Emperor Go-Nijō (後二条天皇 Go-Nijō-tennō) (March 9, 1285 – September 10, 1308) was the 94th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from March 3, 1301 until September 10, 1308.¹

This 14th century sovereign was named after the 12th century Emperor Nijō and go- (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Nijō". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Nijō, the second," or as "Nijo II."

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Kuniharu-shinnō (邦治親王, Kuniharu-shinnō ^?).²

Go-Nijō was the eldest son of the 91st Emperor Emperor Go-Uda. He belonged to the Daikakuji-tō branch of the Imperial Family.

Events of Go-Nijō's life

Kuniharu-shinnō ws made an imperial prince by Imperial proclamation in 1286.

In 1296, he became crown prince (heir) to the Jimyōin-tō Emperor Go-Fushimi, his second cousin.

• Shōan 3, in the 1st month (1301): In the 5th year of Go-Fushimi-tennō's reign (後伏見天皇5年), the emperor was forced to abdicate; and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Nijō is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).³

Go-Nijō's father, the Emperor Go-Uda reigned as cloistered emperor during his reign.

The succession dispute between the Daikakuji and Jimyōin branches of the Imperial Family continued during his reign. His grandfather, the retired Emperor Emperor Kameyama was said to have acted through the Bakufu to ensure Go-Nijō's enthronement.

On September 10, 1308, Go-Nijō died of illness.

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

• Sadaijin
• Udaijin
• Nadaijin
• Dainagon

Eras of Go-Nijō's reign

The years of Go-Nijō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.⁴

• Shōan (1299-1302)
• Kengen (1302-1303)
• Kagen (1303-1306
• Tokuji (1306-1308)

References

• Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652]. Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon, tr. par M. Isaac Titsingh avec l'aide de plusieurs interprètes attachés au comptoir hollandais de Nangasaki; ouvrage re., complété et cor. sur l'original japonais-chinois, accompagné de notes et précédé d'un Aperçu d'histoire mythologique du Japon, par M. J. Klaproth. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland...Click link for digitized, full-text copy of this book (in French)
• Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). [ Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359], Jinnō Shōtōki ("A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa" translated by H. Paul Varley). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-04940-4