His reign coincided with the culmination of
Heian period culture and the apex of the power of the
Fujiwara clan. He ascended to the throne after a period of political instability that began within the
Fujiwara clan after they successfully eliminated the
Minamoto clan as a political rival. The internal power struggle that ensued within the Fujiwara saw the untimely ends of three emperors. Ichijō had been appointed
crown prince under
Emperor Kazan in 984. Two years later, after Emperor Kazan abdicated in 986, Ichijō ascended to the throne at the age of six. The young Emperor Ichijō was under the influence of his uncle
Fujiwara no Michinaga from the start of his reign, though Michinaga's true ascent to political dominance did not begin until 995 after the deaths of his older brothers and the exile of his political rival and nephew, Korechika. . On his return, Emperor Ichijō stopped his palanquin and greeted his mother, Senshi, who was watching the procession from a viewing platform. playing
biwa. These events took place during the
Kanna era (see
Japanese era name nengō 年号), after Emperor Kazan abdicated. The succession (
senso) was received by a cousin, the son of his father's younger brother. •
August 1, 986 (
Kanna 2, 23rd day of the 6th month): Emperor Ichijō is said to have acceded to the throne (
sokui). A son of
Emperor Reizei, who was older than Ichijō, was appointed crown prince. Kaneie became the regent (
Sesshō) and effectively ruled the state. After Kaneie died in 990, his first son and Ichijō's uncle
Fujiwara no Michitaka was appointed regent. •
March 1, 991 (
Shōryaku 2, 12th day of the 2nd month): The former-Emperor En'yū died at the age of 33. •
1008 (
Kankō 5, 8th day of the 2nd month): Kazan died at the age of 41. •
July 16, 1011 (
Kankō 8, 13th day of the 6th month): In the 25th year of Emperor Ichijō's reign (一条天皇二十五年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (
senso) was received by his cousin. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Sanjō is said to have acceded to the throne (
sokui). •
July 19, 1011 (
Kankō 8, 16th day of the 6th month): Emperor Ichijō takes tonsure as a Buddhist monk. •
July 25, 1011 (
Kankō 8, 22nd day of the 6th month): Emperor Ichijō died. Ichijō had two empress consorts. First was
Teishi (or Fujiwara no Sadako), a daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka. Second was
Shōshi (or Akiko), a daughter of
Fujiwara no Michinaga, a younger brother of Michitaka. Most people thought it impossible to have two empress consorts, but Michinaga claimed that the empress held two separate titles,
Chūgū and
Kōgō, which were different in principle and could therefore given to two different women. The courts of both empresses were known as centers of culture.
Sei Shōnagon, author of
The Pillow Book, was a lady in waiting to Teishi.
Murasaki Shikibu was a lady in waiting to Shoshi. There were other famous poets in the courts of the empresses. Ichijō loved literature and music. For this reason, high ranked courtiers felt the necessity for their daughter to hold cultural
salons with many skillful lady poets. Particularly he was fond of the flute. Ichijō was known for his temperate character and was beloved by his subjects. During Ichijō's reign, Imperial visits were first made to the following four shrines:
Kasuga,
Ōharano,
Matsunoo, and
Kitano; and in the years which followed, Emperors traditionally made yearly Imperial visits to these shrines and to three others:
Kamo,
Iwashimizu and
Hirano. . Ichijō is entombed near what had been the residence of
Hosokawa Katsumoto before the
Ōnin War. The actual site of Ichijō's
grave is known. Ichijō is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at
Ryōan-ji Temple in Kyoto. The mound which commemorates the Emperor Ichijō is today named
Kinugasa-yama. The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Ichijo died. These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers (
misasagi) which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.
Kugyō is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the
Emperor of Japan in pre-
Meiji eras. 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 Kazan's reign, this apex of the
Daijō-kan included: •
Sesshō,
Fujiwara no Kaneie (藤原兼家), 929–990. • Sesshō,
Fujiwara no Michitaka (藤原道隆), 953–995. •
Kampaku, Fujiwara no Kaneie. • Daijō-daijin,
Fujiwara no Tamemitsu(藤原為光), 942–992. •
Sadaijin,
Fujiwara no Michinaga (藤原道長), 966–1027. •
Udaijin, Fujiwara no Michikane (藤原道兼). •
Naidaijin, Fujiwara no Michitaka. • Naidaijin, Fujiwara no Korechika (藤原伊周), 973–1010. • Naidaijin, Kan'in Kinsue (藤原公季), 956–1029. •
Dainagon ==Eras of Ichijō's reign==