Cloistered rule

Cloistered Rule was a process used by some Emperors of Japan by which they would ostensibly retire to a monastery and hand over power to a successor, but continue to exert power and influence from behind the scenes.

Although the actual influence of cloistered rule may have been exaggerated by some historians, it must be seen in the context of the increasing dominance over the aristocracy by the warrior class. In later eras, an emperor would be overshadowed by his shogun as surely as if there was still a cloistered emperor present.

Famous emperors who adopted cloistered rule:

• Shirakawa (1053-1129, r. 1073-1087 and cloistered rule 1086-1129)
  
• Toba (1103-1156, r. 1107-1123 and cloistered rule 1129-1156)
  
• Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192, r. 1155-1158 and cloistered rule 1158-1192)