Empress Meishō (明正天皇) (January 9, 1624 - December 4, 1696) was the 109th imperial ruler of Japan, reigning from December 22, 1629 to November 14, 1643. Her personal name was Okiko (興子) and her title was Onna Kazu no miya (女一宮).

Genealogy

She was the 2nd daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Her mother was Tokugawa Kazuko, daughter of the 2nd shōgun, Tokugawa Hidetada. She had no children of her own.

Name

Her name was derived by combining the names of two previous empresses, Gemmei (707-715) and her daughter Genshō (715-724)

Life

In 1629, she became Empress after her father, Emperor Go-Mizunoo suddenly abdicated in the Purple Clothes Incident. By her enthronement, she became the first woman to occupy the throne since Empress Shōtoku, who died in 769. During her reign, her father Emperor Go-Mizunoo ruled in her name. In 1643, she abdicated in favor of her younger half-brother, who became Emperor Go-Kōmyō

Eras of her reign

• Kan'ei