Emperor Ōjin: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:16, 19 May 2025

Template:Short description Template:Infobox royalty

Template:Nihongo, also known as Template:Nihongo (alternatively spelled Template:Lang) or Template:Nihongo, was the 15th (possibly legendary) Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.<ref name="kunaicho">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Titsingh">Template:Cite book</ref> Both the Kojiki, and the Nihon Shoki (collectively known as the Kiki) record events that took place during Ōjin's alleged lifetime. Ōjin is traditionally listed as the first emperor of the Kofun period, and is primarily known for being the controversial son of Empress Jingū. Historians have mixed views on his factual existence; if Ōjin was indeed a historical figure, then it is assumed he reigned much later than he is attested.

No firm dates can be assigned to Ōjin's life or reign, but he is traditionally considered to have reigned from 270 to 310.<ref name="Fane1959">Template:Cite book</ref> According to the Shinto religion and Buddhism in Japan, Emperor Ōjin is the divine spirit of the deity Hachiman (八幡神). While the location of Ōjin's grave (if any) is unknown, he is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto tomb. Modern historians have come to the conclusion that the title of "Emperor" and the name "Ōjin" was used by later generations to describe this possibly legendary Emperor.

Legendary narrative

The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum (misasagi) for Ōjin is currently maintained. The following information available is taken from the pseudo-historical Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, which are collectively known as Template:Nihongo or Japanese chronicles. These chronicles include legends and myths, as well as potential historical facts that have since been exaggerated and/or distorted over time. The circumstances surrounding the future emperor's birth are controversial as they involve a supposed invasion of the Korean Peninsula as well as a biologically impossible gestation period (3 years). It is said by the Kiki that Ōjin was conceived but unborn when his father Emperor Chūai died. Empress Jingū then became a de facto ruler who allegedly invaded a "promised land" (Korea) out of revenge, then returned three years later to the Japanese mainland to give birth. The records state that Ōjin was born to Empress Jingū in Tsukushi Province sometime in 201 AD, and was given the name Template:Nihongo. He became the crown prince at the age of four, but was not crowned Emperor until 270 AD at the age of 70. Emperor Ōjin supposedly lived in two palaces which are now located in present-day Osaka. His reign lasted 40 years until his death in 310 AD, in all he fathered 28 children with one spouse and ten consorts. His fourth son Ōosazaki was later enthroned as the next emperor in 313 AD.<ref>Aston, William George. (1998). Nihongi, p. 254–271.</ref>

Known information

File:Eganomofushinookanomisasagi.jpg

Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Emperor Ōjin.

While the historical existence of Emperor Ōjin is debated among historians, there is a general consensus that he was "probably real". There is also an agreement that Ojin's three year conception period is mythical and symbolic, rather than realistic. William George Aston has suggested that this can be interpreted as a period of less than nine months containing three "years" (some seasons), e.g. three harvests.<ref>Aston, William. (1998). Nihongi, Vol. 1, pp. 224–253.</ref> If Ōjin was an actual historical figure then historians have proposed that he ruled later than attested.<ref name="Kofun">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Dates of his actual reign have been proposed to be as early as 370 to 390 AD, to as late as the early 5th century AD.<ref name="Kofun"/> At least one Japanese historian has cast doubt on this theory though, by revising a supporting statement given in 1972. In this new narrative Louis Perez states: "only kings and emperors after the reign of Ojin... ...are seen as historical figures".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In either case there is also no evidence to suggest that the title tennō was used during the time to which Ōjin's reign has been assigned. It is certainly possible that he was a chieftain or local clan leader, and that the polity he ruled would have only encompassed a small portion of modern-day Japan. The name Ōjin-tennō was more than likely assigned to him posthumously by later generations.<ref name="name">Template:Cite book</ref>

While the actual site of Ōjin's grave is not known, this regent is traditionally venerated at a kofun-type Imperial tomb in Osaka. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Ōjin's mausoleum, and is formally named Eega no Mofushi no oka no misasagi.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, p. 419.</ref> At some point Ōjin was made a guardian Kami of the Hata clan, and is now also deified as Hachiman Daimyōjin.Template:Efn Outside of the Kiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei Template:Efn (Template:Circa – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography has been able to assign verifiable dates.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu Template:Efn between 737 and 806 AD.<ref name="aston109 & 217-223">Template:Cite book</ref>

Family

Emperor Ōjin's family allegedly consisted of 28 children, which include 2 unnamed princesses from a previous marriage. He had one spouse who bore him a son that would become the next Emperor, as well as 10 consorts.

Spouse & concubines

File:Nakatsuhime Yakushiji.jpg

Nakatsuhime Kami Statue

Position	Name	Father	Issue
Kōgō	Template:Nihongo	Homudamawaka	Template:Princess Arata Template:Prince Netori Template:*Prince ŌosazakiTemplate:Efn (later Emperor Nintoku)
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Homudamawaka	Template:Prince Izanomawaka Template:Princess Komukuta Template:Prince Nukata no Ōnakatsuhiko Template:Princess Ohara Template:*Prince Ōyamamori
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Homudamawaka	Template:Princess Ahe Template:Princess Awaji no Mihara Template:Princess Ki no Uno Template:Princess Mino no Iratsume Template:*Princess Shigehara
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Wani no Hifure no Omi	Template:Princess Metori Template:Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko Template:*Princess Yata
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Wani no Hifure no Omi	Template:*Princess Uji no Wakiiratsu-hime
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Kawamata Nakatsuhiko	Template:*Prince Wakanuke no Futamata
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Sakuraitabe no Muraji Shimatarine	Template:*Prince Hayabusawake
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Template:Princess Hatabi no Wakairatsume Template:Prince Ōhae Template:*Prince Ohae
Consort	Template:Nihongo	SumeiroōnakatsuhikoTemplate:Efn	Template:Prince Kataji Template:Princess Kawarata no Iratsume Template:*Princess Tama no Iratsume
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Takenouchi no Sukune	Template:*Prince IzanomawakaTemplate:Efn
Consort	Template:Nihongo	Kibi-no-Takehiko	Template:N/a

Issue

Status	Name	Mother	Comments
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Nakatsu-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Nakatsu-hime	Would later become Emperor Emperor Nintoku.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Nakatsu-hime	Ancestor of Template:Nihongo, married Princess Awaji no Mihara (see below).
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Takakiiri-hime	Ancestor of Template:Nihongo.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Takakiiri-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Takakiiri-hime	Ōyamamori died in 310 AD.Template:Efn
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Takakiiri-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Takakiiri-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Oto-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Oto-hime	Married to Prince Netori
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Oto-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Oto-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Oto-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Miyanushiyaka-hime	Uji was a Crown Prince.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Miyanushiyaka-hime	Metori died in 353 AD, and was married to Prince "Hayabusawake" (see below).
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Miyanushiyaka-hime	Yata was later married to Emperor Nintoku.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Onabe-hime	Uji was later married to Emperor Nintoku.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Okinaga Mawakanakatsu-hime	Ancestor of Template:Nihongo, and great-grandfather of Emperor Keitai.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Ito-hime	Hayabusawake was the husband of Template:Nihongo.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Himuka no Izumi no Naga-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Himuka no Izumi no Naga-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Himuka no Izumi no Naga-hime	Hatabi was later married to Emperor Richū
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Kaguro-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Kaguro-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Kaguro-hime	Very little is known about this person.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Katsuragi no Irome	Very little is known about this person.