperial Prince Morochika (庶愛親王) later Imperial Prince Priest Sonkaku (1608–1661; 尊覚法親王) Twelfth Daughter: Princess Son'ren (尊蓮女王; 1614–1627) Consort (Hi): Kiyohara (Furuichi) Taneko (清原古市 胤子, 1583–1658), daughter of Furuichi Tanehide (古市胤栄) Ninth Daughter: Princess Rei'un'in (冷雲院宮; 1611) Eleventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkō (道晃法親王; 8 April 1612 – 5 August 1679) Tenth Daughter: Princess Kūkain (空花院宮; 1613) Consort (Hi): Daughter of Chūtō Tokohiro (中東時広, d.
4. 1586: 1586 Milestone — Go-Yōzei's reign spanned the years 1586 through to his abdication in 1611, corresponding to the transition between the Azuchi–Momoyama period and the Edo period.
5. 1617 (1617-09-25): Passing & Historical Legacy — Emperor Go-Yōzei passed away on 1617-09-25, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
6. 1626: 1626 Milestone — 1626), daughter of Niwata Shigetomo (庭田重具) Eight Son: Imperial Prince Priest Ryōjun(良純法親王; 1603–1669) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Hamuro) Nobuko (藤原葉室 宣子; d.
7. 1644: 1644 Milestone — 1644), daughter of Jimyōin Motonori (持明院基孝) Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Tsuneyoshi (常嘉親王), later Imperial Prince Priest Gyōnen (尭然法親王; 1602–1661) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Minamoto (Niwata) Tomoko (源庭田 具子; d.
8. 1661: 1661 Milestone — 1661), daughter of Nishinotōin Tokiyoshi (西洞院時慶) Seventh Daughter: Princess Eishū (永崇女王; 1609–1690) Eighth Daughter: Princess Kō'un'in (高雲院宮; 1610–1612) Prince Katahito became emperor when his grandfather abdicated.
9. 1679: 1679 Milestone — 1679), daughter of Hamuro Yorinobu (葉室頼宣) Eleventh Daughter: Princess Sonsei (尊清女王; 1613–1669) Handmaid (Naishi-no-Jō): Taira (Nishinotōin) Tokiko (平西洞院 時子, d.
10. 1680: 1680 Milestone — 1680) Twelfth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōshū (道周法親王; 1613–1634) Thirteenth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Ji'in (慈胤法親王; 1617–1699) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Nakayama) Chikako (藤原中山親子; 1576–1608), daughter of Namayama Oyatsuna (中山親綱) First Son: Imperial Prince Katahito (1588–1648; 良仁親王), later Imperial Prince Priest Kakushin Second Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōkai (承快法親王; 1591–1609) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Hino) Teruko (藤原日野 輝子, 1581–1607), daughter of Hino Terusuke (日野輝資) Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Toshiatsu (1602–1651; 毎敦親王) later Imperial Prince Priest Sonsei (尊性法親王) Lady-in-waiting (Naishi-no-Suke): Fujiwara (Jimyōin) Motoko (藤原持明院 基子; d.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Emperor Go-Yōzei

True or False: “Emperor Go-Yōzei's reign was marked by a period of unprecedented imperial public appearances, notably in 1588.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The text notes that the visit to Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mansion in Kyoto in 1588 was the first time an emperor appeared in public since 1521.

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