Emperor Momozono

Emperor of the mid-Edo period (reigned 1747-62). His name was Tohito. As a child, he was called Yahonomiya, later Sachinomiya. He was the first son of Emperor Sakuramachi. His birth mother was Kaimeimon'in (Sadako, daughter of Anenokoji Sanetake), and his legitimate mother was Seikimon'in (Emperor Sakuramachi's consort). He was made crown prince in March 1747 (Enkyo 4), ascended to the throne in May, and in September. He died on July 22, 12th year of the Horeki era. He was 22 years old. He was buried in Tsukinowa Mausoleum in Kyoto. In the latter half of his 15-year reign, the so-called Horeki Incident (1758) by Takeuchi Shikibu occurred. The Emperor, who had been expected to be wise since his boyhood by his courtiers, received lectures on the Nihon Shoki, a sacred text as believed by Shikibu, from his close attendant Tokudaiji Kimiki and others. However, former regent Ichijo Michika and others saw this movement as dangerous and lobbied Seikimon'in to punish the close aides and remove them from the Emperor's entourage.

[Tadao Yamada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸中期の天皇（在位1747～62）。名は遐仁(とおひと)。幼時、八穂宮、のち茶地(さち)宮。桜町(さくらまち)天皇の第1皇子。生母は開明門院（姉小路実武の女(むすめ)定子）、嫡母は青綺門院(せいきもんいん)（桜町天皇女御(にょうご)）。1747年（延享4）3月立太子、5月受禅、9月即位。宝暦(ほうれき)12年7月22日没。22歳。京都月輪(つきのわ)陵に葬られる。15年余りの在位中の後半に、竹内式部(たけのうちしきぶ)のいわゆる宝暦事件（1758）が起きた。廷臣らから少年時代以来賢明さを期待されていた天皇は、式部の説による神書＝『日本書紀』の進講を近習(きんじゅ)の徳大寺公城(きみき)らから受けたが、この動きを危険視した前関白一条道香(みちか)らは青綺門院に働きかけ、近臣らを処罰して天皇の側近から一掃した。

［山田忠雄］

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