Emperor Reigen

Quick Facts: Who was Emperor Reigen?

Subject:

Emperor Reigen

Known for:

The 112th Emperor of Japan; reigned from 1663 to 1687.

Born:

1654-07-09

Died:

1732-09-24

Century / Era:

1654s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Emperor Reigen (Japanese: 霊元天皇, Hepburn: Reigen-tennō), personal name Satohito (識仁, 9 July 1654 – 24 September 1732), was the 112th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Reigen's reign spanned the years from 1663 through 1687. Before Reigen's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Satohito (識仁); and his pre-accession title was Ate-no-miya (高貴宮). Reigen was the 16th son of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. His mother was the daughter of Minister of the Center Sonomotooto (内大臣園基音), Lady-in-Waiting Kuniko (新広義門院国子).

Career & Major Achievements

Reigen's Imperial family lived with him in the Dairi of the Heian Palace. This family included at least 13 sons and 14 daughters: Empress: Takatsukasa Fusako (鷹司房子) later Shin-jyōsaimon’in (新上西門院), Takatsukasa Norihira’s daughter. Third daughter: Imperial Princess Masako (1673–1746; 栄子内親王) married Nijo Tsunahira Lady-in-waiting: Bōjō Fusako (1652–1676; 坊城房子), Bōjō Toshihiro’s daughter Second daughter: Imperial Princess Ken'shi (憲子内親王; 1669–1688) married Konoe Iehiro Lady-in-waiting: Chunagon-Naishi (1653–1691; 中納言典侍) First son: Imperial Prince Priest Saishin (1671–1701; 済深法親王) Lady-in-waiting: Matsuki Muneko (松木宗子) later Keihōmon’in (敬法門院), Mutsuki Muneatsu’s daughter Fourth son: Imperial Prince Asahito (朝仁親王), also known as Tomohito, later Emperor Higashiyama Fifth daughter: Imperial Princess Tomiko (福子内親王; 1676–1707) married Imperial Prince Fushimi-no-miya Kuninaga Sixth daughter: Princess Eisyū (永秀女王; 1678–1725) Seventh son: Imperial Prince Kyōgoku-no-miya Ayahito (1680–1711; 京極宮文仁親王) – Seventh Kyōgoku-no-miya Seventh daughter: Princess Ume (1681–1683; 梅宮) Eighth daughter: Imperial Princess Katsuko (1686–1716; 勝子内親王) Eighth son: Prince Kiyo (1688–1693; 清宮) Handmaid: Atago Fukuko (1656–1681; 愛宕福子), Atago Michitomi’s daughter Second son: Imperial Prince Priest Kanryū (1672–1707; 寛隆法親王) Fourth daughter: Princess Tsuna (1675–1677; 綱宮) Handmaid: Gojō Yōko (1660–1683; 五条庸子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter Third son: Prince San (1675–1677; 三宮) Fifth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōen (1676–1718; 尭延法親王) Sixth son: Prince Tairei'in (1679; 台嶺院宮) Handmaid: Higashikuze Hiroko (1672–1752; 東久世博子), Higashikuze Michikado’s daughter Eleventh son: Prince Toku (1692–1693; 徳宮) Twelfth son: Prince Riki (1697; 力宮) Court lady: Onaikouji-no-Tsubone (?–1674; 多奈井小路局), Nishinotōin Tokinaga‘s Daughter First daughter: Princess Chikōin (1669; 知光院宮) Court lady:　Gojō Tsuneko (1673–?; 五条経子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter Ninth son: Prince Saku (1689–1692; 作宮) Tenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Syō'ou (1690–1712; 性応法親王) Ninth daughter: Princess Bunki (1693–1702; 文喜女王) Tenth daughter: Princess Gensyū (1696–1752; 元秀女王) Court lady: Tōshikibu-no-Tsubone (d.1746; 藤式部局), Reizei Sadaatsu‘s Daughter Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonsyō (1699–1746; 尊賞法親王) Eleventh daughter: Princess Bun'ō (1702–1754; 文応女王) Court lady: Irie Itsuko (?–1763; 入江伊津子), Irie Sukenao’s daughter Fourteenth son: Prince Kachi (1709–1713; 嘉智宮) Twelfth daughter: Princess Tome (1711–1712; 留宮) Court lady: Chūjō-no-Tsubone (1691–1753; 中将局), Kurahashi Yasusada‘s Daughter Fifteenth son: Prince Mine (1710–1713; 峯宮) Court lady:　Matsumuro Atsuko (?–1746; 松室敦子),　Matsumuro Shigeatsu’s daughter Sixteenth son: Imperial Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Yorihito (1713–1769; 有栖川宮職仁親王) – Fifth Arisugawa-no-miya Thirteenth daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (吉子内親王, 1714–1758), betrothed to shōgun Tokugawa Ietsugu Eighteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōkyō (1717–1764; 尭恭法親王) Court lady: Shōshō-no-Tsubone (1702–1728; 少将局), Minami Suketada’s daughter Fourteenth daughter: Princess Yae (1721–1723; 八重宮) Court lady:Matsumuro Nakako (1707–1751; 松室仲子), Matsumuro Shigenaka’s daughter Seventeenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Son'in (1715–1740; 尊胤法親王) His posthumous name was created during the Meiji Era by combining the kanji from the names of two previous Emperors, Emperor Kōrei (孝霊) and Emperor Kōgen (孝元). 9 July 1654: The birth of an Imperial prince who will become known by the posthumous name of Reigen-tennō. 1654: Prince Satohito, who is also known as Ate-no-miya, is named as heir before the death of his eldest brother, Emperor Go-Kōmyō; however, the young prince is considered too young to become emperor.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It is decided that until the young heir grows older, his elder brother will accede to the throne as Emperor Go-Sai. 5 March 1663 (Kanbun 3, 26th day of the 1st month): Emperor Go-Sai abdicated; and Prince Satohito received the succession (senso). Shortly thereafter, Emperor Reigen formally acceded (sokui) and his reign began. 1665 (Kanbun 5, 6th month): Courts of inquisition were established in all the villages of Japan. These courts were charged with discovering and eliminating any vestiges of Christianity in each community.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1654 (1654-07-09): Birth of Emperor Reigen — The 112th Emperor of Japan; reigned from 1663 to 1687.
2. 1663: 1663 Milestone — Reigen's reign spanned the years from 1663 through 1687.
3. 1665: 1665 Milestone — 1665 (Kanbun 5, 6th month): Courts of inquisition were established in all the villages of Japan.
4. 1673: 1673 Milestone — Third daughter: Imperial Princess Masako (1673–1746; 栄子内親王) married Nijo Tsunahira Lady-in-waiting: Bōjō Fusako (1652–1676; 坊城房子), Bōjō Toshihiro’s daughter Second daughter: Imperial Princess Ken'shi (憲子内親王; 1669–1688) married Konoe Iehiro Lady-in-waiting: Chunagon-Naishi (1653–1691; 中納言典侍) First son: Imperial Prince Priest Saishin (1671–1701; 済深法親王) Lady-in-waiting: Matsuki Muneko (松木宗子) later Keihōmon’in (敬法門院), Mutsuki Muneatsu’s daughter Fourth son: Imperial Prince Asahito (朝仁親王), also known as Tomohito, later Emperor Higashiyama Fifth daughter: Imperial Princess Tomiko (福子内親王; 1676–1707) married Imperial Prince Fushimi-no-miya Kuninaga Sixth daughter: Princess Eisyū (永秀女王; 1678–1725) Seventh son: Imperial Prince Kyōgoku-no-miya Ayahito (1680–1711; 京極宮文仁親王) – Seventh Kyōgoku-no-miya Seventh daughter: Princess Ume (1681–1683; 梅宮) Eighth daughter: Imperial Princess Katsuko (1686–1716; 勝子内親王) Eighth son: Prince Kiyo (1688–1693; 清宮) Handmaid: Atago Fukuko (1656–1681; 愛宕福子), Atago Michitomi’s daughter Second son: Imperial Prince Priest Kanryū (1672–1707; 寛隆法親王) Fourth daughter: Princess Tsuna (1675–1677; 綱宮) Handmaid: Gojō Yōko (1660–1683; 五条庸子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter Third son: Prince San (1675–1677; 三宮) Fifth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōen (1676–1718; 尭延法親王) Sixth son: Prince Tairei'in (1679; 台嶺院宮) Handmaid: Higashikuze Hiroko (1672–1752; 東久世博子), Higashikuze Michikado’s daughter Eleventh son: Prince Toku (1692–1693; 徳宮) Twelfth son: Prince Riki (1697; 力宮) Court lady: Onaikouji-no-Tsubone (?
5. 1674: 1674 Milestone — –1674; 多奈井小路局), Nishinotōin Tokinaga‘s Daughter First daughter: Princess Chikōin (1669; 知光院宮) Court lady:　Gojō Tsuneko (1673–?
6. 1689: 1689 Milestone — ; 五条経子), Gojō Tametsune’s daughter Ninth son: Prince Saku (1689–1692; 作宮) Tenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Syō'ou (1690–1712; 性応法親王) Ninth daughter: Princess Bunki (1693–1702; 文喜女王) Tenth daughter: Princess Gensyū (1696–1752; 元秀女王) Court lady: Tōshikibu-no-Tsubone (d.
7. 1732 (1732-09-24): Passing & Historical Legacy — Emperor Reigen passed away on 1732-09-24, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
8. 1746: 1746 Milestone — 1746; 藤式部局), Reizei Sadaatsu‘s Daughter Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonsyō (1699–1746; 尊賞法親王) Eleventh daughter: Princess Bun'ō (1702–1754; 文応女王) Court lady: Irie Itsuko (?
9. 1763: 1763 Milestone — –1763; 入江伊津子), Irie Sukenao’s daughter Fourteenth son: Prince Kachi (1709–1713; 嘉智宮) Twelfth daughter: Princess Tome (1711–1712; 留宮) Court lady: Chūjō-no-Tsubone (1691–1753; 中将局), Kurahashi Yasusada‘s Daughter Fifteenth son: Prince Mine (1710–1713; 峯宮) Court lady:　Matsumuro Atsuko (?

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Emperor Reigen

True or False: “Emperor Reigen's reign was marked by continuous peace and stability throughout the Edo period.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His reign coincided with several major disasters, including a great fire in Edo (1682) and various famines across Japan.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Emperor Reigen