Marriage of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken (1869)

Emperor Meiji married Ichijō Masako, who adopted the name Haruko in 1867. The couple became engaged in September 1867, but the wedding was delayed until January 1869 due to mourning periods and political disturbances in Kyoto. The Imperial House subsequently moved to Tokyo in late 1869.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Mutsuhito, personal name of Emperor Meiji, was born on 3 November 1852 and reigned as Emperor of Japan from 30 January 1867 until his death in 1912. His accession in 1867, the year of the political struggle's climax, provides the context for his engagement to Ichijō Masako.

Engagement and Delays. Ichijō Masako, born in Heian-kyō, adopted the imperial given name Haruko in 1867. She and Emperor Meiji became engaged on 2 September 1867. The wedding was delayed due to mourning periods for Emperor Kōmei and her brother Saneyoshi, as well as political disturbances around Kyoto between 1867 and 1868.

Wedding and Relocation. The wedding was officially celebrated on 11 January 1869. Haruko became the first Imperial Consort in several centuries to receive the title of kōgō. On 8 November 1869, the Imperial House departed from Kyoto for the new capital of Tokyo, marking a significant shift in the imperial residence.

People involved

Sources

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