Cloistered rule facts for kids

Imagine a powerful emperor who decides to step down from the throne but still wants to guide the country. This is exactly what happened in ancient Japan! From 1086 to 1192, during a time called the Heian period, Japan had a special way of governing known as Cloistered rule (院政, insei, lit. "monastery administration").

In this system, an emperor would officially give up their position. However, they would move to live in a Buddhist monastery and continue to hold a lot of power and influence. These retired emperors were called Daijō Tennō or Jōkō. If they became a monk, they were known as a Cloistered Emperor (Japanese: 太上法皇, romanized: Daijō Hōō). Their main goal was to balance the power of strong families like the Fujiwara clan and the rising warrior class. Meanwhile, the new, younger emperor would handle all the important ceremonies and official duties. This unique system was first truly put into place by Emperor Shirakawa.

The Start of a Unique System

Long before the main period of Cloistered Rule, some retired emperors in Japan already had a bit of power. For example, Empress Jitō in the 600s and Emperor Shōmu in the 700s showed early signs of this.

By the late 900s, the powerful Fujiwara clan had become very influential. They often controlled the government by acting as regents for young emperors. This meant the emperor often became more of a symbol than a true ruler.

However, things began to change in 1068. Emperor Go-Sanjō became emperor, and he was different. He was the first emperor in nearly 200 years who was not closely related to the Fujiwara family. Emperor Go-Sanjō worked hard to regain power for the imperial family. He passed new laws that helped weaken the Fujiwara's control. Sadly, he became ill and stepped down in 1072, passing the throne to Emperor Shirakawa. Emperor Go-Sanjō passed away the next year. Even though he didn't rule for long after retiring, he opened the door for the Cloistered Rule system.

In 1086, Emperor Shirakawa followed his father's example and abdicated. He gave the throne to his son, Emperor Horikawa, who was only four years old. Emperor Shirakawa wanted to protect his young son from other family members who might try to take the throne. After retiring, Emperor Shirakawa truly established the system of Cloistered Rule, where he, as a retired emperor, held the real power.

How Retired Emperors Managed Power

Under Cloistered Rule, the retired emperors created their own special government offices, called In no Chō. These offices helped them issue official orders, known as Inzen and In no Chō Kudashi Bumi. This meant their decisions were put into action across the country.

Retired emperors also had their own groups of soldiers, called the Hokumen no Bushi. These military units became very important. Over time, powerful warrior families, like the Taira clan, grew stronger by joining these units. This eventually led to them gaining a lot of political and economic power.

The End of an Era

The later part of the Heian period saw many emperors retire one after another. Sometimes, several retired emperors were alive and influential at the same time! This could lead to disagreements. For example, after Emperor Toba passed away, the Hōgen rebellion broke out. This was a direct conflict between an emperor and a retired emperor.

Eventually, the long reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa ended with a major conflict called the Genpei War. This war led to the rise of a powerful warrior leader named Minamoto no Yoritomo. He became the first shōgun and established the Kamakura shogunate in 1192, marking the end of the Heian period and the peak of Cloistered Rule.

Who Ruled When: A Look at the Insei System

The way power was passed down in the Insei system could be quite complex. This table shows the emperors and the retired emperors who were active at the same time.

Cloistered Rule Continues with the Shoguns

Even after the Kamakura shogunate began in 1192, the Cloistered Rule system didn't disappear right away. The shogunate took control of many military and police matters, especially in eastern Japan. However, the emperors and retired emperors still held considerable authority.

A few decades later, Emperor Go-Toba, a grandson of Go-Shirakawa, tried to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate. This conflict, known as the Jōkyū War, happened in 1221. Emperor Go-Toba's forces were defeated. After this, the shogunate took steps to reduce the power and wealth of the retired emperors.

Despite these changes, the system of cloistered rule formally continued for another 200 years. There were still efforts to bring power back to the imperial court, such as the Kenmu Restoration attempted by Emperor Go-Daigo in the 1330s. But generally, a retired emperor would lead the Kyoto court with the approval of the shogunate.

Later, during the Edo period, there were a few more examples of retired emperors guiding their successors. The very last person to use the special title Daijō Hōō was Emperor Reigen in 1686.

See also

• Retired Emperor (disambiguation)
• Cloistered Emperor
• Daijō Tennō