Emperor Gokomyo (後光明天皇)
Emperor Gokomyo (April 20, 1633 - October 30, 1654), the 110th Emperor, reigned during the Edo period (from November 14, 1643 to October 30, 1654). His name from childhood was Suganomiya, and his personal name was Tsuguhito.
Genealogy
He was the fourth prince of Emperor Gomizunoo. His mother was Mibu in FUJIWARA no Mitsuko, the daughter of the Sadaijin (Minister of the Left), Mototo SONO. His mother-in-law was the second consort of the Emperor, Masako TOKUGAWA (Tofukumonin). His older half-sister was Empress Meisho.
Naishi no suke (a court lady of the first rank): Hideko NIWATA
The first princess: Imperial Princess Koshi (Reiseimonin)
Brief Personal History
In 1642 he became the crown prince, and he was enthroned the following year after the abdication of his sister, Empress Meisho.
During his reign, the government was changed from an Ieyasu TOKUGAWA force to an Ietsuna TOKUGAWA force.
It is said the Emperor had a strong personality and loved swordplay: on one occasion, when Shigemune ITAKURA, the shogunate's military governor who was stationed in Kyoto, remonstrated the Emperor, he said to Shigemune, 'I have never seen samurai commit seppuku (suicide by disembowelment), so why don't you show me right now?'
It is said that he was against the Edo government. On the other hand, he loved studies and had a passion for the doctrines of Zhu Xi, under the influence of a Confucian, Seika FUJIWARA.
He died of smallpox in 1654, at age twenty-two. There was a rumor that he had been intentionally poisoned, since he had died suddenly. However, his health had been poor since the previous year, and there was a record that the Emperor, together with his close aides, discussed the idea of adopting the youngest brother, Imperial Prince Satohito (later called Emperor Reigen).
Eras during his reign
Kanei (October 3, 1643) - December 16, 1644
Shoho December 16, 1644 - February 15, 1648
Keian February 15, 1648 - September 18, 1652)
Shoo (Joo) September 18, 1652 - (September 20, 1654)
Imperial mausoleum
He was entombed in Tsuki no Wa no Misasagi at Senzan-cho, Imagumano, in the Higashiyama Ward of Kyoto City. After Emperor Gokomyo died, the tradition of burying a deceased person's body in the earth was revived, and in successive years all the emperors after Gomizunoo were buried in the ground.