Emperor_Suinin

Emperor Suinin

Emperor Suinin

11th Emperor of Japan

Emperor Suinin (垂仁天皇, Suinin-tennō), also known as Ikumeiribikoisachi no Sumeramikoto (活目入彦五十狭茅天皇) was the 11th legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.[3][4] Less is known about Suinin than his father, and likewise he is also considered to be a "legendary emperor". Both the Kojiki, and the Nihon Shoki (collectively known as the Kiki) record events that took place during Suinin's alleged lifetime. This legendary narrative tells how he ordered his daughter Yamatohime-no-mikoto to establish a new permanent shrine for Amaterasu (the Sun Goddess), which eventually became known as the Ise Grand Shrine. Other events that were recorded concurrently with his reign include the origins of Sumo wrestling in the form of a wrestling match involving Nomi no Sukune.

Quick Facts Emperor Suinin 垂仁天皇, Reign ...

Suinin's reign is conventionally considered to have been from 29 BC to AD 70.[5] During his alleged lifetime, he fathered seventeen children with two chief wives (empress) and six consorts. One of his sons became the next emperor upon his death in 70 AD, but the location of his father's grave (if any) is unknown. Suinin is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto tomb (misasagi) at Nishi-machi, Amagatsuji, Nara City.

Legendary narrative

The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum (misasagi) for Suinin is currently maintained. There remains no conclusive evidence though that supports this historical figure actually reigning.[6] The following information available is taken from the pseudo-historical Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, which are collectively known as Kiki (記紀) 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 Suinin was born sometime in 69 BC, and was the third son of Emperor Sujin.[2][4] Suinin's empress mother was named Mimaki-hime, who is also former Emperor Kōgen's daughter. Before he was enthroned sometime in 29 BC, his pre-ascension name was Prince Ikumeiribikoisachi no Sumeramikoto. He appears to have ascended the throne a year before his father's death in 30 BC, and ruled from the palace of Tamaki-no-miya (師木玉垣宮, and in the Nihon Shoki as 纒向珠城宮) at Makimuku in what later became Yamato Province.

Suinin is best known for events that surround the founding of the Ise Grand Shrine. The Nihon Shoki states that around 2,000 years ago the Emperor ordered his daughter Yamatohime-no-mikoto, to find a permanent location to worship the goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami (the Sun Goddess).[5][7] Yamatohime searched for 20 years before settling on a location in Ise, where she established Naiku,[lower-alpha 1] the Inner Shrine.[4][8] She is said to have chosen the location after she heard the voice of Amaterasu say; "(Ise) is a secluded and pleasant land. In this land I wish to dwell." Amaterasu had previously been enshrined and worshipped in Kasanui, which was set up by Suinin's father in an attempt to alleviate a devastating plaque. The Kojiki records that during the reign of Emperor Suinin, the first Saiō (High Priestess) was appointed for Ise Grand Shrine. This recording is also noted by Jien, who was a 13th-century historian and poet.[4] This remains disputed though, as the Man'yōshū (The Anthology of Ten Thousand Leaves) states that the first Saiō to serve at Ise was Princess Ōku. If the latter is true then it would date the Saiō appointments to the reign of Emperor Tenmu (c. 673 – 686 AD).[9]

There were other events during Suinin's reign as well that include an Asama Shrine tradition regarding Mount Fuji. The earliest veneration of Konohanasakuya-hime at the base of the mountain was said to be during the 3rd year of Emperor Suinin's reign.[10] The Nihon Shoki also records a wrestling match in which Nomi no Sukune and Taima no Kehaya held during his era, as the origin of Sumai (Sumo wrestling). Meanwhile, Emperor Suinin's family grew to consist of 17 children with eight variously ranked wives. One of his consorts named Kaguya-hime-no-Mikoto, is mentioned in the Kojiki as a possible basis for the legend of Kaguya-hime regarding the couple's love story. Emperor Suinin died in 70 AD at the age of 138, and his son Prince Ootarashihikoosirowake was enthroned as the next emperor the following year.[2]

Known information

Official mausoleum (misasagi) of Emperor Suinin, Nara Prefecture

Emperor Suinin is regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor" as there is insufficient material available for further verification and study.[11] Unlike Emperor Sujin, there is less known about Suinin to possibly support his existence. In either case (fictional or not), the name Suinin-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations.[12] His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Suinin, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the Yamato dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki.[6] Suinin's longevity was also written down by later compilers, who may have unrealistically extended his age to fill in time gaps.[13] While the actual site of Suinin's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nishi-machi, Amagatsuji, Nara City. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Suinin's mausoleum, and is formally named Sugawara no Fushimi no higashi no misasagi.[3][14]

While the Ise Grand Shrine is traditionally said to have been established in the 1st century BC, other dates in the 3rd and 4th centuries have also been put forward for the establishment of Naikū and Gekū respectively.[15] The first shrine building at Naikū was allegedly erected by Emperor Tenmu (678-686), with the first ceremonial rebuilding being carried out by his wife, Empress Jitō, in 692.[16] Outside of the Kiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei[lower-alpha 2] (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography has been able to assign verifiable dates.[19] The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu[lower-alpha 3] between 737 and 806 AD.[6]

Consorts and children

Emperor Suinin had two chief wives (aka Empress), it is recorded in the Kiki that the first empress was named Saho. Not much is known about her other than that her father was Emperor Kaika's son and she allegedly died sometime in 34 AD. As with the first empress there is also not much known about Suinin's second chief wife Hibasu. She was the daughter Prince Tanba-no-Michinoushi, who was Prince Hikoimasu's son and Emperor Kaika's grandson. Hibasu's third son later became known as Emperor Keikō (the next emperor), she allegedly died sometime in 61 AD. Suinin also had six named consorts with an additional one remaining unknown. Prince Tanba-no-Michinoushi (previously mentioned), was also the father to three of Suinin's consorts. In all the Emperor's family consisted of 17 children with these variously ranked wives.

Spouse

More information Position, Name ...

Concubines

More information Name, Father ...

Issue

More information Status, Name ...

Family tree

Genealogy of early Japanese emperors and empresses
Nunakawahime[20] Ōkuninushi[21][22]: 278 
(Ōnamuchi)[23]		Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto[24]
Kotoshironushi[25][26] Tamakushi-hime[24] Takeminakata[27][28] Susa Clan[29]
1 Jimmu[30]1Himetataraisuzu-hime[30]Kamo no Okimi[25][31]Mirahime [ja]
2 Suizei[32][33][34][35][36][37] 2Isuzuyori-hime[35][36][37][31][38]Kamuyaimimi[32][33][34]
3 Annei[39][25][35][36][37]〔Ō clan[40][41]〕〔Aso clan[42]〕3 Nunasokonakatsu-hime[43][25]Kamo clan
TakakurajiMiwa clan
4 Itoku[39][25]Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja][39]Ame no Murakumo [ja]
4Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja][39]Amaoshio no mikoto [ja]
5 Emperor Kōshō[39][25][44]5Yosotarashi-hime[25]Okitsu Yoso [ja]
6 Emperor Kōan[25]Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja][44]Owari clan
6Oshihime [ja][25][44]〔Wani clan〕[45]
7 Emperor Kōrei[46][25][44][47] 7Kuwashi-hime[47]
8 Emperor Kōgen[48][47]8Utsushikome [ja][48]Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso[46]Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto[49]Wakatakehiko [ja]
9Ikagashikome[lower-alpha 5] [51][52]
Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja][52]9 Emperor Kaika[48]Prince Ohiko [ja][53]〔Kibi clan〕
Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja][52]10 Emperor Sujin[54][55]10Mimaki-hime[56]〔Abe clan〕[53]
Takenouchi no Sukune[52]11 Emperor Suinin[57][58]11Saho-hime[59]12Hibasu-hime [ja][60]Yasaka Iribiko[61][62][63]Toyosukiiri-hime [ja][64]Nunaki-iri-hime [ja][46]
Yamatohime-no-mikoto[65]
〔Katsuragi clan〕13Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja]12 Emperor Keiko[58][60]14Yasakairi-hime [ja][61][62][63]
Otoyo no mikoto [ja]
Futaji Irihime [ja][66]Yamato Takeru[67][68]Miyazu-himeTakeinadane [ja] Ioki Iribiko13Emperor Seimu[67][68]
14Emperor Chūai[67][68] [69]15Empress Jingū[70] Homuda
Mawaka
15Emperor Ōjin[70]16Nakatsuhime[71][72][73]
16Emperor Nintoku[74]

See also

Notes

  1. The Ise Grand Shrine is a complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, Naikū (内宮) and Gekū (外宮).
  2. The 29th Emperor[17][18]
  3. Kanmu was the 50th sovereign of the Yamato dynasty
  4. Yamato is said to have established Ise Grand Shrine where the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined. It remains unverified and up for debate if she was the first Saiō (high priestess) as alternate theories exist .
  5. There are two ways this name is transcribed: "Ika-gashiko-me" is used by Tsutomu Ujiya, while "Ika-shiko-me" is used by William George Aston.[50]

References

Japanese Imperial kamon — a stylized chrysanthemum blossom
  1. [1]
    "Genealogy of the Emperors of Japan" (PDF). Kunaicho.go.jp. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  2. [2]
    Kenneth Henshall (2013). Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945. Scarecrow Press. p. 487. ISBN 9780810878723.
  3. [3]
    "垂仁天皇 (11)". Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  4. [4]
    Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida (1979). A Translation and Study of the Gukanshō, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. p. 248 & 253–254. ISBN 9780520034600.
  5. [5]
    Ponsonby-Fane, Richard (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Ponsonby Memorial Society. p. 32.
  6. [6]
    Aston, William George. (1896). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697, Volume 2. The Japan Society London. p. 109 & 167–187. ISBN 9780524053478.
  7. [7]
    Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. Columbia University Press. pp. 95–96. ISBN 9780231049405.
  8. [8]
    The Deep Purple Story of Meiwa (紫紺の語り部) (Meiwa Town Office, 2003), p. 3.
  9. [9]
    Mark Teeuwen, John Breen (2017). A Social History of the Ise Shrines: Divine Capital. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 14–15. ISBN 9781474272810.
  10. [10]
    Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1962. Studies in Shinto and Shrines, p. 458.
  11. [11]
    Kelly, Charles F. "Kofun Culture". www.t-net.ne.jp. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  12. [12]
    Brinkley, Frank (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the end of the Meiji Era. Britannica.com. p. 21. Posthumous names for the earthly Mikados were invented in the reign of Emperor Kanmu (782–805), i.e., after the date of the compilation of the Records and the Chronicles.
  13. [13]
    Brinkley, Francis (1911). "Japan/09 Domestic History" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 252–273, see page 253.
  14. [14]
    Ponsonby-Fane, Studies in Shinto, p. 418.
  15. [15]
    Trudy Ring, Noelle Watson, Paul Schellinger (2012). Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Routledge. ISBN 9781136639791.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. [16]
    Sacred Places - Ise Shrine http://witcombe.sbc.edu/sacredplaces/ise.doc Archived 2021-01-26 at the Wayback Machine
  17. [17]
    Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran (in French). Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. pp. 34–36.
  18. [18]
    Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida (1979). A Translation and Study of the Gukanshō, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. pp. 261–262. ISBN 9780520034600.
  19. [19]
    Hoye, Timothy. (1999). Japanese Politics: Fixed and Floating Worlds. Prentice Hall. p. 78. ISBN 9780132712897. According to legend, the first Japanese Emperor was Jimmu. Along with the next 13 Emperors, Jimmu is not considered an actual, historical figure. Historically verifiable Emperors of Japan date from the early sixth century with Kimmei.
  20. [20]
    Philippi, Donald L. (2015). Kojiki. Princeton University Press. pp. 104–112.
  21. [21]
    Atsushi, Kadoya; Tatsuya, Yumiyama (20 October 2005). "Ōkuninushi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  22. [22]
    Herbert, J. (2010). Shinto: At the Fountainhead of Japan. Routledge Library Editions: Japan. Taylor & Francis. p. 402. ISBN 978-1-136-90376-2. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  23. [23]
    Atsushi, Kadoya (21 April 2005). "Ōnamuchi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  24. [24]
    The Emperor's Clans: The Way of the Descendants, Aogaki Publishing, 2018.
  25. [25]
    Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. Columbia University Press. p. 89. ISBN 9780231049405.
  26. [26]
    Atsushi, Kadoya (28 April 2005). "Kotoshironushi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  27. [27]
    Sendai Kuji Hongi, Book 4 (先代舊事本紀 巻第四), in Keizai Zasshisha, ed. (1898). Kokushi-taikei, vol. 7 (国史大系 第7巻). Keizai Zasshisha. pp. 243–244.
  28. [28]
    Chamberlain (1882). Section XXIV.—The Wooing of the Deity-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears.
  29. [29]
    Tanigawa Ken'ichi [de] 『日本の神々 神社と聖地 7 山陰』（新装復刊） 2000年 白水社 ISBN 978-4-560-02507-9
  30. [30]
    Kazuhiko, Nishioka (26 April 2005). "Isukeyorihime". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  31. [31]
    『神話の中のヒメたち　もうひとつの古事記』p94-97「初代皇后は「神の御子」」
  32. [32]
    日本人名大辞典+Plus, デジタル版. "日子八井命とは". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  33. [33]
    ANDASSOVA, Maral (2019). "Emperor Jinmu in the Kojiki". Japan Review (32): 5–16. ISSN 0915-0986. JSTOR 26652947.
  34. [34]
    "Visit Kusakabeyoshimi Shrine on your trip to Takamori-machi or Japan". trips.klarna.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  35. [35]
    Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 32. ISBN 9780674017535.
  36. [36]
    Ponsonby-Fane, Richard (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Ponsonby Memorial Society. p. 29 & 418.
  37. [37]
    Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida (1979). A Translation and Study of the Gukanshō, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. p. 251. ISBN 9780520034600.
  38. [38]
    『図説　歴代天皇紀』p42-43「綏靖天皇」
  39. [39]
    Anston, p. 144 (Vol. 1)
  40. [40]
    Grapard, Allan G. (2023-04-28). The Protocol of the Gods: A Study of the Kasuga Cult in Japanese History. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-91036-2.
  41. [41]
    Tenri Journal of Religion. Tenri University Press. 1968.
  42. [42]
    Takano, Tomoaki; Uchimura, Hiroaki (2006). History and Festivals of the Aso Shrine. Aso Shrine, Ichinomiya, Aso City.: Aso Shrine.
  43. [43]
    Anston, p. 143 (Vol. 1)
  44. [44]
    Anston, p. 144 (Vol. 1)
  45. [45]
    Watase, Masatada [in Japanese] (1983). "Kakinomoto no Hitomaro". Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典 (in Japanese). Vol. 1. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten. pp. 586–588. OCLC 11917421.
  46. [46]
    Aston, William George. (1896). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697, Volume 2. The Japan Society London. pp. 150–164. ISBN 9780524053478.
  47. [47]
    "Kuwashi Hime • . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史". . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  48. [48]
    Anston, p. 149 (Vol. 1)
  49. [49]
    Louis-Frédéric, "Kibitsu-hiko no Mikoto" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 513.
  50. [50]
    Ujiya, Tsutomu (1988). Nihon shoki. Grove Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-8021-5058-5.
  51. [51]
    Aston, William George. (1896). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697, Volume 2. The Japan Society London. p. 109 & 149–150. ISBN 9780524053478.
  52. [52]
    Shimazu Norifumi (March 15, 2006). "Takeshiuchi no Sukune". eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  53. [53]
    Asakawa, Kan'ichi (1903). The Early Institutional Life of Japan. Tokyo Shueisha. p. 140. ISBN 9780722225394.
  54. [54]
    Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida (1979). A Translation and Study of the Gukanshō, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. p. 248 & 253. ISBN 9780520034600.
  55. [55]
    Henshall, Kenneth (2013-11-07). Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7872-3.
  56. [56]
    "Mimakihime • . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史". . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  57. [57]
    Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida (1979). A Translation and Study of the Gukanshō, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. p. 248 & 253–254. ISBN 9780520034600.
  58. [58]
    Henshall, Kenneth (2013-11-07). Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7872-3.
  59. [59]
    "Sahobime • . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史". . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  60. [60]
    Memoirs of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko (the Oriental Library), Issues 32-34. Toyo Bunko. 1974. p. 63. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  61. [61]
    "Yasakairihime • . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史". . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  62. [62]
    Kenneth Henshall (2013). Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945. Scarecrow Press. p. 487. ISBN 9780810878723.
  63. [63]
    Memoirs of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko (the Oriental Library), Issues 32-34. Toyo Bunko. 1974. pp. 63–64. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  64. [64]
    "Saigū | 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム". web.archive.org. 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  65. [65]
    Brown Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, p. 253; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, pp. 95-96; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 10.
  66. [66]
    Kidder, Jonathan E. (2007). Himiko and Japan's Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai: Archaeology, History, and Mythology. University of Hawaii Press. p. 344. ISBN 9780824830359.
  67. [67]
    Packard, Jerrold M. (2000). Sons of Heaven: A Portrait of the Japanese Monarchy. FireWord Publishing, Incorporated. p. 45. ISBN 9781930782013.
  68. [68]
    Xinzhong, Yao (2003). Confucianism O - Z. Taylor & Francis US. p. 467. ISBN 9780415306539.
  69. [69]
    Aston, William George. (1998). Nihongi, p. 254–271.
  70. [70]
    Aston, William. (1998). Nihongi, Vol. 1, pp. 224–253.
  71. [71]
    文也 (2019-05-26). "仲姫命とはどんな人？". 歴史好きブログ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  72. [72]
    日本人名大辞典+Plus, 朝日日本歴史人物事典,デジタル版. "仲姫命(なかつひめのみこと)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  73. [73]
    "Nunasoko Nakatsuhime • . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史". . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  74. [74]
    Aston, William. (1998). Nihongi, Vol. 1, pp. 254–271.

Further reading

More information Regnal titles ...
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Emperor_Suinin, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.