Editing Emperor Tenmu (section)

===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.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/587414/tenno  "Tennō" at Britannica.com]; retrieved 2013-8-28.</ref>

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.<ref>[[Kan'ichi Asakawa|Asakawa, Kan'ichi]]. (1903). ''The Early Institutional Life of Japan,'' p. 313.</ref>

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<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ancestors|last=de Gruyter|first=Walter|publisher=Mouton Publishers|year=1976|isbn=90-279-7859-X|location=Paris}}</ref> 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 Province|Iga]] and [[Mino Province]]s 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'').<ref>Brown, pp. 268–269; [[H. Paul Varley|Varley, H. Paul]]. (1980). ''Jinnō Shōtōki,'' p. 44; a distinct act of ''senso'' is unrecognized prior to [[Emperor Tenji]]; and all sovereigns except [[Empress Jitō|Jitō]], [[Emperor Yōzei|Yōzei]], [[Emperor Go-Toba|Go-Toba]], and [[Emperor Fushimi|Fushimi]] have ''senso'' and ''sokui'' in the same year until the reign of [[Emperor Go-Murakami]].</ref> If this understanding were valid, then it would follow:
::* '''''In the 1st year of [[Kōbun (period)|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'').<ref>Titsingh, pp. 55–58; Varley, p. 44.</ref>

:'''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.<ref>Asakawa, pp. 313–314.</ref>

[[Image:TenmuJitoTomb.jpg|thumb|right|Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Emperor Tenmu]]
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:
{{blockquote|Our Sovereign, a god,
:::   Has made his Imperial City<ref>Emperor Tenmu's capital was built on the plain of Kiymihara at Asuka.</ref>
:::Out of the stretch of swamps,
:::Where chestnut horses sank
:::To their bellies.
:::::: – Ōtomo Miyuki<ref>Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai. (1969). ''The Man'yōshū'', p. 60.</ref>}}

At Asuka, Emperor Tenmu was enthroned. He elevated Unonosarara to be his empress. Events of his reign include:
* '''674''' (''[[Tenmu period|Tenmu]] 2'')<!-- NengoCalc 天武二年 -->: Ambassadors of ''[[Tane Province|Tane no kuni]]'' were received in the Japanese court.<ref>Beillevaire, Patrick. (2000). {{Google books|8HdO2y6skzUC|''Ryūkyū Studies to 1854: Western Encounter,'' Vol. 1, p. 272|page=272}}; excerpt, "''Im dritten Jahre der Regierung des Mikado Ten mu (674) kamen auch Gesandte von Tane no kuni au den japanischen Hof. Jakusima und das heutige Tanegasima waren die nördlichsten der mehrgenannten Südseeinseln....''"; compare NengoCalc ''Temmu 2'' (天武二年)</ref>
* '''680''' (''Tenmu 8'')<!--  NengoCalc 天武九年 -->: [[Yakushi-ji]] was founded in the [[Hakuhō period]].<ref>[http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/h/hakuhoujidai.htm  ''Hakuhou jidai'' 白鳳時代], [http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/  JAANUS (Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System)]; retrieved January 24, 2011; see also Nussbaum,  "''Yakushi-ji''" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 1035.|page=1035}}; compare NengoCalc ''Tenmu 8'' (天武九年)</ref>

Tenmu reigned from this capital until his death in 686. His wife, Empress Jito became the emperor until their son became the 42nd Emperor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mustlovejapan.com/subject/tenmu_jito_kofun/|title=Kofun of Emperor Tenmu and Jito {{!}} MustLoveJapan|website=www.mustlovejapan.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-17}}</ref> The actual site of his [[grave]] is known.<ref name="kunaicho"/> 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.''<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.</ref>