The Jowa Incident

This was a rebellion that occurred in the early Heian period. The 54th Emperor Ninmyo had appointed Prince Tsunesada, the son of the retired Emperor Junna, as the crown prince, but Fujiwara no Yoshifusa was plotting to have Prince Michiyasu (the 55th Emperor Montoku), the son of Emperor Ninmyo's sister Junshi, appointed as the crown prince. Sensing this situation, Prince Tsunesada expressed his intention to resign as crown prince, but was consoled by the Emperor and the retired emperor. Under these circumstances, in July 842 (Jowa 9), two days after the death of the retired Emperor Saga, a plot to escort the Crown Prince to the eastern provinces by Tomonokowamine, the head of the Crown Prince's Office, Tachibana no Hayanari, and others was discovered. The plot began when Prince Abo, who was the ringleader of the plot, sent a secret letter to the Grand Empress Dowager Tachibana Kachiko, and Takemine and Hayanari were arrested, Prince Tsunesada was deposed as Crown Prince, and over 60 people, including the Dainagon, were implicated. It seems that Takemine and others had intentions of rebellion, but the reasons for deposing the crown prince were unclear, and there was strong suspicion that it was a plot by Yoshifusa to make Prince Michiyasu the heir to the throne. In August of the same year, Prince Michiyasu was made crown prince, and Yoshifusa made his daughter the crown princess, deepening his ties with the imperial family.

[Morita Tei]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安前期に起こった謀反事件。第54代仁明(にんみょう)天皇は淳和(じゅんな)上皇皇子恒貞(つねさだ)親王を皇太子にたてていたが、藤原良房(よしふさ)は、その妹順子(じゅんし)の所生である仁明天皇皇子道康(みちやす)親王（第55代文徳(もんとく)天皇）の立太子を画策していた。この形勢を察した恒貞親王は皇太子を辞する意志を表明したが、天皇、上皇により慰撫(いぶ)されていた。こうした状況下で842年（承和9）7月、嵯峨(さが)上皇崩御の2日後、春宮坊帯刀(とうぐうぼうたちはき)伴健岑(とものこわみね)、但馬守(たじまのかみ)橘逸勢(たちばなのはやなり)らによる、皇太子を奉じて東国に赴こうとする謀反が発覚した。その発端は、謀主にされかかった阿保(あぼ)親王が密書をもって太皇太后橘嘉智子(かちこ)に告げたことにあり、健岑、逸勢らは逮捕され、恒貞親王は皇太子を廃され、大納言(だいなごん)以下60余人が連座した。健岑らに謀反の意図はあったらしいが、廃太子の理由はあいまいであり、道康親王を皇儲(こうちょ)にしようとした良房の陰謀の疑いが濃く、同年8月に道康親王が立太子し、良房は女(むすめ)を皇太子妃とし、皇室との関係を深めた。

［森田　悌］

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