Retired Emperor

Retired Emperor, Grand Emperor, or Emperor Emeritus is a title occasionally used throughout East Asian feudal regimes for former emperors who had (at least in name) abdicated voluntarily to their sons. This title appeared in the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Although technically no longer the reigning sovereign, there are instances like the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty in China or several emperors of the Trần Dynasty in Vietnam, where the emperor continued to exert considerable if not more power than the reigning emperor.

China[]

The title is named in Chinese as Taishang Huang (Chinese: 太上皇; pinyin: tàishàng huáng; Wade–Giles: T'ai⁴-shang⁴ Huang²). The title originated, however, from Liu Bang (Emperor Gao of Han)'s father Liu Taigong,^[1] who was honored as such after Liu Bang declared himself emperor in 202, even though Liu Taigong was never emperor himself.

Japan[]

In Japan the title was Daijō-tennō (kanji: 太上天皇; Hepburn: daijō-tennō), or just Jōkō (kanji: 上皇; Hepburn: jōkō). In Japan, there was a political system called Cloistered rule, in which Jōkō exerted power and influence from behind the scenes even after retirement.

Korea[]

In Korean the title was Sang-hwang (Hangul: 상황; Hanja: 上皇), or sometimes even Taesang-hwang (hangul: 태상황; hanja: 太上皇). After 1897, when the Joseon Dynasty became the dynasty of the Korean Empire, only two emperors were still to ascend to the throne. One Emperor Gojong, who was forced to abdicate by the Japanese in 1907. However, he was given the title Tae-hwangje (Hangul: 태황제; Hanja: 太皇帝). also another emperor was Emperor Sunjong. but after the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910, the Imperial Household was demoted by the Empire of Japan.

Vietnam[]

In Vietnam the title was Thái thượng hoàng (quoc ngu: Thái thượng hoàng; chu nom: 太上皇), or just Thuong hoang (quoc ngu: Thượng hoàng; chu nom: 上皇).

See also[]

• Senior Minister
• Minister Mentor

Notes[]