| Emperor Ingyō 允恭天皇 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 412–453 (traditional)[1] | ||||
| Predecessor | Hanzei | ||||
| Successor | Ankō | ||||
| Born | 373–375[a] | ||||
| Died | 453 (aged 78–80)[a] | ||||
| Burial | Ega no Naganu no kita no misasagi (恵我長野北陵) (Osaka) | ||||
| Spouse | Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime[6] | ||||
| Issue among others... | |||||
| |||||
| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Emperor Nintoku | ||||
| Mother | Iwano-hime[7] | ||||
| Religion | Shinto | ||||
Emperor Ingyō (允恭天皇,Ingyō-tennō) was the 19thEmperor of Japan, according to the traditionalorder of succession.[8][9] Both theKojiki, and theNihon Shoki (collectively known as theKiki) recorded events that took place during Ingyō's alleged lifetime. No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 410 to 453.[6]
While the location of Ingyō's grave (if any) is unknown, he is traditionally venerated at amemorialShintotomb.
The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum (misasagi) for Ingyō 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. It's recorded in theKiki that Ingyō was born toPrincess Iwa (磐之媛命,Iwa no hime no Mikoto) somewhere between 373 and 375 AD and was given the nameOasazuma Wakugo no Sukune (雄朝津間稚子宿禰).[4][7] He was the fourth son ofEmperor Nintoku, making him the youngest brother ofRichū andHanzei. After the death of his brother Hanzei in 410 AD Oasazuma was approached by ministers who had unanimously chosen him as the next Emperor. Oasazuma declined the offer stating that his brothers had "despised him as a fool". He also called himself "unlucky" as he claimed to be suffering from an unmentionedparalyzing illness.[4][6]
After more than two years had passed, Oasazuma was finally persuaded by his favorite concubineOshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime to accept the throne.[6] Oasazuma was formally enthroned as Emperor Ingyō and his concubine became the nextKōgō. Sometime in early 414 an envoy was sent toSilla and procured a physician for the ailing Emperor. The physician attributed the problem to Ingyō's legs and was able to cure him in August of that year.[4][6] In 415 AD, Ingyō reformed the system of family and clan names. This had been an ongoing issue as many families either gave false names or used a clan title with a ranking they hadn't earned.[4] In the middle of 416 AD, an earthquake hit Japan which disrupted the "temporary" burial process ofEmperor Hanzei.[4]
Sometime in the winter of 418 AD, empress Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime unintentionally introduced her husband to her younger sister at a banquet. Emperor Ingyō fell deeply in love and sent a messenger afterwards to summon her.[4][6] He learned that the woman's name was "Otohime" ("youngest princess"), but was given the designation of "Sotohori Iratsume" ("clothing pass maiden"[b]) by local men for her beauty.[4] Otohime initially refused to comply as she didn't want to hurt her sister's feelings. Not wanting to face punishment for disobeying, the messenger stayed with Otohime until she agreed to come.[4] Oshisaka was not pleased by this and refused to let Otohime into the Imperial palace. Ingyō thus built Otohime a separate residence nearby where he often sneaked off to.[4][6]
Empress Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime bore Ingyō a total of nine children (5 sons and 4 daughters). In 434 AD Ingyō chose to name his first sonKinashi no Karu as Crown Prince.[4] This was unknowingly a controversial choice as Kinashi was later accused of anincestuous relationship with his sister, Princess Karu no Ōiratsume.[11] Ingyō couldn't punish his son due to the title he had bestowed upon him, so instead chose an indirect approach by banishing his daughter Karu no Ōiratsume toIyo.[4] When Emperor Ingyō died sometime in 453 AD, the king ofSilla grieved so much that he presented Japan with 80 musicians to comfort Ingyo's soul.[12] Kinashi no Karu meanwhile faced a challenge as his younger brotherAnaho was favored to be heir apparent.[4]
Ingyō is regarded by historians as a ruler during the early5th century whose existence is generally accepted as fact.[13] ScholarFrancis Brinkley lists Emperor Ingyō under "Protohistoric sovereigns" whose reign was overshadowed by an affair and scandal regarding his son.[14] Other scholars identify Ingyō withKing Sai in theBook of Song. This would have been a king of Japan (referred to asWa by contemporary Chinese scholars) who is said to have sent messengers to theLiu Song dynasty at least twice, in 443 and 451. However, there is no record in theKiki of messengers being sent.
There is no evidence to suggest that the titletennō was used during the time to which Ingyō's reign has been assigned. Rather, it was presumablySumeramikoto orAmenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". An alternate title could have also beenヤマト大王/大君 "Great King of Yamato". The name Ingyō-tennō was more than likely assigned to himposthumously by later generations.[15] His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Ingyō, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of theimperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as theKojiki.[16]
Outside of theKiki, the reign ofEmperor Kinmei[c] (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography has been able to assign verifiable dates.[18] The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign ofEmperor Kanmu[d] between 737 and 806 AD.[16]
Early on in his reign, Emperor Ingyō chose to send envoys to Korea for medical assistance. Brinkley took note of this and stated that Korea was evidently regarded as the "home of healing science". He also attributed the "many other" arts which were borrowed from China.[14] In regard to reforms, SholarWilliam George Aston notes in his translation of theNihon Shoki that when Ingyō reformed the system of family and clan names, it would have only applied todominant caste. At the time the general populace of Japan kept their personal names and "cared little for geopolitics".[4] Emperor Ingyō's later affair with "Otohime" is regarded as important by Brinkley as it illustrates the manners and customs at the time. He also suggests that the "atmosphere of loose morality" was in part responsible for Kinashi no Karu's incestuous relationship.[14]
It is agreed upon byBasil Hall Chamberlain's translation of theKojiki, and Aston's translation of the Nihon Shoki that Prince Kinashi no Karu was probably appointed crown prince during his father's lifetime.[19] At the time, marriage between children of the same father had always been allowed as long as the mothers involved were different. Marriage of children of the same mother of whom Kinashi no Karu was guilty of was considered incest.[14] Aston notes in his translation of the Nihon Shoki that it's doubtful Karu no Ōiratsume was banished by her father. Historically women have always been more lightly punished than men for the same offense, and "the particular character of the fault in this case makes such a discrimination all the more reasonable".[4]
Francis Brinkley comments that four facts present themselves during Emperor Ingyō's reign: "Men wore wristbands and garters to which grelots were attached, that a high value was set for pearls, that metal was used for the construction of great man's gates, and thefirst earthquake is said to have been experienced in 416 AD". The latter of these things allegedly leveled the Imperial Palace atKyoto from the severity of the Earth's tremors.[20] Modern sources have since questioned the reliability of this "first earthquake", opting instead to recognize another that took place in Nara prefecture on May 28, 599 during the reign ofEmpress Suiko.[20]
While the actual site of Ingyō'sgrave is not known, this regent is traditionally venerated at amemorialShinto shrine inFujiideraOsaka.[8][21] TheImperial Household Agency designates this location as Ingyō'smausoleum/kofun-type Imperial tomb. Formally, this tomb is called Emperor Ingyō's misasagi (恵我長野北陵,,Ega no nagano no kita no misasagi), but is also given the nameIchinoyama Kofun (市ノ山古墳（市野山古墳). Another burial candidate for Emperor Ingyō's is theTsudoshiroyama Kofun (津堂城山古墳), which is also located in Fujiidera.[22] Ingyō is also enshrined at theImperial Palace along with other emperors and members of the Imperial Family at theThree Palace Sanctuaries.
| Position | Name | Father | Issue[23] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empress (Kōgō) | Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime (忍坂大中姫)[24] | Prince Wakanuke no Futamata (稚野毛二派皇子)[23] | • Prince Kinashi no Karu (木梨軽皇子) • Princess Nagata no Ōiratsume (名形大娘皇女) • Prince Sakai no Kurohiko (境黒彦皇子) • Prince Anaho (穴穂皇子) • Princess Karu no Ōiratsume (軽大娘皇女) • Prince Yatsuri no Shirahiko (八釣白彦皇子) • Prince Ōhatuse no Wakatakeru (大泊瀬稚武皇子) • Princess Tajima no Tachibana no Ōiratsume (但馬橘大娘皇女) • Princess Sakami (酒見皇女) |
| Concubine (Hi) | Otohime (弟姫)[e] | Prince Wakanuke no Futamata (稚野毛二派皇子)[23] | None |
| Status | Name[23][25] | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Prince | Prince Kinashi no Karu (木梨軽皇子)[23] | Prince Kinashi was later defeated by Prince Anaho (see below) |
| Princess | Princess Nagata no Ōiratsume (名形大娘皇女)[23] | |
| Prince | Prince Sakai no Kurohiko (境黒彦皇子)[23] | Prince Sakai allegedly died sometime in 456 AD. |
| Prince | Prince Anaho (穴穂皇子)[23] | Emperor Ingyō's 3rd son later became Emperor Ankō. |
| Princess | Princess Karu no Ōiratsume [ja] (軽大娘皇女) | "Princess Karu" and "Otohime" are synonymous in the Kojiki.[10] |
| Prince | Prince Yatsuri no Shirahiko (八釣白彦皇子) | Yatsuri's lifespan was allegedly 401 to 456 AD. |
| Prince | Prince Ōhatuse no Wakatakeru (大泊瀬稚武皇子) | Emperor Ingyō's 5th son later becameEmperor Yūryaku. |
| Princess | Princess Tajima no Tachibana no Ōiratsume (但馬橘大娘皇女) | |
| Princess | Princess Sakami (酒見皇女) | |
| Princess | Princess Karu no Ōiratsume (軽大娘皇女) | Synonymous with Otohime (弟姫) akaPrincess Sotoorihime |
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)Posthumous names for the earthlyMikados were invented in the reign of Emperor Kanmu (782–805), i.e., after the date of the compilation of theRecords and theChronicles.
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)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.
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Emperor of Japan: Ingyō 412–453 (traditional dates) | Succeeded by |
| Legendary |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamato |
| ||||||||
| Nara |
| ||||||||
| Heian |
| ||||||||
| Kamakura |
| ||||||||
| Northern Court |
| ||||||||
| Muromachi |
| ||||||||
| Azuchi–Momoyama |
| ||||||||
| Edo |
| ||||||||
| Empire of Japan |
| ||||||||
| Japan |
Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are inCE / AD *Imperial Consort andRegentEmpress Jingū is not traditionally listed. | ||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
