| Emperor Jomei 舒明天皇 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great King of Yamato | |||||
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| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 629–641 | ||||
| Predecessor | Suiko | ||||
| Successor | Kōgyoku | ||||
| Born | Tamura (田村) 17 April 593 | ||||
| Died | 17 November 641 (aged 48) Kudara no Miya | ||||
| Burial | Osaka no uchi no misasagi (Nara) | ||||
| Spouse | Takara (laterEmpress Kōgyoku) | ||||
| Issue |
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| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Prince Oshisako-no-hikohito-no-Ōe [ja] | ||||
| Mother | Princess Nukate-hime | ||||
Emperor Jomei (舒明天皇,Jomei-tennō; April 17, 593 – November 17, 641) was the 34themperor ofJapan,[1] according to the traditionalorder of succession.[2]
Jomei's reign spanned the years from629 through 641.[3]
Before Jomei's ascension to theChrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Tamura (田村) or Prince Tamura (田村皇子,Tamura-no-Ōji).[4] As emperor, his name would have beenOkinagatarashihi Hironuka Sumeramikoto (息長足日広額天皇).[5]
He was a grandson ofEmperor Bidatsu, both paternally and maternally. His father was Prince Oshisakanohikohito-no-Ōe, his mother was Princess Nukate-hime, who was a younger sister of his father.[6]
He succeeded his great-aunt,Empress Suiko. Suiko did not make it clear who was to succeed her after her death. Before her death in 629, she called Tamura andPrince Shōtoku's son,Prince Yamashiro-no-Ōe, and gave some brief advice to each of them. After her death the court was divided into two factions, each supporting one of the princes for the throne.Soga no Emishi, the head ofSoga clan, supported Tamura. He claimed that Empress Suiko's last words suggested her desire that Tamura succeed her to the throne. Scholars then construed that the succession (senso)[7] was received by Tamura.[8] Shortly thereafter, he is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui) as Emperor Jomei.[9] Prince Yamashiro-no-Ōe was later attacked by the Soga clan and committed suicide along with his entire family.
Jomei's contemporary title would not have beentennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns ofEmperor Tenmu andEmpress Jitō. Rather, it was presumablySumeramikoto (written the same way astennō: 天皇) orAmenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Jomei might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great King of Yamato".
During Emperor Jomei's reign, Soga no Emishi seized several political initiatives. After Jomei's death, the throne was passed to his wife and niece,Empress Kōgyoku, and then to her younger brother,Emperor Kōtoku, before eventually being inherited by two of his sons,Emperor Tenji and Emperor Tenmu.
Emperor Jomei's reign lasted 13 years. In the 13th year of his reign (舒明天皇十三年), he died at the age of 49.[8]
The actual site of Jomei'sgrave is known.[1] The emperor is traditionally venerated at amemorialShintoshrine (misasagi) located inSakurai, Nara. TheImperial Household Agency designates this location as Jomei'smausoleum. It is formally namedOsaka no uchi no misasagi.[10]
It is commonly calledDannozuka Kofun [ja]. It is anOctagonal Kofun [ja]. It is identified as the tomb of Emperor Jomei by theImperial Household Agency[11] and of the same form as theattributed tomb of his son [ja].[11][12] and of his wifeEmpress Kōgyoku buried inKengoshizuka Kofun.[13][14]
TheMan'yōshū includes poems attributed to emperors and empresses, including "Climbing Kagu-yama and looking upon the land", which is said to have been composed by Emperor Jomei:
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Emperor of Japan: Jomei 629–641 | Succeeded by |
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| Yamato |
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| Nara |
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| Heian |
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| Kamakura |
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| Northern Court |
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| Muromachi |
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| Azuchi–Momoyama |
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| Edo |
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| Empire of Japan |
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| Japan |
Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are inCE / AD *Imperial Consort andRegentEmpress Jingū is not traditionally listed. | ||||||||
