Princess Sojun

Princess Sôjun's grave, near the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto

• Born: 1816/11/27
• Died: 1890/6/13
• Japanese: 宗諄女王 (Soujun joou)

Princess Sôjun was an imperial princess active in the Bakumatsu and Meiji periods.

A daughter of Imperial Prince Sadayoshi, she was adopted by Emperor Kôkaku. She spent most of her life as a nun at the monseki temple Reikan-ji, from 1823 to 1873. At around age 56, she returned to secular life as a princess of the Fushimi-no-miya princely house, but then became a nun again seven years later, in 1880, becoming involved in Meiji government efforts to spread and deepen belief in and practice of State Shinto.

References

• "Sôjun joô," Nihon jinmei daijiten.