Emperor Keikō

Template:Short description Template:Infobox royalty

Template:Nihongo, also known as Template:Nihongo and Template:Nihongo, was the 12th 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 Keikō's alleged lifetime. Keikō was recorded as being an exceptionally tall emperor who had a very large family. During his reign he sought to expand territorial control through conquest of local tribes. He had a very important son named "Prince Ōsu" (Yamato Takeru), who was in possession of the Kusanagi when he died. This treasure was later moved to Atsuta Shrine, and is now a part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. There is a possibility that Keikō actually lived or reigned in the 4th century AD rather than the 1st, but more information is needed to confirm this view.

Keikō's reign is conventionally considered to have been from 71 to 130 AD.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 33.</ref> During his alleged lifetime, he fathered at least 80 children with two chief wives (empress) and nine consorts. One of his sons became the next emperor upon his death in 130 AD, but the location of Keikō's grave (if any) is unknown. Keikō is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto tomb (misasagi) at Nara.

Legendary narrative

The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum (misasagi) for Keiko 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 records state that Keikō was born sometime in 13 BC, and was given the name "Otarashihiko-no-mikoto".<ref name="root"/><ref name="Henshall"/> He was the 3rd son of Emperor Suinin, and his second empress wife "Template:Ill".<ref name="root"/><ref name="Brown">Template:Cite book</ref> Otarashihiko-no-mikoto was allegedly chosen as crown prince over his elder brother based on a casual question on what they both had wished for. In the former's case he said "The Empire" while his elder brother said "Bow and arrows".<ref name="Brinkley Kikuchi">Template:Cite book</ref> Otarashihiko-no-mikoto later ascended to the throne in 71 AD, coming a year after his father's death.

Accounts in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki are split when it comes to initial territorial expansion during Emperor Keikō's reign. In the Kojiki, the Emperor is said to have sent his son "Prince Ōsu" (Yamato Takeru) to Kyūshū to conquer local tribes. Alternatively, the Nihon Shoki records that he went there himself and won battles against local tribes. Both sources agree that Keikō later sent Yamato Takeru to Izumo Province, and eastern provinces to conquer the area and spread his territory.<ref name="aston109 & 188-214">Template:Cite book</ref> According to traditional sources, Yamato Takeru died in the Template:Nihongo.<ref name="Fane1953">Template:Cite book</ref> The possessions of the dead prince were gathered together along with the sword Kusanagi; and his widow venerated his memory in a shrine at her home. Sometime later, these relics and the sacred sword were moved to the current location of the Atsuta Shrine.<ref name="Fane1953"/>

Emperor Keikō was recorded as Template:Convert, who had at least 80 children from multiple wives.<ref name="Brinkley Kikuchi"/> This claim would put him into the category of gigantism if verified, although as with other aspects it was more than likely exaggerated. Other than Yamato Takeru, at least three of Keikō's children were ancestors of notable clans. According to tradition, emperor Keikō died in 130 AD at the age of 143, and his son Prince Wakatarashihiko was enthroned as the next emperor the following year.<ref name="Henshall"/>

Known information

Emperor Keikō is regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor" as there is insufficient material available for further verification and study.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The name Keikō-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations.<ref name="name">Template:Cite book</ref> His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Keikō, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki.<ref name="aston109 & 188-214"/> There is a possibility that Keikō's era was in the 4th century AD rather than the 1st.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This period is concurrent with the Kentoshi having an audience with the Tang Emperor, though more evidence is needed to make any conclusions. Like his father before him, Keikō is also known to have an exaggerated lifespan which is unlikely to be factual. The consecutive reigns of the emperors began to be compiled in the 8th century, and it is thought that age gaps were "filled up" as many lacunae were present.<ref>Template:Cite EB1911</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> For comparison, verified ages in the 110s have since been documented and recorded as the "oldest in the world".

While the actual site of Keikō's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Keikō's mausoleum, and it is formally named Yamanobe no michi no e no misasagi.<ref name="kunaicho"/><ref name="Fane1953"/> 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 & 188-214"/>

Consorts and children

Emperor Keikō allegedly had a very large family which consisted of 2 wives, 9 concubines, and more than 80 children (51 of which are listed here). It is now questionable and open to debate,though, whether these numbers are genuine or not.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Some of his listed children might actually be duplicates of the same person. The size of Keikō's family also could have been exaggerated over time through legends and word of mouth stories.

Spouse

Position	Name	Father	Issue
Empress (1st)	Template:Nihongo	Prince WakatakehikoTemplate:Efn	Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:*Template:Nihongo
Empress (2nd)	Template:Nihongo	Prince YasakairihikoTemplate:Efn	Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo

Concubines

Name	Father	Issue
Template:Nihongo	Prince IwatsukuwakeTemplate:Efn	Template:*Template:Nihongo
Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo
Template:Nihongo	Abe no Kogoto	Template:*Template:Nihongo
Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Template:*Template:Nihongo
Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo Template:*Template:Nihongo
Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Template:*Template:Nihongo
Template:Nihongo	Prince Wakatakehiko	Template:Template:Nihongo Template:Template:Nihongo
Template:Nihongo	Mononobe no Igui	Template:*Template:Nihongo
Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Template:*See below

Issue

File:Yamato Takeru(bronze statue,Osaka)01.jpg

Yamato Takeru later became a legend in his own right.

Status	Name	Mother	Comments
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume	Ancestor of Template:Nihongo
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume	Ōsu, later known as Yamato Takeru, was the father of Emperor Chūai.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime	Wakatarashihiko became the next emperor. (Known as "Seimu" posthumously)
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime	Isakiirihiko is the ancestor of Template:Nihongo
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Yasakairi-hime
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Mizuhanoiratsume	Ionono-hime-miko was possibly also a Saiō.
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Ikawa-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Ikawa-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Abenotakada-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Himuka no Kaminagaootane
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Sonotake-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Sonotake-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Sonotake-hime
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Himukanomihakashi-hime	Ancestor of Template:Nihongo
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Inabinowakairatsume
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Inabinowakairatsume
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Igoto-hime
Princess	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Married Prince Hikohitoōe
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Speculated as the same person with Prince Iokiirihiko
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Speculated as the same person with Prince Takekunikoriwake
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Speculated as the same person with Prince Oshinowake
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown	Speculated as the same person with Prince Hikohitoōe
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown
Prince	Template:Nihongo	Template:Unknown