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Emperor Tenmu

Emperor Tenmu (天武天皇) was the 40th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from 673 until his death in 686.

Traditional narrative
Tenmu was the youngest son of Emperor Jomei and Empress Kōgyoku, and the younger brother of the Emperor Tenji. His name at birth was Prince Ōama (大海人皇子:Ōama no ōji). He was succeeded by Empress Jitō, who was both his niece and his wife. During the reign of his elder brother, Emperor Tenji, Tenmu was forced to marry several of Tenji's daughters because Tenji thought those marriages would help to strengthen political ties between the two brothers. The nieces he married included Princess Unonosarara, today known as Empress Jitō, and Princess Ōta. Tenmu also had other consorts whose fathers were influential courtiers.

Tenmu had many children, including his crown prince Kusakabe by Princess Unonosarara; Princess Tōchi; Prince Ōtsu and Princess Ōku by Princess Ōta (whose father also was Tenji); and Prince Toneri, the editor of the Nihon Shoki and father of Emperor Junnin. Through Prince Kusakabe, Tenmu had two emperors and two empresses among his descendants. Empress Kōken was the last of these imperial rulers from his lineage.

Events of Tenmu's life
Emperor Tenmu is the first monarch of Japan, to whom the title Tennō (Emperor of Japan) was assigned contemporaneously—not only by later generations.

The only document on his life was Nihon Shoki. However, it was edited by his son, Prince Toneri, and the work was written during the reigns of his wife and children, causing one to suspect its accuracy and impartiality. He is also mentioned briefly in the preface to the Kojiki, being hailed as the emperor to have commissioned them.

Tenmu's father died while he was young, and he grew up mainly under the guidance of Empress Saimei. He was not expected to gain the throne, because his brother Tenji was the crown prince, being the older son of their mother, the reigning empress.

During the Tenji period, Tenmu was appointed his crown prince. This was because Tenji had no appropriate heir among his sons at that time, as none of their mothers was of a rank high enough to give the necessary political support. Tenji was suspicious that Tenmu might be so ambitious as to attempt to take the throne, and felt the necessity to strengthen his position through politically advantageous marriages.

Tenji was particularly active in improving the military institutions which had been established during the Taika reforms.

In his old age, Tenji had a son, Prince Ōtomo, by a low-ranking consort. Since Ōtomo had weak political support from his maternal relatives, the general wisdom of the time held that it was not a good idea for him to ascend to the throne, yet Tenji was obsessed with the idea.

In 671 Tenmu felt himself to be in danger and volunteered to resign the office of crown prince to become a monk. He moved to the mountains in Yoshino, Yamato Province (now Yoshino, Nara), officially for reasons of seclusion. He took with him his sons and one of his wives, Princess Unonosarara, a daughter of Tenji. However, he left all his other consorts at the capital, Omikyō in Ōmi Province (today in Ōtsu).

A year later, (in 672) Tenji died and Prince Ōtomo ascended to the throne as Emperor Kōbun. Tenmu assembled an army and marched from Yoshino to the east, to attack the capital of Omikyō in a counterclockwise movement. They marched through Yamato, Iga and Mino Provinces to threaten Omikyō in the adjacent province. The army of Tenmu and the army of the young Emperor Kōbun fought in the northwestern part of Mino (nowadays Sekigahara, Gifu), an incident known as the Jinshin War. Tenmu's army won and Kōbun committed suicide.

 * Post-Meiji chronology
 * In the 10th year of Tenji, in the 11th month (671): Emperor Tenji, in the 10th year of his reign (天智天皇十年), designated his son as his heir; and modern scholars construe this as meaning that the son would have received the succession (senso) after his father's death. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Kōbun is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).  If this understanding were valid, then it would follow:
 * In the 1st year of Kōbun (672): Emperor Kōbun, in the 1st year of his reign (弘文天皇一年), died; and his uncle Ōaomi-shinnō received the succession (senso) after the death of his nephew. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Tenmu could be said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).

 * Pre-Meiji chronology
 * Prior to the 19th century, Otomo was understood to have been a mere interloper, a pretender, an anomaly; and therefore, if that commonly accepted understanding were to have been valid, then it would have followed:
 * In the 10th year of Tenji, in the 11th month (671): Emperor Tenji, in the 10th year of his reign (天智天皇十年), died; and despite any military confrontations which ensued, the brother of the dead sovereign would have received the succession (senso); and after a time, it would have been understood that Emperor Tenmu rightfully acceded to the throne (sokui).

As might be expected, Emperor Tenmu was no less active than former-Emperor Tenji in improving the Taika military institutions. Tenmu's reign brought many changes, such as: (1) a centralized war department was organized; (2) the defenses of the Inner Country near the Capital were strengthened; (3) forts and castles were built near Capital and in the western parts of Honshū—and in Kyushu; (4) troops were reviewed; and all provincial governors were ordered to complete the collection of arms and to study tactics.

In 673 Tenmu moved the capital back to Yamato on the Kiymihara plain, naming his new capital Asuka. The Man'yōshū includes a poem written after the Jinshin War ended: "Our Sovereign, a god,
 * Has made his Imperial City
 * Out of the stretch of swamps,
 * Where chestnut horses sank
 * To their bellies.
 * – Ōtomo Miyuki"

At Asuka, Emperor Tenmu was enthroned. He elevated Unonosarara to be his empress. Events of his reign include:
 * 674 (Tenmu 2): Ambassadors of Tane no kuni were received in the Japanese court.
 * 680 (Tenmu 8): Yakushi-ji was founded in the Hakuhō period.

Tenmu reigned from this capital until his death in 686. His wife, Empress Jito became the emperor until their son became the 42nd Emperor. The actual site of his grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial shrine (misasagi) in Nara Prefecture. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Tenmu's mausoleum. It is formally named Hinokuma no Ōuchi no misasagi.

Buddhism
In 675 Emperor Tenmu banned the consumption of domesticated animal meat (horse, cattle, dogs, monkeys, birds), from April 1 to September 30 each year, due to the influence of Buddhism.

Politics
In the Nihon Shoki, Tenmu is described as a great innovator, but the neutrality of this description is doubtful, since the work was written under the control of his descendants. It seems clear, however, that Tenmu strengthened the power of the emperor and appointed his sons to the highest offices of his government, reducing the traditional influence of powerful clans such as the Ōtomo and Soga clans. He renewed the system of kabane, the hereditary titles of duty and rank, but with alterations, including the abolition of some titles. Omi and Muraji, the highest kabane in the earlier period, were reduced in value in the new hierarchy, which consisted of eight kinds of kabane. Each clan received a new kabane according to its closeness to the imperial bloodline and its loyalty to Tenmu.

Tenmu attempted to keep a balance of power among his sons. Once he traveled to Yoshino together with his sons, and there had them swear to cooperate and not to make war on each other. This turned out to be ineffective: one of his sons, Prince Ōtsu, was later executed for treason after the death of Tenmu.

Tenmu's foreign policy favored the Korean kingdom Silla, which took over the entire Korean peninsula in 676. After the unification of Korea by Silla, Tenmu decided to break diplomatic relations with the Tang dynasty of China, evidently in order to keep on good terms with Silla.

Tenmu used religious structures to increase the authority of the imperial throne. During his reign there was increased emphasis on the tie between the imperial household and Ise Grand Shrine (dedicated to the ancestor goddess of the emperors, Amaterasu) by sending his daughter Princess Ōku as the newly established Saiō of the shrine, and several festivals were financed from the national budget. He also showed favor to Buddhism, and built several large temples and monasteries. It is said that Tenmu asked that each household was encouraged to build an altar with a dais where a Buddha-image and a sutra could be placed so that family worshiping could be held, thus inventing the butsudan. On the other hand, all Buddhist priests, monks and nuns were controlled by the state, and no one was allowed to become a monk without the state's permission. This was aimed at preventing cults and stopping farmers from turning into priests.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Tenmu's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
 * Sadaijin, Soga no Akae no Omi
 * Udaijin, Nakatomi no Kane no Muraji
 * Naidaijin

Era of Tenmu's reign
The years of Tenmu's reign were marked by only one era name or nengō, which was proclaimed in the final months of the emperor's life; and Shuchō ended with Tenmu's death.
 * Shuchō (686)

Non-nengō period
The early years of Tenmu's reign are not linked by scholars to any era or nengō. The Taika era innovation of naming time periods – nengō – was discontinued during these years, but it was reestablished briefly in 686. The use of nengō languished yet again after Tenmu's death until Emperor Monmu reasserted an imperial right by proclaiming the commencement of Taihō in 701.
 * See Tenmu period (673–686).

In this context, Brown and Ishida's translation of Gukanshō offers an explanation about the years of Empress Jitō's reign which muddies a sense of easy clarity in the pre-Taihō time-frame:
 * "The eras that fell in this reign were: (1) the remaining seven years of Shuchō [(686+7=692?)]; and (2) Taika, which was four years long [695–698]. (The first year of this era was kinoto-hitsuji [695].) ... In the third year of the Taika era [697], Empress Jitō yielded the throne to the Crown Prince."

Wives and children

 * Empress (Kōgō): Princess Uno-no-sarara (鸕野讃良皇女) later Empress Jitō, Emperor Tenji's daughter
 * Second Son: Prince Kusakabe (草壁皇子, 662 – 10 May 689), Father of Emperor Monmu and Empress Genshō
 * Consort (Hi): Princess Ōta (大田皇女), Emperor Tenji's daughter
 * Second daughter: Princess Ōku (大伯皇女, 12 February 661– 29 January 702 ), Saiō in Ise Shrine (673–686)
 * Third Son: Prince Ōtsu (大津皇子, 663 – 25 October 686 )
 * Consort (Hi) Princess Ōe (大江皇女), Emperor Tenji's daughter
 * Seventh Son: Prince Naga (長皇子, d. 9 July 715)
 * Ninth Son: Prince Yuge (弓削皇子, d. 21 August 699)
 * Consort (Hi): Princess Niitabe (新田部皇女), Emperor Tenji's daughter
 * Sixth Son: Prince Toneri (舎人皇子, 676 – 2 December 735), Father of Emperor Junnin
 * Madame (Bunin): Fujiwara no Hikami-no-iratsume (藤原氷上娘, d.682), Fujiwara no Kamatari's daughter
 * Daughter: Princess Tajima (但馬皇女, d. 17 July 708), married to Prince Takechi
 * Madame (Bunin): Fujiwara no Ioe-no-iratsume (藤原五百重娘), Fujiwara no Kamatari's daughter
 * Tenth Son: Prince Niitabe (新田部皇子, d. 20 0ctomber 735)
 * Madame (Bunin) Soga no Ōnu-no-iratsume (蘇我大蕤娘), Soga no Akae's daughter
 * Fifth Son: Prince Hozumi (穂積皇子, d. 30 August 715)
 * Daughter: Princess Ki (紀皇女)
 * Daughter: Princess Takata (田形皇女, d. 18 April 728), Saiō in Ise Shrine (706–707), later married to Prince Mutobe
 * Beauty (Hin): Princess Nukata (額田王), Prince Kagami's daughter
 * First Daughter: Princess Tōchi (十市皇女, d. 3 March 678 ), married to Emperor Kōbun
 * Beauty (Hin): Munakata no Amako-no-iratsume (胸形尼子娘), Unakata-no-Kimi Tokuzen's daughter
 * First Son: Prince Takechi (高市皇子, 654 – 13 August 696)
 * Beauty (Hin): Shishihito no Kajihime-no-iratsume (宍人梶媛娘), Shishihito-no-Omi Ōmaro's daughter
 * Fourth Son: Prince Osakabe (刑部/忍壁皇子, d. 2 June 705)
 * Daughter: Princess Hatsusebe (泊瀬部皇女, d.28 March 741), married to Prince Kawashima (son of Emperor Tenji)
 * Daughter: Princess Taki (託基皇女/多紀皇女, d. 751), Saiō in Ise Shrine (698–before 701), later married to Prince Shiki (son of Emperor Tenji)
 * Son: Prince Shiki (磯城皇子)

title: Emperor Tenmu


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Empress Jitō

Empress Jitō (持統天皇) was the 41st monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697.

In the history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The two female monarchs before Jitō were Suiko and Kōgyoku/Saimei. The five women sovereigns reigning after Jitō were Genmei, Genshō, Kōken/Shōtoku, Meishō, and Go-Sakuramachi.

Traditional narrative

Empress Jitō was the daughter of Emperor Tenji. Her mother was Ochi-no-Iratsume, the daughter of Minister Ō-omi Soga no Yamada-no Ishikawa Maro. She was the wife of Tenji's full brother Emperor Tenmu, whom she succeeded on the throne.

Empress Jitō's given name was Unonosarara or Unonosasara (鸕野讚良), or alternately Uno.

Events of Jitō's reign
Jitō took responsibility for court administration after the death of her husband, Emperor Tenmu, who was also her uncle. She acceded to the throne in 687 in order to ensure the eventual succession of her son, Kusakabe-shinnō. Throughout this period, Empress Jitō ruled from the Fujiwara Palace in Yamato. In 689, Jitō prohibited Sugoroku, in 690 at enthronement she performed special ritual then gave pardon and in 692 she travelled to Ise against the counsel of minister Miwa-no-Asono-Takechimaro.

Prince Kusakabe was named as crown prince to succeed Jitō, but he died at a young age. Kusakabe's son, Karu-no-o, was then named as Jitō's successor. He eventually would become known as Emperor Monmu.

Empress Jitō reigned for eleven years. Although there were seven other reigning empresses, their successors were most often selected from amongst the males of the paternal Imperial bloodline, which is why some conservative scholars argue that the women's reigns were temporary and that male-only succession tradition must be maintained in the 21st century. Empress Genmei, who was followed on the throne by her daughter, Empress Genshō, remains the sole exception to this conventional argument.

In 697, Jitō abdicated in Monmu's favor; and as a retired sovereign, she took the post-reign title daijō-tennō. After this, her imperial successors who retired took the same title after abdication.

Jitō continued to hold power as a cloistered ruler, which became a persistent trend in Japanese politics.

The actual site of Jitō's grave is known. This empress is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara.

The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Jitō's mausoleum. It is formally named Ochi-no-Okanoe no misasagi.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Jitō's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
 * Daijō-daijin, Takechi-shinnō (the 3rd son of Emperor Tenmu)
 * Sadaijin
 * Udaijin
 * Naidaijin

Non-nengō period
Jitō's reign is not linked by scholars to any era or nengō. The Taika era innovation of naming time periods – nengō – languished until Mommu reasserted an imperial right by proclaiming the commencement of Taihō in 701.
 * See Japanese era name – "Non-nengo periods"
 * See Jitō period (687–697).

However, Brown and Ishida's translation of Gukanshō offers an explanation which muddies a sense of easy clarity:
 * "The eras that fell in this reign were: (1) the remaining seven years of Shuchō [(686+7=692?)]; and (2) Taika, which was four years long [695–698]. (The first year of this era was kinoto-hitsuji [695].) ... In the third year of the Taka era [697], Empress Jitō yielded the throne to the Crown Prince."

Family
Empress Jitō, known as Princess Uno-no-sarara (鸕野讃良皇女) in her early days, was born to Emperor Tenji and his concubine,  who held of Beauty (Hin).She had two full siblings: Princess Ōta and Prince Takeru. Empress Jitō and her younger sister, Princess Ōta, shared the same husband, Emperor Tenmu, with whom both would have children.

 * Husband: Emperor Tenmu (天武天皇, Tenmu tennō, c. 631 – October 1, 686), son of Emperor Jomei and Empress Kōgyoku
 * Son: Crown Prince Kusakabe (草壁皇子, 662 – May 10, 689)

Poetry
The Man'yōshū includes poems said to have been composed by Jitō. This one was composed after the death of the Emperor Tenmu:

One of the poems attributed to Empress Jitō was selected by Fujiwara no Teika for inclusion in the very popular anthology Hyakunin Isshu:

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Empress Jitō


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Emperor Monmu

Emperor Monmu (文武天皇) was the 42nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

Monmu's reign spanned the years from 697 through 707.

Traditional narrative
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Karu-shinnō.

He was a grandson of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. He was the second son of Prince Kusakabe. Monmu's mother was Princess Abe, a daughter of Emperor Tenji. Monmu's mother would later accede to the throne herself, and she would be known as Empress Genmei.

Events of Monmu's life
Karu-shinnō was only six years old when his father, Crown Prince Kusakabe, died.

 * 697: In the 10th year of Jitō-tennō's reign (持統天皇十年), the empress abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by a grandson of Emperor Tenmu.  Shortly thereafter, Emperor Monmu is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).

Emperor Monmu ruled until his death in 707, at which point he was succeeded by his mother, Empress Genmei, who was also his first cousin once removed and his first cousin twice removed. He left a young son by Fujiwara no Miyako, a daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito: Obito no miko (Prince Obito), who eventually became Emperor Shōmu.

Emperor Monmu's reign lasted 10 years. He died at the age of 25.

The actual site of Monmu's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara.

The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Monmu's mausoleum. It is formally named Hinokuma no Ako no oka no e no misasagi.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Monmu's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
 * Daijō-daijin, Osakabe-shinnō.
 * Sadaijin
 * Udaijin
 * Naidaijin, Nakatomi Kamako no Muraji.
 * Dainagon, Fujiwara Fuhito.

Eras of Monmu's reign
Conventional modern scholarship seems to have determined that the years of Monmu's reign are encompassed within more than one era name or nengō.
 * Taihō (era) (701–704)
 * Keiun      (704–708)

Non-nengō period
The initial years of Monmu's reign are not linked by scholars to any era or nengō. The Taika era innovation of naming time periods – nengō – languished until Monmu reasserted an imperial right by proclaiming the commencement of Taihō in 701.
 * See Japanese era name – "Non-nengo periods"
 * See Monmu period (697–701).

In this context, Brown and Ishida's translation of Gukanshō offers an explanation about the years of Empress Jitō's reign which muddies a sense of easy clarity in the pre-Taiho time-frame:
 * "The eras that fell in this reign were: (1) the remaining seven years of Shuchō [(686+7=692?)]; and (2) Taika, which was four years long [695–698]. (The first year of this era was kinoto-hitsuji [695].) ... In the third year of the Taka era [697], Empress Jitō yielded the throne to the Crown Prince."

Consorts and children
Bunin: Fujiwara no Miyako (藤原宮子, d. 754), Fujiwara no Fuhito’s daughter
 * First Son: Prince Obito (首皇子) later Emperor Shōmu

Hin: Ki no Kamado-no-iratsume (紀竃門娘)

Hin: Ishikawa no Tone-no-iratsume (石川刀子娘)
 * Takamado Hironari (Hiroyo)

title: Emperor Monmu


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Empress Genshō

Empress Genshō (元正天皇) was the 44th monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Her reign spanned the years 715 through 724.

Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant, and the only one in the history of Japan to have inherited her title from another empress regnant rather than from a male predecessor. The four female monarchs before Genshō were Suiko, Kōgyoku, Jitō and Genmei; the three reigning after her were Kōken, Meishō, and Go-Sakuramachi.

Traditional narrative
Before her ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, her personal name (imina) was Hidaka-hime.

Genshō was an elder sister of Emperor Monmu and daughter of Prince Kusakabe and his wife who later became Empress Genmei. Therefore, she was a granddaughter of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō by her father and a granddaughter of Emperor Tenji through her mother.

Events of Genshō's life
Empress Genshō's succession to the throne was intended as a regency until Prince Obito, the son of her deceased younger brother Monmu, was mature enough to ascend the throne. Obito would later become the Emperor Shōmu.

Obito was appointed Crown Prince in 714 by Empress Genmei. In the next year, 715, Empress Genmei, then in her fifties, abdicated in favor of her daughter Genshō. Obito was then 14 years old.

 * 715 (Reiki 1, 9th month): In the 7th year of Genmei-tennō's reign (元明天皇七年), the empress abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by her daughter, who held the throne in trust for her younger brother. Shortly thereafter, Empress Genshō acceded to the throne (sokui) as Empress Regnant.

Obito remained the crown prince, heir to the new empress. Fujiwara no Fuhito, the most powerful courtier in Genmei's court, remained at his post until his death in 720. After his death, Prince Nagaya, a grandson of Tenmu and the Empress Genshō's cousin, seized power. This power shift was a background for later conflicts between Nagaya and Fuhito's four sons during the reign of Emperor Shōmu (formerly Prince Obito).

Under Genshō's reign, the Nihon Shoki was finished in 720 she died knowing she helped. Organization of the law system known as the ritsuryō was continued under the initiatives of Fuhito until his death in vain. These laws and codes were edited and enacted by Fujiwara no Nakamaro, a grandson of Fuhito, and published as Yōrō ritsuryō under the name of Fuhito after his death. The taxation system which had been introduced by Empress Jitō in the late 7th century began to malfunction. To compensate for the decreased tax revenue, the "Act of possession in three generations", an initiative of Prince Nagaya, was enacted in 723. Under this act, people were allowed to possess a newly cultivated field once every three generations. In the fourth generation, the right of possession would revert to the national government. This act was intended to motivate new cultivation, but it only remained in effect for about 20 years.

Empress Genshō reigned for nine years. Although there were seven other reigning empresses, their successors were most often selected from amongst the males of the paternal Imperial bloodline, which is why some conservative scholars argue that the women's reigns were temporary and that male-only succession tradition must be maintained in the 21st century. Empress Genmei, who was succeeded by her daughter, remains the sole exception to this conventional argument.

In 724, Genshō abdicated in favor of her nephew, who would be known as Emperor Shōmu. Genshō lived for 25 years after she stepped down from the throne. She never married and had no children. She died at age 65.

Empress Genshō's grave is located in Nara. This empress is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi), also in Nara. The Imperial Household Agency has designated this location as Monmu's mausoleum, and has been formally named Nahoyama no nishi no misasagi. The Imperial tomb can be visited today in Narazaka-chō, Nara City.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Genshō's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
 * Daijō-daijin (Chi-daijō-kanji 知太政官事), Toneri-shinnō (Prince Toneri) (舎人親王). (9th son of Emperor Tenmu)  720–735
 * Sadaijin, Isonokami no Maro (石上麻呂). 708–717
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Fuhito (藤原不比等). 708–720
 * Udaijin, Prince Nagaya (長屋王). 721–724
 * Dainagon, Abe no Sukunamaro (阿倍宿奈麻呂). 718–720
 * Dainagon, Prince Nagaya (長屋王). 718–721
 * Dainagon, Tajihi no Ikemori (多治比池守). 721–730

Eras of Genshō's reign
The years of Genshō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
 * Reiki (715–717)
 * Yōrō (717–724)
 * Jinki (724–729)

Genealogy
Empress Genshō, born Princess Hidaka (氷高皇女), was the eldest child of Empress Genmei (元明天皇) and her husband, Crown Prince Kusakabe (草壁皇子). She had one younger brother, Prince Karu (珂瑠皇子), later known as Emperor Monmu (文武天皇), and one younger sister, Imperial Princess Kibi (吉備内親王).

Empress Genshō never got married or had children. The throne was inherited by her younger brother's son, Emperor Shōmu.

title: Empress Genshō


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Empress Kōken

Empress Kōken (孝謙天皇), known as Empress Shōtoku (称徳天皇) after her second accession to the throne, was the 46th (with the name Empress Kōken) and the 48th monarch of Japan (with the name Empress Shōtoku), according to the traditional order of succession.

The daughter of Emperor Shōmu, Empress Kōken succeeded to the throne at the age of 31, following her father's renunciation. She first reigned from 749 to 758. During this period, the government was heavily influenced by her mother, the former empress consort Kōmyō, and the latter's nephew, Fujiwara no Nakamaro. She was eventually replaced on the throne by her relative, Emperor Junnin, whose rule was a continuation of Nakamaro's regime. During the intermediate period of her reigns, the retired empress Kōken is said to have become close to a monk without a noble background, named Dōkyō, by 762. Their precise relationship remains a mystery, although there is a common version that it was romantic. The retired empress had taken Buddhist oaths and became a nun, but retained a decisive role in politics.

After Kōmyō's death in July 760, the growing power struggle between Kōken's and Nakamaro's opposing factions became increasingly inevitable. Following the suppression of the Fujiwara no Nakamaro Rebellion and his murder, Kōken reascended the throne as Empress Shōtoku in 764 and ruled until her death in 770, concentrating the government into her own hands. Dōkyō was appointed Grand Minister within a year. In 766, he was promoted to Hōō (priestly emperor) and in around 769 tried to ascend the throne himself, which led to a scandal; this was one of few recorded instances when there was an attempt to end the imperial dynasty. The death of the empress, presumably from smallpox, and resistance from the aristocracy destroyed his plans. This incident was a reason for the later move of the Japanese capital from Nara (Heijō). Empress Kōken was one of the most politically powerful women in Japanese history: subsequent empresses were only ritual rulers, while the government was dominated by the shoguns (military dictators).

In the history of Japan, Kōken/Shōtoku was the sixth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The five female monarchs before her were Suiko, Kōgyoku/Saimei, Jitō, Genmei and Genshō, and the two women sovereigns reigning after Kōken/Shōtoku were Meishō and Go-Sakuramachi.

Traditional narrative
Empress Kōken's personal name (imina) was Abe (阿倍). Her father was Emperor Shōmu, and her mother was Empress Kōmyō.

Kōken is traditionally venerated at her tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates Takano Imperial Mausoleum (高野陵), in Nara, Nara, as the location of Kōken's mausoleum. The site is publicly accessible.

Events of Kōken's life

 * August 19, 749 (Tenpyō-kanpō 1, 2nd day of the 7th month (天平感宝一年七月二日)): In the 25th year of Shōmu-tennō's reign (聖武天皇二十五年), the emperor renounced his throne and the succession (senso) was received by his daughter. Shortly thereafter, Kōken is said to have acceded to the throne.
 * 757: Conspiracy to overthrow Empress Kōken was not successful.
 * 758: Kōken abdicated in favor of a cousin who would become known as Emperor Junnin. The Empress had reigned for about ten years.
 * 764: In the sixth year of Junnin-tennō's reign, the emperor was deposed by his adoptive mother, and the succession was received by former-Empress Kōken.
 * January 26, 765 (Tenpyō-hōji 9, 1st day of the 1st month (天平宝字九年一月一日)): Kōken formally reascended the throne (sokui) as Empress Shōtoku.
 * August 28, 770 (Jingo-keiun 4, 4th day of the 8th month (神護景雲四年八月四日): Empress Shōtoku died at age 57, leaving the throne vacant. She was succeeded by her first cousin twice removed, Emperor Kōnin.  Empress Shōtoku had reigned for five years.

Eras of her reigns
The years of Kōken's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name.
 * Tenpyō-kanpō (749)
 * Tenpyō-shōhō (749–757)
 * Tenpyō-hōji (757–765)

The years of Shōtoku's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name.
 * Tenpyō-hōji (757–765)
 * Tenpyō-jingo (765–767)
 * Jingo-keiun (767–770)

Legacy
Koken's reign was turbulent, and she survived coup attempts by both Tachibana no Naramaro and Fujiwara no Nakamaro. Today, she is remembered chiefly for her alleged affair with a Buddhist monk named Dōkyō (道鏡), a man she honored with titles and power. An oracle from Usa Shrine, the shrine of the kami Hachiman (八幡) in Usa, is said to have proclaimed that the monk should be made emperor; but when the empress sent Wake no Kiyomaro (和気清麻呂) to verify the pronouncement, Hachiman decreed that only one of imperial blood should ascend to the throne.

As with the seven other reigning empresses whose successors were most often selected from amongst the males of the paternal imperial bloodline, she was followed on the throne by a male cousin, which is why some conservative scholars argue that the women's reigns were temporary and that male-only succession tradition must be maintained in the 21st century. Empress Genmei, who was followed on the throne by her daughter, Empress Genshō, remains the sole exception to this conventional argument.

She is also known for sponsoring the Hyakumantō Darani, one of the largest productions of printed works in early Japan.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, a Buddhist temple in the Arashiyama neighborhood of Kyoto, was founded by Shōtoku in the middle of the eighth century.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Kōken's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
 * Taihō, Emi no Oshikatsu (formerly Fujiwara no Nakamaro).
 * Daijō-daijin
 * Sadaijin, Tachibana no Moroe (formerly Katsuragi-ō, Prince Katsuragi) (half brother of Empress Kōmyō).
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Toyonari (first son of Fujiwara no Muchimaro).
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Nakamaro (second son of Fujiwara no Muchimaro).
 * Naidaijin
 * Dainagon

The kugyō during Shōtoku's reign included:
 * Daijō-daiji, Dōkyō.
 * Sadaijin
 * Udaijin, Kibi Makibi.
 * Nadaijin
 * Dainagon, Fujiwara Matate.

Genealogy
Empress Kōken, known as Imperial Princess Abe (阿倍内親王), was the second daughter of Emperor Shōmu born by his empress consort, Fujiwara Asukabehime. She had a younger brother, but he didn't survive to adulthood.

Empress Kōken never married or had children.

title: Empress Kōken


text:
Emperor Junnin

Emperor Junnin (淳仁天皇) was the 47th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. The seventh son of Prince Toneri and a grandson of Emperor Tenmu, his reign spanned the years 758 to 764.

Traditional narrative
Before his ascension to the throne, his name (imina) was Ōi-shinnō (Ōi-no-ō). He was the seventh son of Prince Toneri, a son of Emperor Tenmu. And although his father died when he was three, he was not given any rank or office at the court. In the older Japanese documents, he is usually referred to as Haitai (廃帝), the dethroned emperor. The posthumous name of Emperor Junnin was given by Emperor Meiji a thousand years later.

Ascension and reign
In 757 the Empress Kōken, his third cousin appointed him to be her crown prince instead of Prince Funado, who had been appointed to this position in the will of the Emperor Shōmu. In the tenth year of Kōken-tennō's reign (称徳天皇十年), on December 7, 758 (Tenpyō-shōhō 2, 1st day of the 8th month), the empress abdicated and the succession (senso) passed to her adopted son. Shortly afterwards, Emperor Junnin is said to have ascended to the throne (sokui). In 760 (Tenpyō-hōji 4), additional coins were put into circulation—copper coins bearing the words Mannen Ten-hō, silver coins bearing the words Teihei Genhō, and gold coins bearing the words Kaiki Shōhō.

The years of Junnin's reign, 758–765, are more specifically encompassed within a single era name or nengō, Tenpyō-hōji. Junnin seemingly had very little power and was possibly a mere figurehead. In 764, six years after Empress Kōken had abdicated, the former empress reclaimed the throne during Fujiwara no Nakamaro's Rebellion, forcing Junnin to abdicate.

Death and mausoleum
On November 10, 765 (Tenpyō-jingo 1, 23rd day of the 10th month), the former emperor died while in exile. The site of Junnin's actual grave is unknown, and he is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Awaji. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Junnin's mausoleum: It is formally named Awaji no misasagi.

Though Junnin had, technically, been emperor, he was not featured on the official List of Japanese Emperors until the late nineteenth century. In 1870, Emperor Meiji conferred the posthumous name and title by which Emperor Junnin is now known. His place in the traditional order of succession was confirmed at the same time as announcements about Emperor Kōbun and Emperor Chūkyō were made public.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. In general, this elite group included only three or four men at a time, and they were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of their careers. During Junnin's reign, the ranks of this group of Daijō-kan included:
 * Taishi (Daijō-daijin): Fujiwara Oshikatsu, also known as Emi no Oshikatsu (恵美押勝) (formerly Fujiwara no Nakamaro) (藤原仲麻呂).
 * Taiho (Udaijin): Fujiwara Oshikatsu.
 * Sadaijin:, Fujiwara no Toyonari (藤原豊成).
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Toyonari (藤原豊成).
 * Naidaijin (not appointed)
 * Dainagon

Consorts and children
Consort: Awata no Morone (粟田諸姉), widow of Fujiwara no Mayori, the first son of Fujiwara no Nakamaro

By Unknown woman:
 * Daughter: Imperial Princess Abe (安倍内親王) married Prince Isobe

title: Emperor Junnin


text:
Emperor Heizei

Emperor Heizei (平城天皇), also known as Heijō-tennō, was the 51st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Heizei's reign lasted from 806 to 809.

Traditional narrative
Heizei was the eldest son of the Emperor Kanmu and empress Fujiwara no Otomuro. Heizei had three empresses and seven sons and daughters.

Heizei is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates Yamamomo Imperial Mausoleum (楊梅陵), in Nara, as the location of Heizei's mausoleum. The site is publicly accessible. Although one of the largest kofun monuments in Japan, archaeological investigations in 1962–1963 indicate that it was constructed in the early 5th century, and that portions of it were destroyed during the construction of Heijō-kyō, calling into question the designation by the Imperial Household Agency.

Events of Heizei's life
Before he ascended to the throne, his liaison with Fujiwara no Kusuko, the mother of his one consort, caused a scandal. Because of this scandal his father considered depriving him of the rank of crown prince.

 * 785: (Enryaku 4, 11th month (延暦四年十一月)): Heizei was appointed Crown Prince at the age of 12.
 * April 9, 806 (Daidō 1, 17th day of the 3rd month (大同一年三月十七日)): In the 25th year of Emperor Kanmu's reign, he died; and despite an ensuing dispute over who should follow him as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (senso) was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Heizei is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).

His title Heizei was derived from the official name of the capital in Nara, Heizei Kyō.

During Heizei's reign, the bodyguards were reorganized; the existing Imperial Bodyguards became the Left Imperial Bodyguards, while the Middle Bodyguards became the Right Imperial Bodyguards. Both sides were given a new Senior Commander; at this time Heizei appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758–811) as Senior Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards of the Right. Under Emperor Kanmu, Tamuramaro had been appointed as shōgun of a military expedition against the Emishi.

 * 809 (Daidō 4, 1st month (大同四年一月)): After a reign of four years, Heizei fell ill; and fearing that he would not survive, Heizei abdicated in favor of his younger brother, who would later come to be known as Emperor Saga. After abdicating, Heizei moved to Nara and was henceforth known as Nara no Mikado, the "Emperor of Nara".
 * May 18, 809 (Daidō 4, 1st day of the 4th month (大同四年四月一日)): Emperor Saga was enthroned at age 24.
 * 810 (Kōnin 1): In Heizei's name, the former emperor's ambitious third wife, Kusuko (薬子), and her brother Nakanari organized an attempted rebellion, but their forces were defeated. Kusuko died in poison and her brother was executed. Heizei took the tonsure and became a Buddhist monk.
 * August 5, 824 (Tenchō 1, 7th day of the 7th month (天長一年七月七日)): Heizei died at age 51, 14 years after he had abdicated due to illness.

Era of Heizei's reign
The years of Heizei's reign are encompassed within one era name (nengō).
 * Daidō (806–810)

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Heizei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
 * Sadaijin (not appointed)
 * Udaijin, Miwa-no-Oh or Miwa-no-Ohkimi (神王), 798–806.
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Uchimaro (藤原内麿), 806–812.
 * Naidaijin
 * Dainagon, Fujiwara no Otomo (藤原雄友), 806–807

When the daughter of a chūnagon became the favored consort of the Crown Prince Ate (later known as Heizei-tennō), her father's power and position in court was affected. Kanmu disapproved of Fujiwara no Kusuko (藤原薬子), former wife of Fujiwara no Tadanushi; and Kanmu had her removed from his son's household. After Kanmu died, Heizei restored this one-time favorite as part of his household; and this distinction had consequences.

 * Chūnagon, Fujiwara no Tadanushi

Consorts and children
Empress (posthumously elevated Kōgō): Fujiwara no Tarashiko/Taishi (藤原帯子; d.794), Fujiwara no Momokawa’s daughter

Hi: Imperial Princess Asahara (朝原内親王; 779–817), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter

Hi: Imperial Princess Ōyake (大宅内親王; d.849), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter

Hi: Imperial Princess Kan'nabi (甘南美内親王; 800-817), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter

Shōshi Court lady (Naishi-no-kami): Fujiwara no Kusuko (藤原薬子), former wife of Chūnagon Fujiwara no Tadanushi and Fujiwara no Tanetsugu’s daughter

Hi: Fujiwara Tadanushi’s daughter

Court lady: Ise no Tsuguko (伊勢継子; 772–812), Ise no Ōna’s daughter
 * Third Prince: Imperial Prince Takaoka (高丘親王; 799–881), the Crown Prince in 809 (deposed in 810)
 * Fourth prince: Imperial Prince Kose (巨勢親王; d. 882)
 * Imperial Princess Kamitsukeno (上毛野内親王; d. 842)
 * Imperial Princess Isonokami (石上内親王; d. 846)
 * Third princess: Imperial Princess Ōhara (大原内親王; d. 863), 14th Saiō in Ise Shrine (806–809)

Court lady: Fujii no Fujiko/Tōshi (葛井藤子), Fujii no Michiyori’s daughter
 * First Prince: Imperial Prince Abo (阿保親王)

Court lady: Ki no Iokazu (紀魚員), Ki no Kotsuo’s daughter
 * Imperial Princess Enu (叡努内親王; d. 835)

title: Emperor Heizei


text:
Emperor Saga

Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇) was the 52nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Saga's reign lasted from 809 to 823.

Traditional narrative
Saga was the second son of Emperor Kanmu and Fujiwara no Otomuro. His personal name was Kamino (神野). Saga was an "accomplished calligrapher" able to compose in Chinese who held the first imperial poetry competitions (naien). According to legend, he was the first Japanese emperor to drink tea.

Saga is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates Saganoyamanoe Imperial Mausoleum (嵯峨山上陵), in Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, as the location of Saga's mausoleum.

Events of Saga's life

 * 806 Saga became the crown prince at age 21.
 * June 17, 809 (Daidō 4, 1st day of the 4th month (大同四年五月一日)): In the 4th year of Emperor Heizei's reign, he fell ill and abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by Kanmu's second son Saga, the eldest son having become a Buddhist priest. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Saga is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).

Soon after his enthronement, Saga himself took ill. At the time the retired Heizei had quarreled with his brother over the ideal location of the court, the latter preferring the Heian capital, while the former was convinced that a shift back to the Nara plain was necessary, and Heizei, exploiting Saga's weakened health, seized the opportunity to foment a rebellion, known historically as the Kusuko Incident; however, forces loyal to Emperor Saga, led by taishōgun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, quickly defeated the Heizei rebels which thus limited the adverse consequences which would have followed any broader conflict. This same Tamuramaro is remembered in Aomori's annual Nebuta Matsuri which feature a number of gigantic, specially-constructed, illuminated paper floats. These great lantern-structures are colorfully painted with mythical figures; and teams of men carry them through the streets as crowds shout encouragement. This early ninth century military leader is commemorated in this way because he is said to have ordered huge illuminated lanterns to be placed at the top of hills; and when the curious Emishi approached these bright lights to investigate, they were captured and subdued by Tamuramaro's men.
 * August 24, 842 (Jōwa 9, 15th day of the 7th month (承和九年七月十五日)): Saga died at the age of 57.

Eras of Saga's reign
The years of Saga's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name (nengō).
 * Daidō            (806–810)
 * Kōnin (810–824)

Legacy
In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the Minamoto clan are also known as Genji (源氏), and of these, the Saga Genji (嵯峨源氏) are descended from 52nd emperor Saga. Saga's son, Minamoto no Tōru, is thought to be an inspiration for the protagonist of the novel The Tale of Genji.

Emperor Saga played an important role as a stalwart supporter of the Buddhist monk Kūkai. The emperor helped Kūkai to establish the Shingon School of Buddhism by granting him Tō-ji Temple in the capital Heian-kyō (present-day Kyoto).

Daikaku-ji
Daikaku-ji (大覚寺) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Ukyō-ku in Kyoto. The site was originally a residence of the emperor, and later various emperor conducted their cloistered rule from here. The artificial lake of the temple, Ōsawa Pond, is one of the oldest Japanese garden ponds to survive from the Heian period.

The Saga Go-ryū school of ikebana has its headquarters in the temple and is named in his honour.

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Saga's reign (809–823), this kugyō included:
 * Sadaijin
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Uchimaro (藤原内麿), 806–812.
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Sonohito (藤原園人), 812–818.
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu (藤原冬嗣), 821–825.
 * Udaijin, Tachibana no Ujikimi.
 * Naidaijin
 * Dainagon

Consorts and children
Saga had 49 children with at least 30 different women. Many of the children received the surname Minamoto, thereby removing them from royal succession.

 * Empress: Tachibana no Kachiko (橘嘉智子), also known as Empress Danrin (檀林皇后), Tachibana no Kiyotomo's daughter.
 * Second Son: Imperial Prince Masara (正良親王) later Emperor Ninmyō
 * Imperial Princess Seishi (正子内親王; 810–879), married to Emperor Junna
 * Imperial Princess Hideko (秀子内親王; d. 850)
 * Imperial Prince Hidera (秀良親王; 817–895)
 * Imperial Princess Toshiko (俊子内親王; d. 826)
 * Fifth Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko (芳子内親王; d. 836)
 * Imperial Princess Shigeko (繁子内親王; d. 865)

 * Hi (deposed): Imperial Princess Takatsu (高津内親王; d. 841), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter
 * Second Prince: Imperial Prince Nariyoshi (業良親王; d. 868)
 * Imperial Princess Nariko (業子内親王; d. 815)

 * Hi: Tajihi no Takako (多治比高子; 787–825), Tajihi no Ujimori's daughter

 * Bunin: Fujiwara no Onatsu (藤原緒夏; d. 855), Fujiwara no Uchimaro's daughter

 * Court lady (Naishi-no-kami): Kudara no Kyomyō (百済王慶命; d. 849), Kudara no Kyōshun's daughter
 * Minamoto no Yoshihime (源善姫; b. 814)
 * Minamoto no Sadamu (源定; 815–863)
 * Minamoto no Wakahime (源若姫)
 * Minamoto no Shizumu (源鎮; 824–881)

 * Nyōgo: Kudara no Kimyō (百済貴命; d. 851), Kudara no Shuntetsu's daughter
 * Imperial Prince Motora (基良親王; d. 831)
 * Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tadara (忠良親王; 819–876)
 * Imperial Princess Motoko (基子内親王; d. 831)

 * Nyōgo: Ōhara no Kiyoko (大原浄子; d. 841), Ōhara no Ietsugu's daughter
 * Tenth Daughter: Imperial Princess Ninshi (仁子内親王; d. 889), 15th Saiō in Ise Shrine 809–823

 * Koui: Iidaka no Yakatoji (飯高宅刀自), Iidaka Gakuashi
 * Minamoto no Tokiwa (源常; 812–854)
 * Minamoto no Akira (源明; 814–852/853)

 * Koui: Akishino no Koko (秋篠高子/康子), Akishino no Yasuhito's daughter
 * Minamoto no Kiyoshi (源清)

 * Koui: Yamada no Chikako (山田近子)
 * Minamoto no Hiraku(?) (源啓; 829–869)
 * Minamoto no Mituhime (源密姫)

 * Nyōgo: Princess Katano (交野女王), Prince Yamaguchi's daughter
 * Eighth Daughter: Imperial Princess Uchiko (有智子内親王; 807–847), 1st Saiin in Kamo Shrine 810–831

 * Court lady: Takashina no Kawako (高階河子), Takashina no Kiyoshina's daughter
 * Imperial Princess Sōshi (宗子内親王; d. 854)

 * Court lady: Hiroi no Otona's daughter
 * Seventh Son: Minamoto no Makoto (源信)

 * Court lady: Fuse no Musashiko (布勢武蔵子)
 * Minamoto no Sadahime (源貞姫; 810–880)
 * Minamoto no Hashihime (源端姫)

 * Court lady: Kamitsukeno clan’s daughter
 * Minamoto no Hiromu (源弘; 812–863)

 * Court lady: Abe no Yanatsu's daughter
 * Minamoto no Yutaka (源寛; 813–876)

 * Court lady: Kasa no Tsugiko (笠継子), Kasa no Nakamori's daughter
 * Minamoto no Ikeru (源生; 821–872)

 * Court lady: Awata clan's daughter
 * Minamoto no Yasushi (源安; 822–853)

 * Court lady: Ōhara no Matako (大原全子), Ōhara no Mamuro's daughter
 * Minamoto no Tōru (源融), Sadaijin
 * Minamoto no Tsutomu (源勤; 824–881)
 * Minamoto no Mitsuhime (源盈姫)

 * Court lady: Ki clan's daughter
 * Minamoto no Sarahime (源更姫)

 * Court lady: Kura no Kageko (内蔵影子)
 * Minamoto no Kamihime (源神姫)
 * Minamoto no Katahime (源容姫)
 * Minamoto no Agahime (源吾姫)

 * Court lady: Kannabi no Iseko (甘南備伊勢子)
 * Minamoto no Koehime (源声姫)

 * Court lady: Fun'ya no Fumiko (文屋文子), Fun'ya no Kugamaro's daughter
 * Imperial Princess Junshi (純子内親王; d. 863)
 * Imperial Princess Seishi (斉子内親王; d. 853), married to Prince Fujii (son of Emperor Kanmu)
 * Prince Atsushi (淳王)

 * Court lady: Tanaka clan's daughter
 * Minamoto no Sumu(?) (源澄)

 * Court lady: Koreyoshi no Sadamichi's daughter
 * Minamoto no Masaru (源勝)

 * Court lady: Ōnakatomi no Mineko (大中臣峯子)

 * Court lady: Tachibana no Haruko (橘春子)

 * Court lady: Nagaoka no Okanari's daughter
 * Minamoto no Sakashi(?) (源賢)

 * Court lady (Nyoju): Taima no Osadamaro's daughter
 * Minamoto no Kiyohime (源潔姫; 810–856), married to Fujiwara no Yoshifusa
 * Minamoto no Matahime (源全姫; 812–882), Naishi-no-kami (尚侍)

 * Lady-in-waiting: Sugawara Kanshi (菅原閑子)

 * (from unknown women)
 * Minamoto no Tsugu (?) (源継)
 * Minamoto no Yoshihime (源良姫)
 * Minamoto no Toshihime (源年姫)

title: Emperor Saga


text:
Emperor Junna

Emperor Junna (淳和天皇) was the 53rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Junna reigned from 823 to 833.

Traditional narrative
Junna had six empresses and imperial consorts and 13 imperial sons and daughters. His personal name (imina) was Ōtomo (大伴).

Junna is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates Ōharano no Nishi no Minenoe Imperial Mausoleum (大原野西嶺上陵), in Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, as the location of Junna's mausoleum.

Events of Junna's life

 * 810: After the rebellion of Emperor Heizei, he became the crown prince of Emperor Saga at 25 years of age.
 * 30 May 823 (Kōnin 14, 17th day of the 4th month (弘仁十四年四月十七日)): In the 14th year of Emperor Saga's reign, he abdicated; the succession (senso) was received by Junna, Saga's younger brother and Emperor Kanmu's third son.
 * 22 March 833 (Tenchō 10, 28th day of the 2nd month (天長十年二月二十八日)): In the 10th year of Emperor Junna's reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by his adopted son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Ninmyo is said to have acceded to the throne.  After Junna stepped down from the throne, two former Emperors were alive.  In this period, Saga was called the Senior Retired Emperor and Junna was known as the Junior Retired Emperor.
 * 11 June 840 (Jōwa 7, 8th day of the 5th month (承和七年五月八日): Former-Emperor Junna died at the age of 55. Following his death, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa maneuvered to have Montoku, rather than the crown prince Tsunesada, put on the throne; Junna's death set the stage for the Fujiwara clan's ascendancy.

Eras of Junna's reign
The years of Junna's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name (nengō).
 * Kōnin (810–824)
 * Tenchō           (824–834)

Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Junna's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
 * Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu (藤原冬嗣), 825–826.
 * Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Otsugu (藤原緒嗣), 832–843.
 * Udaijin, Fujiwara no Otsugu (藤原緒嗣), 825–832.
 * Udaijin, Kiyohara no Natsuno (清原夏野), 832–837.
 * Naidaijin (not appointed)
 * Dainagon, Fujiwara no Otsugu (藤原緒嗣), 821–825.
 * Dainagon, Yoshimine no Yasuyo (良峯安世) (half brother of Emperor Junna), 828–830.
 * Dainagon, Kiyohara no Natsuno (清原夏野), 828–832
 * Dainagon, Fujiwara no Mimori (藤原三守), 829–838

Consorts and children
Empress: Imperial Princess Shōshi/Masako (正子内親王; 810–879), Emperor Saga's daughter
 * Second Son: Imperial Prince Tsunesada (恒貞親王), the Crown Prince (deposed in 842)
 * Third Son: Imperial Prince Motosada (基貞親王; 827–869)
 * Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Tsunefusa (恒統親王; 829-842)

Hi (Empress as posthumous honors): Imperial Princess Koshi (高志内親王; 789–809), Emperor Kanmu's daughter
 * First Son: Imperial Prince Tsuneyo (恒世親王; 806–826)
 * First Daughter: Imperial Princess Ujiko (氏子内親王; d.885), 16th Saiō in Ise Shrine (823–827)
 * Imperial Princess Yushi (有子内親王; d. 862)
 * Imperial Princess Sadako (貞子内親王: d. 834)

Court lady: Princess Otsugu (緒継女王; 787–847)

Nyogō: Nagahara no Motohime (永原原姫)

Nyogō: Tachibana no Ujiko (橘氏子), Tachibana no Nagana's daughter
 * Prince

Koui: Fujiwara no Kiyoko (藤原潔子), Fujiwara no Nagaoka's daughter

Court lady: Kiyohara no Haruko (清原春子), Kiyohara no Natsuno's daughter
 * Imperial Princess Meishi (明子内親王; d. 854)

Court lady: Ōnakatomi no Yasuko (大中臣安子), Ōnakatomi Fuchiio's daughter
 * Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Yoshisada (良貞親王; d. 848)

Court lady: Ōno no Takako (大野鷹子), Ōno no Masao's daughter
 * Imperial Princess Hiroko (寛子内親王; d. 869)

Court lady: Tachibana no Funeko (橘船子), Tachibana no Kiyono's daughter
 * Imperial Princess Takaiko (崇子内親王; d. 848)

Court lady: Tajihi no Ikeko (丹犀池子), Tajihi no Kadonari's daughter
 * Imperial Princess Tomoko (同子内親王; d. 860)

Unknown lady
 * Mune no Chushi (統忠子; d. 863), removed from the Imperial Family by receiving the family name from Emperor (Shisei Kōka, 賜姓降下) in 862.

title: Emperor Junna


text:
Kōmyō

Komyo may refer to:
 * Emperor Kōmyō (1322–1380), second Northern Emperor of Japan, or pretender
 * Empress Kōmyō (701–760), consort of Emperor Shōmu

title: Kōmyō


text:
Emperor Sukō

Emperor Sukō (崇光天皇) (May 25, 1334 – January 31, 1398) was the third of the Emperors of Northern Court during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1348 through 1351.

Genealogy
His personal name was originally Masuhito (益仁), but was later changed to Okihito (興仁).

His father was Emperor Kōgon. His predecessor, Emperor Kōmyō was his uncle, the younger brother of Emperor Kōgon.

 * Lady-in-waiting: Niwata (Minamoto) Motoko (庭田（源）資子; d.1394), Niwata Shigemoto's daughter
 * First son: Imperial Prince Fushimi-no-miya Yoshihito (1351–1416; 伏見宮栄仁親王) (Founder of Fushimi-no-miya house, collateral branch of the Imperial Family and included in the Succession to the Japanese throne until 1947)
 * Second son: Imperial Prince Priest Koshin (1358–1391; 興信法親王)
 * Court Lady: Anfuku-dono-Naishi (安福殿女御)
 * Consort: Sanjō-no-Tsubone (三条局)
 * First daughter: Princess Suiho (瑞宝女王)
 * Third son: Imperial Prince Priest Kojo (弘助法親王)

Events of Sukō's life
Sukō occupied the Chrysanthemum Throne from 18 November 1348 until 22 November 1351.

In 1348, he became Crown Prince. In the same year, he became Northern Emperor upon the abdication of Emperor Kōmyō. Although Emperor Kōgon ruled as a cloistered Emperor, the rivalry between Ashikaga Takauji and Ashikaga Tadayoshi began, and in 1351, Takauji returned to the allegiance of the Southern Court, forcing Emperor Sukō to abdicate. This was intended to reunify the Imperial Line.

However, the peace soon fell apart, and in April 1352, the Southern Dynasty evacuated Kyoto, abducting with them Retired (Northern) Emperors Emperor Kōgon and Emperor Kōmyō as well as Emperor Sukō and the Crown Prince Tadahito. Because of this, Takauji made Emperor Kōgon's second son Imperial Prince Iyahito emperor (First Fushimi-no-miya).

Returning to Kyoto in 1357, Emperor Sukō's son Imperial Prince Yoshihito began to work with the Bakufu to be named Crown Prince, but the Bakufu instead decided to make Emperor Go-Kōgon's son (the future Emperor Go-En'yū) Crown Prince instead.

In 1398, Emperor Sukō died. But, 30 years after his death, in 1428, his great-grandson Hikohito (彦仁), as the adopted son of Emperor Shōkō, became Emperor Go-Hanazono, fulfilling Sukō's dearest wish. Sukō is enshrined at the Daikōmyōji no misasagi (大光明寺陵) in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.

Eras during his reign

 * Nanboku-chō Southern court

 * Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
 * Shōhei

 * Nanboku-chō Northern court

 * Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
 * Jōwa
 * Kan'ō

Southern Court rivals

 * Emperor Go-Murakami

title: Emperor Sukō


text:
Emperor Go-Kōgon

Emperor Go-Kōgon (後光厳天皇) was the 4th of the Emperors of Northern Court during the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1352 through 1371.

This Nanboku-chō "sovereign" was named after his father Emperor Kōgon and go- (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he may be called the "Later Emperor Kōgon", or, in some older sources, may be identified as "Emperor Kōgon, the second", or as "Emperor Kōgon II."

Genealogy
His personal name was Iyahito (彌仁).

He was the second son of the Northern Pretender Emperor Kōgon, and brother of his predecessor, Emperor Sukō. His mother was Hideko (秀子), Sanjō Kinhide's daughter

 * Lady-in-waiting: Hirohashi (Fujiwara) Nakako (廣橋（藤原）仲子; 1336/9-1427) later Sukenmon’in (崇賢門院), Hirohashi Kanetsuna's daughter
 * Second son: Imperial Prince Ohito (緒仁親王) later Emperor Go-En'yū
 * Fifth son: Imperial Prince Priest Eijo (1362–1437; 永助入道親王)
 * Sixth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōnin (堯仁法親王; 1363–1430）
 * Twelfth son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyōsho (堯性法親王; 1371–1388)
 * Consort: Uemon-no-Suke no Tsubone (右衛門佐局)
 * First son: Imperial Prince Priest Ryōnin (1355–1370; 亮仁入道親王)
 * Third son: Imperial Prince Priest Gyojo (行助法親王; 1360–1386）
 * son: (1361–1369)
 * Seventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakuzō (1363–1390; 覺増法親王)
 * Consort: Sakyōdaibu-no-Tsubone (左京大夫局), Hōin Chōkai's daughter
 * First daughter: Imperial Princess Haruko (d. 1390; 治子内親王)
 * Fourth son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakuei (覺叡法親王; 1361–1377)
 * Eighth son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōen (道圓入道親王; 1364–1385)
 * Eleventh son: Imperial Prince Priest Shōjo (聖助法親王; b.1371)
 * Consort:Shonagon-naishi (少納言内侍), Tachibana no Mochishige ‘s daughter
 * Tenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Myōshō (1367–1396; 明承法親王)
 * from unknown women
 * Ninth son: Imperial Prince Priest Kanshu (1366–1401; 寬守法親王)
 * Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince Priest Kankyō (1373–1405; 寬教入道親王)
 * Second daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi (見子內親王)
 * Fourteenth son: ?
 * Daughter: Princess Shūnin (秀仁女王)

Events of Go-Kōgon's life
In his own lifetime, Go-Kōgon and those around him believed that he occupied the Chrysanthemum Throne from 25 September 1352 to 9 April 1371. In 1351, Ashikaga Takauji briefly returned to the allegiance of the Southern Dynasty, causing the Southern Court to briefly consolidate control of the Imperial Line. However, this peace fell apart in April 1352. On this occasion, the Southern Court abducted Retired (Northern) Emperors Emperor Kōgon and Emperor Kōmyō as well as Emperor Sukō and the Crown Prince Tadahito from Kyoto to Anau, the location of the Southern Court. This produced a state of affairs in which there was no Emperor in Kyoto. Because of this, Imperial Prince Iyahito became emperor in 1352 with the support of Ashikaga Yoshiakira.

During this period, the Era of the Northern and Southern Courts, because of the antagonism between the two competing dynasties, public order in Kyoto was disturbed. The Southern Court repeatedly recaptured Kyoto. Emperor Go-Kōgon was forced to repeatedly flee from Kyoto to Ōmi Province and other places. Around the time that Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was named shōgun (1368), the Southern Courts power weakened, and order was restored to Kyoto. Also around this time, the Emperor's authority began to show its weakness.

On 9 April 1371, he abdicated in favor of his son, who became Emperor Go-En'yū. He continued to rule as Cloistered Emperor until he died of illness on 12 March 1374. He is enshrined with other emperors at the imperial tomb called Fukakusa no kita no misasagi (深草北陵) in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.

Eras of Go-Kōgon's reign
The years of Go-Kōgon's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.

 * Nanboku-chō Southern court

 * Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
 * Shōhei      (1346–1370)
 * Kentoku            (1370–1372)

 * Nanboku-chō Northern court

 * Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
 * Kannō        (1350–1352)
 * Bunna              (1352–1356)
 * Embun              (1356–1361)
 * Kōan (1361–1362)
 * Jōji          (1362–1368)
 * Ōan            (1368–1375)

Southern Court rivals

 * Emperor Go-Murakami
 * Emperor Chōkei

title: Emperor Go-Kōgon


text:
Emperor Go-En'yū

Emperor Go-En'yū (後円融天皇) (11 January 1359 – 6 June 1393) was the 5th of the Emperors of Northern Court during the period of two courts in Japan. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1371 through 1382.

This Nanboku-chō "sovereign" was named after the 10th century Emperor En'yū and go- (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he may be called the "Later Emperor En'yū", or, in some older sources, may be identified as "Emperor En'yū, the second", or as "Emperor En'yū II."

Genealogy
His personal name was Ohito (緒仁).

He was the second son of the fourth Northern Pretender Emperor Go-Kōgon. His mother was Fujiwara no Nakako (藤原仲子), Hirohashi Kanetsuna's daughter.

 * Consort: Sanjō Itsuko (三条 厳子) (also known as Fujiwara no Izuko ). Sanjō Kintada's daughter.
 * First son: Imperial Prince Motohito (幹仁親王) later Emperor Go-Komatsu
 * First daughter: Imperial Princess Keiko (1381–1399; 珪子内親王)

 * Lady-in-waiting Fujiwara no Imako (藤原今子), Shijō Takasato's daughter
 * Second son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōchō (1378–1446; 道朝法親王)

 * Naishi: Ogimachi Sanjo Sanetoshi’s daughter

 * Naishi: Azechi-no-tsubone, Tachibana Tomoshige’s daughter

 * unknown
 * daughter: (d.1391)
 * daughter: ???
 * son: ???

Events of Go-En'yū's life
In his own lifetime, Go-En'yū and those around him believed that he occupied the Chrysanthemum Throne from 9 April 1371 to 24 May 1382.

In 1371, by Imperial Proclamation, he received the rank of shinnō (親王), or Imperial Prince (and potential heir). Immediately afterwards, he became emperor upon the abdication of his father, Emperor Go-Kōgon. There was said to be a disagreement between Go-Kōgon and the retired Northern Emperor Emperor Sukō over the Crown Prince. With the support of Hosokawa Yoriyuki, who controlled the Bakufu, Go-Kōgon's son became the Northern Emperor.

Until 1374, Go-Kōgon ruled as cloistered emperor. In 1368, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was named shōgun, and with his guardianship, the Imperial Court was stabilized. In 1382, upon abdicating to Emperor Go-Komatsu, his cloistered rule began. Having no actual power, he rebelled, attempting suicide and accusing Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and his consort Itsuko of adultery.

In 1392, peace with the Southern Court being concluded, the Period of the Northern and Southern Courts came to an end. On 6 June 1393, Go-En'yū died. He is enshrined with other emperors at the imperial tomb called Fukakusa no kita no misasagi (深草北陵) in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.

Eras of Go-En'yū's reign
The years of Go-En'yū's Nanboku-chō reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.

 * Nanboku-chō Southern court

 * Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
 * Kentoku       (1370–1372)
 * Benchū (1372–1375)
 * Tenju         (1375–1381)
 * Kōwa     (1381–1384)

 * Nanboku-chō Northern court

 * Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
 * Ōan        (1368–1375)
 * Eiwa           (1375–1379)
 * Kōryaku (1379–1381)
 * Eitoku         (1381–1384)

Southern Court rivals

 * Emperor Chōkei

title: Emperor Go-En'yū


text:
Emperor Suizei

Emperor Suizei (綏靖天皇), also known as Kamununakawamimi no Mikoto (神沼河耳命), was the second legendary emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Suizei is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. A legendary account from the Kojiki states that Suizei became emperor after receiving the title of crown prince by his half brother due to his bravery regarding a murder plot. Suizei's reign started in 581 BC, he had one wife and a sole son who supposedly became the next emperor upon his death in 549 BC.

Legendary narrative
While the Kojiki provides little information about Suizei, it does state his name, genealogy, and a record about his accession to the throne. He was born sometime in 632 BC, and was one of the sons of Emperor Jimmu and his chief wife Himetataraisuzu-hime. The account in the Kojiki states that Suizei's older brother Kamuyaimimi was originally the Crown-prince. When Jimmu died, another of his sons named Tagishimimi attempted to seize the throne by murdering those in his way. Tagishimimi was given birth to by a lesser wife named Ahiratsu-hime, and was older than Jimmu's legitimate heir. When Himetataraisuzu-hime learned of the plot she tried in vain to warn her sons by way of songs and poems. While Suizei encouraged Kamuyaimimi to slay Tagishimimi, he could not find it in him to murder his own half brother. Suizei pleaded with his older brother for the weapon he was going to use, and upon receiving it accomplished the deed for him. Kamuyawimimi ceded his rights as crown prince shortly after to Suizei as he believed his braver younger brother should be the new Emperor.

Emperor Suizei's pre-ascension name remains unknown, but the Kojiki records that he ruled from the palace of Takaoka-no-miya (葛城高岡宮) at Katsuragi in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. While another more expansive account exists in the Nihon Shoki, the section is more steeped in myth. Suizei is conventionally considered to have reigned from 581 to 549 BC. He wed Isuzuyori-hime at an unknown date, and the two had one son. Emperor Suizei allegedly died in 549 BC and his gravesite is formally named Tsukida no oka no e no misasagi. He was succeeded by his only son, Prince Shikitsuhikotamatemi who became Emperor Annei.

Known information
The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Suizei is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is ranked as the first of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Suizei-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations, and literally means "joyfully healthy peace". His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Suizei, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. While the actual site of his grave is not known, an Imperial misasagi or tomb for Suizei is currently maintained in Kashihara. The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and children

 * Empress: Isuzuyori-hime, Kotoshironushi's daughter
 * Prince Shikitsuhikotamatemi (磯城津彦玉手看尊), later Emperor Annei

title: Emperor Suizei


text:
Emperor Annei

Emperor Annei (安寧天皇), also known as Shikitsuhikotamatemi no Mikoto (師木津日子玉手見命) was the third legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Annei is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. Nothing exists in the Kojiki other than his name and genealogy. Annei's reign allegedly began in 549 BC, he had one wife and three sons. After his death in 511 BC, his second or third son supposedly became the next emperor.

Legendary narrative
Emperor Annei's name appears in both the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki where only his genealogy are recorded. While the Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Before his accession to the throne, he was allegedly known as Prince Shikitsu-hiko Tamatemi. Shikitsu-hiko Tamatemi was either the eldest son or the only son of Emperor Suizei with Isuzuyori-hime. The Kojiki records that he ruled from the palace of Ukena-no-miya (片塩浮穴宮) at Katashiro in Kawachi in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. During Emperor Annei's alleged lifetime, he had one wife named "Nunasokonakatsu-hime" and fathered three children with her. Annei's reign lasted from 549 BC until his death in 511 BC, his second or third son then took the throne and would later be referred to as Emperor Itoku.

Known information
The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Annei is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the second of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Annei-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations, and literally means "steady tranquillity". His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Annei, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. The name "Annei" is first credited to Japanese scholar and writer Ōmi no Mifune, who allegedly came up with the name sometime in the latter half of the 8th century.

While the actual site of Annei's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (陵,misasagi) in Kashihara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Annei's mausoleum, and is formally named Unebi-yama no hitsujisaru Mihodo no i no e no misasagi(畝傍山西南御陰井上陵,The royal tomb over the mihodo at the south west of mount unebi) . The first emperor that historians believe might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and Children

 * Empress: Nunasokonakatsu-hime (渟名底仲媛命), Prince Kamo's daughter (Kotoshironushi's son)
 * Prince Okisomimi (息石耳命)
 * Prince Ōyamatohikosukitomo (大日本彦耜友尊), later Emperor Itoku
 * Prince Shikitsuhiko (磯城津彦命)

title: Emperor Annei


text:
Emperor Kōshō

Emperor Kōshō (孝昭天皇), also known as Mimatsuhikokaeshine no Mikoto (真津日子訶恵志泥命) was the fifth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōshō is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. Nothing exists in the Kojiki other than his name and genealogy. Kōshō's reign allegedly began in 475 BC, he had one wife and two sons. After his death in 393 BC, his second son supposedly became the next emperor.

Legendary narrative
In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only his name and genealogy were recorded. The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and an Imperial misasagi(陵) or tomb for Kōshō is currently maintained; however, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Kōshō is believed to be the oldest son of Emperor Itoku, and his wife Amanotoyototsu-hime. His mother was the daughter of Okishimimi-no-kami. The Kojiki records that he ruled from the palace of Ikekokoro-no-miya (葛城掖上宮) at Waki-no-kami in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. Kōshō allegedly had a wife named Yosotarashi-hime, and fathered two children with her. His reign lasted from 475 BC until his death in 393 BC, his second son then took the throne and would later be referred to as Emperor Kōan.

Known information
The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Kōshō is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the fourth of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Kōshō-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations, and literally means "filial manifestation". His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Kōshō, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. While the actual site of Kōshō's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Gose. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Kōshō's mausoleum. It is formally named Waki-no-kami no Hakata no yama no e no misasagi. There is a possibility that this figure could have lived instead in the 1st century (AD), however more research is needed to make any further conclusions.

The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and Children

 * Empress: Yosotarashi-hime (世襲足媛), Owari clan's daughter
 * Prince Ametarashihikokunioshihito (天足彦国押人命)
 * Prince Yamatotarashihikokunioshihito (日本足彦国押人尊), later Emperor Kōan

title: Emperor Kōshō


text:
Emperor Kōan

Emperor Kōan (孝安天皇), also known as Yamatotarashihikokunioshihito no Mikoto (大倭帯日子国押人命) was the sixth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōan is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. Nothing exists in the Kojiki other than his name and genealogy. Kōan's reign allegedly began in 393 BC, he had one wife and two sons and reigned for more than 100 years until his death in 291 BC at the age of 137. One of his sons then supposedly became the next emperor. Emperor Kōan is traditionally accepted as the final emperor of the Jōmon period, which ended in 300 BC.

Legendary narrative
In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only his name and genealogy were recorded. The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and an Imperial misasagi or tomb for Kōan is currently maintained; however, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. He is believed to be son of Emperor Kōshō; and his mother is believed to have been Yosotarashi-no-hime, who was the daughter of Okitsuyoso, and ancestress of the Owari. The Kojiki records Kōan was the second son of Emperor Kōshō, and that he ruled from the palace of Akitsushima-no-miya (葛城室之秋津島宮) at Muro in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. Kōan was allegedly an emperor who reigned for more than a hundred years, and lived to the age of 137 (according to the Kojiki). He allegedly had a wife named Yosotarashi-hime, and fathered two children with her. Kōan's reign lasted from 392 BC until his death in 291 BC, one of his sons then took the throne and would later be referred to as Emperor Kōrei.

Known information
The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Kōan is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the fifth of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Kōan-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations. His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Kōan, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. The name "Kōan" is first credited to Japanese scholar and writer Ōmi no Mifune, who allegedly came up with the name sometime in the latter half of the 8th century.

Emperor Kōan's longevity is disputed as the oldest verified humans usually go into the mid to late 110s. While historian John S. Brownlee calls Kōan's alleged age of 137 at the time of his death "too long", he also says that this is not unusual for mythical figures. He ends his narrative by saying that nobody in Japan was bothered by the longevity of the former emperors until the modern era. Regardless of his age, the actual site of Kōan's grave is not known. Kōan is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Tamade, Gose. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Kōan's mausoleum, and its formal name is Tamate no oka no e no misasagi.

The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and children

 * Empress: Oshihime (押媛), Ametarashihiko kunioshihito daughter (Emperor Kōshō's son)
 * Prince Ōkibi no Morosusumi (大吉備諸進命)
 * Prince Ōyamatonekohikofutoni (大日本根子彦太瓊尊), later Emperor Kōrei

title: Emperor Kōan


text:
Emperor Kōrei

Emperor Kōrei (孝霊天皇), also known as Ōyamatonekohikofutoni no Mikoto (大倭根子日子賦斗邇命) was the seventh legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōrei is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. Nothing exists in the Kojiki other than his name and genealogy. Kōrei's reign allegedly began in 290 BC. He had one wife and three consorts with whom he fathered seven children. After his death in 215 BC, one of his sons supposedly became the next emperor. Kōrei is traditionally accepted as the first emperor of the Yayoi period, which is named after the Yayoi people who migrated to the Japanese archipelago from mainland Asia.

Legendary narrative
In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only his name and genealogy were recorded. The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and an Imperial misasagi or tomb for Kōrei is currently maintained; however, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Kōrei was born in 342 BC and is believed to be the eldest son of Emperor Kōan. His mother is believed to have been Oshihime, who was the daughter of Ametarashihiko-Kunio-shihito-no-mikoto. Kōrei's pre-ascension name was Prince O-Yamato-Neko Hiko-futo-ni no Mikoto, and the Kojiki records that he ruled from the palace of Kuroda-noi-odo-no-miya (黒田廬戸宮) at Kuroda in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. It is noted in the Kojiki that sometime during Kōrei's reign, Kibi was conquered by the emperor. Kōrei was the first emperor since Jimmu to take on consorts, and fathered seven children with them along with his chief wife Empress: Kuwashi-hime. Kōrei is recorded as having a long life, reigning from 290 BC until his death in 215 BC. His eldest son was then subsequently enthroned as the next emperor.

Known information
The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Kōrei is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the sixth of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Kōrei-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations. His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Kōrei, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. As with Emperor Kōan, Kōrei's exceptional age of 127 is considered unlikely due to verification issues among other things. While the actual site of Kōrei's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Ōji. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Kōrei's mausoleum, and its formal name is Kataoka no Umasaka no misasagi.

Like Emperor Kōshō, there is a possibility that "Kōrei" could have lived instead in the 1st century (AD). Historian Louis Frédéric notes this idea in his book Japan Encyclopedia where he says it is "very likely", but this remains disputed among other researchers. The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and children

 * Empress: Kuwashi-hime (細媛命), Shiki no Agatanushi Oome's daughter
 * Son: Prince Ōyamatonekohikokunikuru (大日本根子彦国牽尊), later Emperor Kōgen
 * Consort: Kasuga no Chichihayamawaka-hime (春日之千千速真若比売)
 * Daughter: Princess Chichihaya-hime (千千速比売命)
 * Consort: Yamato no Kunika-hime (倭国香媛), Wachitsumi's daughter
 * Daughter: Yamatototohimomoso-hime (倭迹迹日百襲媛命), buried in Hashihaka tumulus (there exists a claim that she is the shaman-queen Himiko)
 * Son: Prince Kojiki (古事記)
 * Son: Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto (吉備津彦命), ancestor of Kibi clan
 * Daughter: Princess Yamatototowakaya-hime (倭迹迹稚屋姫命)
 * Consort: Haeirodo (絙某弟), Yamato no Kunikahime's sister
 * Son: Prince Hikosashima (彦狭島命)
 * Son: Wakatakehiko (稚武彦命), ancestor of Kibi clan
 * Consort: Mashita-hime (真舌媛), Toshihiko Ohihiko's daughter

title: Emperor Kōrei


text:
Emperor Kōgen

Emperor Kōgen (孝元天皇), also known as Ōyamatonekohikokunikuru no Mikoto (大倭根子日子国玖琉命) was the eighth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kōgen is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. Nothing exists in the Kojiki other than his name and genealogy. Kōgen's reign allegedly began in 214 BC, he had one wife and two consorts whom he fathered six children with. After his death in 158 BC, one of his sons supposedly became Emperor Kaika.

Legendary narrative
In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only Kōgen's name and genealogy were recorded. The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and an Imperial misasagi or tomb for Kōgen is currently maintained; however, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Kōgen was born sometime in 273 BC, and is recorded as being the eldest son of Emperor Kōrei. His empress mother was named "Kuwashi-hime", who was the daughter of Shiki no Agatanushi Oome. Before he was enthroned sometime in 214 BC, his pre-ascension name was Prince Ō-yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru no Mikoto. The Kojiki records that he ruled from the palace of Sakaihara-no-miya (軽之堺原宮) at Karu in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. Emperor Kōgen had a chief wife (empress) named Utsushikome, along with two consorts. His first son was named Prince Ōhiko, and according to the Nihon Shoki was the direct ancestor of the Abe clan. One of Kōgen's other sons, Prince Hikofutsuoshinomakoto, was also the grandfather of the legendary Japanese hero-statesman Takenouchi no Sukune. Emperor Kōgen reigned until his death in 158 BC; his second son was then enthroned as the next emperor.

Known information
The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Kōgen is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the seventh of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Kōgen-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations. His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Kōgen, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. While the actual site of Kōgen's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Kashihara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Kōgen's mausoleum, and its formal name is Tsurugi no ike no shima no e no misasagi.

The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and children

 * Empress: Utsushikome (欝色謎命), Oyakuchisukune's daughter
 * Prince Ōhiko (大彦命), ancestor of all the Abe clan's descendants.
 * Prince Sukunaokokoro (少彦男心命)
 * Prince Wakayamatonekohikooobi (稚日本根子彦大日日尊), later Emperor Kaika.
 * Princess Yamatototo-hime (倭迹迹姫命)
 * Consort: Ikagashikome (伊香色謎命), Ōhesoki's daughter
 * Prince Hikofutsuoshinomakoto (彦太忍信命), grandfather of Takenouchi no Sukune (武内宿禰).
 * Consort: Haniyasu-hime (埴安媛), Kawachi-no-Aotamakake's daughter
 * Prince Takehaniyasuhiko ((武埴安彦命)

title: Emperor Kōgen


text:
Emperor Kaika

Emperor Kaika (開化天皇), also known as Wakayamato Nekohiko Ōbibi no Mikoto (若倭根子日子大毘毘命) in the Kojiki, and Wakayamato Nekohiko Ōbibi no Sumeramikoto (稚日本根子彦大日日天皇) in the Nihon Shoki was the ninth legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this Emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Kaika is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. Nothing exists in the Kojiki other than his name and genealogy. Kaika's reign allegedly began in 158 BC. He had one wife and three consorts whom he fathered five children with. After his death in 98 BC, one of his sons supposedly became Emperor Sujin.

Legendary narrative
In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only Kaika's name and genealogy were recorded. The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and an Imperial misasagi or tomb for Kaika is currently maintained; however, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Kaika was born sometime in 208 BC, and is recorded as being the second son of Emperor Kōgen. His empress mother was named Utsushikome, who was the daughter of Oyakuchisukune. Before he was enthroned sometime in 158 BC, his pre-ascension name was Prince Nikohiko Ō-hibi no Mikoto. The Kojiki records that he ruled from the palace of Sakaihara-no-miya (軽之堺原宮) at Karu in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. Emperor Kaika had a chief wife (empress) named Ikagashikome, along with three consorts of which he fathered five children with. Kaika ruled until his death in 98 BC; his second son was then enthroned as the next emperor. His son/heir to the throne was posthumously named Sujin by later generations, and is the first emperor that historians say might have actually existed.

Known information

The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Kaika is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the eighth of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Kaika-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations. His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Kaika, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. While the actual site of Kaika's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Nara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Kaika's mausoleum, and its formal name is Kasuga no Izakawa no saka no e no misasagi.

Like Emperor Kōshō and Emperor Kōrei, there is a possibility that "Kaika" could have lived instead in the 1st century (AD). Historian Louis Frédéric notes this idea in his book Japan Encyclopedia where he says "more likely early AD", but this remains disputed among other researchers. The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and children

 * Empress: Ikagashikome (伊香色謎命), Oohesoki's daughter
 * Prince Mimakiirihikoinie (御間城入彦五十瓊殖尊), later Emperor Sujin
 * Princess Mimatsuhime (御真津比売命)
 * Consort: Taniwanotakano-hime (丹波竹野媛), Taniwa no Ooagatanushi Yugori's daughter
 * Prince Hikoyumusu (彦湯産隅命)
 * Consort: Hahatsu-hime (姥津媛), Prince Waninishisaihito's daughter
 * Prince Hikoimasu (彦坐王)
 * Consort: Washi-hime (鸇比売), Katsuragi no Tarumi no Sukune's daughter
 * Prince Taketoyohazurawake (建豊波豆羅和気王)

title: Emperor Kaika