Tokuko mon-in Bifuku

Background

Tokuko Bifuku was born in 1117. She was the daughter of Nagazane Fujiwara.

Career

Emperor Toba favored her and she gave birth to a son who later became Emperor Konoe. She persuaded the retired emperor to induce Emperor Sutoku, his successor, to abdicate in favor of Konoe. When Emperor Konoe died young, she attributed his death to a curse of ex-Emperor Sutoku. She persuaded ex-Emperor Toba to make Goshirakawa the successor to Konoe, in preference to Prince Shigehito, the son of ex-Emperor Sutoku. Upon the death of ex-Emperor Toba, the Hogen-no-ran civil war broke out, partly due to the behind-the-scenes machinations of Bifuku-mon-in. She entered a convent in her late years, assuming the name of Shinshotei.

Connections

Father:

Nagazane Fujiwara

husband:

Toba