Jimyoin lineage

One of the two imperial lines that split and conflicted in the mid-Kamakura period. Jimyoin was the name of a Buddhist altar built by Fujiwara no Motoyori in his residence, and is located around today's Kitashinmachi, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. Motoyori's son Michimoto named himself Jimyoin, and his granddaughter, Empress Gotakakura-in, lived here, which led to Gotakakura-in ruling from here, and after that, Gofukakusa, Fushimi, and Gofushimi-in also lived here after abdicating. A conflict arose between Emperor Gofukakusa and Emperor Kameyama over the throne, which was passed down between their descendants, splitting the imperial line in two, so historians call the former imperial line the Jimyoin line and distinguish it from the latter Daikakuji line. Both lines competed to gain favorable positions by gaining the support of the Kamakura Shogunate and the Saionji family, but the Jimyoin line was more inclined to be friendly to the Shogunate than the Daikakuji line. This conflict later led to the division of the Northern and Southern Courts, but the Jimyoin line was eventually elevated to the position of the Northern Court by the Muromachi Shogunate.

[Muneharu Taga]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉中期に分裂対立した二皇統の一つ。持明院は藤原基頼(もとより)が邸内に建てた持仏堂の名で、今日の京都市上京区上立売(かみだちうり)北新町のあたりにあたる。基頼の子通基(みちもと)が持明院家を称したが、その孫女(むすめ)、後高倉院(ごたかくらいん)妃がここに住んだ縁から、後高倉院がここで院政をとり、以来後深草(ごふかくさ)、伏見(ふしみ)、後伏見(ごふしみ)院も譲位後ここに住した。後深草、亀山(かめやま)天皇の間に皇位をめぐって対立を生じ、子孫の間に引き継がれ、皇統が二分したので、史家は前者の皇統を持明院統とよんで、後者の大覚寺(だいかくじ)統と区別している。両統ともに鎌倉幕府や西園寺(さいおんじ)家の支持を得て有利な立場を得ようと競ったが、持明院統は大覚寺統よりも幕府に親しむ傾向が強かった。この争いは後の南北朝分立の因となったが、持明院統はやがて北朝として室町幕府に推戴(すいたい)された。

［多賀宗隼］

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