Emperor Reigen(霊元天皇,reigen tennō?) (July 9, 1654 - September 24, 1732) was the 112themperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Reigen reigned from March 5, 1663 until May 2, 1687. His personal name (his iminia) was Satohito (識仁) and his pre-accession title was Ate-no-miya (高貴宮).[1]
Reigen was the 16th son of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. His mother was the daughter of Minister of the Center Sonomotooto (内大臣園基音), Lady in Waiting Kuniko (新広義門院国子).
1654 - Becomes heir upon the death of his eldest brother, Emperor Go-Kōmyō
1663 - Accedes to the throne upon the abdication of his elder brother, Emperor Go-Sai
Kanbun 6, in the 4th month (1666): Hokke shu buddhist religious practices are preserved for those who believe that their spiritual and moral purity is tainted by association with others.[1]
Kanbun 7 (1667): The "Nigouats do" temple at Nara is built.[1]
Kanbun 8 (1668): A great fire broke out in Edo -- a conflagration lasting 45 days. The disastrous fire was attributed to arson.[1]
Enpō 1 (1673): There was a great fire in Miyako.[1]
Enpō 8, on the 8th day of the 3rd month (1680): Shogun Ietsuna dies.<[1]
1687 - Begins to rule as a cloistered emperor, abdicating in favor of Imperial Prince Asahito (Emperor Higashiyama)
1713 - Enters a monastery under the name Sojō (素浄)
1732 - Dies
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 Reigen's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included: