Emperor Daigo

Japanese: 醍醐天皇 - だいごてんのう

Year of death: 29 September 1930 (23 October 930)
Year of birth: Genkei 9 (885)
An emperor in the early Heian period. He reigned for 33 years, the longest in the Heian period. He was the eldest son of Emperor Uda and Fujiwara no Takafuji's daughter Inashi. His name was Iki and later Atsuhito. In 893, he became crown prince, and four years later ascended to the throne. At that time, his father Uda gave him the "Kanpei Goikai," a book of rules for an emperor. Following this lesson, he initially favored Fujiwara no Tokihira and Sugawara no Michizane, appointing them as the left and right ministers respectively and promoting government affairs, but in 901, he demoted Michizane to a titular governor of Dazaifu (Dazaifu city). Due to Tokihira and others' schemes, Tokihira took the lead from then on. In 902, together with Tokihira, he promoted a series of political reforms, such as the implementation of land allotment and the issuance of a manor reorganization order, while at the same time carrying out cultural projects such as the compilation and imperial selection of works such as the "Sandai Jitsuroku," the "Engishiki," and the "Kokin Wakashū." These, combined with the fact that he did not appoint a regent or chancellor during his reign, led to the view that his reign was called the "Engi Reign" and that it was an ideal era (the Engi Seidaikan). In 923, Crown Prince Yasuakira died at the young age of 21, and it was rumored that this was the result of Michizane's curse. This was the first time that Michizane is said to have appeared as a vengeful spirit, but the incident in June of the same year, when lightning struck the palace, causing deaths and injuries, made Daigo realize the fear of vengeful spirits, and Daigo, who was tormented by this incident, fell ill after this, abdicated the following September, became a monk one week later (taking on the Buddhist name of Hokongo), and died that same day at Ukon'efu. This has given rise to legends that Daigo himself went to hell and was tortured (Fuso Ryakki and Jikkunsho). His grave is in the Go-Yamashina Mausoleum in Daigo, Fushimi Ward. The Diary of Emperor Daigo is known as the second most important emperor's diary after the Diary of Emperor Uda, and together with the Diary of Emperor Murakami, known as the "Diary of Emperor Murakami," they are known as the "Nidai Goki" (Diary of the Two Emperors). They were kept in a cabinet in Seiryoden and served as teachings for future emperors.

(Takinami Sadako)

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

Japanese:

没年：延長8.9.29(930.10.23)
生年：元慶9(885)
平安前期の天皇。平安時代では最長の33年間在位した天皇。宇多天皇と藤原高藤の娘胤子の長男。名は維城のち敦仁。寛平5(893)年皇太子となり,4年後に即位したが,その際父宇多から帝王の心得を記した「寛平御遺誡」を与えられた。その教訓に従って当初は藤原時平と菅原道真を重用し,それぞれ左・右大臣に任じて政務を推進したが,昌泰4(901)年,道真を大宰府(太宰府市)の名目だけの権帥に左遷した。時平らの謀るところで,以後時平が主導権を握る。延喜2(902)年,時平と共に班田の励行や荘園整理令の発布など一連の政治改革を推進する一方,『三代実録』をはじめ『延喜式』『古今和歌集』などの編集,勅撰といった文化事業を行い,これらが在位中摂政,関白を置かなかったこととあいまってその治世を「延喜の治」と呼び,理想的な時代とみる見方(延喜聖代観)を生んだ。延長1(923)年皇太子保明親王が21歳の若さで没し,道真の祟りと噂された。道真が怨霊として現れたとされる最初であるが,特に同8年6月,宮中に落雷し死傷者を出すという事件は怨霊の恐怖を実感させ,事件を苦にした醍醐はこのあと病気となり,翌年9月譲位,1週間後に出家(法名は宝金剛),その日右近衛府で亡くなった。そうしたことから醍醐自身地獄に落ちて責め苦を受けるといった伝承も生まれている(『扶桑略記』『十訓抄』)。墓は伏見区醍醐の後山科陵。『醍醐天皇日記』は『宇多天皇日記』に次ぐ天皇日記として知られ,特に次の『村上天皇日記』と合わせて「二代御記」と呼ばれ,清涼殿の厨子に保管されのちの天皇の教訓の書とされた。

(瀧浪貞子)

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