(January 11, 1322 – July 26, 1380) was the 2nd of the Ashikaga Pretenders, although he was actually the first to be supported by the Ashikaga Bakufu. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1336 through 1348.
Genealogy
His personal name was
Yutahito (豊仁).Second son of
Emperor Go-Fushimi. His mother
was ?? (寧子), the daughter of Saionji Kinhira (西園寺公衡)
Events of Kōmyō's life
In his own lifetime, Kōmyō and those around him believed that he
occupied the
Chrysanthemum
Throne from September 20, 1336 to November 18, 1348.
When
Ashikaga Takauji, rebelling against
Emperor Go-Daigo's Kemmu Restoration, entered Kyōto in 1336, Go-Daigo fled to Enryakuji
on Mount
Hiei
. Despite lacking the
sacred treasures, Prince Yutahito
was enthroned as emperor, beginning the Northern Court. On the 12th
day, 21st day, Go-Daigo escaped to Yoshino, founding the Southern
Court.
On November 18, 1348, he abdicated in favor of the eldest son of
his older brother, the former claimant to the throne
Emperor Kōgon, who became the
Northern Pretender Emperor Sukō.
In 1352, taking advantage of the Kan'ō Disturbance, a family feud
in the Ashikaga clan, the Southern Emperor
Emperor Go-Murakami entered Kyoto,
capturing it and carrying away Kōmyō along with
Emperor Kōgon and
Emperor Sukō and the Crown Prince.
In the
Shōhei Reunification, Kōmyō and his
companions were placed under house arrest in Yamato Province, in what is today the
village of Nishiyoshino, Yoshino District, Nara
. In 1355, returning to
Kyōto, he entered a monastery.
- July 26, 1380 (Kōryaku 2, 24th day of the 6th month): The
former emperor died at age 60.
Eras of Kōmyō's reign
The years of Kōmyō's reign are more specifically identified by more
than one
era name or
nengō.
- Nanboku-chō Northern
court'
- Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji
rescript)
- Kemmu (continued)
- Ryakuō
- Kōei
- Jōwa
- Nanboku-chō Southern
court'
- Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji
rescript)
- Engen
- Kōkoku
- Shōhei
Southern Court Rivals
Notes
- Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du
japon, pp. 294-295.
- Titsingh, p. 315.
- Titsingh, p. 294.
References
See also
Wikis
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