During Emperor Suzaku's reign there were many disasters or abnormal events such as the eruptin of Mt. Fuji, earthquakes and flooding; moreover, not only did the Emperor have no children, but he also abdicated to pass the throne to his younger half-brother, Prince Nariakira (later called Emperor Murakami) and left the Imperial Palace to live at Ninna-ji Temple.
治世中はこのほかにも富士山の噴火や地震・洪水などの災害・変異が多く、また皇子女に恵まれなかったこともあってか、朱雀天皇は早々と同母弟成明親王（後の村上天皇）に譲位し、仁和寺に入った。