Emperor Toba

An emperor of the late Heian period (reigned 1107-23). ​​His name was Munehito. He was born on January 16, 5th year of the Kōwa era. He was the first son of Emperor Horikawa. His mother was Fujiwara no Sanesue's daughter Ishi. He was made crown prince at 7 months old. He succeeded his father Emperor Horikawa after his death from illness in 1107 (Kasho 2) at the age of 5, but in 23rd year (Hōan 4) he was forced to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Akihito (Emperor Sutoku) by his grandfather Retired Emperor Shirakawa, who ruled with a tyrannical cloistered government. After Shirakawa's death in 29th year (Taiji 4), the three emperors Sutoku, Konoe, and Goshirakawa ruled as cloistered emperors for 28 years. Due to a rift in his relationship with Empress Taikenmon'in, he made Fujiwara Tadazane's daughter Kunshi (later changed to Taishi) his empress (Kayanoin), which was unusual for a retired emperor. However, as he had no sons, he had Fujiwara Nagazane's daughter Tokushi enter the Imperial Court (Bifukumon'in), and Prince Narihito was born. He made him crown prince at three months old, and in 41 (Eiji 1), Emperor Sutoku abdicated and he ascended to the throne at the age of three (Emperor Konoe), and in the same year he became a monk and retired emperor. In 55 (Kyuju 2), Emperor Konoe died at the age of 17 without an heir, and Prince Masahito ascended to the throne (Emperor Goshirakawa). He overturned the Shirakawa cloister government, which had forced through the reorganization of manors, and approved a large number of manors that were donated by the government. He also accumulated a large number of manors such as those owned by Anrakujuin, Hachijo Nyoin, and Kankikoin, and made more than 20 pilgrimages to Kumano, following the path of an absolute monarch like Shirakawa. He praised himself by saying, "My birth was not the work of man, but the work of God," and was also said to be, "The retired emperor is the only one who governs the world." He is also said to have predicted, "If I die, the world will fall into chaos in an instant" (Taiki). Immediately after his death, the Hogen Rebellion broke out as predicted. He died on July 2, 1271. His grave is at Anrakujuin Tomb in Takeda Uchihata-cho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City.

[Shigehiro Kawashima]

"Japanese History 7: Insei and the Taira Clan" by Yasuda Motohisa (1974, Shogakukan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安後期の天皇（在位1107～23）。名は宗仁(むねひと)。康和(こうわ)5年1月16日生まれ。堀河(ほりかわ)天皇の第一皇子。母は藤原実季(さねすえ)の娘苡子(いし)。生後7か月で立太子。父堀河天皇の病死の後を受けて1107年（嘉承2）5歳で即位したが、専制的な院政を行っていた祖父白河(しらかわ)上皇により23年（保安4）皇太子顕仁(あきひと)親王に譲位させられた（崇徳(すとく)天皇）。29年（大治4）白河の死後、崇徳、近衛(このえ)、後白河(ごしらかわ)三天皇28年間にわたって院政を行った。皇后待賢門院(たいけんもんいん)との仲が不和であり、藤原忠実(ただざね)の娘勲子(くんし)（のち泰子(たいし)と改める）を、上皇としては異例の皇后とした（高陽院(かやのいん)）が、男子が生まれなかったので、藤原長実(ながざね)の娘得子(とくし)を入内(じゅだい)させ（美福門院(びふくもんいん)）、皇子体仁(なりひと)親王が生まれた。生後3か月で皇太子とし、41年（永治1）崇徳天皇を譲位させ3歳で皇位につけ（近衛天皇）、同年自分は出家して法皇となった。55年（久寿2）近衛天皇が17歳で後嗣(こうし)もないまま早世すると、雅仁(まさひと)親王を皇位につけた（後白河天皇）。荘園(しょうえん)整理を強行した白河院政を転換し、寄進地系荘園を大量に認め、自らも安楽寿院(あんらくじゅいん)、八条女院(はちじょうにょいん)、歓喜光院(かんぎこういん)領荘園などを膨大に集積し、20回を超える熊野詣(くまのもう)でを行うなど白河と同様専制君主としての道を歩んだ。「わたしの出生は人力によるものではなく、神のしわざである」と自賛し、「天下を政(まつりごと)するは、上皇御一人なり」とも評された。また、「わたしが世を去ったならば、天下はたちまち乱れるであろう」（台記(たいき)）と予言したといわれている。死の直後、予言どおりに保元(ほうげん)の乱が勃発(ぼっぱつ)した。保元元年7月2日死去。墓は京都市伏見(ふしみ)区竹田内畑(たけだうちはた)町の安楽寿院陵。

［川島茂裕］

『安田元久著『日本の歴史7　院政と平氏』（1974・小学館）』

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