Yoshiko Tachibana - Yoshiko Tachibana

Empress of Emperor Saga. Daughter of Udoneri Tachibana Kiyotomo (758-789, posthumously awarded the rank of Daijo Daijin Shoichii). She became the wife of Emperor Saga when he was still a prince, and was made empress in 815 (Kōnin 6) after his accession to the throne. When Emperor Ninmyo, whom she gave birth to, abdicated in 823, she became empress dowager. After Emperor Ninmyo ascended to the throne in 833 (Tenchō 10), she was revered as Grand Empress Dowager. She was beautiful and gentle, and a devout Buddhist. She built the magnificent Danrin-ji Temple in Saga, on the western outskirts of Kyoto. She had the Chinese monk Giku (date of birth and death unknown) give lectures on Zen texts there, and was called Empress Danrin. It is said that this was the first time Zen was preached in Japan, because the Empress made many Buddhist altar implements such as treasure banners and embroidered robes, and sent the monk Egaku (date of birth and death unknown) to donate them to temples and monks in China. She also consulted with her brother, the Minister of the Right Tachibana Ujikimi (783-848; according to the posthumous record, he was the younger brother), to open the Gakkan-in Academy, which became a school for the children of her family. She died on May 4, 3rd year of the Kasho era, shortly after the death of Emperor Ninmyo, at the age of 65. Her mausoleum is in Saga Ryo, Saga, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.

[Akira Taniguchi, September 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

嵯峨(さが)天皇の皇后。内舎人(うどねり)橘清友(きよとも)（758―789。贈太政(だいじょう)大臣正一位）の女(むすめ)。嵯峨天皇の親王時代に妃となり、即位後815年（弘仁6）皇后に冊立、823年譲位に際して皇太后、自分の生んだ仁明(にんみょう)天皇が即位した833年（天長10）以後は太(たい)皇太后として尊ばれた。容姿美しく穏和で仏教を深く信じ、京都西郊の嵯峨に壮麗な檀林(だんりん)寺を建立。ここで唐僧義空(ぎくう)（生没年不詳）に禅書を講じさせたので檀林皇后とよばれた。日本で禅が唱えられた初めといわれるが、これは、皇后が宝幡(ほうばん)や繍文袈裟(しゅうもんげさ)などの仏具を多くつくり、僧慧萼(えがく)（生没年不詳）を遣わして唐の寺院や僧侶(そうりょ)に喜捨(きしゃ)したことによる。また兄の右大臣橘氏公(うじきみ)（783―848。薨伝(こうでん)では弟）と議して学館院(がっかんいん)を開き、一族子弟の学舎とした。仁明天皇の没後まもなく嘉祥(かしょう)3年5月4日、65歳で薨(こう)じた。陵墓は京都市右京区嵯峨の嵯峨陵。

［谷口　昭　2017年9月19日］

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