Empress Meishō

, posthumously honored as , was the 109th monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Her reign lasted from 1629 to 1643. Her reign officially began when she was five years old and continued for fifteen years. It is believed that Meishō's father actually ruled in her name until she abdicated in favor of her younger half-brother. The emperor's consort and lady-in-waiting before the empress's birth was .

The Shōgun, Tokugawa Hidetada was eager for his daughter, Tokugawa Masako to join the imperial court. This was something that retired-shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu, her grandfather, also tried push for under the reign of Go-Mizunoo's father, Emperor Go-Yōzei. However, Yotsuko was pregnant and thus it would be taboo to accept a new consort. Yotsuko gave birth to a boy, Prince Kamo, however soon after Yotsuko fell pregnant again, this time giving birth to a girl. The Emperor, however, was dissatisfied with the Shōgun's involvement in imperial affairs. Masako's placement in court furthermore was another way for the Shōgun to control the Emperor.

Pre-ascension Empress Meishō was born in 1624 as Princess Okiko to Emperor Go-Mizunoo and his wife Tokugawa Masako.

Following her birth Masako was promoted to the rank of empress consort. Sukehito was quickly made crown prince but died in 1628.

Tokugawa Masako would have one more son, however, in order to prevent the Emperor from having any male heirs and thus abdicating, the Shōgun ditched his desire of a Tokugawa emperor and forced Masako to give up her child to Prince Hachijō Toshihito. The boy would die soon after, Thus, the Emperor sought to abdicate in secret, and with no male heirs, did so in 1629 resorting to abdicating in favour of his daughter.

The Empress's reign was uneventful, with her father handling matters of state.

Tokugawa Masako, who had given birth to her last surviving child, , in 1632, adopted Prince Tsuguhito and he was declared Crown Prince. The following year in 1643, Empress Meishō abdicated. Her personal name is unknown. , and half-brother Emperor Go-Kōmyō

Post-reign and death

Upon her abdication she received the title Daijō Tennō. In 1692 her 70th birthday saw many celebrations with two paintings made, now considered important cultural properties.

Empress Meishō died aged 72 in 1694. Kan'ei (1624–1644)

Ancestry