Changes

*''Born: [[1053]]''

*''Born: [[1053]]''

*''Died: [[1129]]''

*''Died: [[1129]]''

*''Japanese'': [[白河]] 天皇 ''(Shirakawa tennou)''

*''Japanese'': [[白河]] 天皇 ''(Shirakawa tennou)''

Emperor Shirakawa was an [[emperor]] of the mid-[[Heian period]], known for exerting his political influence even after retirement, marking the beginning of the [[Insei]] ("retired emperor system") period, in which retired emperors wielded considerable power, and the [[Fujiwara clan]] less than they had previously. He is also known for the construction, in [[1125]], of the [[Sanjo Palace|Sanjô Palace]], perhaps the most famous example today of the ''[[shinden zukuri]]'' architectural style of the period.

Emperor Shirakawa was an [[emperor]] of the mid-[[Heian period]], known for exerting his political influence even after retirement, marking the beginning of the [[Insei]] ("retired emperor system") period, in which retired emperors wielded considerable power, and the [[Fujiwara clan]] less than they had previously. He is also known for the construction, in [[1125]], of the [[Sanjo Palace|Sanjô Palace]], perhaps the most famous example today of the ''[[shinden-zukuri]]'' architectural style of the period.

Shirakawa was a son of [[Emperor Go-Sanjo|Emperor Go-Sanjô]] and grandson of [[Fujiwara no Yoshinobu]]. He succeeded his father as emperor in [[1072]]. His father-in-law [[Fujiwara no Morozane]] served as ''[[kanpaku]]'' for much of Shirakawa's reign, from [[1075]] until [[1086]].

Shirakawa was a son of [[Emperor Go-Sanjo|Emperor Go-Sanjô]] and grandson of [[Fujiwara no Yoshinobu]]. He succeeded his father as emperor in [[1072]]. His father-in-law [[Fujiwara no Morozane]] served as ''[[kanpaku]]'' for much of Shirakawa's reign, from [[1075]] until [[1086]].

Upon his retirement in [[1087]], and his son's accession to the throne as [[Emperor Horikawa]], Retired Emperor Shirakawa established his own Retired Emperor's Court (''in-no-chô'') at his father-in-law's mansion, which he re-established as a Buddhist temple called [[Hossho-ji|Hosshô-ji]], and which came to be known as Shirakawa-in. From there, he continued to wield considerable power. He claimed the authority to name his son's regents, allowing Fujiwara no Morozane to continue in that role, and denying the [[Fujiwara clan]] the opportunity to influence politics through naming who they wished to such an influential post.

Upon his retirement in [[1087]], and his son's accession to the throne as [[Emperor Horikawa]], Retired Emperor Shirakawa established his own Retired Emperor's Court (''in-no-chô'') at his father-in-law's mansion, which he re-established as a Buddhist temple called [[Hossho-ji|Hosshô-ji]], and which came to be known as Shirakawa-in. From there, he continued to wield considerable power. He claimed the authority to name his son's regents, allowing Fujiwara no Morozane to continue in that role, and denying the [[Fujiwara clan]] the opportunity to influence politics through naming who they wished to such an influential post.

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