(1328 – March 29, 1368) was the 97th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and a member of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period of rival courts. He reigned from September 18, 1339, until March 29, 1368 (
). His personal name was . He reigned from Sumiyoshi, Ōsaka, Yoshino, Nara, and other temporary locations.
Events of Go-Murakamis life
"Prince Norinaga" was Go-Daigo's son from his "favorite consort of his later years". This was Lady Renshi.
He lived during the turbulent years of conflict between rival claimants to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The contested succession pitted what were known as the Northern and Southern Courts against each other. These years are also known as the Nanboku-chō period. When Emperor Go-Daigo began his Kenmu Restoration, the still very young prince, along with Kitabatake Akiie, in 1333 went to Tagajō in what is now Miyagi Prefecture, at the time Mutsu Province, to return the eastern samurai to their allegiance and destroy the remnants of the Hōjō clan. However, in 1336, because Ashikaga Takauji had raised a rebellion, the Emperor returned to Sakamoto with a strong force to confront him.
He was accompanied by Kitabatake Akiie, in order to confront Takauji. When Takauji defeated them in Kyōto in 1336, they again returned to Mutsu Province. In 1337, because Tagajō was attacked, they returned yet again to the west, returning to Yoshino while constantly fighting battles.
In 1338, he headed to Tagajō, but returned to Yoshino because of a storm. In Oct. 1338, he was named Crown Prince. On 19 Sept. 1339, he became emperor upon the death of Emperor Go-Daigo. Kitabatake Chikafusa became his advisor.
In 1348, Kō no Moronao attacked Yoshino, and the Emperor left for modern-day Nishiyoshino Village in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, which was then Yamato Province. In 1352, he entered Otokoyama in Yamashiro Province. As a result of the Battle of Shichijō Ōmiya, Kusunoki Masanori recovered Kyōto from Ashikaga Yoshiakira.
At this time, April 1352, the Retired Northern Emperors Kōgon, Kōmyō, and Sukō were taken to Anau, the location of the Southern Court. However, within twenty days, Ashikaga Yoshiakira had recaptured Kyōto.
The Emperor and his retinue were confined to Otokoyama, but escaped to Kawachi Province during an attack by Yoshiakira, and a few months later returned to Yoshino.
In 1361, Hosokawa Kiyōji and Kusunoki Masanori, who had returned to the Southern Court's allegiance, attacked Kyōto, and temporarily recovered it. But, Yoshiakira quickly responded, and they evacuated Kyōto in less than twenty days.
They continued trying to recover Kyōto, but the Southern Court's power was already weakening, and by the Emperor's death in 1368, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was in power and the throne had been moved to Sumiyoshi.
Go-Murakami's tomb is known as Hinoo no misasagi (桧尾陵); it is located in the precincts of Kanshin-ji temple (観心寺) in Kawachinagano, Osaka.
Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. Even during those years in which the court's actual influence outside the palace walls was minimal, the hierarchic organization persisted.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Murakami's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
• Sadaijin
• Udaijin
• Naidaijin
• Dainagon
Eras of Go-Murakamis reign
The years of Go-Murakami's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
:Nanboku-chō southern court
• Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
• Engen (1336–1340)
• Kōkoku (1340–1346)
• Shōhei (1346–1370)
:Nanboku-chō northern court
• Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
• Ryakuō (1338–1342)
• Kōei (1342–1345)
• Jōwa (1345–1350)
• Kannō (1350–1352)
• Bunna (1352–1356)
• Embun (1356–1361)
• Kōan (1361–1362)
• Jōji (1362–1368)
• Ōan (1368–1375)
Genealogy
He was the seventh son of Emperor Go-Daigo
• Consort: Minamoto (Kitabatake) Akiko (源 (北畠) 顕子), Kitabatake Chikafusa's daughter
• First daughter: Imperial Princess Noriko (宪子内亲王; 1345–1391) later Shin-Sen'mon-in (新宣阳门院)
• Court Lady: Fujiwara no Shōshi (藤原胜子) later Kaki Mon'in, Ano Sanetama's daughter
• First son: Imperial Prince Yutanari (寛成亲王) later Emperor Chōkei
• Second son: Imperial Prince Hironari (熙成亲王) later Emperor Go-Kameyama
• Fourth son: Imperial Prince Yasunari (泰成亲王, 1360–1423)
• Consort: Okurakyo-no-Tsubone (大蔵卿局)
• Third son: Imperial Prince Korenari (惟成亲王, d. 1423)
• Fifth son: Imperial Prince Moronari (师成亲王, 1361–1431)
• Consort: Reizen-no-Tsubone (冷泉局)
• Seventh son: Imperial Prince Yoshinari (良成亲王, d. 1395)
• unknown
• Sixth son: Imperial Prince Kanenari (説成亲王)
• daughter: Imperial Princess Sadako (贞子内亲王)
(1328 – March 29, 1368) was the 97th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and a member of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period of rival courts. He reigned from September 18, 1339, until March 29, 1368 (Shōhei 23, 11th day of the 3rd month). His personal name was . He reigned from Sumiyoshi, Ōsaka, Yoshino, Nara, and other temporary locations.