Editing Emperor Uda (section)

==Traditional narrative==

===Name  and legacy===
Before his ascension to the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]], his personal name (''[[imina]]'')<ref>Brown, pp. 264; prior to [[Emperor Jōmei]], the personal names of the emperors were very long and people did not generally use them.  The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.</ref> was {{Nihongo|Sadami|定省}}<ref>Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  p. 125]; Brown, p. 289; Varley, 175.</ref> or ''Chōjiin-tei''.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 8.</ref>

Emperor Uda was the third son of [[Emperor Kōkō]].  His mother was Empress Dowager Hanshi, a daughter of Prince Nakano (who was himself a son of [[Emperor Kanmu]]).<ref>Varley, p. 175.</ref> Uda had five Imperial consorts and 20 Imperial children.<ref name="b289">Brown, p. 289.</ref>  Particularly important sons include:

* [[Emperor Daigo|Prince Atsuhito]] (884–930)
* [[:ja:敦実親王|Prince Atsuzane]] {{Nihongo|2=敦実親王}} (893–967)<ref>Kitagawa, Hiroshi ''et al.'' (1975). ''The Tale of the Heike'', p. 503.</ref>

===Historical background===

In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the ''[[Japanese clans|Gempeitōkitsu]]'' {{Nihongo|2=源平藤橘}}. One of these clans, the [[Minamoto clan]] {{Nihongo|2=源氏}}, is also known as Genji. Some of Uda's grandchildren were granted the surname ''Minamoto'', the most used surname for former Japanese royalty. In order to distinguish Uda's descendants from other Genji, they became known as the [[Uda Genji]] {{Nihongo|2=宇多源氏}}, some of which moved to [[Ōmi Province]] and became known as [[Sasaki clan]] {{Nihongo|2=佐々木氏}} or [[:ja:近江源氏|Ōmi Genji]] {{Nihongo|2=近江源氏}}.

Among the Uda Genji, [[Minamoto no Masanobu|Minamoto no Masazane]] {{Nihongo|2=源雅信}}, a son of [[:ja:敦実親王|Prince Atsumi]] {{Nihongo|2=敦実親王}} succeeded in the court. Masazane became ''[[sadaijin]]'' (Minister of the Left).  One of Masazane's daughters, Minamoto no Rinshi {{Nihongo|2=源倫子}} married [[Fujiwara no Michinaga]] and from this marriage three empresses dowagers and two regents (''sesshō'') were born.

From Masanobu, several [[kuge]] families originated including the Niwata, Ayanokōji, Itsutsuji, Ōhara and Jikōji. From his fourth son Sukeyosi, the Sasaki clan originated, and thus Kyōgoku clan originated. These descendants are known as Ōmi Genji today. From this line, [[Sasaki Takauji]] made a success at the Muromachi shogunate and the [[Amago clan]] originated from his brother.

===Events of Uda's life===
Uda's father, Emperor Kōkō, demoted his sons from the rank of imperial royals to that of subjects in order to reduce the state expenses, as well as their political influence. Sadami was given the clan name of [[Minamoto]] and named Minamoto no Sadami. Later, in 887, when  Kōkō needed to appoint his successor, Sadami was once again promoted to the Imperial Prince rank with support of ''[[Sessho and Kampaku|kampaku]]'' [[Fujiwara no Mototsune]], since Sadami was adopted by a half-sister of Mototsune.  After the death of his father in November of that year, Sadami''-shinnō'' ascended to the throne.

* '''September 17, 887''' (''[[Ninna]] 3, 26th day of the 8th month'')<!-- [http://web.me.com/meyer.eva/www.yukikurete.de/nengo_calc.htm   NengoCalc] 仁和三年八月二十六日 -->:  Emperor Kōkō died; and his third son received the succession (''senso'').  Shortly thereafter, Emperor Uda formally acceded to the throne (''sokui'').<ref>Brown, p. 289; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of ''senso'' is unrecognized prior to [[Emperor Tenji]]; and all sovereigns except [[Empress Jitō|Jitō]], [[Emperor Yōzei|Yōzei]], [[Emperor Go-Toba|Go-Toba]], and [[Emperor Fushimi|Fushimi]] have ''senso'' and ''sokui'' in the same year until the reign of [[Emperor Go-Murakami]].</ref>
* '''December 5, 887''' (''Ninna 3, 17th day of the 11th month''): Mototsune asked Uda for permission to retire from his duties; but the emperor is said to have responded, "My youth limits my ability to govern; and if you stop offering me your good counsel, I will be obliged to abdicate and to retire to a monastery."  Therefore, Mototsune continued to serve as the new emperor's ''kampaku''.<ref name="t126">Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  p. 126.]</ref>
[[Image:Ninnaji Garden.jpg|thumb|250px|A garden at Ninnaji]]
* '''888''' (''Ninna 4, 8th month''): Construction of the newly created Buddhist temple of {{Nihongo|'''[[Ninna-ji]]'''|仁和寺}} was completed; and a former disciple of [[Kōbō-daishi]] was installed as the new abbot.<ref name="t126"/>
* '''889''' (''[[Kanpyō (era)|Kanpyō]] 1, 10th month''):  The former emperor [[Yōzei]] became deranged, and afflicted by mental illness. Yōzei would enter the palace and address courtiers he would meet with the greatest rudeness. He became increasingly furious.  He garroted women with the strings of musical instruments and then threw the bodies into a lake.  While riding on horseback, he directed his mount to run over people.  Sometimes he simply disappeared into the mountains where he chased wild boars and red deer.<ref>Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  p. 127.]</ref>

In the beginning of Uda's reign, Mototsune held the office of ''kampaku'' (or chancellor). Emperor Uda's reign is marked by a prolonged struggle to reassert power by the Imperial Family away from the increasing influence of the Fujiwara, beginning with the death of Mototsune in 891.  Records show that shortly thereafter, Emperor Uda assigned scholars Sukeyo and Kiyoyuki, supporters of Mototsune, to provincial posts in the remote provinces of [[Mutsu Province|Mutsu]] and [[Higo Province|Higo]] respectively.<ref name="borgen">{{cite book | last = Borgen | first = Robert | title = Sugawara no Michizane and the Early Heian Court | publisher = University of Hawaii Press | year = 1994 | isbn = 978-0-8248-1590-5 | pages=201–216}}</ref>  Meanwhile, non-Fujiwara officials mainly from the [[Minamoto]] family were promoted to prominent ranks, while his trusted counselor, [[Sugawara no Michizane]] rapidly rose in rank within five years to reach the third rank in the court, and supervision of the Crown Prince's household.<ref name="borgen" />  Meanwhile, Mototsune's son and heir, [[Fujiwara no Tokihira]], rose in rank, but only just enough to prevent an open power struggle.

Meanwhile, Emperor Uda attempted to return Court politics to the original spirit envisioned in the [[Ritsuryō]] Codes, while reviving intellectual interest in Confucian doctrine and culture.  In the seventh month of 896, Emperor Uda dispatched Sugawara no Michizane to review prisoners in the capitol and provide a general amnesty for the wrongfully accused, in keeping with Chinese practices.  Emperor Uda also issued edicts reinforcing peasant land rights from encroachment by powerful families in the capital or monastic institutions, while auditing tax collections made in the provinces.<ref name="borgen" />

Emperor Uda stopped the practice of sending ambassadors to China {{Nihongo||遣唐使|4='ken-toh-shi'}}.  The emperor's decision was informed by what he understood as persuasive counsel from [[Sugawara Michizane]].<ref>Kitagawa, H. (1975). ''The Tale of the Heike'', p. 222.</ref>

The Special Festival of the [[Kamo Shrine]] was first held during Uda's reign.<ref name="b290">Brown, p. 290.</ref>

{{Rquote|right|When determining promotions and rewards for palace guards who have been on duty long hours and have good reputations, do not hold rigidly to precedents; just avoid the words of women and the advice of lesser men&nbsp;... When foreign [literally "barbarian"] guests must be received, greet them from behind a curtain; do not face upon them directly.  I have already made an error with Li Huan [a Chinese summoned to court in 896]&nbsp;... Do not select as provincial officials those who request appointment.  Only allow to serve those who have experience in the various offices and are known to be effective.|Emperor Uda|<ref name="borgen" />}}

In 897, Uda abdicated in favor of his eldest son, Prince Atsuhito, who would later come to be known as [[Emperor Daigo]].  Uda left behind an hortatory will or testament which offered general admonitions or [[precepts]]<ref>Compare [[s:Ieyasu precepts|Precepts of Tokugawa Ieyasu]]</ref>  for his son's guidance (''see excerpt at right'').  The document praises Fujiwara no Tokihira as an advisor but cautions against his womanizing; and Sugawara no Michizane is praised as Uda's mentor.  Both were assigned by Emperor Uda to look after his son until the latter reach maturity.

Three years later, he entered the Buddhist priesthood at age 34 in 900.<ref name = "b290"/>  Having founded the temple at [[Ninnaji|Ninna-ji]], Uda made it his new home after his abdication.

[[Image:Go-shichi no kiri crest 2.svg|thumb|left|upright|Decorative emblems (''kiri'') of the Hosokawa clan are found at [[Ryōan-ji]].  Uda is amongst six other emperors entombed near what had been the residence of [[Hosokawa Katsumoto]] before the [[Ōnin War]].]]  His Buddhist name was Kongō Kaku.<ref name = "b290"/>  He was sometimes called "the Cloistered Emperor of Teiji {{Nihongo|2=亭子の帝}}", because the name of the Buddhist hall where he resided after becoming a priest was called [[Teijiin]].<ref name="b289"/>

Uda died in 931 (''[[Shōhei]] 1, 19th day of the 7th month'') at the age of 65.<ref>Brown, p. 295; Varley, p. 179.</ref>

The actual site of Uda's [[grave (burial)|grave]] is known.<ref name="kunaicho"/>  This emperor is traditionally venerated at a [[memorial]] [[Shinto]] [[shrine]] (''misasagi'') at Kyoto.

The [[Imperial Household Agency]] designates this location as Uda's [[mausoleum]].  It is formally named ''Kaguragaoka no Higashi no misasagi''.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.</ref>

The former emperor is buried amongst the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryōan-ji Temple in Kyoto.<ref>The "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji are the burial places of Uda, [[Emperor Kazan|Kazan]], [[Emperor Ichijō|Ichijō]], [[Emperor Go-Suzaku|Go-Suzaku]], [[Emperor Go-Reizei|Go-Reizei]], [[Emperor Go-Sanjō|Go-Sanjō]], and [[Emperor Horikawa|Horikawa]].</ref> The mound which commemorates the Hosokawa Emperor Uda is today named ''O-uchiyama''.  The emperor's burial place would have been quite humble in the period after Uda died.  These tombs reached their present state as a result of the 19th century restoration of imperial sepulchers which were ordered by Emperor Meiji.<ref>Moscher, Gouverneur. (1978). ''Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide'', pp. 277–278.</ref>

===Kugyō===
{{Nihongo|''[[Kugyō]]''|公卿}} is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the [[Emperor of Japan]] in pre-[[Meiji period|Meiji]] eras.<ref>Furugosho: [http://www.furugosho.com/moyenage/empereur-g2.htm ''Kugyō'' of Uda''-tennō.'']</ref>

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time.  These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career.

During Uda's reign, this apex of the ''[[Daijō-kan]]'' included:

* ''[[Kampaku]]'', [[Fujiwara no Mototsune]] {{Nihongo|2=藤原基経|4=836–891}}<ref name = "b290"/>
* ''[[Daijō-daijin]]'', Fujiwara no Mototsune<ref name="b290"/>
* ''[[Sadaijin]]'', Minamoto no Tōru {{Nihongo|2=源融}}
* ''Sadaijin'', Fujiwara no Yoshiyo {{Nihongo|2=藤原良世}}
* ''[[Udaijin]]'', Minamoto no Masaru {{Nihongo|2=源多}}
* ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Yoshiyo {{Nihongo|2=藤原良世}}
* ''Udaijin'', [[Minamoto Yoshiari|Minamoto no Yoshiari]] {{Nihongo|2=源能有}}
* ''[[Naidaijin]]'' (not appointed)
* ''[[Dainagon]]''