Emperor Komei of Japan - Definition and Overview

Emperor Kōmei (孝明天皇) (July 22, 1831 - January 30, 1867) was the 121st imperial ruler of Japan. He reigned from March 10, 1846 to January 30, 1867. His personal name was Osahito (統仁) and his title was Hiro-no-miya (煕宮)

Geneology

Emperor Kōmei was the fourth son of Emperor Ninkō (仁孝天皇). His wife was Kujō Asako (九条夙子), posthumously titled Eishō Kōteigō (英照皇太后). The Meiji Emperor was his second son, by Nakayama Noshiko (中山慶子). Kōmei had 6 children, four daughters and two sons, but the future Meiji Emperor was the only one to survive past the age of four.

Life

His younger sister, Imperial Princess Kazu-no-miya Chikako (和宮親子内親王) was intended to marry Shōgun Tokugawa Iemochi as part of the Movement to Unite Court and Bakufu, but the shogun's death put an end to that.

He died suddenly at the age of 35. There is a theory that he was actually assassinated by the anti-Bakufu clique.

Name

The Kōmei Emperor was the last Emperor to be given a posthumous name chosen after his death. Beginning with the Meiji Emperor, posthumous names were chosen in advance, being identical to the reigns coinciding with their reigns.

Eras of his reign

• Kōka (弘化)
• Kaei (嘉永)
• Ansei (嘉永)
• Man'en (万延)
• Bunkyū (文久)
• Genji (元治)
• Keiō (慶応)