Emperor Daigo (醍醐天皇) was the 60th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Daigo's reign spanned the years from 897 through 930. He is named after his place of burial.

Genealogy

Daigo was the eldest son of his predecessor, Emperor Uda. His mother was Fujiwara no Taneko (or Inshi), daughter of the minister of the center, Fujiwara no Takafuji. He succeeded the throne at the young age after his father, the Emperor Uda, abdicated in 897. His mother died before his ascension, so he was raised by another Uda consort, Fujiwara no Onshi, daughter of the former kampaku Fujiwara no Mototsune. Daigo's grandfather, Emperor Kōkō, had demoted his sons from the rank of imperial royals to that of subjects in order to reduce the state expenses, as well as their political influence; in addition, they were given the family name Minamoto. As such, Daigo was not born as a royalty and was named Minamoto no Korezane (源維城) until 887, when Daigo's father, Minamoto no Sadami (formerly Prince Sadami), was once again promoted to the Imperial Prince and the heir to the throne. Afterwards, his personal name (imina) was changed to Atsuhito (敦仁親王) or Ono-tei before his ascension of the Chrysanthemum Throne. Daigo had 21 empresses, imperial consorts, and concubines; he had 36 imperial sons and daughters.

Events of Daigo's life

The era name was changed in 898 to mark the beginning of Emperor Daigo's reign. The highlight of Daigo's 34-year reign was that he ruled by himself without the regency of the Fujiwara clan, though he himself was part Fujiwara. Daigo also ordered construction of several halls in the Daigo-ji, such as the Yakushi hall. The actual site of Daigo's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Kyoto. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Daigo's mausoleum. It is formally named Nochi no Yamashina no misasagi in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.

Kugyō

Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Daigo's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

Eras of Daigo's reign

The years of Daigo's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.

Consorts and children

Empress (Chūgū): Fujiwara no Onshi (藤原穏子), Kampaku Fujiwara no Mototsune's daughter Consort (Hi): Imperial Princess Ishi (為子内親王) (d.899), Emperor Kōkō's daughter Consort (Nyōgo): Minamoto no Washi (源和子; d.947), Emperor Kōkō's daughter Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Nōshi (藤原能子; d.964), Udaijin Fujiwara no Sadakata's daughter; later married to Fujiwara no Saneyori Consort (Nyōgo): Court Lady Fujiwara no Wakako (藤原和香子, d.935), Dainagon Fujiwara no Sadakuni's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Minamoto no Fūshi/Kaneko (源封子), Ukyōdaibu Minamoto no Motomi's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara no Senshi (藤原鮮子; d.915), Iyonosuke (伊予介) Fujiwara no Tsuranaga's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Minamoto no Noboru's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Minamoto no Chikako (源周子; d.935), Sadaiben Minamoto no Tonau's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Princess Manshi (満子女王; d.920), Prince Sukemi's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara no Yoshihime (藤原淑姫; d.948), Sangi Fujiwara no Sugane's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara no Kuwako (藤原桑子), Chūnagon Fujiwara no Kanesuke's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Chūjō-Koui (中将更衣), Fujiwara no Korehira's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Minamoto no Toshimi's daughter Court Attendant (Koui): Minamoto Kiyoko (源清子) Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara Doshi (藤原同子) Court Attendant (Koui): Minamoto Haruko (源暖子) Unknown

Ancestry