(17 March 1231 – 10 February 1242) was the 87th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years 1232 through 1242.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 242–245; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki. p. 227.
Life Emperor Shijō was born to Emperor Go-Horikawa and his wife Kujō Shunshi as Prince Mitsuhito.
He succeeded to the throne shortly before his father's death, and since his father died shortly after, a relative named became head of the court in the emperor's minority, while Kujō Michiie and Saionji Kintsune helped carry out the affairs of state. Additionally his aunt, Princess Rishi, became his honorary mother.
In 1241 was appointed as his consort.
Shijō was known to be mischievous and often played pranks. One day, Shijō had talc spread all across the floors in the hopes that a court lady would trip on it and fall. While he was playing with a court lady, the emperor tripped himself, which ultimately led to his death.
Subsequent succession crisis His death ultimately led to the .
Kujō Michiie supported the ascension of , son of Emperor Juntoku, to the throne. On the other hand, court noble supported Prince Kunihito, son of Emperor Tsuchimikado, to the throne.
Both men sent envoys to the shōgun to seek his support and, after an oracle was called from Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kunihito was declared the valid successor to the throne. suggested in his diary that Tadanari's father, exiled former emperor Juntoku, may have stopped eating (ultimately leading to his death) due to the fact he knew he would never return to Heian-kyō.
The court nobles originally opposed Kunihito, but Saionji Kintsune took advantage and had him enthroned in the house of the brother of Shijō Sadako (Sadako being his daughter in-law). Kunihito became Emperor Go-Saga.
Eras of Shijō's reign The years of Shijō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.Titsingh, p. 242. Jōei (1232–1234) Tenpuku (1233–1234) Bunryaku (1234–1235) Katei (1235–1238) Ryakunin (1238–1239) En'ō (1239–1240) Ninji (1240–1243)
See also Emperor of Japan List of Emperors of Japan Imperial cult
Notes
References
Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887 Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652], Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. Varley, H. Paul, ed. (1980). [ Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359], Jinnō Shōtōki ( A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki. New York: Columbia University Press. )