Shijō Sadako
Shijō Sadako 四条貞子 | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Fujiwara no Sadako (藤原貞子) |
| Born | 1196 Japan |
| Died | 22 October 1302 (aged 105–106) Japan |
| Noble family | Shijō clan (branch of the Fujiwara Hok-ke) |
| Spouse | Saionji Saneuji |
Issue | |
| Father | Shijō Takahira |
| Mother | Dainagon Sanmi |
Shijō Sadako (四条貞子) was a Japanese noblewoman born in 1196 to Shijō Takahira and Dainagon Sanmi.[1][2] She had two daughters, both of whom became empress consorts. She is best remembered for her long life, as she lived to 106.[1]
Life
Shijō Sadako was born in 1196 to Shijō Takahira and Dainagon Sanmi.[1][2] Sadako married Saionji Saneuji, and had two daughters, both of whom became empress consorts.[3]
She became the wet nurse of Emperor Shijō; however, Shijō died in an accident after attempting to trip two court ladies with talc.[4][5][6]
A conflict ensued over succession, with Prince Kunihito ultimately winning.[7] The court nobles initially opposed Kunihito, and so Saionji Kintsune enthroned the prince in the house of Sadako's brother.[7] Sadako's daughter, Saionji Kisshi, also married the new emperor, Go-Saga.[1][4]
As she got older, Sadako built a new residence in Kitayama which was described as a magnificent mansion.[4]
In 1282 she performed a pre-death memorial service for herself, and the prayer still exists as an Important Cultural Property.[8]
Her 90th birthday saw a grand celebration at her manor.[8] She died in 1302, aged 106.[1]
Age
Traditionally, her age has been listed as 107.[1] This reflects the traditional Japanese age reckoning, under which a person was one year old at birth.[9] In the traditional Japanese calendar, Sadako was born in Kenkyū 7 (1196) and died in Shōan 4 (1302) making her 105 or 106.[1] The age of 106 is generally accepted. She was the oldest Japanese person to have lived up to that point.[4][10]
Descendants
Through her daughter Kisshi, she lived to be the grandmother of two emperors, great-grandmother of two more, and great-great-grandmother of a further two, as well as great-grandmother of one shōgun.[4] The following are the descendants she lived to see become emperor and shōgun:
- Emperor Go-Fukakusa (r. 16 February 1246 – 9 January 1260)
- Emperor Fushimi (r. 27 November 1287 – 30 August 1298)
- Emperor Go-Fushimi (r. 30 August 1298 – 2 March 1301)
- Shōgun Prince Hisaaki (r. 24 October 1289 – 20 August 1308)
- Emperor Fushimi (r. 27 November 1287 – 30 August 1298)
- Emperor Kameyama (r. 9 January 1260 – 6 March 1274)
- Emperor Go-Uda (r. 6 March 1274 – 27 November 1287)
- Emperor Go-Nijō (r. 2 March 1301 – 10 September 1308)
- Emperor Go-Uda (r. 6 March 1274 – 27 November 1287)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 日本人名大辞典+Plus, デジタル版. "今林准后(いまばやしじゅごう)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-24.
- 1 2 "系図纂要". www.digital.archives.go.jp. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
- ↑ 小西瑞恵 (2000). 中世都市共同体の研究 (in Japanese). 思文閣出版. ISBN 978-4-7842-1026-8.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "京都歴史研究會 清盛の曾孫・最高齢の女性". rekikenkiroku.blog.fc2.com. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
- ↑ Takekoshi, Yosaburo (2016-04-01). The Economic Aspects of the History of the Civilization of Japan. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-52373-1.
- ↑ Easton, Robert (2010-07-15). Royal Dates With Destiny. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-2031-2.
- 1 2 "鎌倉幕府連署制の研究 | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館". 国立国会図書館サーチ（NDLサーチ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-24.
- 1 2 "e国宝 - 西園寺実氏夫人願文". emuseum.nich.go.jp. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
- ↑ "Kazoedoshi: Japan's Traditional Way of Counting People's Ages". nippon.com. 2026-07-14. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ 八幡和郎 (2008-05-23). 歴代天皇列伝: 日本人なら知っておきたい「国家の歴史」 (in Japanese). PHP研究所.