Fujiwara no Tashi (藤原多子; 1140 – January 12, 1202) was an empress consort of Japan. She was first the consort of Emperor Konoe,[1] and then of Emperor Nijō.[2] Because she became consort twice, she was called the "Empress of Two Generations."[3] Her birth father was Tokudaiji Kin'yoshi. Her adoptive father was Fujiwara no Yorinaga[1]
In 1155, Emperor Konoe died, and Fujiwara no Tashi lived in quiet retirement.[1] A few years later, when Emperor Nijo ascended the throne, he demanded that Fujiwara no Tashi - now around 22 years old, and renowned for her beauty - be appointed his empress consort. This caused debate and scandal amongst the council and court, as there had never in Japanese history been a woman who was consort to two emperors.[1][3] Nonetheless, Emperor Nijo insisted, and Fujiwara no Tashi became his empress consort; some chronicles state that she was reluctant to do so.[1]
She had several other names in her lifetime, these being Fujiwara no Ōiko, Fujiwara no Masuko and Fujiwara no Tadako.[4][5]
Life
Fujiwara no Yorinaga married Tokudaiji Kin'yoshi's eldest sister, Sachiko (Tashi's aunt), and raised Tashi as his daughter from a young age.
She was married to Emperor Konoe in 1150. After the Emperor's death in 1155, Tashi left the palace to live in seclusion.
In 1160, at the age of 21, she was called back to the palace by Emperor Nijō and became his empress. She is the only Japanese empress to have become one twice, and became the last known Grand empress dowager (太皇太后, taikōtaikō) of Japan.
When Emperor Nijō died in 1165, Tashi renounced the world to become a Buddhist priest. She became well known for her writing, art, and musical abilities. She died at the age of 62.
Notes
^ abcdeThe Tale of the Heike. Penguin. 2012-10-25. ISBN 978-1-101-60109-9.
^Japanese Biographical Index. Walter de Gruyter. 2013-02-06. ISBN 978-3-11-094798-4.
^ abTakekoshi, Yosaburo (2016-04-01). The Economic Aspects of the History of the Civilization of Japan. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-52373-1.
^"Fujiwara no Masuko • . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史". . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
^Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD1 individuals that were given the title of empress posthumously 2 individuals elevated to the rank of empress due to their position as honorary mother of the emperor 3 Shōshi served briefly as honorary empress for her younger brother Emperor Go-Daigo
Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD1 individuals that were given the title of empress dowager posthumously 2 title removed in 896 due to a suspected affair with head priest of the Toko-ji Temple; title posthumously restored in 943 3 was made High Empress or de jure empress dowager during her husband's reign
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