Editing Emperor Keitai

{{redirect|Keitai|mobile phones in Japan|Japanese mobile phone culture}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Emperor Keitai<br>{{nobold|{{lang|ja|継体天皇}}}}
| title        = [[Okimi|Great King of Yamato]]
| succession   = [[Emperor of Japan]]
| image        = Statue of Emperor Keitai.jpg
| caption      = Statue of Keitai in Mount Asuwa, [[Fukui Prefecture]], Japan
| reign        = 3 March 507 – 10 March 531
| coronation   = 
| cor-type     = Japan
| predecessor  = [[Emperor Buretsu|Buretsu]]
| successor    = [[Emperor Ankan|Ankan]]
| posthumous name = [[Posthumous name#Chinese-style (Han-style) shigō|Chinese-style ''shigō'']]:<br/>Emperor Keitai ({{lang|ja|継体天皇}})<br/><br/>[[Posthumous name#Japanese-style shigō|Japanese-style ''shigō'']]:<br/>Ohodo  no Sumeramikoto ({{lang|ja|雄大迹天皇}})
| spouse       = [[Princess Tashiraka|Tashiraka]]
| issue        = {{plainlist|
*[[Emperor Kinmei]]
*[[Emperor Ankan]]
*[[Emperor Senka]]}}
| issue-link   = #Consorts and children
| issue-pipe   = among others...
| royal house  = [[Imperial House of Japan]]
| father       = {{ill|Hikoushi no Ōkimi|ja|彦主人王|vertical-align=sup}}
| mother       = Furihime
| birth_date   = 450
| birth_place  = 
| death_date   = {{death date and age|531|3|10|450}}
| death_place  = 
| burial_place = {{Nihongo||三島藍野陵|''Mishima no Akinu no misasagi''}} (Osaka)
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Emperor Keitai'''|継体天皇|Keitai-tennō}} (died 10 March 531) was the 26th [[emperor of Japan]],<ref name="kunaicho">[[Imperial Household Agency]] (''Kunaichō''): [http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/ryobo/guide/026/index.html  継体天皇 (26)]</ref> according to the traditional [[List of Emperors of Japan|order of succession]].<ref>Varley, Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō Shōtōki,'' pp. 119–120; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). {{Google books|18oNAAAAIAAJ|''Annales des empereurs du japon,'' pp. 31–33.|page=31}}</ref>

No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 3 March 507 to 10 March 531.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' p. 43.</ref>

==Legendary narrative==
Keitai is considered to have ruled the country during the early 6th century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study. Significant differences exist in the records of the ''[[Kojiki]]'' and the ''[[Nihon Shoki]]''.

The ''Kojiki'' puts this emperor's birth year at 485; and his date of death is said to have been April 9, 527.<ref name=Japanese_dates>Japanese dates correspond to the traditional [[lunisolar calendar]] used in Japan until 1873.</ref> In the extant account, he is called {{Nihongo|Ohodo|袁本杼}}.

The ''Nihon Shoki'' gives his birth year at 450; and he is said to have died on February 7, 531 or 534.<ref name=Japanese_dates/> In this historical record, he is said to have been called {{Nihongo|Ohodo|男大迹}} and {{Nihongo|Hikofuto|彦太}}.

In other historical records, he is said to have originally been King of [[Koshi Province (Japan)|Koshi]], a smaller tribal entity, apparently in northern parts of central Japan, perhaps as far as the coast of [[Sea of Japan]]. Some modern reference works of history call Keitai simply ''King Ohodo of Koshi''.<ref name="a1-25">Aston, William. (1998). ''Nihongi'', Vol. 2, pp. 1–25.</ref>

Keitai's contemporary title would not have been ''tennō'', as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of [[Emperor Tenmu]] and [[Empress Jitō]]. Rather, it was presumably {{Nihongo|''Sumeramikoto'' or ''Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi''|治天下大王}}, meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Keitai might have been referred to as {{Nihongo2|ヤマト大王/大君}} or the "Great King of Yamato".

===Genealogy===
Keitai was not the son of the immediate previous monarch. According to the ''Kojiki'' and ''Nihon Shoki'', Buretsu died without a successor, at which time a fifth generation grandson of [[Emperor Ōjin]], Keitai, came and ascended the throne.

If Emperor Keitai began a new dynasty as some historians believe, then [[Emperor Buretsu]] would have been the last monarch of the first recorded dynasty of Japan.<ref>Aston, William. (1998). ''Nihongi'', Vol. 1, pp. 393–407.</ref>

According to the ''Kojiki'' and ''Nihon Shoki'', his father was {{Nihongo|Hikoushi no Ō/Hikoushi no Ōkimi|彦主人王}} and his mother was {{Nihongo|Furihime|振媛}}. When Buretsu died, [[Ōtomo no Kanamura|Kanamura]] recommended Keitai (at the age of 58) as a possible heir to the [[Chrysanthemum throne]]. His mother, Furihime, was a seventh generation descendant of [[Emperor Suinin]] by his son, Prince Iwatsukuwake. His father was a fourth generation descendant of [[Emperor Ōjin]] by his son, Prince Wakanuke no Futamata.

Genealogy information is supplemented in ''[[Shaku Nihongi]]'' which quotes from the now lost text ''[[Jōgūki]]'' (7th century). It says he was a son of Ushi no Ōkimi (believed to be equivalent to Hikoushi no Ōkimi), a grandson of Ohi no Ōkimi, a great-grandson of Ohohoto no Ōkimi (brother to [[Emperor Ingyō]]'s consort), a great-great-grandson of Prince Wakanuke no Futamata, and a great-great-great-grandson of Emperor Ōjin.

The genealogical trees of the ''Nihon Shoki'' have been lost, and the accuracy of its account of events remains unknown. This uncertainty raises arguable doubts about this emperor's genealogy.

Although genealogical information in the ''[[Shaku Nihongi]]'' leaves room for discussion, many scholars acknowledge the blood relationship with the Okinaga clan, a powerful local ruling family or the collateral line of the Imperial family-governed Ōmi region (a part of present-day Shiga Prefecture). This family produced many empresses and consorts throughout history. According to the ''Nihon Shoki'', Ohohoto no Ōkimi, the great-grandfather of Emperor Keitai, married into the Okinaga clan. Keitai's mother, Furihime, was from a local ruling family in Koshi ([[Echizen Province]]), so his mother brought him to her home after his father's death. Abundant traditions relating to the family have been passed down by shrines and old-established families in both regions.

Regardless of speculation about Keitai's genealogy, it is well settled that there was an extended period of disputes over the succession which developed after Keitai's death. A confrontation arose between adherents of two branches of the Yamato, pitting the supporters of sons who would become known as [[Emperor Ankan]] and [[Emperor Senka]] against those who were backers of the son who would become known as [[Emperor Kinmei]].<ref>Hall, John Whitney. (1993). {{Google books|OudvOfBHsvwC|''The Cambridge history of Japan: Ancient Japan'', Vol. I., p. 154.|page=154}}</ref>

==Keitai's reign==
Keitai declared his ascension in Kuzuha, in the northern part of [[Kawachi Province]] (present day Hirakata, Osaka), and married a younger sister of [[Emperor Buretsu]], Princess Tashiraka. It is supposed that his succession was not welcomed by everyone, and it took about 20 years for Keitai to enter [[Yamato Province]], near Kawachi and the political center of Japan at the time.

In Keitai's later years, 527 or 528, the [[Iwai Rebellion]] broke out in Tsukushi province, [[Kyūshū]]. Keitai assigned [[Mononobe no Arakabi]] as Shōgun and sent him to Kyūshū to put down the rebellion.

Among his sons, [[Emperor Ankan]], [[Emperor Senka]] and [[Emperor Kinmei]] ascended to the throne.<ref name="a1-25"/>

The actual site of Keitai's [[grave (burial)|grave]] is not known.<ref name="kunaicho"/> He is traditionally venerated at a [[memorial]] [[Shinto]] [[shrine]] (''misasagi'') at the Ooda Chausuyama [[kofun]] in [[Ibaraki, Osaka]].

The [[Imperial Household Agency]] designates this location as Keitai's [[mausoleum]]. It is formally named ''Mishima no Aikinu no misasagi''.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 419.</ref>

==Consorts and children==
Empress: {{Nihongo|[[Princess Tashiraka]]|手白香皇女|extra=b. 489}}, [[Emperor Ninken]]'s daughter
*{{Nihongo|Prince Amekunioshiharakihironiwa|天国排開広庭尊}}, later [[Emperor Kinmei]]

Consort: {{Nihongo|Menokohime|目子媛}}, Owari no Muraji Kusaka's daughter
*First Son: {{Nihongo|Prince Magari no Ōe|勾大兄皇子}}, later [[Emperor Ankan]]
*Second son: {{Nihongo|Prince Hinokuma no Takata|檜隈高田皇子}}, later [[Emperor Senka]]

Consort: {{Nihongo|Wakakohime|稚子媛}}, Mio no Tsunoori no Kimi's younger sister
*{{Nihongo|Prince Ōiratsuko|大郎皇子}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Izumo|出雲皇女}}

Consort: {{Nihongo|Hirohime|広媛}}, Prince Sakata no Ōmata's daughter
*{{Nihongo|Princess Kamusaki|神前皇女}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Manta|茨田皇女}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Umaguta|馬来田皇女}}

Consort: {{Nihongo|Ominoiratsume|麻績娘子}}, daughter of {{Nihongo|Okinaga no Mate|息長真手王}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Sasage|荳角皇女}}, [[Saiō]]

Consort: {{Nihongo|Sekihime|関媛}}, daughter of {{Nihongo|Manda no Muraji Omochi|茨田連小望}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Manda no Ōiratsume|茨田大娘皇女}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Shirasaka no Ikuhihime|白坂活日姫皇女}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Ono no Wakairatsume|小野稚娘皇女}}

Consort: {{Nihongo|Yamatohime|倭媛}}, daughter of {{Nihongo|Mio no Kimi Katahi|三尾君堅楲}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Ōiratsume|大郎子皇女}}
*{{Nihongo|Prince Maroko|椀子皇子}}
*{{Nihongo|Prince Mimi|耳皇子}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Akahime|赤姫皇女}}

Consort: {{Nihongo|Haehime|荑媛}}, daughter of {{Nihongo|Wani no Omi Kawachi|和珥臣河内}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Wakayahime|稚綾姫皇女}}
*{{Nihongo|Princess Tubira no Iratsuko|円娘皇女}}
*{{Nihongo|Prince Atsu|厚皇子}}

Consort: {{Nihongo|Hirohime|広媛}}, daughter of {{Nihongo|Ne|根王}}
*{{Nihongo|Prince Usagi|菟皇子}}
*{{Nihongo|Prince Nakatsu|中皇子}}

==See also==
* [[The civil war of the Keitai and Kinmei dynasties]]
* [[Emperor of Japan]]
* [[List of Emperors of Japan]]
* [[Imperial cult]]

==Notes==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
{{Commons category|Emperor Keitai}}
* [[William George Aston|Aston, William George.]] (1896). [https://books.google.com/books?id=_oEfAAAAYAAJ  ''Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697.''] London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner. {{OCLC|448337491}}
* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). [https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJKIC&q=Gukansho  ''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''] Berkeley: University of California Press. {{ISBN|978-0-520-03460-0}}; {{OCLC|251325323}}
* [[John Whitney Hall|Hall]], John Whitney. (1993). [https://books.google.com/books?id=OudvOfBHsvwC&q=keitai ''The Cambridge history of Japan: Ancient Japan,''] Vol. I. Cambridge: [[Cambridge University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-521-22352-2}}
* Kim Yong Woon (2009). ''History and the Future are One'' (천황은 백제어로 말한다). Seoul.
* [[Richard Ponsonby-Fane|Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon]]. (1959). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Imperial+House+of+Japan  ''The Imperial House of Japan.''] Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. {{OCLC|194887}}
* Seeley, Christopher. (1991). [https://books.google.com/books?id=KCZ2ya6cg88C&q=A+history+of+writing+in+Japan ''A History of Writing in Japan.''] Leiden: [[Brill Publishers]]. {{ISBN|978-9-004-09081-1}}—reprinted by [[University of Hawaii Press]] (2000). {{ISBN|978-0-8248-2217-0}}
* [[Isaac Titsingh|Titsingh, Isaac.]] (1834). ''[[Nihon Ōdai Ichiran]]''; ou, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&q=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran  ''Annales des empereurs du Japon.'']  Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. {{OCLC|5850691}}
* [[H. Paul Varley|Varley, H. Paul.]] (1980). [https://books.google.com/books?id=tVv6OAAACAAJ  ''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns.''] New York: Columbia University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-231-04940-5}}; {{OCLC|59145842}}

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{{Emperors of Japan}}

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[[Category:Emperors of Japan]]
[[Category:People from Fukui Prefecture]]
[[Category:People of Kofun-period Japan]]
[[Category:6th-century Japanese monarchs]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]