Fujiwara no Shōshi

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Empress
  • Family: Emperor Ichijō (husband) Emperor Go-Ichijō (son) Emperor Go-Suzaku (son) Fujiwara no Michinaga (father) Fujiwara no Kenshi (sister) Fujiwara no Ishi (sister) Fujiwara no Sonshi (sister) Fujiwara no Kanshi (sister) Fujiwara no Seishi (sister) Fujiwara no Kishi (sister) Fujiwara no Nagaie (brother) Fujiwara no Yoshinobu (brother) Fujiwara no Yorimune (brother) Fujiwara no Norimichi (brother) Fujiwara no Yorimichi (brother)
  • Birth: 988AD
  • Death: 1074AD

Fujiwara no Shōshi

Fujiwara no Shōshi (藤原 彰子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan, living from 988-1074AD. She was daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga and wife of Emperor Ichijō. During her life she gave birth to the future Emperors Go-Ichijō and Go-Suzaku.¹² She was also known as Fujiwara no Akiko.¹

She married the Emperor in 999AD,¹ and was given the title of Chūgū in 1000AD when the former Empress Fujiwara no Teishi was made Kōgō.²

As Empress her ladies in waiting included, Murasaki Shikibu, Izumi Shikibu¹² and Akazone Emon.¹

In 1026 she became a Buddhist nun taking taking the name of Jōtō Mon’in (上東 門院)¹² taking her name from the Palace in which she retired to.²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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