End of The Heian Period
Around the retired emperor, a variant Imperial court (In no Chō (院庁) evolved around the retired emperors.; The will of the retired emperor was put into effect through Inzen (院宣) and In no Chō Kudashi Bumi (院庁下文). Cloistered emperors also had their own army, the Hokumen no Bushi (北面の武士). The creation of this army led to the rise in power of the Taira clan.
The end of the Heian period was marked with a succession of cloistered emperors. There could be several retired emperors living at the same time.
There was only one ruler (emperor or retired emperor), the Chiten (治天). It is important to understand that the Chiten was not ruling instead of the Emperor, but was exercising his power of patriarch of the Imperial family. The insei system can also be seen as a means of stabilization.
The Hōgen Rebellion, at the death of Toba, was nonetheless an example of direct opposition between the Emperor and the retired Emperor.
The end of the rule of Go-Shirakawa was marked by civil war (the Genpei War) and the rise of Minamoto no Yoritomo as the first Kamakura Shogun.
Read more about this topic: Cloistered Rule
Famous quotes containing the word period:
“Remember how often you have postponed minding your interest, and let slip those opportunities the gods have given you. It is now high time to consider what sort of world you are part of, and from what kind of governor of it you are descended; that you have a set period assigned you to act in, and unless you improve it to brighten and compose your thoughts, it will quickly run off with you, and be lost beyond recovery.”
—Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121–180)