Emperor Seimu (成務天皇,Seimu-tennō), also known asWakatarashi hiko no Sumera mikoto (稚足彦天皇), was the 13thlegendaryEmperor of Japan, according to the traditionalorder of succession.[6][7] Both theKojiki, and theNihon Shoki (collectively known as theKiki) record events that took place during Seimu's alleged lifetime. This legendary Emperor is best known for organizing his local governments by making the first appointments of their kind to provinces under his rule. Seimu had only one recorded wife who bore him a single child; he also had a concubine but she had no children. This is in stark contrast to his father, who is said to have had at least 80 children with multiple wives.
Seimu's reign is conventionally considered to have been from 131 to 190 AD. An issue ultimately occurred when his only son allegedly died at a young age.[8] Seimu appointedone of his nephews to be crown prince before his death in 190 AD, marking the first of later generations which would cede the throne to a non-direct successor. While the location of Seimu's grave (if any) is unknown, he is traditionally venerated at amemorialShintotomb. Modern historians have come to the conclusion that the title of "Emperor" and the name "Seimu" was used by later generations to describe this legendary Emperor. It has also been proposed that Seimu actually reigned much later than he is attested.
The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum (misasagi) for Seimu is currently maintained. The following information available is taken from thepseudo-historicalKojiki andNihon Shoki, which are collectively known asKiki (記紀) orJapanese chronicles. These chronicles include legends and myths, as well as potential historical facts that have since beenexaggerated and/or distorted over time. The records state that Seimu was born toYasakairi-hime sometime in 84 AD, and was given the nameWakatarashihiko (稚足彦尊).[5][2] It is unknown how he was chosen as crown prince, but Wakatarashihiko later ascended to the throne in 131 AD. Seimu is best known for organizing his local governments by appointing the first provincial governors and district officials.[9][10] While the details of his system of governing remain elusive, at the time Imperial princes were sent to important places in the provinces. These members are designated aswake, which represented their status as a branch of the Imperial family.[10] It has been theorized byBrinkley andKikuchi that these appointments of local governors were designed to extend the "prestige of the Court". Those that were eligible included "men of merit", Imperial princes, or chiefs ofaboriginal tribes.[10]
The records state that Seimu had a wife namedOho-takara (弟財郎女), who was the daughter ofTake-oshiyama-tari-ne.[4] Oho-takara bore the Emperor one child, named Prince Wakanuke (和訶奴気王). Seimu's only son appears to have died at a young age as the Emperor appointedYamato Takeru's son as Crown Prince, before his own death in 190 AD at the age 107 years old.[3][9] His nephewTarashinakatsuhiko was later enthroned as thenext emperor in 192 AD.[2] Seimu's death marked an end of direct lineage from legendaryEmperor Jimmu, and was the first split branch of others that later followed.
Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Emperor Seimu
Emperor Seimu is regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor" as there is insufficient material available for further verification and study. His existence is open to debate given this lack of information.[11] If Seimu did exist, there is no evidence to suggest that the titletennō 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.[12] The name Seimu-tennō was more than likely assigned to himposthumously by later generations.[13] His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Seimu, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of theimperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as theKojiki.[12] There is a possibility that Seimu ruled during the first half of the 4th century when Japan became a unified state ruled fromYamato, making these accounts "not improbable".[14]
^abTitsingh, Isaac. (1834).Nihon Ōdai Ichiran (in French). Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. pp. 14,34–36.
^Hoye, Timothy. (1999).Japanese Politics: Fixed and Floating Worlds. Prentice Hall. p. 78.ISBN9780132712897.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.
