| Emperor Buretsu 武烈天皇 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Emperor Buretsu, painted in 1937 | |||||
| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 12 January 499 – 7 January 507 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ninken | ||||
| Successor | Keitai | ||||
| Born | 489 | ||||
| Died | January 7, 507(507-01-07) (aged 17–18) | ||||
| Burial | Kataoka no Iwatsuki no oka no kita no misasagi (傍丘磐坏丘北陵) (Nara) | ||||
| Spouse | Kasuga no Iratsume | ||||
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| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Emperor Ninken | ||||
| Mother | Kasuga no Ōiratsume | ||||
Emperor Buretsu (武烈天皇,Buretsu-tennō) (489 – 7 January 507) was the 25thlegendaryEmperor of Japan,[1] according to the traditionalorder of succession.[2]
No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 12 January 499 to 7 January 507.[3]
Buretsu is considered to have ruled the country during the late-fifth century and early-sixth century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study.
Buretsu was a son ofEmperor Ninken and his mother isEmpress Kasuga no Ōiratsume (春日大娘皇女). His name was Ohatsuse no Wakasazaki (小泊瀬稚鷦鷯). He had no children.
Buretsu'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 orAmenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Buretsu might have been referred to asヤマト大王/大君 or the "Great King of Yamato".
Buretsu is described as an extremely wicked historical figure. TheNihonshoki describes the 11-year-old Buretsu, in 500, cutting open the stomach of a pregnant woman and observing the embryo. In addition to his acts of personal cruelty, during his reign the general welfare of the nation declined severely. According to theTenshō, supposedly compiled byFujiwara no Hamanari, Buretsu was admonished byŌtomo no Kanamura.Nihonshoki likened his debauchery toDi Xin of theShang dynasty, but the record inKojiki has no such indication. There are several theories on this difference. Some believe that this was to justify and praise his successorEmperor Keitai, who took over under questionable circumstances, not having been in a position of immediate succession. In history textbooks available before and duringWorld War II, the negative parts of Buretsu's record were intentionally omitted.
If Emperor Keitai began a new dynasty as some historians believe, then Buretsu is the last Emperor of the first recorded dynasty of Japan.[4]
The actual site of Buretsu'sgrave is not known.[1] The Emperor is traditionally venerated at amemorialShintoshrine (misasagi) at Nara.
TheImperial Household Agency designates this location as Buretsu'smausoleum. It is formally namedKataoka no Iwatsuki no oka no kita no misasagi.[5]
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Emperor of Japan: Buretsu 12 January 499 – 7 January 507 (traditional dates) | Succeeded by |
| Legendary |
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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. | ||||||||
