List of emperors of Japan
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Japan has been ruled by emperors since antiquity. The sequence, order and dates of the early emperors are almost entirely based on the 8th-century Nihon Shoki, which was meant to retroactively legitimise the Imperial House by dating its foundation further back to the year 660 BC.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Vogel>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Emperor Kinmei (Template:Reign) is often considered the first historical emperor,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Timothy">Template:Cite book</ref> but the first Japanese ruler supported by historical evidence is actually Emperor Yūryaku (Template:Reign), who is mentioned in the 5th-century Inariyama and Eta Funayama Swords.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> According to Chinese sources, the unification of Japan took place between the 2nd and 3rd centuries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref>
The terms Tennō ('Emperor', 天皇), as well as Nihon ('Japan', 日本), were not adopted until the late 7th century AD.<ref name="Holcombe">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Vogel/> In the nengō system which has been in use since the late 7th century, years are numbered using the Japanese era name and the number of years which have elapsed since the start of that nengō era.Template:Sfn
Emperors of Japan
Ancient Japan
Classical Japan (540–1185)
Asuka period (538–710)
Nara period (710–794)
Heian period (794–1185)
Medieval Japan (1185–1603)
Kamakura period (1185–1333)
Courts period (1336–1392) / Muromachi period (1336–1573) / Azuchi–Momoyama period (1568–1600)
| Template:Abbr | Portrait | Personal name | Template:Nowrap | Reign and era namesTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn | Life details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Godaigo by Monkan-bō Kōshin.jpg | Takaharu Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-Daigo Template:Lang |
1318–1339 Template:Small Template:HrBunpō, Gen'ō, Genkō (1321–24), Shōchū, Karyaku, Gentoku, Genkō (1331–34), Kenmu, Engen |
1288–1339 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Uda; younger brother of Emperor Go-Nijō. From the Daikakuji line. Kamakura shogunate ended in the Genkō War. Brief imperial rule during the Kenmu Restoration. Opposed the Ashikaga shogunate. Became the first emperor of the Southern Court.Template:Sfnm |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Go-Murakami cropped.jpg | NoriyoshiTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-Murakami Template:Lang |
1339–1368 Template:Small |
1328–1368 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Daigo. Second emperor of the Southern Court. Southern Court briefly took the Northern Court's capital, Kyoto, during the Kannō disturbance.Template:Sfnm |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Chokei.jpg | Yutanari Template:Lang |
Emperor Chōkei Template:Lang |
1368–1383 Template:Small |
1343–1394 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Murakami. Third emperor of the Southern Court. Abdicated.Template:Sfn |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Go-Kameyama.jpg | Hironari Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-Kameyama Template:Lang |
1383–1392 Template:Small |
Template:Circa 1347–1424 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Murakami; younger brother of Emperor Chōkei. Fourth and last emperor of the Southern Court. Agreed to peace with the Northern Court. Abdicated in favor of the Northern Court line.Template:Sfn |
| (1) | File:光厳法皇像.jpg | Kazuhito Template:Lang |
Emperor Kōgon Template:Lang |
1331–1333 Template:Small |
1313–1364 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Fushimi; nephew and adopted son of Emperor Hanazono. From the Jimyōin line. Made the first emperor of the Northern Court by the Kamakura shogunate during the Genkō War. Deposed by Emperor Go-Daigo of the Daikakuji line. Captured by the Southern Court during the Kannō disturbance.Template:Sfnm |
| (2) | File:Emperor Kōmyō.jpg | Yutahito Template:Lang |
Emperor Kōmyō Template:Lang |
1336–1348 Template:Small |
1322–1380 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Fushimi; younger brother of Emperor Kōgon. Made second emperor of the Northern Court by the Ashikaga shogunate. Abdicated. Captured by the Southern Court during the Kannō disturbance.Template:Sfnm |
| (3) | File:Emperor Sukō.jpg | OkihitoTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Lang |
Emperor Sukō Template:Lang |
1348–1351 Template:Small |
1334–1398 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Kōgon; nephew of Emperor Kōmyō. Third emperor of the Northern Court. Abdicated. Captured by the Southern Court during the Kannō disturbance.Template:Sfnm |
| (4) | File:Emperor Go-Kōgon.jpg | Iyahito Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-Kōgon Template:Lang |
1352–1371 Template:Small |
1338–1374 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Kōgon; younger brother of Emperor Sukō. Became the fourth Emperor of the Northern Court after the Kannō disturbance. Abdicated.Template:Sfnm |
| (5) | File:Emperor Go-En'yū detail.jpg | Ohito Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-En'yū Template:Lang |
1371–1382 Template:Small |
1359–1393 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Kōgon. Fifth emperor of the Northern Court. Abdicated in favor of Emperor Go-Komatsu.Template:Sfnm |
| (6) | File:Emperor Go-Komatsu.jpg | Motohito Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-KomatsuTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Lang |
1382–1392 Template:Small |
1377–1433 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-En'yū. Sixth and last emperor of the Northern Court from 1382 until 1392. Became the legitimate emperor following Emperor Go-Kameyama's abdication. Agreed to alternate control of the throne by the Northern Court and the Southern Court. All emperors after him are from the Northern line.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfnm |
| 100 | 1392–1412 Template:Small | ||||
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Shōkō by Kōtarō Miyake.jpg | MihitoTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Lang |
Emperor Shōkō Template:Lang |
5 October 1412 – 30 August 1428 Template:Small |
12 May 1401 – 30 August 1428 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Komatsu.Template:Sfnm |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Go-Hanazono2.jpg | Hikohito Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-Hanazono Template:Lang |
7 September 1428 – 21 August 1464 Template:Small Template:HrShōchō, Eikyō, Kakitsu, Bun'an, Hōtoku, Kyōtoku, Kōshō, Chōroku, Kanshō |
10 July 1419 – 18 January 1471 Template:Small Template:HrGreat-grandson of Northern Emperor Sukō; third cousin of Emperor Shōkō. Abdicated. Traditional dates used.Template:Sfnm |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado.jpg | Fusahito Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado Template:Lang |
21 August 1464 – 21 October 1500 Template:Small Template:HrKanshō, Bunshō, Ōnin, Bunmei, Chōkyō, Entoku, Meiō |
3 July 1442 – 21 October 1500 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Hanazono. Ōnin War led to the start of the Sengoku period.Template:Sfnm |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Go-Kashiwabara.jpg | Katsuhito Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-KashiwabaraTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Lang |
16 November 1500 – 18 May 1526 Template:Small |
19 November 1462 – 18 May 1526 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado. Imperial rule in the Ashikaga shogunate reached its lowest point in his reign.Template:Sfn |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Go-Nara.jpg | Tomohito Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-NaraTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Lang |
9 June 1526 – 27 September 1557 Template:Small |
26 January 1495 – 27 September 1557 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Kashiwabara.Template:Sfnm |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Ogimachi.jpg | Michihito Template:Lang |
Emperor Ōgimachi Template:Lang |
17 November 1557 – 17 December 1586 Template:Small |
18 June 1517 – 6 February 1593 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Go-Nara. Ashikaga shogunate overthrown by Oda Nobunaga. Abdicated.Template:Sfnm |
| Template:Sort | File:Emperor Go-Yozei3.jpg | KatahitoTemplate:Efn-lr Template:Lang |
Emperor Go-Yōzei Template:Lang |
17 December 1586 – 9 May 1611 Template:Small |
31 December 1571 – 25 September 1617 Template:Small Template:HrGrandson of Emperor Ōgimachi. Tokugawa shogunate established. Sengoku period ended.Template:Sfnm |
Edo period (1603–1868)
Modern Japan (since 1867)
Posthumously recognized individuals
This is a list of individuals who did not reign as emperor during their lifetime but were later recognized as Japanese emperors posthumously.
| Portrait | Personal name | Posthumous name | Year recognized | Life details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Imperial Seal of Japan.svg | Prince Kusakabe Template:Lang |
Emperor Oka Template:Lang |
759 | 662–689 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Tenmu; husband of Empress Genmei; father of Emperor Monmu and Empress Genshō. Made crown prince in 681; heir to Emperor Tenmu. Died prior to acceding the throne following Emperor Tenmu's death.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| File:Prince Toneri.jpg | Prince Toneri Template:Lang |
Emperor Sudōjinkei Template:Lang |
759 | 676–735 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Tenmu; half-brother of Prince Kusakabe; father of Emperor Junnin.Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| File:Imperial Seal of Japan.svg | Prince Shiki Template:Lang |
Emperor Kasuga Template:Lang |
770 | died 716
Template:HrSon of Emperor Tenji; half-brother of Emperor Tenmu, Empress Jitō, Empress Genmei and Emperor Kōbun; father of Emperor Kōnin; half-uncle of Prince Kusakabe and Prince Toneri.<ref name=Ponsonby/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| File:Imperial Seal of Japan.svg | Prince Sawara Template:Lang |
Emperor Sudō Template:Lang |
800 | 750–785 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Kōnin; younger brother of Emperor Kanmu. Made crown prince in 781. Implicated in the assassination of Fujiwara no Tanetsugu. Died on the way to exile.<ref name=Ponsonby>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| File:Prince Sanehito.jpg | Prince Masahito Template:Lang |
Yōkōin Template:Lang |
Before 1611 | 1552–1586 Template:Small Template:HrSon of Emperor Emperor Ōgimachi; father of Emperor Go-Yōzei. Posthumously recognized as emperor by Emperor Go-Yōzei.<ref name=Ponsonby/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| File:The prince Sukehito Kanninn.jpg | Sukehito, Prince Kan'in Template:Lang |
Emperor Kyōkō Template:Lang |
1884 | 1733–1794 Template:Small Template:HrGrandson of Emperor Higashiyama; father of Emperor Kōkaku.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
See also
- Emperor of Japan
- Empress of Japan
- Sesshō and Kampaku
- Shogun
- Prime Minister of Japan
- Family tree of Japanese monarchs
- Princess Iitoyo
References
Notes
Citations
Sources
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External links
Template:Monarchs of Japan Template:Japan topics Template:Portal bar