Cloistered rule

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Cloistered Rule, also known as the Insei system, 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. Retired emperors are called Jōkō (上皇).

The first retired emperor who exercised cloistered rule in Japan was Empress Jitō.

The term retired emperor is used primarily when discussing a period in Japanese history when this was a common practice; a retired emperor could have more influence than when he had been on the throne, because he retained the prestige of the title and was freer to speak publicly.

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:

Patterns of cloistered rule have been more broadly identified as a distinct feature of Japanese history, politics and sometimes business. In such governments, corporations and administration units, the nominal ruler and governor has little practical power, being used as a frontman, and instead regents and any other kinds of advisors have actual power. Some titles used to exercise cloistered rule are:

fr:Insei (système de gouvernement) gl:Goberno enclaustrado ja:院政

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