Emperor Go-Saga
Emperor of Japan
Emperor Go-Saga (後嵯峨天皇, Go-Saga-tennō; 1 April 1220 – 17 March 1272) was the 88th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1242 through 1246.
This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 9th-century Emperor Saga and go- (後), translates literally as "later"; and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Saga". The Japanese word go has also been translated to mean the second one; and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as Saga, the second, or as Saga II.
Genealogy
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Kunihito-shinnō (邦仁親王).
He was the second son of Emperor Tsuchimikado, and second cousin of his predecessor Emperor Shijō.
Empress: Saionji (Fujiwara) no Yoshi-ko (西園寺（藤原）姞子) Later Ōmiya-in (大宮院), Saionji Saneuji’s daughter
Fourth son: Imperial Prince Hisahito (久仁親王) later Emperor Go-Fukakusa
First daughter: Imperial Princess Osako (綜子内親王; 1247-1269）later Gekkamon-in (月華門院)
Seventh son: Imperial Prince Tsunehito (恒仁親王) later Emperor Kameyama
Eleventh son: Imperial Prince Masataka (雅尊親王; 1254-1256)
Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince Sadayoshi (貞良親王; 1256-1260)
Princess (b.1260)
Consort: Imperial Princess Taishi (体子内親王; 1231-1302) later Shinsenmon’in (神仙門院), Emperor Go-Horikawa’s daughter
Princess (d.1281)
Court Lady: Saionji (Fujiwara) Kimiko (西園寺（藤原）公子), Saionji Kintsune's daughter
Son: Imperial Prince Priest jijo (慈助法親王; 1254-1295）
Daughter: Imperial Princess Etsuko (悦子内親王; 1260-1332）later Enseimon’in (延政門院)
Lady-in-waiting: Taira no Muneko (平棟子), Taira no Munemoto's daughter
Third son: Imperial Prince Munetaka (宗尊親王)
Handmaid?: Fujiwara Hiroko (藤原博子), Fujiwara Takatoki's daughter
Eighth son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakujo (覚助法親王; 1247-1336)
Princess
Sixth daughter: Imperial Princess Ekishi (懌子内親王; 1262-1294) later Gojo’in (五条院)
Court Lady: Fujiwara Fujiko (藤原藤子), Shijo Takahira's daughter
Son: Imperial Prince Priest Saijo (最助法親王; 1253-1293）
Court Lady: Mikushige-dono (御匣殿), Sanjo Kinfusa's daughter
Son: Imperial Prince Priest Chujo (忠助法親王; d.1290)
Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōjo (性助法親王; 1247-1282）
Court Lady: Anegakoji Saneyo's daughter
Son: Imperial Prince Priest Jōjo (浄助法親王; 1253-1280）
Court Lady: Emontoku-no-tsubone (右衛門督局), Ichijo Yoshiyasu's daughter
Son: Imperial Prince Priest Enjo (円助法親王; 1236-1282）
Court Lady: Nijo-no-Tsubone (二条局), Fujiwara Toshimori's daughter
Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Yasuko (愷子内親王; 1249-1284）
Court Lady: Ichijo-dono-no-tsubone (一条殿局), Fujiwara no Kanefusa’s daughter
Son: Imperial Prince Priest Nin’e (仁恵法親王; 1244-1298）
Court Lady: Dainagon-no-Tsubone (大納言局), Nakanoin Michikata's daughter
Prince (1243)
Court Lady: Kujō Yoshihira's daughter
Court Lady: Minamoto no Yorimasa's granddaughter
Priest Shojo
Court Lady: Fujiwara clan's descendant
Second Son: Kōhō Ken'nichi (高峰顕日; 1241-1316)
Events of Go-Saga's life
He ruled from 21 February 1242, to 16 February 1246.
When Emperor Tsuchimikado moved to Tosa Province (on Shikoku), he was raised by his mother's side of the family.
Because of the sudden death of Emperor Shijō at the age of 10, the question of succession arose. Because the expectations of the court nobility and the Bakufu conflicted, the issue was bitterly contested. Kujō Michiie and the court nobility initially supported Prince Tadanari (忠成王), a son of Retired Emperor Juntoku, but the shikken Hōjō Yasutoki was opposed to the sons of Juntoku because of his involvement in the Jōkyū War.
The public source identifies “Emperor Go-Saga” as emperor of Japan. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Emperor, Go-Saga and Japan.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Emperor Go-Saga”, the useful work is to connect “emperor of Japan” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 3, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q349259. VIAF identifies the subject as 90509973. The Library of Congress control number is no2009085987. 3 of 3 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1220, 1272, 1242 and 1246.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Emperor Go-Saga”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Emperor Go-Saga primary sources, Emperor Go-Saga archive and Emperor research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Emperor Go-Saga”?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Emperor Go-Saga” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.