Emperor Keikō

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Emperor Keikō
12th Emperor of Japan
Reign legendary
Born legendary
Died legendary
Buried Yamanobe no michi no e no Misasagi (Nara)
Predecessor Emperor Suinin
Successor Emperor Seimu

Emperor Keikō (景行天皇, Keikō-tennō?); also known as Ootarashihikooshirowake no Sumeramikoto; was the 12th emperor of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors.[1] Emperor Keikō is considered by most historians to be a legendary figure, and the name Keikō Tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations.

Contents

[edit] Legendary narrative

No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign. Keikō is regarded by historians as a "legendary emperor" because of the paucity of information about him, which does not necessarily imply that no such person ever existed. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study. If Keikō did exist, there is no evidence to suggest that the title tennō was used during the time period to which his reign has been assigned. It is much more likely that he was a chieftain, or local clan leader, and the polity he ruled would have only encompassed a small portion of modern day Japan.

His legend was recorded in Kojiki and Nihonshoki, but the accounts of him are different in these two sources. In Kojiki he sent his son Yamatotakeru to Kyūshū to conquer local tribes. In Nihonshoki Keikō himself went there and won battles against local tribes. According to both sources, he sent Yamatotakeru to Izumo province and eastern provinces to conquer the area and spread his territory.[2]

Although the final resting place of this legendary sovereign remains unknown, Keikō's officially designated Imperial misasagi or tomb can be visited today in Shibutani-cho, Tenri City near Nara City.[3]

The kami of Emperor Keikō is venerated at Anaho jinja in Anaho, Ōmi province.[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 11-14; Varley, Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, pp. 96-99.
  2. ^ Aston, William. (1998). Nihongi, Vol. 1, pp. 188-214.
  3. ^ Keikō's misasagi -- map
  4. ^ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 127.

[edit] References


Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Suinin
Legendary Emperor of Japan
71 AD-130 AD
(traditional dates)
Succeeded by
Emperor Seimu