Biography

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Norihira-shinnō (宪平亲王).

Norihira-shinnō was the second son of Emperor Murakami. His mother, Empress Yasuko, was a daughter of minister of the right Fujiwara no Morosuke. Soon after his birth he was appointed as crown prince, displacing the Emperor's first-born son with the daughter of Fujiwara no Motokata. This decision was supposedly made under the influence of Morosuke and his brother Fujiwara no Saneyori who had seized power in the court. Motokata soon died, in despair at having lost the prospect of being grandfather to the next emperor. The malevolent influence of Motokata's was blamed for Norihira-shinnō's mental illness, which resulted in Saneyori acting as regent for the duration of his short reign.

From ancient times, there have been four noble clans, the Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the Minamoto clan (源氏) are also known as Genji, and of these, the Reizei Genji (冷泉源氏) are descended from 63rd emperor Reizei.

Events of Reizeis reign

Questions about mental illness made Norihira-shinnō's succession somewhat problematic.

In 967 his father Murakami died and Reizei ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen.

• July 5, 967 (Kōhō 4, 25th day of the 5th month): In the 16th year of Emperor Murakami's reign (村上天皇十六年), he died; and the succession (『『senso』』) was received by his second son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Reizei is said to have acceded to the throne (『『sokui』』).

• 969 (Anna 2): Reizei abdicated; and he took the honorific title of Reizei-in Jōkō. His reign lasted for just two years; and he lived another 44 years in retirement.

The tomb of Emperor Reizei, Kyoto (front view)

• November 21, 1011 (Kankō 8, 24th day of the 10th month): Daijō-tennō Reizei-in Jōkō died at age 62.

The actual site of Reizei's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Kyoto.

The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Reizei's mausoleum. It is formally named Sakuramoto no misasagi

Kugyō

is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

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-Toba's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

• Kampaku, Ōno-no-miya Fujiwara no Saneyori (藤原実頼), 900–970.

• Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara Saneyori.

• Sadaijin, Minamoto no Takaakira (源高明) (relegated in 969 by Anna Incident)

• Sadaijin, Fujiwara Morotada (藤原师尹)

• Udaijin, Fujiwara Morotada (藤原师尹), 920–969.

• Naidaijin (not appointed)

• Dainagon, Fujiwara no Arihira (藤原在衡)

• Dainagon, Minamoto no Kaneakira (源兼明)

• Dainagon, Fujiwara no Koretada (藤原伊尹)

Eras of Reizeis reign

The years of Reizei's reign are more specifically identified by more than one :

• Kōhō (964–968)

• Anna (968–970)

Consorts and children

Empress (Chūgū): Imperial Princess Masako (昌子内亲王) later Kanon'in taigō (観音院太后), Emperor Suzaku』s daughter

• Adopted Son: Imperial Prince Nagahira (永平亲王; 965–988)

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Kaishi/Chikako (藤原懐子, 945–975), Fujiwara no Koretada』s daughter

• First Daughter: Imperial Princess Sōshi (宗子内亲王; 964–986)

• Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Sonshi (尊子内亲王; 966–985), 15th Saiin in Kamo Shrine 968–975; later, married to Emperor En'yū in 980

• First Son: Imperial Prince Morosada (师贞亲王) later Emperor Kazan

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Chōshi/Tōko (藤原超子; d.982), Fujiwara no Kaneie』s daughter

• Third Daughter: Imperial Princess Mitsuko (光子内亲王; 973–975)

• Second Son: Imperial Prince Okisada (居贞亲王) later Emperor Sanjō

• Third son: Imperial Prince Tametaka (为尊亲王; 977–1002)

• Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Atsumichi (敦道亲王; 981–1007)

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Fushi/Yoshiko (藤原怤子), Fujiwara no Morosuke』s daughter

Ancestry

生平

宪平亲王虽然是村上天皇的第二皇子，但生后不久就在与第一皇子广平亲王的皇太子之位争夺中取胜，被立为皇太子。一般认为这是当时的掌权者藤原实赖与藤原师辅兄弟操纵的。康宝四年（967年），村上天皇驾崩，18岁的宪平亲王即位。此时首次在紫宸殿举行了即位仪式。关于冷泉天皇为何在位仅2年即退位，可能是因为冷泉天皇与当时的摄政藤原实赖并没有外戚关系，加之其伯父源高明是当时被认为是有力的皇位继承人的为平亲王的岳父，刺激了藤原氏（此为安和之变的导火索）。又由于冷泉天皇的精神疾患从皇太子时代开始就是一个大问题，继任关白的藤原实赖进行了关于皇位继承的讨论。但是围绕冷泉天皇的两位同母弟——为平亲王（左大臣源高明推举的村上天皇第四皇子）与守平亲王（右大臣藤原师尹推举的村上天皇第七皇子）两位皇太子（皇太弟）究竟由谁继位一事，双方发生对立。在藤原氏的后盾下，最终守平亲王被立为皇太弟，此即后来的圆融天皇。藤原氏与源氏的对立后来发展成了安和之变，安和二年（969年）8月，源高明被降职，同年冷泉天皇让位，圆融天皇即位。藤原实赖由关白转为摄政，此后，由藤原氏担任摄关成为了常态。让位后在冷泉院居住了11年，故称冷泉院。度过了42年的上皇生活后，于62岁驾崩，花山天皇等皇子女及其弟圆融天皇、侄一条天皇等亲族都比他早逝。根据记载，死因被认为是痢疾。

此后直至后一条天皇即位的近50年间，冷泉系与圆融系都处于两统迭立的状态。直到父方是圆融系，母方是冷泉系的曾孙后三条天皇即位，两皇统才融合。

怪异举动

据称冷泉天皇自从皇太子时代开始就因精神疾患而做出不少引人注目的怪异举动。大江匡房所著的《江记》等中记载了冷泉天皇的如下行为：

• 曾经脚受伤也毫不在意地进行了一整天的蹴鞠。

• 幼时，曾将一幅把男性阴茎画得很大的画作为回信送交给父亲村上天皇。

• 曾在清凉殿附近的门房房顶上静坐。

• 曾在因病卧床时大声唱歌。

• 退位后，有一次居住的御所发生火灾，在乘牛车避难时大声唱歌。

然而，有记载表明冷泉天皇平时容貌端庄，并不像是患有精神疾病。《大镜》里传说，这些旁人无法理解的怪异举动，是被夺去了外戚地位的藤原元方的鬼魂作祟。

家族

• 父：村上天皇

• 母：藤原安子

• 中宫：昌子内亲王〔950年～999年，朱雀天皇之女〕

• 女御：

　• 藤原怀子（945年～975年。父为藤原伊尹。后追赠为皇太后）

　• 藤原超子（约954年生～982年，藤原兼家之女。后追赠为皇太后）

　• 藤原怤子（父藤原师辅，兼家的同母妹）

• 皇子：

　• 师贞亲王（后为花山天皇〕

　• 居贞亲王（后为三条天皇。母藤原超子〕

　• 为尊亲王（977年～1002年。母藤原超子〕

　• 敦道亲王（981年～1007年。母藤原超子〕

　• 永平亲王（965年～988年。昌子内亲王的养子，实为村上天皇皇子）

• 皇女：

　• 宗子内亲王（964年-986年。母藤原怀子〕

　• 尊子内亲王（966年～985年。圆融天皇女御。母藤原怀子〕

　• 光子内亲王（973年-975年。母藤原超子〕

系图