Editing Empress Suiko

{{Short description|Empress of Japan from 592 to 628}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Redirect|Suiko|the legendary creature|shuihu}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Empress Suiko<br>{{nobold|{{lang|ja|推古天皇}}}}
| image        = Empress_Suiko_by_Tosa_Mitsuyoshi_1726_Eifukuji_Osaka.png
| caption      = Painting of Suiko by Tosa Mitsuyoshi, 1726
| title        = [[Okimi|Great Queen of Yamato]]
| birth_name   = Nukatabe ({{lang|ja|額田部}})
| birth_date   = 3 January 554
| birth_place  = 
| death_date   = {{death date and age|628|4|15|554|1|3|df=y}}
| death_place  = 
| burial_place = ''Shinaga no Yamada no misasagi'' (磯長山田陵)
| succession   = [[Emperor of Japan|Empress of Japan]]
| reign        = 15 January 593 – 15 April 628 ([[Gregorian calendar]])<br/>or 8 December 592 – 7 March 628 ([[Lunar calendar]])
| predecessor  = [[Emperor Sushun|Sushun]]
| successor    = [[Emperor Jomei|Jomei]]
| succession1  = [[Empress of Japan|Empress consort of Japan]]
| reign-type1  = Tenure
| reign1       = 576 – 585
| posthumous name = [[Posthumous name#Chinese-style (Han-style) shigō|Chinese-style ''shigō'']]:<br/>Empress Suiko ({{lang|ja|推古天皇}})<br/><br/>[[Posthumous name#Japanese-style shigō|Japanese-style ''shigō'']]:<br/>Toyomikekashikiya-hime no Sumeramikoto ({{lang|ja|豊御食炊屋姫天皇}})
| father       = [[Emperor Kinmei]]
| mother       = [[Soga no Kitashihime]]
| spouse       = [[Emperor Bidatsu]]
| issue        = {{plainlist|
* Princess Uji no Shitsukahi
* Prince Takeda
* Princess Woharida
* Princess Umori
* Prince Wohari
* Princess Tame
* Princess Sakurawi no Yumihari}}
| regent       = [[Prince Shōtoku]] (593–621)<br>[[Soga no Umako]]<br>[[Soga no Emishi]]
| royal house  = [[Imperial House of Japan]]
}}

{{nihongo|'''Empress Suiko'''|推古天皇|Suiko-[[tennō]]}} (554 – 15 April 628) was the 33rd [[emperor of Japan|monarch of Japan]],<ref name="kunaicho">[[Imperial Household Agency]] (''Kunaichō''): 
She introduced Buddhism in Japan and built many Buddhist temples, but she held the balance between Buddhism and Shintoism. Under her rule, Japan was the superpower in Asia, Silla paid tribute to Japan. She also reorganized the legal system and laws, bringing a peaceful era in the country. She is credited with building Japan's infrastructure, economy and culture. Empress Suiko was noted for her wisdom as a ruler.
[http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/ryobo/guide/033/index.html 推古天皇 (33)]</ref> and the country's first and longest-reigning [[Josei Tennō|empress regnant]], according to the traditional [[List of Emperors of Japan|order of succession]].<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' p. 48.</ref>

Suiko reigned from [[Suiko period|593 until her death in 628]].<ref>Brown, Delmer ''et al.'' (1979). ''Gukanshō'', pp. 263–264; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō Shōtōki,'' pp. 126–129; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). {{Google books|18oNAAAAIAAJ|''Annales des empereurs du Japon,'' pp. 39–42.|page=39}}</ref>

==Traditional narrative==
Before her ascension to the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]], her personal name (her ''imina'')<ref>Brown, pp. 264; prior to [[Emperor Jomei]], the personal names of the emperors (their ''iminia'') were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.</ref> was Mikekashiya-hime-no-mikoto,<ref>Varley, p. 126.</ref> also Toyomike Kashikiya hime no Mikoto.<ref>Ashton, William. (2005). ''Nihongi'', p. 95 n.2.</ref>

Empress Suiko had several names including Princess Nukatabe and (possibly posthumously) Toyomike Kashikiya. She was a daughter of [[Emperor Kinmei]]. Her mother was [[Soga no Iname]]'s daughter, [[Soga no Kitashihime]]. Suiko was the younger sister of Emperor Yōmei.
===Biography===
[[File:Empress_Suiko_painting.png|thumb|A painting of Empress Suiko in the [[Asuka period]]]]
Empress Suiko was a consort to her half-brother, [[Emperor Bidatsu]], but after Bidatsu's first wife died she became his official consort and was given the title Ōkisaki (official consort of the emperor). She bore eight children.

After Bidatsu's death, Suiko's brother, [[Emperor Yōmei]], came to power for about two years before dying of illness. Upon Yōmei's death, another power struggle arose between the [[Soga clan]] and the [[Mononobe clan]], with the Sogas supporting [[Emperor Sushun|Prince Hatsusebe]] and the Mononobes supporting {{ill|Prince Anahobe|ja|穴穂部皇子|vertical-align=sup}}. The Sogas prevailed once again and Prince Hatsusebe acceded to the throne as [[Emperor Sushun]] in 587. However, Sushun began to resent the power of [[Soga no Umako]], the head of the Soga clan, and Umako, perhaps out of fear that Sushun might strike first, had him assassinated by {{nihongo|Yamatoaya no Ataikoma|東漢直駒}} in 592. When asked to accede to the throne to fill the power vacuum that subsequently developed, Suiko became the first of what would be several examples in Japanese history where a woman was chosen to accede to the throne to avert a power struggle.

* '''593''': In the 2nd year of Sushun''-tennō''{{'}}s reign (崇峻天皇二年), he died; and contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (''senso'')<ref>Varley, 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> was received by the consort of former Emperor Bidatsu. Shortly thereafter, Empress Suiko is said to have ascended to the throne (''sokui'').<ref>Titsingh, p. 39; Brown, pp. 263–264; Varley, pp. 126–127.</ref>

Suiko'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 ''Sumeramikoto'' or ''Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi'' (治天下大王), meaning "the great Queen who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Suiko might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great Queen of Yamato".

[[Prince Shōtoku]] was appointed regent the following year. Although political power during Suiko's reign is widely viewed as having been wielded by Prince Shōtoku and Soga no Umako, Suiko was far from powerless. The mere fact that she survived and her reign endured suggests she had significant political skills.

In 599, an [[earthquake]] destroyed buildings throughout [[Yamato Province]] in what is now [[Nara Prefecture]].<ref>Hammer, Joshua. (2006). ''Yokohama Burning: The Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II'', pp. 62–63.</ref>

Suiko's refusal to grant Soga no Umako's request that he be granted the imperial territory known as Kazuraki no Agata in 624 is cited as evidence of her independence from his influence. Some of the many achievements under Empress Suiko's reign include the official recognition of Buddhism by the issuance of the Flourishing Three Treasures Edict in 594. Suiko was also one of the first [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monarchs in Japan, and had taken the vows of a [[Buddhist nun|nun]] shortly before becoming empress.

The reign of this empress was marked by the opening of relations with the [[Sui dynasty|Sui]] court in 600, the adoption of the [[Twelve Level Cap and Rank System]] in 603 and the adoption of the [[Seventeen-article constitution]] in 604.

The adoption of the [[Sexagenary cycle]] calendar (''Jikkan Jūnishi'') in Japan is attributed to Empress Suiko in 604.<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Jikkan Jūnishi''" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 420|page=420}}; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, ''see'' [https://archive.today/20120524174828/http://dispatch.opac.ddb.de/DB=4.1/PPN?PPN=128842709 Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File]</ref>

At a time when imperial succession was generally determined by clan leaders rather than the emperor, Suiko left only vague indications of succession to two candidates while on her deathbed. One, [[Emperor Jomei|Prince Tamura]], was a grandson of Emperor Bidatsu and was supported by the main line of Sogas, including [[Soga no Emishi]]. The other, [[Prince Yamashiro]], was a son of Prince Shōtoku and had the support of some lesser members of the Soga clan. After a brief struggle within the Soga clan in which one of Prince Yamashiro's main supporters was killed, Prince Tamura was chosen and he acceded to the throne as [[Emperor Jomei]] in 629.

Empress Suiko ruled for 35 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.<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070327i1.html "Life in the Cloudy Imperial Fishbowl"], ''The Japan Times''. 27 March 2007.</ref> [[Empress Genmei]], who was followed on the throne by her daughter, [[Empress Gensho|Empress Genshō]], remains the sole exception to this conventional argument.

[[File:Suiko tenno-Shinagano Yamadano misasagi.jpg|thumb|right|Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Empress Suiko]]
The actual site of Suiko's [[grave (burial)|grave]] is known.<ref name="kunaicho"/> This empress is traditionally venerated at a [[memorial]] [[Shinto]] [[shrine]] (''misasagi'') at Osaka.

The [[Imperial Household Agency]] designates this location as Suiko's [[mausoleum]]. It's formally named ''Shinaga no Yamada no misasagi''.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.</ref>

==Beginning of historical writing in Japan==
[[Sinology|Sinologist]] [[Wm. Theodore de Bary]] believed that it was not until the reign of Suiko that "consciously written [Japanese] history becomes a reality".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Theodore de Bary |first=Wm. |title=Sources of Japanese Tradition |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=1958 |isbn=0-231-02254-9 |location=London |pages=3}}</ref> He noted the name Suiko can be translated to "conjecture of the past", suggesting that this posthumous title was "bestowed on the empress because the writing of history was considered to be an outstanding achievement of her reign".<ref name=":0" /> He commented that "little of the material from the ancient Japanese past can be taken seriously" and the earliest extant Japanese annals were the ''[[Kojiki]]'' and the ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'', which both date to the [[8th century]].<ref name=":0" />

==Spouse and children==
 
Empress Suiko, born as Princess Nukatabe (額田部皇女), was the daughter of [[Emperor Kinmei]]<ref>[https://www.kcpinternational.com/2015/12/empress-suiko-the-first-empress-regnant-of-japan/ KCP International website, ''Empress Suiko: The First Empress Regnant of Japan'', article dated December 28, 2015]</ref> and his consort ([[Kōkyū|Hi]]), [[Soga no Kitashihime]]. Princess Nukatabe had five full sisters and seven full brothers among which the eldest would become [[Emperor Yōmei]].

She married her eldest half-brother, [[Emperor Bidatsu|Prince Nunakura Futotama-Shiki]],<ref>[https://www.japanpitt.pitt.edu/glossary/suiko-empress University of Pittsburgh website, ''Suiko, Empress'']</ref> born by her father's legal wife and empress consort. The couple had eight children but none would ascend the throne.
* Husband: Prince Nunakakura no Futo Tamashiki no Sumeramikoto (渟中倉太珠敷) later [[Emperor Bidatsu]],<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Suiko Britannica website, ''Suiko'']</ref>
** First Daughter: Princess Uji no Shitsukahi/Uji no Kahitako (菟道貝蛸皇女, b.570), married to [[Prince Shōtoku|Crown Prince Shōtoku]]
** First Son: Prince Takeda (竹田皇子)<ref>[https://kazukonishimura.com/the-women-who-sat-on-the-chrysanthemum-throne/ Kazukon Ishimura website, ''The Women Who Sat on the Chrysanthemum Throne'']</ref>
** Second Daughter: Princess Woharida (小墾田皇, b.572), married to Prince Oshisako-no-Hikohito-no-Oe
** Third Daughter: Princess Umori/Karu no Mori (鸕鶿守皇女)
** Second Son: Prince Wohari (葛城王)
** Third Son: Prince Owari (尾張皇子), Father of Tachibana-no-Oiratsume ([[Prince Shōtoku|Crown Prince Shōtoku]]'s consort) (Wohari and Owari may have been the same person<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=oy0W42kbZLAC&dq=Empress+Suiko%2C+Princess+Tame++Emperor+Jomei&pg=PA95 Google Books, ''Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A, Part 697'', page 95]</ref>)
** Fourth Daughter: Princess Tame (田眼皇女), married to [[Emperor Jomei]]
** Fifth Daughter: Princess Sakurawi no Yumihari (桜井弓張皇女), married to Prince Oshisako-no-Hikohito-no-Oe, later married to Prince Kume ([[Emperor Yōmei]]'s son)

==See also==
* [[Empress Jingū]], semi-legendary, rule preceded Empress Suiko
* [[Empress of Japan]]
* [[Emperor of Japan]]
** [[List of emperors of Japan]]
* [[Imperial cult]]
* [[Suiko period]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* [[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 ''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''] Berkeley: University of California Press. {{ISBN|978-0-520-03460-0}}; {{OCLC|251325323}}
* Hammer, Joshua. (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=6O8VyhDbUPgC ''Yokohama Burning: The Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II.''] New York: [[Simon & Schuster]]. {{ISBN|978-0-7432-6465-5}}
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC ''Japan encyclopedia.''] Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; {{OCLC|58053128}}
* [[Richard Ponsonby-Fane|Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon]]. (1959). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ ''The Imperial House of Japan.''] Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. {{OCLC|194887}}
* [[Isaac Titsingh|Titsingh, Isaac.]] (1834). ''[[Nihon Ōdai Ichiran]]''; ou, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ ''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). ''A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.'' New York: [[Columbia University Press]]. {{ISBN|9780231049405}}; {{OCLC|6042764}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Emperor Sushun]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Emperors of Japan|Empress of Japan]]:<br>Suiko|years=593–628}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Emperor Jomei]]}}
{{s-roy}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Hirohime]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Empress consort of Japan]] |years=576–585}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Princess Hashihito no Anahobe]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Emperors of Japan}}
{{Consorts of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suiko}}
[[Category:554 births]]
[[Category:628 deaths]]
[[Category:Japanese empresses regnant]]
[[Category:People of Asuka-period Japan]]
[[Category:Buddhist nuns of Asuka-period Japan]]
[[Category:6th-century women monarchs]]
[[Category:7th-century empresses regnant]]
[[Category:6th-century Japanese monarchs]]
[[Category:7th-century Japanese monarchs]]
[[Category:7th-century Japanese women]]
[[Category:6th-century Japanese women]]
[[Category:6th-century Japanese people]]
[[Category:Japanese Buddhist nuns]]
[[Category:6th-century Buddhist nuns]]
[[Category:7th-century Buddhist nuns]]
[[Category:Japanese Buddhist monarchs]]
[[Category:Daughters of Japanese emperors]]