Sonjō-hosshinnō

Prince Sonjōhōshin (born June 14, 1818, corresponding to July 16, 1818, in the Gregorian calendar – died May 9, 1836, corresponding to June 22, 1836, in the Gregorian calendar) was a noble prince of the late Edo period. He was the eighth son of Prince Fushimi-no-miya Sadakae, and his mother was Kazuko Ichijo (daughter of Ichijo Teruyoshi). His childhood name was Kinmiyaw (or Noubumiya), pronounced the same way. His personal name was Moritaka.

Prince Sonjōhōshin was adopted, shortly after birth in Bunsei 1 (August 1818), into the imperial family as an heir to Emperor Kōkaku's adopted daughter, Kajūji Jingko. In August of Bunsei 5 (1822), he was chosen as the successor to Prince Jōjun-in Monzeki Sonsei Hōshin. Subsequently, on May 2, in Tenpō 3 (1832), he was formally conferred the rank of prince, and later that year, in December, he was tonsured as a monk.

Unfortunately, Prince Sonjōhōshin died at the young age of 19 on June 22, Tenpō 7 (1836), only about four years after receiving the rank of prince. Upon his death, he was posthumously titled Jōchi-shin-in.

Regarding sources, the following references are cited: Kyōzō Korezawa's "Encyclopedia of Japanese Personalities" Volume 3 (Heibonsha, 1979), and Sadatsugu Ichiko’s "Dictionary of National Literary Figures 3" (Iwanami Shoten, 1996).