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Emperor Saga - Wikipedia

Emperor Saga
Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇, Saga-tennō, October 3, 786 – August 24,
842) was the 52nd emperor of Japan,[1] according to the traditional Emperor Saga
order of succession.[2] Saga's reign lasted from 809 to 823.[3] 嵯峨天皇

Traditional narrative
Saga was the second son of Emperor Kanmu and Fujiwara no
Otomuro.[4][5] His personal name was Kamino (神野).[6] Saga was an
"accomplished calligrapher" able to compose in Chinese who held the
first imperial poetry competitions (naien).[7] According to legend, he
was the first Japanese emperor to drink tea.

Saga is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household

Agency designates Saganoyamanoe no Misasagi ( 嵯 峨 山 上 陵 ,
Saganoyamanoe Imperial Mausoleum), in Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, as the
location of Saga's mausoleum.[1]

Emperor of Japan
Events of Saga's life
Reign May 18, 809 – May 29, 823
806 Saga became the crown prince at age 21. Enthronement May 30, 809
June 17, 809[8] (Daidō 4, 1st day of the 4th month[9]): In the 4th
Predecessor Heizei
year of Emperor Heizei's reign, he fell ill and abdicated; and the
succession (senso) was received by Kanmu's second son Saga, the Successor Junna
eldest son having become a Buddhist priest. Shortly thereafter,
Emperor Saga is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).[10] Born Kamino (神野)
Soon after his enthronement, Saga himself took ill. At the time the October 3, 784
retired Heizei had quarreled with his brother over the ideal location of Died August 24, 842 (aged 57)
the court, the latter preferring the Heian capital, while the former was Burial Saga no yamanoe no misasagi
convinced that a shift back to the Nara plain was necessary, and Heizei,
Spouse Tachibana no Kachiko
exploiting Saga's weakened health, seized the opportunity to foment a
rebellion, known historically as the Kusuko Incident; however, forces Issue Emperor Ninmyō
more... Minamoto no Makoto
loyal to Emperor Saga, led by taishōgun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro,
quickly defeated the Heizei rebels which thus limited the adverse Minamoto no Tōru
consequences which would have followed any broader conflict. [11] This
Posthumous name
same Tamuramaro is remembered in Aomori's annual Nebuta Matsuri
Tsuigō:
which feature a number of gigantic, specially-constructed, illuminated
Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇)
paper floats. These great lantern-structures are colorfully painted with
mythical figures; and teams of men carry them through the streets as House Imperial House of Japan
crowds shout encouragement. This early ninth century military leader is Father Emperor Kanmu
commemorated in this way because he is said to have ordered huge Mother Fujiwara no Otomuro
illuminated lanterns to be placed at the top of hills; and when the
curious Emishi approached these bright lights to investigate, they were captured and subdued by Tamuramaro's
men.[12]

August 24, 842 (Jōwa 9, 15th day of the 7th month[13]): Saga died at the age of 57.[14]

Eras of Saga's reign

The years of Saga's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name (nengō).[15]

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Daidō (806–810)
Kōnin (810–824)

Legacy
In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘). One
of these clans, the Minamoto clan are also known as Genji (源氏), and of these, the
Saga Genji ( 嵯 峨 源 氏 ) are descended from 52nd emperor Saga. Saga's son,
Minamoto no Tōru, is thought to be an inspiration for the protagonist of the novel
The Tale of Genji.[16]

Emperor Saga played an important role as a stalwart supporter of the Buddhist

monk Kūkai. The emperor helped Kūkai to establish the Shingon School of
Buddhism by granting him Tō-ji Temple in the capital Heian-kyō (present-day
Kyoto).[17]
Cry for noble Saichō (哭最澄上人),
which was written by Emperor Saga
Daikaku-ji
for Saichō's death. Saga was a
Daikaku-ji (大覚寺) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Ukyō-ku in Kyoto. The site scholar of the Chinese classics. He
was originally a residence of the emperor, and later various emperor conducted was also renowned as a skillful
their cloistered rule from here. The artificial lake of the temple, Ōsawa Pond, is calligrapher. Chinese calligraphic
influence was weakened during the
one of the oldest Japanese garden ponds to survive from the Heian period.[18]
Heian period; this text was an
example of the different way it was
The Saga Go-ryū school of ikebana has its headquarters in the temple and is
evolving in Japan.
named in his honour.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in
pre-Meiji eras.[19]

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose
experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Saga's reign (809–
823), this kugyō included:

Sadaijin
Udaijin, Fujiwara no Uchimaro (藤原内麿), 806–812.[5]
Udaijin, Fujiwara no Sonohito (藤原園人), 812–818.[5]
Udaijin, Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu (藤原冬嗣), 821–825.[5]
Udaijin, Tachibana no Ujikimi.[20]
Naidaijin
Dainagon

Consorts and children

Saga had 49 children with at least 30 different women. Many of the children received the surname Minamoto, thereby
removing them from royal succession.

Empress: Tachibana no Kachiko (橘嘉智子), also known as Empress Danrin (檀林皇后, Danrin-kōgō), Tachibana
no Kiyotomo's daughter.[21]

Second Son: Imperial Prince Masara (正良親王) later Emperor Ninmyō

Imperial Princess Seishi (正子内親王; 810–879), married to Emperor Junna
Imperial Princess Hideko (秀子内親王; d. 850)
Imperial Prince Hidera (秀良親王; 817–895)
Imperial Princess Toshiko (俊子内親王; d. 826)

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Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (芳子内親王; d. 836)

Imperial Princess Shigeko (繁子内親王; d. 865)
Hi (deposed): Imperial Princess Takatsu (高津内親王; d. 841), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter

Second Prince: Imperial Prince Nariyoshi (業良親王; d. 868)

Imperial Princess Nariko (業子内親王; d. 815)
Hi: Tajihi no Takako (多治比高子; 787–825), Tajihi no Ujimori's daughter
Bunin: Fujiwara no Onatsu (藤原緒夏; d. 855), Fujiwara no Uchimaro's daughter
Court lady (Naishi-no-kami): Kudara no Kyomyō (百済王慶命; d. 849), Kudara no Kyōshun's daughter

Minamoto no Yoshihime (源善姫; b. 814)

Minamoto no Sadamu (源定; 815–863)
Minamoto no Wakahime (源若姫)
Minamoto no Shizumu (源鎮; 824–881)
Nyōgo: Kudara no Kimyō (百済貴命; d. 851), Kudara no Shuntetsu's daughter

Imperial Prince Motora (基良親王; d. 831)

Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tadara (忠良親王; 819–876)
Imperial Princess Motoko (基子内親王; d. 831)
Nyōgo: Ōhara no Kiyoko (大原浄子; d. 841), Ōhara no Ietsugu's daughter

Tenth Daughter: Imperial Princess Ninshi (仁子内親王; d. 889), 15th Saiō in Ise Shrine 809–823
Koui: Iidaka no Yakatoji (飯高宅刀自), Iidaka Gakuashi

Minamoto no Tokiwa (源常; 812–854)

Minamoto no Akira (源明; 814–852/853)
Koui: Akishino no Koko (秋篠高子/康子), Akishino no Yasuhito's daughter

Minamoto no Kiyoshi (源清)

Koui: Yamada no Chikako (山田近子)

Minamoto no Hiraku(?) (源啓; 829–869)

Minamoto no Mituhime (源密姫)
Nyōgo: Princess Katano (交野女王), Prince Yamaguchi's daughter

Eighth Daughter: Imperial Princess Uchiko (有智子内親王; 807–847), 1st Saiin in Kamo Shrine 810–831
Court lady: Takashina no Kawako (高階河子), Takashina no Kiyoshina's daughter

Imperial Princess Sōshi (宗子内親王; d. 854)

Court lady: Hiroi no Otona's daughter

Seventh Son: Minamoto no Makoto (源信)

Court lady: Fuse no Musashiko (布勢武蔵子)

Minamoto no Sadahime (源貞姫; 810–880)

Minamoto no Hashihime (源端姫)
Court lady: Kamitsukeno clan's daughter

Minamoto no Hiromu (源弘; 812–863)

Court lady: Abe no Yanatsu's daughter

Minamoto no Yutaka (源寛; 813–876)

Court lady: Kasa no Tsugiko (笠継子), Kasa no Nakamori's daughter

Minamoto no Ikeru (源生; 821–872)

Court lady: Awata clan's daughter

Minamoto no Yasushi (源安; 822–853)

Court lady: Ōhara no Matako (大原全子), Ōhara no Mamuro's daughter
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Minamoto no Tōru (源融), Sadaijin

Minamoto no Tsutomu (源勤; 824–881)
Minamoto no Mitsuhime (源盈姫)
Court lady: Ki clan's daughter

Minamoto no Sarahime (源更姫)

Court lady: Kura no Kageko (内蔵影子)

Minamoto no Kamihime (源神姫)

Minamoto no Katahime (源容姫)
Minamoto no Agahime (源吾姫)
Court lady: Kannabi no Iseko (甘南備伊勢子)

Minamoto no Koehime (源声姫)

Court lady: Fun'ya no Fumiko (文屋文子), Fun'ya no Kugamaro's daughter

Imperial Princess Junshi (純子内親王; d. 863)

Imperial Princess Seishi (斉子内親王; d. 853), married to Prince Fujii (son of Emperor Kanmu)
Prince Atsushi (淳王)
Court lady: Tanaka clan's daughter

Minamoto no Sumu(?) (源澄)

Court lady: Koreyoshi no Sadamichi's daughter

Minamoto no Masaru (源勝)

Court lady: Ōnakatomi no Mineko (大中臣峯子)
Court lady: Tachibana no Haruko (橘春子)
Court lady: Nagaoka no Okanari's daughter

Minamoto no Sakashi(?) (源賢)

Court lady (Nyoju): Taima no Osadamaro's daughter

Minamoto no Kiyohime (源潔姫; 810–856), married to Fujiwara no Yoshifusa

Minamoto no Matahime (源全姫; 812–882), Naishi-no-kami (尚侍)
Lady-in-waiting: Sugawara Kanshi (菅原閑子)
(from unknown women)

Minamoto no Tsugu (?) (源継)

Minamoto no Yoshihime (源良姫)
Minamoto no Toshihime (源年姫)

Ancestry
[22]

Ancestors of Emperor Saga

8. Prince Shiki (d. 716)
4. Emperor Kōnin (709–782)
9. Ki no Tochihime (d. 709)
2. Emperor Kanmu (737-806)
10. Yamato no Ototsugu
5. Takano no Niigasa (c. 720-790)
11. Haji no Maimo
1. Emperor Saga
12. Fujiwara no Umakai (694-737)
6. Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu (716-777)

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13. Isonokami no Kunimina no Ōtoji
3. Fujiwara no Otomuro (760-790)
14. Abe no Nukamushi
7. Abe no Komina (d. 784)

See also
Emperor Go-Saga
Imperial cult

Notes
1. Emperor Saga, Saganoyamanoe Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency
2. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 63–64.
3. Brown and Ishida, pp. 280–282; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 151–163; Titsingh,
Isaac. (1834). (https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA97)Annales des
empereurs du Japon, pp. 97–102. (https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&pg
=PA97), p. 97, at Google Books
4. Varley, p. 151.
Japanese Imperial
5. Brown and Ishida, p. 280.
kamon — a
6. Titsingh, p. 96; Brown and Ishida, p. 280. stylized
7. Brown and Ishida, p. 281 chrysanthemum
8. Julian dates derived from NengoCalc (http://web.me.com/meyer.eva/www.yukikurete.de/nen blossom
go_calc.htm)
9. 大同四年五月一日
10. Titsingh, p. 96; Brown and Ishida, p. 280; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is
unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and
Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami.
11. Titsingh, p. 98; Varley, p. 151.
12. Boroff, Nicholas. National Geographic Traveler Japan, p. 156.
13. 承和九年七月十五日
14. Brown and Ishida, p. 282; Varley, p. 163.
15. Titsingh, p. 97.
16. Bargen, Doris G. (2015). Mapping Courtship and Kinship in Classical Japan: The Tale of
Genji and Its Predecessors (https://books.google.com/books?id=C1gEEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA23
0). University of Hawaii Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-8248-5733-2. "he has often been seen as
a historic model for Genji"
17. "About To-ji Temple" (https://www.toji.or.jp/en/about/index.html). www.toji.or.jp. Retrieved
February 19, 2023.
18. Young and Young, The Art of the Japanese Garden, pg. 72
19. Furugosho: kugyō of Saga-tennō (http://www.furugosho.com/moyenage/empereur-g2.htm)
20. Ponsonby-Fane, p. 319.
21. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 318–319.
22. "Genealogy" (https://reichsarchiv.jp/%e5%ae%b6%e7%b3%bb%e3%83%aa%e3%82%b9%
e3%83%88/%e5%a4%a9%e7%9a%87%e5%ae%b6#emp052). Reichsarchiv (in Japanese).
April 30, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

References
Giesen, Walter; Beck, Vera; Eisenschmid, Rainer (2004). Japan (https://books.google.com/books?id=PF8RgOwm
gwEC). Baedeker. ISBN 978-3-87504-432-4.
嵯峨山上

Imperial Household Agency (2004). 嵯峨天皇 嵯峨山上 (http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/ryobo/guide/052/index.html)

[Emperor Saga, Saganoyamanoe Imperial Mausoleum] (in Japanese). Retrieved February 4, 2011.
Brown, Delmer M.; Ishida, Ichirō (1979). The Future and the Past (https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJ
KIC) (a translation and study of the Gukanshō, an interpretive history of Japan written in 1219). Berkeley:
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University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0. OCLC 251325323 (https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/2513
25323).
Richard Arthur Brabazon Ponsonby-Fane (1959). The Imperial House of Japan (https://books.google.com/books?i
d=SLAeAAAAMAAJ). Ponsonby Memorial Society.
Rin-siyo, Siyun-zai (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon (https://archive.org/details/niponodaitsiran00ringoo
g). Oriental Translation Fund.
Chikafuza, Kitabatake (1980). A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=Bh-FQgAACAAJ). Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5.

External links
Another photo of Emperor Saga's mausoleum (http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~ryobo-youran/kyoto/ukyo/001.htm)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193118/http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~ryobo-youran/kyoto/ukyo/001.ht
m) September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

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