Shōrin’in no Misasagi
Just to the east of Fushimi’s Shōrin’in Temple is Fushimi Shōrin’in no Misasagi, the imperial mausoleum of Prince Fushiminomiya Sadafusa (1372–1456), also known as Gosukō or Gosukōin. Prince Sadafusa was prominent member of the imperial family during the early years of the Muromachi period (1336–1573). His Fushiminomiya line is the most ancient of the four branches of the imperial family that were eligible to ascend the throne of Japan if the main line should produce no heirs.
Sadafusa was the third head of the Fushiminomiya line, grandson of Emperor Sukō (1334–1398) and son of Prince Fushiminomiya Yoshihito (1351–1416). For seven and a half decades, Sadafusa and his father Yoshihito had been ignored by the ruling Ashikaga Shogunate, which supported a rival branch of the Northern Court in the Nanbokuchō Dispute (1336–1392) over imperial legitimacy. However, his eldest son, Hikohito (1419–1471) became Emperor Go-Hanazono in 1428, ending the rivalry within the Northern Court. Sadafusa’s legacy endures in his 44-volume diary, the Kanmon Nikki, which was written between 1416 and 1448 and provides a rare insight into early fourteenth century court life.