Cloistered Rule, also known as the Insei system, was a process used by some Emperors of Japan by which they would ostensibly retire to a monastery and hand over power to a successor, but continue to exert power and influence from behind the scenes. Retired emperors are called Jōkō (上皇). His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan The Emperor of Japan (天皇, tennō) is Japans titular head of state and the head of the Japanese imperial family. ... The Tikse monastery in Ladakh, India A monastery is the habitation of monks, derived from the Greek word for a hermits cell. ... Taishang Huang (Chinese: 太上皇, tàishàng huáng) was a Chinese title, sometimes translated in English as Grand Emperor or Emperor Emeritus, used all across Eastern Asia for a retired emperor. ...

The first retired emperor who exercised cloistered rule in Japan was Empress Jitō. Jito Tenno (From Ogura Hyakunin Isshu) Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō Empress Jitō (持統天皇 Jitō Tennō) (645 – December 22, 7021) was the 41st imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ...

The term retired emperor is used primarily when discussing a period in Japanese history when this was a common practice; a retired emperor could have more influence than when he had been on the throne, because he retained the prestige of the title and was freer to speak publicly.

Although the actual influence of cloistered rule may have been exaggerated by some historians, it must be seen in the context of the increasing dominance over the aristocracy by the warrior class. In later eras, an emperor would be overshadowed by his shogun as surely as if there was still a cloistered emperor present. In Japanese history, a shogun (将軍 shōgun) was the practical ruler of Japan for most of the time from 1192 to the Meiji Era beginning in 1868. ...

Famous emperors who adopted cloistered rule:

• Emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129, r. 1073-1087 and cloistered rule 1087-1129)
  
• Emperor Toba (1103-1156, r. 1107-1123 and cloistered rule 1129-1156)
  
• Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192, r. 1155-1158 and cloistered rule 1158-1192)

Patterns of cloistered rule have been more broadly identified as a distinct feature of Japanese history, politics and sometimes business. In such governments and administration units, the nominal ruler and governor has no practical power and instead regents and any other kinds of advisors have actual power. Some titles used to exercise cloistered rule are: Emperor Shirakawa (白河天皇) (July 7, 1053 - July 24, 1129) was the 72nd imperial ruler of Japan. ... Events June 18 - Battle of Civitate - 3000 horsemen of Norman Count Humphrey rout the troops of Pope Leo IX Good harvests in Europe Malcolm Canmore invades Scotland. ... Events Emperor Toba of Japan begins his cloistered rule sharing power with Sutuku, ex-emperor Shirakawas son. ... Events Cardinal Hildebrand elevated to papacy as Pope Gregory VII, succeeding Pope Alexander II Emperor Shirakawa ascends the throne of Japan Rabbi Yitchaki Alfassi finishes writing the Rif, an important work of Jewish law. ... Events May 9 - The remains of Saint Nicholas were brought to Bari. ... Events May 9 - The remains of Saint Nicholas were brought to Bari. ... Events Emperor Toba of Japan begins his cloistered rule sharing power with Sutuku, ex-emperor Shirakawas son. ... Emperor Toba (鳥羽天皇 Toba Tennō) (February 24, 1103 – July 20, 1156) was the 74th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Events April 27 - Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, goes into exile after falling out with Henry I of England Amadeus III becomes Count of Savoy Bohemund I of Antioch is released from imprisonment among the Turks The Scandinavian city of Lund becomes a see within the Roman Catholic Church Births February... Events Establishment of the Carmelite Order Hogen Rebellion in Japan January 20 - According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi in Finland. ... Events William Warelwast becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... Events First Council of the Lateran confirms Concordat of Worms and demands that priests remain celibate End of the reign of Emperor Toba of Japan. ... Events Emperor Toba of Japan begins his cloistered rule sharing power with Sutuku, ex-emperor Shirakawas son. ... Events Establishment of the Carmelite Order Hogen Rebellion in Japan January 20 - According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi in Finland. ... Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇 Go-Shirakawa Tennō) (October 18, 1127 – April 26, 1192) was the 77th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Events Conrad III establishes the Hohenstaufen dynasty when he is crowned antiking to the Holy Roman Emperor, Lothair II. First coalition of the Norman princes against Roger II of Sicily. ... // Events The Third Crusade ends in disaster. ... Events Frederick I Barbarossa crowned Holy Roman Emperor. ... Events January 11 - Vladislav II becomes King of Bohemia End of the formal reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan, also the beginning of his cloistered rule, which will last to his death in 1192. ... Events January 11 - Vladislav II becomes King of Bohemia End of the formal reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan, also the beginning of his cloistered rule, which will last to his death in 1192. ... // Events The Third Crusade ends in disaster. ... The history of Japan probably started around 100,000 BCE, date when the earliest stone tool implements have been found. ... Japan has a parliamentary government, which consists of three branches: the administration (executive) branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. ...

• Sodanyaku - advisors in banks.
• Sessho and Kampaku - regents in the Imperial Court in Kyoto.
• Shikken - in the Kamakura shogunate
• Kanrei - in the Ashikaga shogunate
• Tairo and Karo - in the Tokugawa shogunate