Empress Meishō (明正天皇 Meishō Tennō) (January 9, 1624 - December 4, 1696) was the 109th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from December 22, 1629 to November 14, 1643. Her personal name was Okiko (興子) and her title before ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne was Onna Kazu no miya (女一宮).

Genealogy

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She was the 2nd daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Her mother was Tokugawa Kazuko, daughter of the 2nd shōgun, Tokugawa Hidetada. She had no children of her own.

Name

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Her name was derived by combining the names of two previous empresses, Empress Gemmei (707-715) and her daughter Empress Genshō (715-724).

Life

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In 1629, she became Empress after her father, Emperor Go-Mizunoo suddenly abdicated in the Purple Clothes Incident. By her enthronement, she became the first woman to occupy the throne since Empress Shōtoku, who died in 770. During her reign, her father ruled in her name. In 1643, she abdicated in favor of her younger half-brother, who became Emperor Go-Kōmyō.

Eras of her reign

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• Kan'ei

1624 births | 1696 deaths | Japanese emperors | Empresses

Meisho | Meishō | 明正天皇 | Императрица Мэйсё | 明正天皇