En'yū

was the 64th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

En'yū's reign spanned the years from 969 through 984.

Biography Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Morihira-shinnō.

Morihira-shinnō was the fifth son of Emperor Murakami by the empress consort Anshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Morosuke, therefore the brother of Emperor Reizei.

In 967, Morihira-shinnō was appointed as the crown prince, bypassing his elder brother by the same mother, since his brother had no support from the Fujiwara clan.

En'yū had five Empresses or Imperial consorts and one Imperial son.

Events of En'yū's life

27 September 969 (Anna 2, 13th day of the 8th month) : In the 3rd year of Emperor Reizei's reign (冷泉天皇三年), he abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by a younger brother. 5 November 969 (Anna 2, 23rd day of the 9th month): Emperor En'yu is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’). 8 June 976 (Ten'en 2, 11th day of the 5th month) : The Imperial Palace burned down; and the Sacred Mirror was blackened to such an extent that it reflected no light. who was another brother of his mother. He made the daughter of Kanemichi the empress consort, though she bore no children. Senshi and her father Kaneie were angry at this elevation of their rival and were absent from the court for a long time, staying at the mansion of Kaneie with the child.

Imperial processions to the Hachiman and Hirano Shrines were first made during the reign of Emperor En'yū.

Kugyō is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During En'yū's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included: Kampaku, Ōno-no-miya Fujiwara no Saneyori (藤原実頼), 900–970. Kampaku, Fujiwara no Yoritada (藤原頼忠), 924–989. Anna (968–970) Tenroku (970–973) Ten'en (973–976) Jōgen (976–978) Tengen (978–983) Eikan (983–985)

Consorts and children Empress (Chūgū): Fujiwara no Koshi (藤原媓子), Fujiwara no Kanemichi’s daughter

Empress (Chūgū): Fujiwara no Junshi/Nobuko (藤原遵子), Fujiwara no Yoritada’s daughter

Consort (Nyōgo): Imperial Princess Sonshi (尊子内親王; 966–985), Emperor Reizei’s daughter

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Senshi (藤原詮子; 962–1002), Fujiwara no Kaneie’s daughter; later, Nyoin (女院) 'Higashi-sanjō In' (東三条院) First Son: Imperial Prince Yasuhito (懐仁親王) later Emperor Ichijō

Court Attendant (Koui): Chujo-Miyasudokoro (中将御息所), Fujiwara no Kanetada's daughter

Court Attendant (Koui): Shōshō kōui (少将更衣)

Ancestry