# Emperor Suzaku

Emperor Suzaku (朱雀天皇（すざくてんのう）, Suzaku-tennō, 7 September 921 – 6 September 952) was the 61st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Suzaku's reign spanned the years from 930 through 946.

## Biography

Before he ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Hiroakira-shinnō. He was also known as Yutaakira-shinnō (寛明親王（ゆたあきらしんのう）).
Hiroakira-shinnō was the 11th son of Emperor Daigo and Empress Consort Onshi, a daughter of the regent and great minister of the council of state, Fujiwara no Mototsune.
Suzaku had two Empresses or consorts and one Imperial daughter.

## Events of Suzaku's life

Suzaku's older brother died unexpectedly young, as did his brother's son. These untimely deaths opened the way for Suzaku to accede to the throne.
* 16 October 930 (Enchō 8, 22nd day of the 9th month): In the 33rd year of the reign of Daigo-tennō (醍醐天皇三十三年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (the senso) was received by his eleventh son, Hiroakira-shinnō (also known as Yutaakira-shinnō).
* 14 December 930 (Enchō 8, 22nd day of the 11th month): Emperor Suzaku, who was only eight years old, acceded to the throne (the sokui).
* 16 May 931 (Enchō 9, 26th day of the 4th month): The era name was changed to mark the beginning of the new emperor's reign.
* 5 August 931 (Jōhei 1, 19th day of the 7th month): The former-Emperor Uda (867–931) died at the age of 65.
* 6 September 932 (Jōhei 2, 4th day of the 8th month): The udaijin (Minister of the Right) Fujiwara no Sadakata died at the age of 65.
* 14 March 933 (Jōhei 3, 16th day of the 2nd month): The dainagon (Counselor) Fujiwara no Nakahira is named udaijin. Nakahira is the brother of sesshō (regent) Fujiwara no Tadahira.
* 933 (Jōhei 3, 12th month): Ten of the chief dignitaries of the empire went falcon-hunting together in Owari Province. Each of them was magnificent in his formal hunting attire.
* 935 (Jōhei 5): The Great Fundamental Central Hall (kompon chūdō) on Mt. Hiei burned down.
* 7 September 936 (Jōhei 6, 19th day of the 8th month): Fujiwara no Tadahira was named daijō-daijin (Prime Minister); and in this same period, Fujiwara no Nakahira was named sadaijin (Minister of the Left), and Fujiwara no Tsunesuke was named udaijin.
* 937 (Jōhei 7, 12th month): The former-Emperor Yōzei celebrated his 70th birthday.
* 938 (Jōhei 8, 4th month): Serial intermittent ground-tremors were felt in Heian-kyō from the 10th through the 29th days of this month.
* 940 (Tengyō 3): During his reign, Taira no Masakado raised a great insurrection in the Kantō region and declared himself the "New Emperor" (新皇). Still, his forces were defeated by Fujiwara no Hidesato and Taira no Sadamori, and he was decapitated.
* 941 (Tengyō 4): Fujiwara no Sumitomo staged a rebellion, having made a secret agreement with Taira no Masakado, but his army was defeated by Tachibana Tōyasu.
* 23 May 946 (Tengyō 9, 20th day of the 4th month): Suzaku abdicates, having ruled for 16 years. The emperor was succeeded by his younger brother, who would become Emperor Murakami.
* 952 (Tenryaku 6): Suzaku took ordination as a Buddhist monk at Ninna-ji.
* 6 September 952 (Tenryaku 6, 15th day of the 8th month): Suzaku died at the age of 30.
The actual site of Suzaku's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Kyoto.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Suzaku's mausoleum. It is formally named Daigo no misasagi in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto near the Buddhist temple, Daigo-ji.

### 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.
This elite group generally included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background had brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Suzaku's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
* Sesshō, Fujiwara no Tadahira, 880–949.
* Kampaku, Fujiwara no Tadahira.
* Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara no Tadahira.
* Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Tadahira .
* Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Nakahira.
* Udaijin, Fujiwara no Sadakata　 (藤原定方).
* Udaijin, Fujiwara no Nakahira.
* Udaijin, Fujiwara no Tsunesuke 　(藤原恒佐).
* Udaijin, Fujiwara no Saneyori, 900–970.
* Naidaijin
* Dainagon, Fujiwara no Nakahira.

## Eras of Suzaku's reign

The years of Suzaku's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
* Enchō (923–931)
* Jōhei (931–938)
* Tengyō (938–947)

## Ancestry

Ancestors of Emperor Suzaku :