Imperial Prince Munehira (致平親王)
Imperial Prince Muneira (951 - March 30, 1041) was a member of the Imperial family in Heian period. He was the third Prince of Emperor Murakami and his mother was FUJIWARA no Masahime (the daughter of FUJIWARA no Arihira, Sadaijin, the minister of left), who was koi (a court lady waiting in the court).
He was a half brother of Emperor Reizei and Emperor Enyu
Imperial Princess Yasuko (wife of FUJIWARA no Kaneie) and Imperial Prince Akihira were his brother and uterine sister. Imperial Prince Munehira's children were MINAMOTO no Noburari (an adopted child of FUJIWARA no Michinaga) and MINAMOTO no Munenobu, Eien (sogo, a monk of a managerial posts) of Enjo-ji Temple's Byodo-in. His wife was the daughter of MINAMOTO no Masanobu. His homyo (a name given to a person who enters the Buddhist priesthood) was Goen.
He celebrated his Genpuku ceremony (celebrating one's coming of age) in 965 at Seiryoden, the Imperial Palace. At the ceremony, MINAMOTO no Kaneakira, Chunagon (vice-councilor of state), did Kakan (putting a crown on a young mans head) and MINAMOTO no Nobumitsu, Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain) carried out Rihatsu (doing the Prince's hair) to the Prince.
In the same year, the Prince became the governor of Kozuke Province (present Gunma Prefecture.)
He was appointed to Shihon (the fourth rank of Imperial Prince's rank.)
In 969 he was allowed Taiken (wearing a sword.)
In 971, he was appointed to Hyobukyo (Minister of Hyobusho, the Ministry of the Military). In 976 he became a Dazai no sochi (Governor-General of the Dazai-fu offices, local government in the Kyushu region).
In 981, he entered into the priesthood, following the advice of the monk Yokei and studied Buddhism under monk Chiben
The Prince's homyo was Goen and called Myooinnomiya or Hosannomiya. Upon entering into the priesthood, he was offered waka (Japanese traditional poem) by Princess Kishi and Nakatsukasa (a female waka poet). On March, 1041, he passed away at the age of 91.