| Emperor Richū 履中天皇 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 400–405 (traditional)[1] | ||||
| Predecessor | Nintoku | ||||
| Successor | Hanzei | ||||
| Born | 336[2][3] | ||||
| Died | 405 (aged 68–69)[a] | ||||
| Burial | Mozu no Mimihara no Minami no misasagi (百舌鳥耳原南陵) (Osaka) | ||||
| Spouse | Kusakanohatabino-hime | ||||
| Issue among others... | Ichinobe no Oshiwa | ||||
| |||||
| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Emperor Nintoku | ||||
| Mother | Iwano-hime[6] | ||||
| Religion | Shinto | ||||
Emperor Richū (履中天皇,Richū-tennō), also known asŌenoizahowake no Mikoto (大兄去来穂別尊) was the 17thEmperor of Japan, according to the traditionalorder of succession.[7][8] Both theKojiki, and theNihon Shoki (collectively known as theKiki) recorded events that took place during Richū's alleged lifetime. This emperor is best known for an assassination attempt on his life by his brotherSuminoe after the death of their fatherEmperor Nintoku. Although no firm dates can be assigned to his life, Richū's brief reign is conventionally considered to have been from 400 to 405.[9]
During his reign local recorders were allegedly appointed for the first time in various provinces, a royal treasury was established, and court waitresses (Uneme) first appeared. Richū had both a wife and a concubine during his lifetime which bore him 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls). None of his children would inherit the throne as Richū appointed the title of crown prince to his other brotherMizuhawake. Richū allegedly died sometime in 405 at the age of 70, and his brotherMizuhawake was crowned asEmperor Hanzei in the following year. While the location of Richū's grave is unknown, he is traditionally venerated at amemorialShintotomb. Modern historians have come to the conclusion that the title of "Emperor" and the name "Richū" were used by later generations to describe him. There is also a general consensus that Richū was not a legendary figure.
The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum (misasagi) for Richū 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. These records state that Richū was born toPrincess Iwa (磐之媛命,Iwa no hime no Mikoto) sometime in 336 AD, and was given the nameŌenoizahowake no Mikoto (大兄去来穂別尊).[2][6] He was the eldest son of Emperor Nintoku, and was later appointed crown prince by his father during the 31st year of his father's reign. (343 AD).[9][10] When Nintoku died in 399 AD, a period of mourning was followed by a scandal that almost took the Crown Prince's life.
Sometime during the interval before Richū assumed the throne, he sent his younger brother, Prince Suminoe no Nakatsu (住吉仲皇子) to make marriage arrangements for his consort Kuro-hime (黒媛).[9][4] Prince Nakatsu instead passed himself off as his older brother Richū, and seduced Kuro-hime. When the act was done he carelessly left his wrist-bells behind at Kuro-hime's house. Richū later discovered these during his first visit to her house, assumed what his brother had done, but decided to take no action against him.[4] Nakatsu on the other hand was fearful of his scandalous actions and plotted to kill his brother that night. He secretly raised a small group of people who surrounded his brother'spalace.[9][4] Luckily for Richū, some of his loyal retainers intervened by rescuing the heir and carrying him off toIsonokami Shrine in Yamoto. Nakatsu meanwhile set fire to the besieged palace not knowing of his brother's escape.[9][4]
Richū's other younger brother Prince Mizuhawake (瑞歯別尊) (later Emperor Hanzei) followed him to Yamoto. He was told by Richū though, that unless he proved his loyalty by killing Nakatsu he could not be trusted.[9] Mizuhawake returned toNaniwa and bribed one of Nakatsu'sretainers to kill him. Nakatsu was utterly defenseless and unprepared as he assumed his brother had fled and disappeared. He was subsequently stabbed to death by his retainer, and Mizuhawake made his way back to Yamoto to report his death. Richū in turn gratefully granted his younger brother "Mura-ahasegranaries.[4]
Richū was crowned emperor after his brother's failed rebellion had been put to rest in the following year (400 AD).[4] During this time, those who were not executed for their participation in the rebellion were forced to undergo tattooing as a punishment.[11] Kurohime was also officially appointed as a concubine later in that year. Although the two had two sons and a daughter, Richū appointed the title of "Crown Prince" to his brother Prince Mizuhawake (later Emperor Hanzei) in 401 AD.[9][4] In the year 403 AD, "local recorders were appointed for the first time in various provinces, who noted down statements and communicated writings of thefour quarters."[11] Kurohime died sometime in the following year (404 AD) under unclear circumstances. Its said that the Emperor heard a voice in the wind utter mysterious words in the "great void" before a messenger announced of her death.[11] Richū attributed the cause to an offended deity due to the misconduct of an official regarding a shrine.[11]Princess Kusakanohatabino-hime was appointed empress in the following year (405 AD), and the two gave birth to a daughter (Princess Nakashi).[4] A royal treasury was also established in that year which was managed by two appointed Koreans.[11] Emperor Richū's reign ended during its sixth year, when he fell ill and succumbed to disease at the age of 64 or 70.[4][5] Thekiki states that Richū was buried in the misasagi on the "Plain of Mozo no Mimi".[4][5] His brotherMizuhawake was enthroned as thenext emperor in the following year (406 AD).
Richū is regarded by historians as a ruler during the early5th century whose existence is generally accepted as fact.[12] Orientalist scholarJames Murdoch includes Emperor Richū in the "earliest non-legendary" sovereigns of Japan, while academicRichard Ponsonby-Fane stated that this "may be termed the semi-historical period".[9][13] ScholarFrancis Brinkley lists Emperor Richū under "Protohistoric sovereigns", and notes that rulers from this point forward no longer have reigns of "incredible length".[11] Others such as authorJoshua Frydman cite Emperor Richū's lifespan as being realistic in length.[14] Richū has also been possibly identified withKing San in theBook of Song by Confucian scholarsKenrin Matsushita [ja] (松下見林) andArai Hakuseki.[15] According to Chinese records, King Sansent messengers to theLiu Song dynasty at least twice in 421 and 425.[b]
ScholarsWilliam George Aston and Brinkley disagree on the introduction of local recorders. Aston states in his reasoning that the arrival of the Korean scholarWani did not take place until 405 AD, and "[historians] have not yet got down to time of accurate chronologically".[4] Brinkley counters this by saying that Wani's innovation was "not the art of writing, but, in all probability, a knowledge of the Chinese classics".[11] AcademicDelmer Brown wrote that during Richū's reign, court waitresses (Uneme) appeared. There were also storehouses (Kura) built in various provinces, and an "Administrator of State Affairs" from his reign on.[10] It is commonly accepted among historians that Emperor Richū was in his late 60s if not 70 when he died.[9][4]
There is no evidence to suggest that the titletennō was used during the time to which Richū's reign has been assigned. It is certainly possible that he was a chieftain or local clan leader, and that the polity he ruled would have only encompassed a small portion of modern-day Japan. It's also possible he could have had the title ofSumeramikoto orAmenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven", orヤマト大王/大君 "Great King of Yamato". The name Richū-tennō was more than likely assigned to himposthumously by later generations.[16] His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Richū, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of theimperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as theKojiki.[17]
While the actual site of Richū'sgrave is not known, this regent is traditionally venerated at akofun-type Imperial tomb inSakai, Osaka. TheImperial Household Agency designates this location as Richū'smausoleum, and is formally namedMozumimihara Minamisagi (百舌鳥耳原南陵). It is also identified as theKami Ishizu Misanzai [ja] (上石津ミサンザイ古墳) kofun. 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.[19] 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.[17]
| Position | Name | Father | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concubine | Kuro-hime (黒媛)[20] | Katsuragi no Ashita no Sukune[20] | • PrinceIchinobe no Oshiwa (磐坂市辺押磐皇子)[21][22] • Prince Mima [ja] (御馬皇子)[21][22] • Princess Aomi no Himemiko (青海皇女)[21][22] (disputed) |
| Empress (Kōgō) | Kusakanohatabino-hime (草香幡梭皇女)[21] | Emperor Ōjin | • Princess Nakashi no Hime (中磯皇女)[23] |
| Status | Name | Mother | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Son (Prince) | Ichinobe no Oshiwa (磐坂市辺押磐皇子)[21][22] | Kuro-hime (黒媛)[21] | Ichinobe was the father ofEmperor Kenzō andEmperor Ninken, he allegedly died sometime in 456 AD[e] |
| Prince | Mima no Miko [ja] (御馬皇子)[21][22] | Kuro-hime (黒媛)[21] | Prince Mima allegedly died sometime in 456 AD[e] |
| Princess | Aomi no Himemiko (青海皇女)[21][22] | Kuro-hime (黒媛) or Hae-hime (荑媛)[20][21] | Aomi no Himemiko is also referred to as "Empress (Regnant) Iitoyo" (飯豊天皇Iitoyo-tennō) in theFusō Ryakuki and theHonchō Kōin Jōun-roku [ja], a 12th-century and a 15th-century history respectively.[24] As the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki disagree on her relationship to Emperor Richū, she could have also been the daughter of Prince Ichinobe no Oshiwa. This is supported by her alleged lifespan of 440 to 485 AD which would have occurred after Richū's death in 405 AD.[25][26][27] |
| Princess | Nakashi no Hime (中磯皇女)[23] | Kusakanohatabino (草香幡梭皇女)[23] | Nakashi was married to Prince Ookusaka[f] and then later toEmperor Ankō. |
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{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.
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Emperor of Japan: Richū 400–405 (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. | ||||||||
