Emperor Junnin
| Junnin | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of Japan | |
| Reign | 758–764 |
| Born | 733 |
| Died | November 10, 765 |
| Place of death | Awaji Island (Hyōgo) |
| Buried | Awaji no misasagi (Hyōgo) |
| Predecessor | Kōken |
| Successor | Shōtoku |
| Consort | Awata no Morone |
| Father | Prince Toneri |
| Mother | Tagima no Yamashiro |
Emperor Junnin (淳仁天皇 Junnin-tennō, 733 – November 10, 765) was the 47th emperor of Japan,[1] according to the traditional order of succession.[2]
Junnin's reign spanned the years 758 to 764.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Traditional narrative
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina)[4] was Ōi-shinnō (Ōi-no-ō).[5]
He was the seventh son of Prince Toneri, a son of Emperor Temmu.[6] His father died when he was at the age of three, and he was given no rank nor office of the court.
In the older Japanese documents, he was usually referred as Haitei (廃帝), the unthroned emperor. The posthumous name of Emperor Junnin was given by Emperor Meiji.
[edit] Events of Junnin's life
His fate was changed in 757 when Empress Kōken, his first cousin twice removed, appointed him to her crown prince instead of Prince Funado who had been appointed to this position by the will of the Emperor Shōmu.
- September 7, 758 (Tenpyō-shōhō 2, 1st day of the 8th month): In the 10th year of Kōken-tennō 's reign (称徳天皇10年), the empress abdicated; and succession (senso) was received by her adopted son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Jimmu is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).[7]
- 760 (Tenpyō-hōji 4): Additional coins were put into circulation—each copper coin bearing the words Mannen Ten-hō, each silver coin bearing the words Teihei Genhō, and each gold coin bearing the words Kaiki Shōhō.[8]
Six years later she forced him to abdicate and reclaimed the throne. Though he technically reigned, he did not feature on the official List of Japanese Emperors until the late nineteenth century; he had very little power and was a mere figurehead.
- November 10, 765 (Tenpyō-jingo 1, 23rd Day of the 10th Month): The former emperor died while in exile.
The actual site of Junnin's grave is known.[1] This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Awaji.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Junnin's mausoleum. It is formally named Awaji no misasagi.[9]
In some older Japanese documents, he was usually referred as Haitei (廃帝), the unthroned emperor.
In 1870, Emperor Meiji conferred the posthumous name and title by which he is now known. His place in the traditional order of succession was confirmed at the same time as the announcements about Emperor Kōbun and Emperor Chukyo were made public.
[edit] Kugyō
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Junnin's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- Taishi, Fujiwara Oshikatsu, also known as Emi no Oshikatsu (恵美押勝) (formerly Fujiwara no Nakamaro) (藤原仲麻呂).[6]
- Taihō, Fujiwara Oshikatsu.[6]
- Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara Oshikatsu.[6]
- Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Toyonari (藤原豊成).[6]
- Udaijin, Fujiwara no Toyonari (藤原豊成).[6]
- Naidaijin (not appointed)
- Dainagon
[edit] Era of Junnin's reign
The years of Junnin's reign are more specifically encompassed within a single era name or nengō.[10]
- Tenpyō-hōji (758–765)
[edit] Consorts and Children
Awata no Morone (粟田諸姉), widow of Fujiwara no Mayori (the first son of Fujiwara no Nakamaro)
Unknown woman
- Princess Yamao (山於女王), Saiō in Ise Shrine 758–765
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō): 淳仁天皇 (47)
- ^ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 59.
- ^ Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, p. 275; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki. p. 143-144; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 75-78. at Google Books
- ^ Brown, pp. 264; prior to Emperor Jomei, the personal names of the emperors were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.
- ^ Brown, p. 275, Varley, p. 143.
- ^ a b c d e f Brown, p. 275.
- ^ Titsingh, p. 75; Brown, p. 275; Varley, p. 44, 144; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami.
- ^ Appert, Georges et al. (1888). Ancien japon, pp. 29-30.
- ^ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.
- ^ Titsingh, p. 75.
[edit] References
- Appert, Georges and Hiroji Kinoshita. (1888). Ancien japon. Tokyo: Kokubunsha. OCLC 4429674
- Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). Gukanshō: The Future and the Past. Berkeley: University of California Press. 10-ISBN 0-520-03460-0; 13-ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0; OCLC 251325323
- Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887
- Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
- Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. 10-ISBN 0-231-04940-4; 13-ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5; OCLC 59145842
[edit] See also
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Empress Koken |
Emperor of Japan Junnin 758–764 |
Succeeded by Empress Shōtoku |
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