35 Rule by the Retired Emperor (Insei) Emperor Go-Sanjou's (r. 1068-1072) political reforms sharply opposed the current corrupt practices. Had they been instituted and followed, it might have been possible to restore stable and sound government. However, the reforms met with strong resistance from Fujiwara no Yorimichi and Fujiwara no Norimichi. The Emperor, disheartened, fell ill and the direct imperial rule of the Enkyou era ended in a few years. The standardized dry measure remained, but nothing changed in the matter of private domains, and the encouragement of a frugal lifestyle was ignored. Although Emperor Go-Sanjou prohibited luxuries such as decorative ornaments for carts, the Toba Palace was built for the Retired Emperor Shirakawa in the 3rd year of Ohtoku era (1086, fourteen years sfter Emperor Go-Sanjou's reign). Gubernatorial appointments in Sanuki (Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku Island) and Bizen (Okayama Prefecture) Province were awarded to the men who paid the cost of this construction. Laborers from across the country were recruited to dig the ponds and construct the mounds. The resulting pond measured 8 chou (about 872 meters) from south to north, and 6 chou (about 654 meters) from east to west, and over 8 shaku (about 2.4 meters) in depth. A sailing vessel floated on it. This was not a mere palace for retired emperor; a plan was also laid out for the construction of houses around it for his subjects. The whole project resembled the moving of the capital. Two years later in the spring of the 2nd year of Kanji era (1088), Retired Emperor Shirakawa went on a pilgrimage to Mt. Kouya. The Governor of Kii Province (Wakayama Prefecture) prepared a luxurious houseboat to receive him, draped with imported silk brocade, with tatami floor mats trimmed with Koryo cloth, and furnished with picture screens painted with silver. Obviously at this point Emperor Go-Sanjou's hopes for a more frugal approach in order to rebuild the nation had been forgotten. Emperor Shirakawa (r. 1072-1086) reigned for fourteen years, and after handing over the throne to Emperor Horikawa (r. 1086-1107), he ruled the nation as Retired Emperor for the next forty-three years, which included the reigns of Emperor Horikawa, Toba (r. 1107-1123), and Sutoku (r. 1123-1141). In this arrangement, the actual political sovereign was the Retired Emperor, and the Emperors were like Crown Princes. This is called "Rule by the Retired Emperor (Insei)." This government was unusual and should not be viewed as acceptable. Some scholars hold that it was designed gy Emperor Go-Sanjou to suppress the Fujiwara clan, but this is untrue: it arose from an unfortunate power struggle within the imperial house. At that time, people's minds were darkened by the pessimism of the theory of the Latter Days of the Law. According to Buddhist time frames, the first millennium after the death of Buddha is the period of Pure Law; the next millennium is the period of Imitation Law, and the final ten millennia, the period of the Latter Days of the Law. In the first period, Buddha's teaching remains intact and followers can attain enlightenment through observance of the law and asceticism. In the second period, Buddha's teaching and asceticism remain but it is not possible to achieve enlightenment. In the third and last period, only Buddha's teaching remains, while asceticism and enlightenment are impossible to attain. This is a frightening world perspective: with the passage of time human aspiration becomes degenerate and austerity is not practised. Any effort to do so would be wasted. Humankind will be driven by base instincts and intense hatred, which will bring eternal strife, leading to a life of hell on earth. Here, the point of contention would be the date of Buddha's passing, but this is unknown. Some criticize the Japanese imperial calender for imprecision, but that is not the only problem, for there are more than fifty different theories on the date o Buddha's death. The span from earliest to the latest of the proposed dates is more than 2800 Years, indicating the difficulty we encounter in any research on antiquity. In Japan, it was believed that the 7th year of Eishou era (1052), during the reign of Emperor Go-Reizei (r. 1045-1068), was the 2001st year since Buddha's passing. Subsequently Japan entered into the Latter Days of the Law. Naturally, people felt profound grief and horror; they believed their times to be devoid of salvation, and there was no point in practicing austerities and asceticism. The brutality and violence of the monks of Enryaku-, Miidera-, and Koufukuji-Temples made this clear. Monks were to serve Buddha, pursue learning, and guide the people towards probress. Instead, they armed themselfes with swords and halberds to kill people, and burned down the tmples: an apocalyptic scene in a world of degradation. For example, in the 3rd month of the 1st year of Eiho (or Eihou) era (1074) during the reign of Emperor Shirakawa, several thousand monks of Koufukuji-Temple attacked a temple on Mt. Tou-no-mine and burnt more than 300 houses in the foothills. Subsequently, in the 4th month, the monks of Miidera-Temple advanced to Hie Shrine at the base of Mt. Hiei. Several thousand monks of Enryakuji-Temple on Mt. Hiei retaliated by laying a siege at Miidera-Temple. In the 4th month they were stalemated, but on the 9th day of the 6th month the armed monks of Enryakuji-Temple assaulted Miidera-Temple and burnt it down - 118 halls and pagodas, 4 shrines, 621 monk cells, and 1493 residences burnt to ashes. People felt that was an unprecedented disaster in Buddhist world history. Later in the 9th month, Miidera-Temple tried to retaliate by advancing to Enryakuji-Temple. Angered, Enryakuji-Temple attacked Miidera-Tempre on the 15th day of the 9th month, and set fire to whatever was left. At the start the monks at Enryakuji- and Miidera-Temples were associated closely as brothers, as the temples belonged to the Heavenly Platform Sect disseminated by Saichou the Great Master Dengyou (766-822). (an omission) Backed by military power, the monks of Koufukuji-Temple and Mt. Kumano also blackmailed the imperial court. Surprisingly, the court was extremely meek in dealing with the Buddhist temples and met most of their demands. (an omission) When Emperor Go-Sanjou planned a major political reform, brothers Fujiwara no Yorimichi, the former Imperial Regent, and Fujiwara no Norimichi, the current Imperial Regent were the leaders of the Fujiwara clan. They were the sons of the great Fujiwara no Michinaga (966-1027), who composed the famous poem with the phrase "This world is indeed my world," and built the splendid Houjouji-Temple. The temple was destroyed by fire, but Byoudouin Hall, built by his son Yorimichi in Uji, Kyouto still remains. In view of the onset of the Latter Days of the Law in the 7th year of Eishou era (1052), Yorimichi rebuilt his villa into a structure called Hououdou in the premises of Byoudouin Hall, taking two years to complete. There he placed a grand statue of Amitabha, 1 jou 6 shaku (about 4.8 meters) tall. The serenity of the monument was unequalled in history. The Fujiwara genealogy continues: Fujiwara no Yorimichi was succeeded by his son Fujiwara no Morozane, who was followed by his son Fujiwara no Tadazane. Fujiwara no Tadazane had two sons, Tadamichi and Yorinaga. When these brothers were in power, in the 1st year Hougen era (1156), the Hougen Rebellion broke out. It had been 104 years since the 7th year of Eishou era (1052) when Yorimichi built Hououdou in the premises of Byoudouin Hall. The formidable Hougen Rebellion was the direct outcome of the Fujiwara clan's unwillingness to obey Emperor Go-Sanjou. Instead, they pursued their hedonistic life to their hearts' content.

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