Tennō Daigo

Background

Tennō Daigo was born on February 6, 885 in Kyoto, Japan. He was a son of Emperor Uda. His father was the Emperor Uda, he also had brothers Sugawara no Michizane and Fujiwara no Tokihira.

By retiring, Emperor Uda had hoped to be able with greater freedom to join with his son and his advisers, Sugawara no Michizane and Fujiwara no Tokihira, in handling affairs of state, but in 901 Fujiwara no Tokihira suddenly contrived to have Sugawara no Michizane exiled and gathered all power into his own hands.

Sugawara no Michizane died in exile, and when Fujiwara no Tokihira in turn died in 909, his death was believed to have been caused by the angry spirit of Michizane. In order to placate Michizane’s spirit, he was given the title Tenjin and worshiped at various Shinto shrines. His father, Emperor Uda, died a year after Daigo's death.

Career

He ascended the throne in 897 to become the sixtieth ruler on the occasion of his father’s abdication. By retiring, Emperor Uda had hoped to be able with greater freedom to join with his son and his advisers, Sugawara no Michizane and Fujiwara no Tokihira, in handling affairs of state, but in 901 Fujiwara no Tokihira suddenly contrived to have Sugawara no Michizane exiled and gathered all power into his own hands. Sugawara no Michizane died in exile, and when Fujiwara no Tokihira in turn died in 909, his death was believed to have been caused by the angry spirit of Michizane. In order to placate Michi- zane’s spirit, he was given the title Tenjin and worshiped at various Shinto shrines.

In the summer of 930 the palace was struck by lightning, and Emperor Daigo, as a result of the shock, fell sick and died three months later. His father, Emperor Uda, died the following year.

Achievements

• Among Emperor Daigo’s important political measures was a law promulgated in 902 that attempted to regulate the growth of shoen (private manors), and lie took other steps to improve the financial situation of the government and correct defects in the ritsuryo system. He also commanded Ki no Tsura- yuki and others to compile the Kokin wakashu, one of the most important anthologies of early Japanese court poetry.
  
  The reign of Emperor Daigo, referred to by one of its era names, Engi, is often linked with that of Emperor Murakami (reigned 946-967), also referred to by one of its era names, Tenryaku, and historians speak of "the Engi-Tenryaku peace,” meaning a time when the government was stable and orderly, a fit model for rulers of later times.