Emperor Seiwa

Japanese: 清和天皇 - せいわてんのう

Year of death: 4th December 19th, 881 (7th January 881)
Year of birth: Kasho 3 (850)
Emperor of the early Heian period. Son of Emperor Montoku and Fujiwara no Yoshifusa's daughter Akiko. Named Korehito, also known as Emperor Mizuo. In November 850, at the age of eight months, he was appointed crown prince, surpassing his three elder brothers (Koretaka, Korejo, and Korehiko). The misfortune of Prince Koretaka, the son of Kinomoto no Natora's daughter Shizuko, has given rise to many legends, including one about Yoshifusa and Natora deciding the winner in a sumo match (The Tale of the Heike) and another about having Shingon monks Shinga and Shinsei perform religious services for him (The Great Mirror and the Godansho). In August 858, at the age of nine, he ascended to the throne, the youngest emperor to that time, and Yoshifusa, who was his guardian, became the de facto regent. However, he was actively involved in the development of systems and the promotion of learning, such as compiling the "Jogan Kakushiki," and his reign is highly regarded. In November 876, at the age of 27, he abdicated and moved to Seiwa-in (one of the four temples in the northern part of Sakyo in the Heian period), but in May 879, he became a monk (his Buddhist name was Soshin), and made pilgrimages to various temples in the Kinki region, leading a life of abstinence from sake and vinegar. He died at Fujiwara no Mototsune's Awatayama Villa (later renamed Engaku-ji Temple). At the time of his death, he sat cross-legged facing the west, making the "Joining mudra" as he passed away, but it is said that he still seemed to be alive. In accordance with his will, no mountain tomb was built for him, and he was cremated (there is a cremation mound behind Konkai-Komyoji Temple in Kurodani, Sakyo Ward, known as the "kyozuka"), but he was buried at Saga Mio Mountain, which he had chosen as his final resting place. By the way, the "Zoku Shui Ojoden" includes a story that Seiwa was a monk in his previous life. Many of the Genji who were given the surname became samurai were descendants of Emperor Seiwa.

(Takinami Sadako)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：元慶4.12.4(881.1.7)
生年：嘉祥3(850)
平安前期の天皇。文徳天皇と藤原良房の娘明子の子。名は惟仁。水尾帝とも。嘉祥3(850)年11月,兄の3親王(惟喬,惟条,惟彦)を超え,生後8カ月で皇太子に立てられるが,紀名虎の娘静子の生んだ惟喬親王については,その悲運がさまざまな伝承を生み,良房と名虎が相撲で勝負を決めた(『平家物語』)とか,それぞれ真言僧の真雅と真済に加持祈祷させた(『大鏡』『江談抄』)といった話が伝えられる。天安2(858)年8月,9歳というそれまでの天皇としては最年少で即位,これを後見した良房が事実上の摂政となった。しかし『貞観格式』の編纂など制度の整備や学問の振興には積極的にかかわっており,その治世が評価されている。貞観18(876)年11月,27歳で譲位,清和院(平安左京北辺四坊)に移ったが元慶3(879)年5月に出家(法諱は素真)してからは近畿の諸寺を巡礼し,酒や酢を断って精進生活を送った。藤原基経の粟田山荘(のち円覚寺に改む)で没。臨終の際,西方に向かって結跏趺坐し,定印を結んだまま往生したが,なお生きているようであったという。遺詔により山陵は作らず,火葬したが(左京区黒谷の金戒光明寺裏山に火葬塚があり,経塚と称される),生前自ら終焉の地と定めた嵯峨水尾山に葬られた。ちなみに『続拾遺往生伝』には,清和の前世が僧侶であったという話を収める。なお賜姓源氏のうち武士化した者は清和天皇の子孫に多い。

(瀧浪貞子)

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