Emperor Montoku

The 55th Emperor (reigned 850-858). First son of Emperor Ninmyo. His mother was Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu's daughter Junshi. His given name was Michiyasu. When Crown Prince Tsunesada was deposed in the Jowa Incident (842), he became Crown Prince instead. After ascending to the throne, he tried to appoint Prince Koretaka, the first son born to Kinonatora's daughter Shizuko, as the next Crown Prince, but was opposed by the Fujiwara clan, so Prince Korehito (later Emperor Seiwa) was appointed instead. The emperor did not like sightseeing tours, but devoted himself to politics and began compiling the Shoku Nihongi (Continuation of the Chronicles of Japan). However, he was ill and often neglected, so he handed over real political power to Fujiwara no Yoshifusa and passed away at the age of 32. His tomb is in Tamura Tomb in Uzumasa, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. It contains the 10-volume Nihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku (Chronicles of Emperor Montoku), a chronological record of the history of the emperor's reign (completed in 879).

[Toshihiko Fukui]

"Complete History of Japan 3: Ancient Times II" by Kunihiko Fujiki (1959, University of Tokyo Press) " "Ban Yoshio" by Ariyoshi Saeki (1970, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

第55代天皇（在位850～858）。仁明(にんみょう)天皇の第一皇子。母は藤原冬嗣(ふゆつぐ)の娘順子(じゅんし)。諱(いみな)は道康(みちやす)。承和(じょうわ)の変（842）で皇太子恒貞(つねさだ)親王が廃されたので、かわって皇太子となり、即位後は次の皇太子に紀名虎(きのなとら)の娘静子の産んだ第一皇子の惟喬(これたか)親王をたてようとしたが、藤原氏の反対にあい、惟仁(これひと)親王（後の清和(せいわ)天皇）をたてた。天皇は巡幸遊覧を好まず政治に励み、また『続(しょく)日本後紀』の編纂(へんさん)を開始したが、病弱で万機を廃することが多く、政治の実権は藤原良房(よしふさ)にゆだね32歳で崩御。陵墓は京都市右京区太秦(うずまさ)の田邑(たむら)陵。天皇一代の歴史を編年体で記した『日本文徳天皇実録』10巻（879完成）がある。

［福井俊彦］

『藤木邦彦著『日本全史3　古代Ⅱ』（1959・東京大学出版会）』▽『佐伯有清著『伴善男』（1970・吉川弘文館）』

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