Emperor Takakura - Events of Takakura's Life

Events of Takakura's Life

Although Takakura was formally enthroned, the reality was that government affairs were controlled by the Emperor's father and his father-in-law.

• 1168 (Nin'an 3, 19th day of the 2nd month): In the 3rd year of Rokujō-tennō 's reign (六条天皇3年), the emperor was deposed by his grandfather, and the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by his cousin, the third son of the retired-Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
• 1168 (Nin'an 3, 19th day of the 2nd month): Emperor Takakura is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’), and he is proclaimed emperor.

Takakura had his own views on the role of Emperor. He is said to have written:

"The Emperor is a ship. His subjects are water. The water enables a ship to float well, but sometimes the vessel is capsized by it. His subjects can sustain an Emperor well, but sometimes they overthrow him."

The ex-Emperor Go-Shirakawa, who was the Emperor's father, exercised the powers attendant the well-settled patterns of cloistered rule. Taira no Kiyomori, who was the father of the Empress, did whatever he pleased as de facto Regent.

• 1172 (Jōan 2, 10th day of the 2nd month): Taira Kiyomori’s daughter, Tokuko, becomes Emperor Takakura’s consort.

• May 27, 1177 (Jishō 1, 28th day of the 4th month): A great fire in the capital was spread by high winds; and the palace was reduced to cinders.

• 1178 (Jishō 2, 12th day of the 11th month): Takakura's consort, Taira-no Tokuko, gave birth to a son. Kiyomori, the father of the Empress, rejoiced; and all the officers of the court congratulated the parents. In the next month, this infant was declared heir to Emperor Takakura.
• 1180 (Jisho 4, 21st day of the 2nd month): Emperor Takakura abdicated.
• 1180 (Jisho 4, 22nd day of the 4th month): Emperor Antoku’s coronation ceremony.
• 1180 (Jisho 4, 2nd day of the 6th month): Former-emperor Go-Shirakawa-in, former-emperor Takakura-in and Emperor Antoku leave Kyoto for Fukuhara-kyō.
• 1180 (Jisho 4, 26th day of the 11th month): The capital is moved back to Kyoto from Fukuhara.
• 1180 (Jisho 4): A devastating whirlwind causes havoc in Heian-kyo, the capital.
• 1181 (Jisho 5, 14th day of the 1st month): Emperor Takakura died.

Soon after the birth of Takakura's son, Tokihito-shinnō, the Emperor was pressured to abdicate in favor of that newborn son. The one-year-old infant would become Emperor Antoku.