Emperor Sanjō Facts for Kids

Emperor Sanjō (三条天皇, Sanjō-tennō, February 5, 976 – June 5, 1017) was the 67th emperor of Japan. He ruled according to the traditional order of succession.

Emperor Sanjō's time as ruler lasted from 1011 to 1016. He faced challenges from powerful families during his reign.

Early Life and Family Background
- The Minamoto Clan Connection
Key Moments in Sanjō's Life
Eras During Sanjō's Reign
Family: Wives and Children
See also

Early Life and Family Background

Before becoming emperor, his personal name was Iyasada-shinnō. He was also known as Sukesada-shinnō or Okisada-shinnō.

Iyasada was the second son of Emperor Reizei. He was the half-brother of Emperor Kazan, who was Reizei's first son.

His mother was Fujiwara no Chōshi (?-982). She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Kaneie, a powerful regent. Chōshi was later given the special title of empress mother.

The Minamoto Clan Connection

In ancient Japan, there were four important noble families. One of these was the Minamoto clan, also called Genji.

A branch of this clan, the Sanjō Genji, are descendants of Emperor Sanjō. This shows his lasting family legacy.

Key Moments in Sanjō's Life

Emperor Sanjō's mother died when he was only seven years old. His maternal grandfather, Fujiwara no Kaneie, then raised him in his own home.

August 23, 986: Iyasada-shinnō was chosen as the heir and crown prince when he was 11. This was unusual because Emperor Ichijō was younger than him. This led to his nickname, Sakasa-no moke-no kimi, meaning "the imperial heir in reverse."

July 16, 1011: Emperor Ichijō stepped down from the throne. His cousin, Iyasada, became the new emperor at age 36. This is called the senso (succession). Soon after, he officially took the throne in a ceremony called sokui.

August 29, 1011: The former Emperor Ichijō died at the age of 32.

August 30, 1011: Fujiwara Michinaga received a special permission. He was allowed to travel to and from the court in an ox-drawn cart. This showed his great power.

November 28, 1011: Emperor Sanjō's father, the former Emperor Reizei, died at age 62.

1011: Prince Atsunari, the second son of former Emperor Ichijō, was declared Crown Prince. Sanjō's oldest son, Prince Atsuakira, was supposed to be the heir. However, Michinaga's influence forced Atsuakira to give up his position.

Struggles for Power

Kaneie died early in Emperor Ichijō's reign. Kaneie's three sons, Sanjō's uncles, tried to gain power. They married their daughters to Emperor Ichijō, hoping to become grandfathers of a future emperor.

These powerful courtiers tried to keep Sanjō from becoming emperor. Even so, each of them married their daughters to him. Later, Ichijō had two sons with Fujiwara no Shōshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga.

Michinaga wanted his grandson to become emperor as soon as possible. He was the kampaku (regent) during Ichijō's reign. He expected to keep this role under Sanjō too.

1012: The name of the era changed to mark Emperor Sanjō's rule. In August, he married a daughter of the regent Michinaga.

1013: Sanjō sent offerings of grain to the gods at 21 important temples in Japan.

1013: Sanjō visited Michinaga's home. He also visited the Iwashimizu Shrine and the Kamo Shrine. Later emperors followed his example by visiting these shrines every year.

March 12, 1014: The Imperial Palace was destroyed by a large fire.

1014: Sanjō visited Michinaga's home again. He enjoyed horse riding and archery there.

1015: The palace was rebuilt after the fire.

1015: Michinaga's 50th birthday was celebrated.

1015: The newly rebuilt palace was again destroyed by a fire.

1016: Sanjō's eyesight got worse and worse. He became increasingly blind. He stepped down from the throne at age 40, after ruling for six years. He then took the title Daijō-tennō (retired emperor).

March 10, 1016: Emperor Sanjō abdicated. His cousin, Emperor Go-Ichijō, became the new emperor at age 9.

May 21, 1017: The era name changed to Kannin to mark the start of Emperor Go-Ichijō's reign.

May 27, 1017: Sanjō became a Buddhist priest.

June 5, 1017: The former Emperor Sanjō died at age 42. He was given the name Sanjō-in after the palace where he lived after stepping down. Later, during the Meiji Era, the "in" was changed to "tennō" (Emperor).

Sanjō's Legacy

The exact location of Sanjō's grave is known. This emperor is honored at a memorial Shinto shrine in Kyoto. The Imperial Household Agency officially calls this place Sanjō's mausoleum. Its formal name is Kitayama no misasagi.

Michinaga gave Atsuakira a special status, equal to a retired emperor. He was given the title Ko-ichijo-in. Even though none of Sanjō's sons became emperor, his bloodline continued. His daughter, Princess Teishi, had a child who later became Emperor Go-Sanjō.

Kugyō: The Powerful Court Officials

Kugyō is a term for the very few most powerful men in the Japanese emperor's court before the Meiji period. Even when the court's real power was small, this system continued.

This elite group usually had only three or four men at a time. They were hereditary courtiers, meaning their families had held these positions for a long time. During Sanjō's reign, the top officials included:

Sesshō (Regent): Fujiwara no Michinaga (1016–1017).
Sadaijin (Minister of the Left): Fujiwara no Michinaga.
Udaijin (Minister of the Right): Fujiwara no Akimitsu.
Naidaijin (Minister of the Center): Fujiwara no Kinsue.
Dainagon (Chief Counselor).

Eras During Sanjō's Reign

The years of Emperor Sanjō's rule are known by specific era names or nengō:

Kankō (1004–1012)
Chōwa (1012–1017)

Family: Wives and Children

Emperor Sanjō had several wives and many children.

Empress (Kōgō): Fujiwara no Seishi, Fujiwara no Naritoki's first daughter
- First Son: Imperial Prince Atsuakira (994–1051). He was Emperor Go-Ichijō's Crown Prince for a time.
- Second Son: Imperial Prince Atsunori (997–1054).
- Third Son: Imperial Prince Atsuhira (999–1049).
- First daughter: Imperial Princess Masako (1001–1023). She served as the 37th Saiō at the Grand Shrine of Ise from 1012 to 1016.
- Second daughter: Imperial Princess Shishi (1003–1048). She married Fujiwara no Norimichi.
- Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Moroakira (1005–1085). He later became a Buddhist priest named Seishin.

Empress (Chūgū): Fujiwara no Kenshi, Fujiwara no Michinaga's second daughter
- Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Teishi. She later became Empress Dowager Yōmei-mon In and Empress to Emperor Go-Suzaku.

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Yasuko (974–1004), Fujiwara no Kaneie's third daughter.

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Genshi (c. 980–1002), Fujiwara no Michitaka's second daughter.

Emperor Sanjō facts for kids

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