[caocao74]

Emperors and Empresses of Japan

The Emperors (and six Empresses) are listed chronologically, and are named first, according to their nengo (posthumous title given to the Tenno and their reign), then their personal name (in brackets) if known.

1. Jimmu
711-585BC (r.660-585BC). Legendary descendant of Amaterasu Okami, the sun-goddess and her grandson, Mikoto no Ninigi.
2. Suizei
(Kamisawa Gawa Mimino no Mikoto) 632-549 BC (r.581-549BC). Son of Jimmu.
3. Annei
(Sikitsuhiko Tama demino no Mikoto) 567-511BC (r.549-511BC). Son of Suizei.
4. Itoku
(Oho Yamathiko Suki Tomonau no Mikoto) 553-477BC (r.510-477BC). Son of Annei.
5. Kosho
(Mina Tsuhiko Kaesineno no Mikoto) 501-393BC (r.475-393BC). Son of Itoku.
6. Koan
(Oho Yamato Tarashiko Kuniosi Hito no Mikoto) 427-291BC (r.392-291BC). Son of Kosho.
7. Korei
(Oho Yamato Nekohito Futoni no Mikoto) 342-215BC (r.290-215BC). Son of Koan.
8. Kogen
(Oho Yamato Nekohito Kuni Kurona no Mikoto) 273-158BC (r.290-215BC). Son of Korei.
9. Kaika
(Oho Wakai Yamato Nekohito Oho Bibino no Mikoto) 208-98BC (r.158-98BC).
Son of Kogen.
10. Sujin
(Mimaki Irihiko Isatsi no Mikoto) 148-30BC (r.97-30BC). Son of Kaika.
11. Suinin
(Ikume Irihiko Isatsi no Mikoto) 69BC-70AD(r.29Bc-70AD).Son of Sujin.
12. Keiko
(Oho Tarasihiko Osiwake no Mikoto) 13BC-130AD (r.71-130). Son of Suinin.
13. Seimu
(Wakai Tarasihiko) 84-190 (r.131-190). Son of Keiko.
14. Chilai/Chuai
(Tarasi Nakatsuhiko no Mikoto) 149-200. Nephew of Seimu


The first Tenno are in large part legendary, as testified by there being only fourteen Tenno covering some eight-hundred years. Essentially they were edited into history in the 7th Century AD by authors of such works as the Nihon Shoki (written c.720 AD), primarily to create a dynastic lineage that worked to propagate the authority of the ruling Yamato uji. The styles of the works are Chinese in fashion, written in a period when Chinese philosophy, political science, and culture were dominant with the ruling circles of Yamato Japan.

15. Ojin
(Fondano Miko no Mikoto/Otomowake no Mikoto/Humudawake no Mikoto) 201-310 (r.270-310). Son of Chilai/ Chuai.
16. Nintoku
(Oho Sazaki no Mikoto) 290-399 (r.313-399). Son of Ojin.
17. Richii
(Isavo Wake no Mikoto) 339-405 (r.400-405). Son of Nintoku.
18. Hanzei
(Misu wa Wake no Mikoto) 352-410 (r.406-410). Brother of Richii.
19. Ingyo
(Wo Atsumano Wakako no Sukune) 374-453 (r.412-453) Brother of Richii.
20. Anko
(Anahono no Mikoto) 401-456 (r.453-456). Son of Ingyo.
21. Yuryaku
(Oho Hatsuneno no Mikoto) 418-479 (r.456-479). Brother of Anko.
22. Seinei
(Siraga Takehiro Kuni Osi Wakai Yamato Neko no Mikoto) -484 (r.480-484). Son of Yuryaku.
23. Kenzo
(Ohoke no Mikoto) 450-487 (r.485-487). Grandson of Richii.
24. Ninken
(Oho Ai azana Simano Irakko) 449-498 (r.488-498). Brother of Kenzo.
25. Buretsu
(Wo Fatuse Wakai Sazaki) 489-506 (r.498-506). Son of Ninken.
26. Keitai
(Wo Ofu Atonohiko Fudo no Mikoto). 450-531 (r.507-531). Great-nephew of Richii.
27. Ankan
(Hirokuni Oshitake Kanahi no Mikoto) 466-535 (r.531(4)-535). Son of Keitai.
28. Senka
(Takehi Hirokuni Oshitake no Mikoto) 467-535 (r.535-539). Brother of Ankan.


The fifteenth to twenty-eighth Emperors were historical figures, in the real sense, but the dates of their reigns as recorded by the Nihon Shoki are dubious at best. More likely dates place Ojin in the late 4th to early 5th Century, Nintoku, Richii, and Hanzei in the first half of the 5th Century, Ingyo and Anko in the mid-5th, with Yuryaku down to Buretsu in the latter 5th, and Keitai, Ankan, and Senka in the first half of the 6th Century.

29. Kimmei
(Amekuni Oshiharaki Hironikawa no Mikoto) 509-571 (r.531/39-571). Brother of Senka.
30.Bidatsu
(Numakura Futotamishiki no Mikoto) 538-585 (r.572-585). Son of Kimmei, half-brother of Toroyara Miya (later the Empress Suiko.
31. Yomei
(Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto) ?-587 (r.585-587). Brother of Bidatsu (30), father of Prince Umayado (known as Shotoku Taishi)
32. Sushun
(Hatsusebe no Mikoto) ?-592 (r.587-592). Brother of Yomei.
33. Empress Suiko
(Toyora Miya (Toyomike Kashikiya Mikoto) 554-628 (r.593-628). Daughter of Kinmei (29), half-sister and wife of Bidatsu (30).
34. Jomei
(Tamura / Okinagagatari Hironuka no Mikoto) 593-641 (r.629-641). Grandson of Bidatsu (30), son of Oshizakahikobitonoe.
35. Kogyoku
(Ame Tokyo Takara Mige Fi Tarse Hime) 594-661 (r.642-645). Daughter of Prince Chinu, a son of Oshizakahikobitonoe. She also served as Empress Saimei (37).
36. Kotoku
(Ame Yorozu Toyohi no Mikoto) 507-654 (r.645-654). Brother of Prince Chinu and uncle of Empress Kogyoku / Saimei (35/37).
37. Empress Saimei
(See Kogyoku (35). 594-661 (r.655-661)
38. Tenchi
(Ame Hiraki Wake no Mikoto) 626-672 (r.661-672). Originally known as Prince Nakanoe, son of Jomei (34) by Koyoku.
39. Kohun
(Otomo) 648-672 (r.672). Son of Tenchi.
40. Temmu
(Ame Nu Nake Vara Okina Mahito) ?-686 (r.672-697). Son of Jomei (34).
41. Empress Jito
(Take Ama Vara Hiro no Hime) 645-703 (r.686-697). Daughter of Tenchi (38).
42. Monmu
(Amanomo Mune Toyo) 683-707 (r.697-707). Son of Prince Kusakabe., grandson of Temmu (40), husband of Miyako (daughter of Udaijin (Minister of the Right) Fujiwara no Fuhito).
43. Empress Genmei (Gemmyo)
(Yamato Neko Amatsu Mi Siro Toyo Kuni Nari Hime) 661-722 (r.707-715). Daughter of Tenchi (38).
44. Empress Gensho
(Yamato Neko Taka Mitsu Kio Tarasi Hime) 680-748 (r.715-724). Sister of Monmu (42).
45. Shomu
(Ame Sirusi Kuni Osi Hiraki Toyo Sakura Hiko) 701-756 (r.724-749). Son of Monmu (42), husband of Komyo (daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito).
46. Empress Koken
(Takano Hime Abenno Nai Sin Wo) 718-770 (r.749-758 and 764-770). Daughter of Shomu by Fujiwara no Komyo. Abdicated in 758 but acceded to the throne again as Empress Shotoku (48).
47. Junnin
(Oho Ino Ohokimi) 733-765 (r.758-764). Son of Toneri-O (son of Tenmu (40).
48. Empress Shotoku
(See Empress Koken (46).
49. Konin
(Sira Kabena Ohokimi) 709-782 (r.770-781). Son of Shiki-O (son of Tenchi (38). Instituted the practice of kabane (granting surnames to children who were not heir to the throne, thereby being relegated to the non-royal aristocracy).
50. Kammu / Kwammu
(Yamato Neko Suberagi Takarateru no Mikoto) 737-806 (r.781-806). Husband of daughter of sangi (auditor) Fujiwara no Momokawa.
51. Heizei
(Yamato Neko Amahiraki Kuni Takahiko) 774-824 (r.806-809). Son of Kammu (50). Abdicated and took the title dajo Tenno (Retired Emperor) which he held from 809-824.
52. Saga
(Kami no Sinwo) 786-842 (r.809-823). Brother of Heizei (51). Abdicated and assumed the title dajo Tenno from 809-842. With 29 consorts he produced at least 23 sons and 27 daughters. By 814, 5 of the sons had been made shinno (Imperial Princes) and 12 daughters naishinno (Imperial Princesses). His son Atsushi was made a Prince of the blood, with all the other children relegated to subject status.
53. Junna
(Ohodomo no Sinwo) 786-840 (r.823-833). Half-brother of Heizei (51) and Saga (52).
54. Nimmyo
(Masa Yosi) 810-850 (r.833-850). Son of Saga (52).
55. Montoku
(Mitsi Yasu Sin Wo) 827-858 (r.850-858). Son of Nimmyo (54).
56. Seiwa
(Korehito) 850-881 (r.858-876). Abdicated and assumed title dajo Tenno (876-880).
Son of Montoku (55).
57. Yozei
(Sadaaki) 869-949 (r.876-884). Abdicated and assumed the title dajo Tenno (885-949).
Son of Seiwa (56).
58. Koko
(Tokiyasu) 830-887 (r.884-887). Son of Nimmyo (54).
59. Uda
(Sadayoshi) 867-931 (r.887-897). Abdicated and assumed title dajo Tenno (897-931).
Son of Koko (58).
60. Daigo
(Atsuhito) 885-930 (r.897-930). Husband of the daughter of the dajo daijin, Fujiwara no Motosune.
61. Suzaku
(Hiroakira) 923-952 (r.930-946). Son of Daigo (60).
62. Murakami
(Nariakira) 926-967 (r.946-967). Son of Daigo (60). Under the regency of Fujiwara no Tadahira (930-946).
63. Reizei
(Norihara) 950-1011 (r.967-969). Husband of daughter of Fujiwara no Koretada, and later of the daughter of Fujiwara no Kanaeie. Abdicated and assumed title dajo Tenno (970-1011).
64. En’yu
(Morihara) 959-991 (r.969-984). Abdicated and assumed title dajo Tenno (985-991).
65. Kazan
(Morosada) 968-1008 (r.984-986). Son of Reizei (63).
66. Ichijo
(Kanehito) 980-1011 (r.986-1011). Son of En’yu (64). Husband of Akiko, daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga and Minamoto no Rinshi. Akiko received the title kogo.
67. Sanjo
(Sueada) 976-1017 (r.1013-1016). Son of Reizei (63) by an imperial concubine. Husband of Kenshi (1010), the second daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga and Minamoto no Rinshi, but Sanjo denied her the title kogo.
68. Go-Ichijo
(Atsunari) 1008-1036 (r.1016-1036). Son of Ichijo (66) by Fujiwara no Shoshi, husband of Toshiko (styled chugu), daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga, who bore him two sons. Under the regency of Fujiwara no Michinaga (1016-1036).
69. Go-Suzaku
(Atsuyoshi) 1009-1045 (r.1036-1045). Son of Ichijo (66) by Fujiwara no Shoshi. Full-brother of Go-Ichijo (68). Husband of Yoshiko, fourth daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga.
70. Go-Reizei
(Tsikihito / Ohikahito) 1025-1068 (r.1045-1068). Son of Go-Suzaku (69) by Fujiwara no Yoshiko, and thus grandson of Fujiwara no Michinaga. Husband of Hiroko, daughter of the kanpaku, Fujiwara Yorimichi (elder son of Fujiwara no Michinaga). Go-Reizei and Hiroko had no children together.
71. Go Sanjo
(Takahito) 1034-1073 (r.1068-1073). Son of Go-Reizei (70) by a non-Fujiwara concubine, making him the first Emperor since Uda (59) not to have had a Fujiwara mother.
72. Shirakawa
(Sadahito) 1053-1129 (r.1073-1087). Son of Go-Reizei (70), and brother of Go-Sanjo (71).
73. Horikawa
(Yoshihito) 1079-1107 (r.1087-1107). Son of Shirakawa (72), husband of the daughter of the udaijin, Fujiwara no Sanesuke.
74. Toba
(Munehito) 1103-1156 (r.1107-1123). Son of Horikawa (73), husband of Tanako (1101-1145)(the daughter of Fujiwara no Kinzane) and later Tokuko (styled Bifuku monin)(1117-1160), daughter of Fujiwara no Nagazine. He became dajo Tenno (1123-1156).
75. Sutoku
(Akihito) 1119-1164 (r.1123-1142). Son of Toba (74) by his first consort, Fujiwara no Tamako. Forced into abdication by his father, who wished to see Toshito-o (the future Konoe) as Emperor.
76. Konoe
(Toshito) 1139-1155 (r.1142-1155). Son of Emperor Toba (74), by Fujiwara no Tokouko.
77. Go-Shirakawa
(Masahito) 1127-1192 (r.1155-1158). Grandson of Shirakawa (72), husband of daughter of Minamoto no Arihito, and later Shigeko, daughter of Taira no Tokinobu. Abdicated and assumed title dajo Tenno in favour of his eldest son, Prince Morihito (Emperor Nijo)(78).
78. Nijo
(Morihito) 1143-1165 (r.1158-1165). Son of Go-Shirakawa by his Minamoto consort.
79. Rokujo
(Toshihito) 1164-1176 (r.1165-1168). Son of Nijo (78).
80. Takakura
(Norihito) 1161-1181 (r.1168-1180). Son of Go-Shirakawa (77) and Taira no Shigeko, and husband of Tokuko (styled Kenrei-monin)(1155-1213), a daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, dajo daijin and head of the Kanmu Heishi clan (a descendent of Kammu (50). He later married Fujiwara no Masuko (styled Shichijo-in)(d.1228).
81. Antoku
(Kotohito) 1178-1185 (r.1180-1185). Son of Takakura (80) by Taira no Tokuko (and therefore the grandson of Taira no Kiyomori). He was drowned during the naval battle of Dan no Ura (1185).
82. Go-Toba
(Takanari) 1180-1239 (r.1183-1198). Son of Takakura (80) by Fujiwara no Masuko, and thus half-brother to Antoku (81), husband of Minamoto no Ariko (styled Shomei monin), then Fujiwara Shigeko, and later Nishi no Onkata (producing Princes Tamehito (Tsuchimikado (83), Yorihito and Morinari (Juntoku (84). When the Minamoto Yoshinaka, entered Heiankyo, he installed Go-Toba, while Antoku was taken into the west by the Taira.Abdicated in 1199 and assumed the title dajo Tenno. Exiled to Oki in 1222.
83. Tsuchimikado
(Tamehito) 1195-1231 (r.1198-1210). Son of Go-Toba (82) by Minamoto no Ariko, husband of Minamoto no Michiko (producing Prince Kunihito (Go-Saga (88). Abdicated in 1211 and titled dajo Tenno until his death.
84. Juntoku
(Morinari) 1197-1242 (r.1210-1221). Son of Go-Toba (82) by Fujiwara no Shigeko, half-brother of Tsuchimikado (83), husband of Fujiwara no Tachiko (styled Higashi Ichijo-in)(producing the princes Tadanari (1220-1279) and Kanemori (Chukyo (85).
85. Chukyo
(Kanenari) 1218-1234 (r.1221). Son of Juntoku (84) by Fujiwara no Tachiko. Reigned for only about seventy days.
86. Go-Horikawa
(Toyohito) 1212-1234 (r.1221-1232). Son of Prince Morisada (son of Takakura (80).
87. Shijo
(Hidehito) 1231-1242 (r.1232-1242). Son of Go-Horikawa (86).
88. Go-Saga
(Kunihito) 1220-1272 (r.1242-1246). Son of Tsuchimikado by Minamoto no Michiko.
89. Go-Fusakusa
(Hisahito) 1243-1304 (r.1246-1260). Son of Go-Saga (88), full-brother of Kameyama (90). Founder of the Jimyo-in line of the Imperial House. Abdicated in 1260 and styled dajo Tenno until 1304. Produced Princes Hirohito (Fushimi (92) and Hissakira (1275-1328), a shogun (from 1289-1308) until deposed.
90. Kameyama
(Tsunehito) 1249-1305 (r.1260-1274). Son of Go-Saga (88), full-brother of Go-Fukakusa (89). Founder of the Daikakuji line of the Imperial House. Abdicated and styled dajo Tenno in 1275 until 1305.
91. Go-Uda
(Yorihito) 1267-1324 (r.1274-1287). Son of Kameyama (90). Produced Princes Kunihara (Go-Nijo (94) by Fujiwara no Takado, Takaharu (Go-Daigo (96) and Tsuneakira (1302-1351) by Shokunmon-in (1237-136), a daughter of Saijonji Sanekane.
92. Fushimi
1265-1317 (r.1287-1298).
93. Go-Fushimi
1288-1336 (r.1298-1301).
94. Go-Nijo
1285-1308 (r.1301-1308).
95. Hanazono
1297-1348 (r.1308-1318).
96. Go-Daigo
1288-1339 (r.1318-1339).
97. Go-Murakami
1328-1368 (r.1339-1368).
98. Chokei
1343-1394 (r.1368-1383).
99. Go-Kameyama
?-1424 (r.1383-1392).

The following five Emperors (N1-N5) represent the period when the nation’s Imperial government was divided between the rival Northern and Southern Courts (1331-1382), caused by the emergence of two rival branches within the Imperial family; the Jimyo-In line founded by Go-Fusakusa (89) and the Daikakuji line founded by Kameyama (90). After spending much of their reign in a contest, Fusakusa abdicated in 1260, followed by Kameyama in 1270. The Shikken of the Kamakura Bakufu decided to solve the problem by arranging for the two lines to alternate their reigns, with each reigning ten years, then abdicating in favour of a successor from the rival line. The system broke down with Go-Daigo (96) who attempted to install his eldest son (Takanago) in 1331. The barely-sane Hojo Takatoki and the Jimyo-In branch resisted the decision of Go-Daigo, and placed Prince Kazuhito on the throne. Go-Daigo declared the Hojo rebels then fled with the Shinki. The Northern Court then established itself at Kyoto (the Hokucho), while Go-Daigo established the Southern Court (the Nancho) at Yoshino. Since it did not have in its possession the Shinki, the Hokucho was declared illegitimate, but emerged victorious after fifty-years of separation.

N1. Ni-Kogon
(Kasuhito) 1313-1364 (r.1331-1333). Son of Go-Fushimi (93) by Sionji Neishi. Designated Crown Prince by the Hojo in 1326 after the death of Prince Kuninaga. Married Kwan-Shi-Naishinn (1332), a daughter of Go-Daigo, the deposed Emperor.
N2. Komyo
(Toyohito) 1322-1380 (r.1336-1348). Son of Go-Fushimi (93) and brother of Ni-Kogon (N1).
N3. Suko
(Okihito) 1334-1398 (r.1348-1351). Son of Ni-Kogon.
N4. Go-Kogon
(Iyahito) 1338-1374 (r.1351-1371). Son of Ni-Kogon (N1) and brother of Suko (N3).
N5. Go-Enyii
(Wohito) 1359-1393 (r.1371-1382). Son of Go-Kogon (N4).

100. Go-Kamatsu
1377-1433 (r.1382-1412).
101. Shoko
1401-1428 (r.1412-1428).
102. Go-Hanazono
1419-1471 (r.1428-1464).
103. Go-Tsuchimikado
1442-1500 (r.1464-1500).
104. Go-Kashiwabara
1464-1526 (r.1500-1526).
105. Go-Nara
1497-1557 (r.1526-1557).
106. Ogimachi
1517-1593 (r.1557-1586).
107. Go-Yozei
1572-1611 (r.1586-1611).
108. Go-Mizuppo
1596-1680 (r.1611-1629).
109. Meisho
1624-1696 (r.1929-1643).
110. Go-Komyo
1633-1663 (r.1643-1655).
111. Gosai
1637-1685 (r1655-1663).
112. Reigen
1654-1732 (r.1663-1687).
113. Higashiyama
1675-1709 (r.1687-1709).
114. Nakamikado
1702-1737 (r.1709-1735).
115. Sakuramachi
1720-1750 (r.1735-1747).
116. Momozono
1741-1762 (r.1747-1762).
117. Go-Sakuramachi
1740-1813 (r.1762-1771).
118. Go-Momozono
1758-1779 (r.1771-1779).
119. Kokaku
1771-1840 (r.1780-1817).
120. Ninko
1800-1846 (r.1817-1846).
121. Komei
1831-1867 (r.1846-1867).
122. Meiji
(Mutsuhito) 1852-1912 (r.1867-1912).
123. Taisho
(Yoshihito) 1879-1926 (r.1912-1926).
124. Showa
(Michinomiya Hirohito) 1901-1989 (r.1926-1989).
125. Heisei
(Tsugu Akihito) 1933-present (r.1989-present)

[Gubook Janggoon]

Woot! Very nice there. This should be stickied.

[caocao74]

Gubuk Janggoon, on Jan 11 2005, 09:10 AM, said:

Woot!  Very nice there.  This should be stickied.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, only wished I could have added the kanji but I'm back in the UK now with a new PC that doesn't facilitate it. Can't wait to get my old notepad shipped over.

[phoenix_bladen]

are all these emperors and empresses in 1 bloodline ? like this has always been the family?

if so this is very fascinating......

[Gubook Janggoon]

phoenix_bladen, on Mar 10 2005, 02:24 PM, said:

are all these emperors and empresses in 1 bloodline ? like this has always been the family?

if so this is very fascinating......

IIRC it is one line...they're one of the longest dynasties left today...if not the longest.

[Yun]

I once posted this on a thread about Chinese empresses. It should be relevant here.

Japan had an early tradition of empresses succeeding to the throne after the death of their husband (the emperor), and eventually passing the throne back to their sons. The semi-mythical Empress Jingu is even supposed to have led an invasion of Korea in the 3rd century while pregnant with the child of her late husband the emperor (this son was later deified as the Japanese war god Hachiman).

In actual history, the practice of empresses succeeding their husbands (though not always directly) began with Emperor Suiko. Suiko was the daughter of Emperor Kimmei (r. 539-571), wife of the next emperor Bidatsu (r. 572-585), and sister of Emperor Yomei (r. 585-587) who succeeded Bidatsu. Yomei was succeeded by Emperor Sushun (r. 587-592), but when Sushun was murdered by the powerful courtier Soga no Umako in 592, Suiko was made Emperor by the Soga clan. Her appointed heir was the famous reformer Shotoku Taishi, son of her brother Emperor Yomei. But Shotoku Taishi died 7 years before Suiko did, so he was unable to succeed to the throne.

Suiko reigned from 592 to 629, and was then succeeded by Emperor Jomei (r. 629-641). Upon the death of Jomei, his 49-year-old empress reigned for three years as Emperor Kogyoku. Kogyoku was a shaman, which suggests that she played a religious role in the state like the earliest Yamato ruler who is mentioned in Chinese records, the Priestess-Queen Himiko of the 3rd century. Kogyoku was pressured into giving up the throne to her brother Emperor Kotoku in 645. After Kotoku's death in 654, she became Emperor again with the title of Saimei. She was already 60 years old, and she shared power with her son Naka no Oe, who formally acceded as Emperor Tenji in 668 (seven years after Kogyoku/Saimei's death in 661).

The next female emperor was Empress Jito, a daughter of Tenji who reigned after the death of her husband Emperor Temmu in 686. She was not formally installed as emperor until 690, but even during the reign of Temmu (when she was known as Empress Uno), she had ruled jointly with him. Because of this Temmu left the post of Great Minister vacant throughout his reign. After seven years of rule, Jito abdicated in favour of her grandson, who reigned as Emperor Mommu (r. 697-707). She remained powerful in state affairs, with the title Dajo Tenno (Chinese Taishang Tianhuang - Grand Emperor).

After Mommu's death at the age of 26, his mother Princess Abe ascended the throne as Emperor Gemmei. Abe was another daughter of Tenji who had been borne to him by the sister of Empress Jito's mother - an emperor marrying two sisters was not unheard of even in China, but marrying your half-sister's son was not considered ethical by the Chinese! Gemmei abdicated in 715 and put her daughter on the throne as Emperor Gensho.

In 724, Gensho was succeeded by Mommu's son (hence her nephew and Gemmei's grandson) Obito, as Emperor Shomu (r. 724-749). Shomu's mother was a daughter of the powerful courtier Fujiwara Fubito, and so his accession received much support from the Fujiwara clan. Shomu also married another daughter of Fubito (his aunt!), and this concubine, Asukabehime, bore him a son. This son was named Crown Prince at birth, the first time this had happened in Japan. But he died in less than a year, and another concubine had recently borne a son to the emperor. To secure their position, the Fujiwara forced the court to raise Asukabehime's rank to Empress, even though this position had always been reserved for princesses of the imperial family (in other words, emperors took their half-sisters or cousins as empresses). In 729, Asukabehime became Empress Komyo, but she bore no more sons to Shomu.

In 740, Shomu made Empress Asukabehime/Komyo's only surviving child, a 21-year-old daughter, Japan's first crown princess. In 749, he abdicated the throne and she succeeded him as Emperor Koken. However, Koken's power was challenged by the powerful Fujiwara Nakamaro, who enjoyed the support of Komyo (now Empress Dowager). In 757, Nakamaro removed the crown prince chosen by Shomu on his deathbed (he had died in 756) and replaced him with another prince related to the Fujiwara by marriage. In 758 Nakamaro forced Koken to abdicate in favour of this prince, who became Emperor Junnin.

However, Great Emperor Koken made a comeback in 762, issuing an edict to attack Nakamaro's deeds and question the legitimacy of Junnin. She announced that in future, all important affairs of state would be handled by her, and only minor ceremonial functions would be taken care of by Junnin. In 764, Nakamaro plotted to replace Junnin with another more forceful candidate, but Koken reacted quickly by sending guards to capture him. Nakamaro was banished and later killed. Junnin was deposed and Koken took the throne again as Emperor Shotoku (r. 764-770).

In about 758, Koken/Shotoku had been healed from an illness by the Buddhist priest Dokyo, and he became her religious mentor. It is said that in her reign as Shotoku, she was prepared to pass the throne over to Dokyo after her death. The popular image of this incident is that Shotoku and Dokyo were having an affair, but other historians have argued that Shotoku actually respected and admired Dokyo's learning without any romantic or sexual element to the relationship. In any case, after Shotoku's death the Fujiwara intervened and sent Dokyo into exile. They then convened a council and made a ruling that Empresses would no longer occupy the imperial throne. The superficial reason was the danger of another Dokyo incident, but the real motive was probably that the Fujiwara were planning to dominate the imperial court by marrying their daughters to future emperors as empresses, so that the reigning emperor would always have a Fujiwara father-in-law. It was impossible for a Fujiwara to occupty the throne directly, either as emperor or empress, so the Fujiwara had no interest in seeing an empress on the throne because that would mean she was not one of theirs.

Because of this, from 770 onwards no empress ruled over Japan again, until the Tokugawa period a thousand years later, when two women did reign as puppet emperors under the dominance of the Tokugawa shoguns. But from 592 to 770 Japan had six female emperors who had eight reigns (two of them reigned twice), which is half of the total of 16 reigns in that period.

(Material for this post was taken from "The Male Present Versus the Female Past: Historians and Japan's Female Emperors", an article by E. Patricia Tsurumi)

[Gubook Janggoon]

Who keeps pinning this? Agh! It's already referred to in the "important Threads" thread...no need top in it.

[Yun]

Oh, sorry. I read your comment that this thread should be stickied, and decided to help

[Wú Fēi]

Oh, hope caocao can post the names in characters soon.

BTW, caocao, is the kanji version you have like that below,
1. 神武--Jimmu
2. 绥靖--Suizei
3. 安宁--Annei
4. 懿德--Itoku
5. 孝昭--Kosho
6. 孝安--Koan
or for all the kana-names such as "Oho Yamato Tarashiko Kuniosi Hito no Mikoto" and so on?

If the former, I also have the list so that I can help you posting here.

[caocao74]

Wú Fēi, on Mar 12 2005, 10:54 PM, said:

Oh, hope caocao can post the names in characters soon.

I'd love to but when I posted the thread initially I had access to a Japanese keyboard. Now I'm back in the UK I just have my olf VAIO with a Korean keyboard. I'll see what I can put together though.

[Gubook Janggoon]

Just a quick question. What's the surname of the Royal Family?

[caocao74]

Gubuk Janggoon, on Mar 14 2005, 08:59 AM, said:

Just a quick question.  What's the surname of the Royal Family?

Easy answer; they don't have a surname.

[Gubook Janggoon]

caocao74, on Mar 15 2005, 08:05 AM, said:

Easy answer; they don't have a surname.

Interesting...that's kind of kinky...

[Wú Fēi]

Gubuk Janggoon, on Mar 16 2005, 07:58 AM, said:

Interesting...that's kind of kinky...

They claimed that they were the descendants of God, that's why they don't need surnames.

I think it may be from the ancient custom that in the same matrilineal commune peopley could know each other easily without the surname, which usually belonged to the whole group.

[caocao74]

Wú Fēi, on Mar 16 2005, 03:04 PM, said:

They claimed that they were the descendants of God, that's why they don't need surnames.
I think it may be from the ancient custom that in the same matrilineal commune peopley could know each other easily without the surname, which usually belonged to the whole group.

Also, any family name may give away their origins (Jin? Geun?).