{{Short description|Emperor of Japan from 946 to 967}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Emperor Murakami<br>{{nobold|{{lang|ja|村上天皇}}}} | succession = Emperor of Japan | image = Emperor Murakami cropped.jpg | caption = Portrait from the Momoyama period | reign = 23 May 946 – 5 July 967 | coronation = 31 May 946 | cor-type = Japan | predecessor = Suzaku | successor = Reizei | posthumous name = ''Tsuigō'':<br/>Emperor Murakami ({{lang|ja|村上天皇}}) | spouse = Fujiwara no Anshi | issue = {{plainlist| * Emperor Reizei * Emperor En'yū}} | issue-link = #Consorts and children | issue-pipe = more... | royal house = Imperial House of Japan | father = Emperor Daigo | mother = Fujiwara no Onshi | birth_date = 14 July 924 | birth_place = Heian Kyō (Kyōto) | death_date = {{Death date and age|967|7|5|924|7|14|df=y}} | death_place = Seiryōden (清凉殿) of Inner Palace | burial_place = ''Murakami no misasagi'' (村上陵) (Kyōto) }}

{{nihongo|'''Emperor Murakami'''|村上天皇|Murakami-tennō| 14 July 924 – 5 July 967}} was the 62nd emperor of Japan,<ref name="kunaicho">Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō''): [http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/ryobo/guide/062/index.html 村上天皇 (62)]</ref> according to the traditional order of succession.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' pp. 70–71.</ref>

Murakami's reign spanned the years from 946 to his death in 967.<ref>Brown, Delmer ''et al.'' (1979). ''Gukanshō,'' pp. 295–298; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō Shōtōki,'' pp. 183–190; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). {{Google books|18oNAAAAIAAJ| ''Annales des empereurs du japon,'' pp. 139–142.|page=139}}</ref>

==Biography== Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (''imina'') was Nariakira''-shinnō'' (成明親王).<ref>Titsingh, p. 139; Varley, p. 183; Brown, p. 264; prior to Emperor Jomei, the personal names of the emperors (their ''imina'') were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.</ref>

Nariakira''-shinnō'' was the 14th son of Emperor Daigo, and the younger brother of Emperor Suzaku by another mother.<ref>Varley, p. 183.</ref>

Murakami had ten Empresses and Imperial consorts and 19 Imperial sons and daughters.<ref>Brown, p. 28.</ref>

==Events of Murakami's reign== In 944, he was appointed crown prince and ascended the throne two years later.

* '''16 May 946''' (''Tengyō 9, 13th day of the 4th month'')<!-- [http://web.me.com/meyer.eva/www.yukikurete.de/nengo_calc.htm NengoCalc] 天慶九年四月十三日 -->: In the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Suzaku (朱雀天皇十六年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (the ''senso'') was received by his younger brother, Nariakira-shinnō.<ref>Brown, p. 295; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of ''senso'' is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Toba II, and Fushimi have ''senso'' and ''sokui'' in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami.</ref> * '''31 May 946''' (''Tengyō 9, 28th day of the 4th month'')<!-- 天慶九年四月二十八日 -->: Shortly thereafter, Emperor Murakami, who was 21 years old, acceded to the throne (the ''sokui'').<ref>Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9 p. 139]; Varley, p. 44.</ref>

Murakami's maternal uncle Fujiwara no Tadahira remained as the ''Sessho'' regent until 949. After the death of Tadahira, there was no regent and although contemporaries praised Murakami as the emperor who governed the state directly, in reality the Fujiwara clan seized power and ruled Japan. The brothers Fujiwara no Saneyori and Fujiwara no Morosuke became the ''de facto'' rulers of Japan.

* '''23 October 949''' (''Tenryaku 3, 29th day of the 9th month'')<!-- 天暦三年九月二十九日 -->: The former-Emperor Yōzei died at the age of 82.<ref name="b296">Brown, p. 296.</ref> * '''951''' (''Tenryaku 5''): The emperor ordered the compilation of ''Gosen Wakashū''; this work was undertaken by the Five Men of the Pear Chamber under his patronage. * '''6 September 952''' (''Tenryaku 6, 15th day of the 8th month'')<!-- 天暦六年八月十五日 -->: The former-Emperor Suzaku died at the age of 30.<ref>Brown, pp. 296–297.</ref> * '''16 October 960''' (''Tentoku 4, 23rd day of the 9th month'')<!-- 天徳四年九月二十三日 -->: The Imperial palace burned down, the first time it had been ravaged by fire since the capital was removed from Nara to Heian-kyō in 794.<ref name="b297">Brown, p. 297.</ref>

Murakami was a central figure in Heian period culture. He was also a skilled flute<!--Which flute? added generic, still needs specific--> and koto (Japanese harp) player.

* '''5 July 967''' (''Kōhō 4, 25th day of the 5th month'')<!-- 康保四年五月二十五日 -->: The former-Emperor Murakami died at the age of 42.<ref name="b297"/>

The actual site of Murakami's grave is known.<ref name="kunaicho"/> This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (''misasagi'') at Kyoto.

The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Murakami's mausoleum. It is formally named ''Murakami no misasagi''<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.</ref>

===Kugyō=== {{nihongo|''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.<ref>[http://www.furugosho.com/moyenage/empereur-g2.htm ''kugyō'' of Murakami-tennō]</ref>

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 Murakami's reign, this apex of the ''Daijō-kan'' included: * ''Kampaku'', Fujiwara no Tadahira (藤原忠平), 880–949.<ref name="b296"/> * ''Daijō-daijin'', Fujiwara no Tadahira (藤原忠平).<ref name="b296"/> * ''Sadaijin'', Ono-no Miya Fujiwara no Saneyori (藤原実頼), 900–970.<ref>Brown, pp. 296–298.</ref> * ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Saneyori (藤原実頼). * ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Morosuke (藤原師輔), 908–960.<ref name="b296"/> * ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Akitada (藤原顕忠). * ''Udaijin'', {{ill|Minamoto no Taka-akira|ja|源高明}} (源高明). * ''Nadaijin'' * ''Dainagon''

==Eras of Murakami's reign== The years of murakami's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or ''nengō''.<ref>Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9 p. 139.]</ref> * ''Tengyō'' (938–947) * ''Tenryaku'' (947–957) * ''Tentoku'' (957–961) * ''Ōwa'' (961–964) * ''Kōhō'' (964–968)

==Consorts and children== Empress (Chugu): Fujiwara no Anshi/Yasuko (藤原安子; 927–964), Fujiwara no Morosuke‘s daughter *Prince: (946) *First Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Shōshi'' (承子内親王; 948–951) *Second son: Imperial Prince Norihira (憲平親王) later Emperor Reizei *Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tamehira (為平親王; 952–1010) *Seventh Daughter: Imperial Princess Sukeko (輔子内親王; 953–992), 32nd Saiō in Ise Shrine 968–969 *Ninth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Shishi'' (資子内親王; 955–1015) *Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Morihira (守平親王) later Emperor En'yu *Princess: (962) *Tenth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Senshi'' (選子内親王; 964–1035), 16th Saiin in Kamo Shrine 975–1031

Consort (Nyōgo): Princess ''Kishi'' (徽子女王; 929–985), Imperial Prince Shigeakira's daughter *Fourth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Kishi''/Noriko (規子内親王; 949–986), 34th Saiō in Ise Shrine 975–984 *Eighth Son: (962)

Consort (Nyōgo): Princess ''Sōshi''/Takako (荘子女王; 930–1008), Imperial Prince Yoakira's daughter *Sixth daughter: Imperial Princess ''Rakushi'' (楽子内親王; 952–998), 31st Saiō in Ise Shrine 955–967 *Ninth Son: Imperial Prince Tomohira (具平親王; 964–1009), called ''Nochi no Chūshoō'' (後中書王)

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no ''Jutsushi''/Nobuko (藤原述子; 933–947), Fujiwara no Saneyori‘s daughter

Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Hōshi (藤原芳子; d. 967), Fujiwara no Morotada‘s daughter *Sixth son: Imperial Prince Masahira (昌平親王; 956–961) *Tenth son: Imperial Prince Nagahira (永平親王; 965–988)

Court Attendant (Koui): Minamoto no Kazuko (源計子), Minamoto no Moroakira's daughter *Second Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Rishi'' (理子内親王; 948–960) *Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Seishi'' (盛子内親王; d. 998), married to Fujiwara no Akimitsu

Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara no Seihi (藤原正妃; d. 967), Fujiwara no Arihira's daughter *Third Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Hoshi'' (保子内親王; 949–987), married to Fujiwara no Kaneie *Third Prince: Imperial Prince Munehira (致平親王; 951–1041) *Fifth Prince: Imperial Prince Akihira (昭平親王; 954–1013)

Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara no Sukehime (藤原祐姫), Fujiwara no Motokata's daughter *First Son: Imperial Prince Hirohira (広平親王; 950–971) *Eighth Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Shūshi'' (緝子内親王; d. 970)

Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara no ''Shūshi'' (藤原脩子), Fujiwara no Asahira's daughter

Court Attendant (Koui): Fujiwara no Yūjo (藤原有序), Fujiwara no Arisuke's daughter

Court Lady: Fujiwara no Tōshi/Nariko (藤原登子; d. 975), Fujiwara no Morosuke‘s daughter; later married Imperial Prince Shigeakira

==Ancestry== <ref name=descent>{{cite web|url=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#emp062|title=Genealogy|website=Reichsarchiv|date=30 April 2010 |access-date=14 February 2018|language=ja}}</ref> {{ahnentafel |collapsed=yes |align=center |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |1= 1. '''Emperor Murakami''' |2= 2. Emperor Daigo (885-930) |3= 3. Fujiwara no Onshi (885-954) |4= 4. Emperor Uda (867-931) |5= 5. Fujiwara no Inshi (d. 896) |6= 6. Fujiwara no Mototsune (836-891) |7= 7. Princess Sōshi |8= 8. Emperor Kōkō (830-867) |9= 9. Princess Hanshi (833-900) |10=10. Fujiwara no Takafuji (838-900) |11=11. Miyaji no Tsurako |12=12. Fujiwara no Nagara (802-856) |13=13. Fujiwara no Otoharu |14=14. Prince Saneyasu (831-872) |15= }}

==Notes== [[File:Imperial Seal of Japan.svg|thumb|right|120px|Japanese Imperial kamon – a stylized chrysanthemum blossom]] {{Reflist}}

==References== {{Refbegin}} * Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). (Jien, c. 1220), ''Gukanshō (The Future and the Past, a translation and study of the Gukanshō, an interpretative history of Japan written in 1219).'' Berkeley: University of California Press. {{ISBN|0-520-03460-0}} * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Imperial+House+of+Japan ''The Imperial House of Japan.''] Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. {{OCLC|194887}} * Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). (Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652), ''Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&q=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran Annales des empereurs du Japon.]'' Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. * Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). (Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359), ''Jinnō Shōtōki ("A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa" translated by H. Paul Varley).'' New York: Columbia University Press. {{ISBN|0-231-04940-4}} {{Refend}}

==See also== * Emperor of Japan * List of Emperors of Japan * Imperial cult * Emperor Go-Murakami

{{s-start}} {{s-reg}} {{succession box | before=Emperor Suzaku | title=Emperor of Japan:<br>Murakami | after=Emperor Reizei | years=946–967}} {{s-end}}

{{Emperors of Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murakami}} Category:Emperors of Japan Category:926 births Category:967 deaths Category:Koto players Category:Japanese flautists Category:People of the Heian period Category:10th-century Japanese monarchs Category:Sons of Japanese emperors