Emperor Kōkaku (光格天皇 Kōkaku Tennō) (September 23, 1771 – December 11, 1840) was the 119th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from December 16, 1779 until May 7, 1817. His name was originally Morohito (師仁), but later was changed to Tomohito (兼仁). His title was Sachi-no-miya (祐宮). September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 1771 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan Imperial Seal of Japan The Emperor (天皇 tennō, literally heavenly sovereign) is a constitutionally-recognized symbol of the Japanese nation and the unity of its people. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1779 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Genealogy

He was the sixth son of Prince Kan'in-no-miya Sukehito (閑院宮典仁), grandson of Emperor Higashiyama. On the day before his enthronement, the dying Go-Momozono, his second cousin, formally adopted him as his son. The Kanin-no-miya house (閑院宮家) is the youngest of the four shinnōke. ... Emperor Higashiyama (東山天皇 Higashiyama Tennō) (October 21, 1675 - January 16, 1710) was the 113th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ...

• Empress (chūgū): Imperial Princess ?? (欣子内親王), daughter of Emperor Go-Momozono (Emperor's chief wife Yoshiko (?, 欣子内親王), also known as Shinkiyowa-in (?, 新清和院))
  • Third son: Imperial Prince Atsuhito ?? (温仁親王)
  • Seventh son: Imperial Prince ?hito (悦仁親王)
• Lady-in-waiting: Hamuro Yoriko (葉室頼子)
  • First son: Imperial Prince ?? (礼仁親王)
  • First daughter: ?? (能布宮)
  • Second son: ?? (俊宮)
• Lady-in-waiting: ?? (勧修寺女青子)
  • Fourth son: Imperial Prince Ayahito (恵仁親王) (Emperor Ninkō)
  • Second daughter: ?? (多祉宮)
  • Fourth daughter: ?? (成宮)
• Lady-in-waiting: ?? (高野正子)
  • Sixth son: ?? (猗宮)
• Lady-in-waiting: Anekōji ?? (姉小路聡子)
  • Fifth daughter: Rin-no-miya (倫宮)
  • Eighth son: ?? (嘉糯宮)
• ??: ?? (東坊城和子)
  • Fifth son: Imperial Prince Katsura-no-miya Morihito (桂宮盛仁親王)
  • Third daughter: ?? (霊妙心院宮)
• ??: ?? (富小路明子)
  • Sixth daughter: ?? (治宮)
  • Seventh daughter: Imperial Princess ?? (蓁子内親王)
  • Eighth daughter: ?? (媛宮)
  • Ninth daughter: Katsu-no-miya (勝宮)

Emperor Go-Momozono (後桃園天皇) (August 5, 1758 - December 16, 1779) was the 118th imperial ruler of Japan. ... Emperor Ninkō (仁孝天皇) (March 16, 1800- February 21, 1846) was the 120th imperial ruler of Japan. ... The Katsura House (桂宮) is one of the shinnōke, a branch of the Imperial Family which is eligible to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne if the main line should die out. ...

Life

It was originally expected that he, as a younger son of an imperial collateral branch the Kan'in house, would go into the priesthood at the Shuugoin Temple. However, in 1779, the sonless and dying emperor Go-Momozono hurriedly adopted him on his deathbed, even though he was not a shinnō (imperial prince). The Kanin-no-miya house (閑院宮家) is the youngest of the four shinnōke. ...

Genealogically seen, he is the founder of the dynastical imperial branch currently on the throne. Kokaku is the lineal ancestor of all the succeeding emperors of Japan, up to present monarch, Akihito. 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. ... Emperor Akihito of Japan (Japanese: 明仁) (born December 23, 1933) is the current Emperor (天皇, tennō) of Japan and the 125th according to the traditional order of succession. ...

During Kōkaku's reign, the Imperial Court regained authority through proposing a relief program to the Bakufu at the time of the Great Tenmei Famine (1782-1788) and receiving information about negotiations with Russia over disputes in the north, and so on. The Bakufu gave his father the honorary title of Retired Emperor (Daijō Tennō, 太上天皇) The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ... Tenmei (天明) was a Japanese era after Anei and before Kansei and spanned from 1781 to 1789. ...

He was very talented, and had a zeal for scholarship, reviving festivals at the Iwashimizu and Kamono shrines, and working hard at reviving ceremonies surrounding the Imperial Court. In 1817, he abdicated in favor of his son, Emperor Ninkō. Because his reign followed an era in which most emperors died young or were forced to abdicate, Kōkaku was the first Japanese monarch to remain on the throne past the age of 40 since the abdication of Emperor Ōgimachi in 1586. The Iwashimizu Hachimangu The Iwashimizu Shrine (or Iwashimizu Hachimangu 石清水八幡宮) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Yawata in Kyoto prefecture, Japan. ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Emperor Ninkō (仁孝天皇) (March 16, 1800- February 21, 1846) was the 120th imperial ruler of Japan. ... Emperor Ōgimachi (正親町天皇) (June 18, 1517 - February 6, 1593) was the 106th imperial ruler of Japan. ... 1586 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ...

Eras of his Reign

• An'ei
• Tenmei
• Kansei
• Kyōwa
• Bunka

Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. ... Anei (安永) was a Japanese era after Meiwa and before Tenmei and spanned from 1772 to 1782. ... Tenmei (天明) was a Japanese era after Anei and before Kansei and spanned from 1781 to 1789. ... Kansei (寛政) was a Japanese era after Tenmei and before Kyōwa and spanned from February, 1789 to March, 1801. ... Kyōwa (享和) was a Japanese era after Kansei and before Bunka and spanned from February 5 (?), 1801 to March, 1804. ... For the embroidery technique, see BunkaShishu. ...

See also

• Imperial Household of Japan