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| Jinshin War | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 A section of theŌmi Ōtsu Palace ruins in modern dayŌtsu,Shiga Prefecture | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Prince Ōama's forces | Court ofŌmi Ōtsu Palace | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Prince Ōama (Emperor Tenmu) | Prince Ōtomo (Emperor Kōbun) † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers | 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown, but presumably heavy | ||||||
TheJinshin War (壬申の乱,jinshin no ran) was awar of succession that took place in theYamato state near the end ofAsuka period. It broke out in 672 following the death ofEmperor Tenji. The name refers to thejinshin (Ch.renshen 壬申) or ninth year of thesexagenary cycle, corresponding to theGregorian year 672.[1] It was one of the largest conflicts in classical Japanese history.
Tenji had originally designated his brother,Prince Ōama, as his successor, but later changed his mind in favor of his son,Prince Ōtomo. In the course of the violence that erupted as a result of factional rivalries, Ōtomo, having taken the throne as emperor, killed himself after reigning for less than a year. His uncle Ōama then succeeded to the throne asEmperor Tenmu. Tenmu was the first monarch of Japan contemporaneously documented as using the titleTennō (emperor).
After the defeat ofBaekje and their Yamato allies bySilla andTang China in theBattle of Baekgang, Emperor Tenji, in defiance of opposition from his retainers, moved his capital to Ōmi-Ōtsu (present dayŌtsu,Shiga Prefecture), and prepared to respond to the growing threat from East Asia.[2] He attempted to build a stronger centralized state, mimicking the Tang Dynasty's bureaucracy, importing the Tangs' political systems and legal codes, consequently affecting Japanese culture as a whole. Emperor Tenji is credited with compiling theŌmi Code, the first collection ofRitsuryō laws, considered as the first legal codes inclassical Japan. Japan was under a process of political unification by theYamato clan, seeking to dissolve the powerful hegemony of local prestigious clans in theUji clan system.[3][4]
The next task Tenji needed to address was that of securing his successor. His empress consort was Yamato-hime, but there were no children from this union. He had to find the right man from the sons of non-imperial wives. Prince Takeru was the first son, but he was born mute, and had died when he was seven years old. Prince Ōtomo was the next prince; he was a hard worker, and was very clever and intellectual. He had enough ability to be the next emperor.
Although Ōtomo was almost perfect he was not born from the Imperial Household. His mother was of low birth from a rural landlord's family. This was a great disadvantage in considering Ōtomo to ascend to the throne.
However, there was another candidate who was as excellent as Ōtomo: the emperor's younger brother, Prince Ōama, who was as equally capable. His reputation was much greater than Ōtomo's because he was of higher birth and was more suitable to be the next emperor. This was a major cause of the trouble that was to come. Ōtomo was also known for his martial prowess.[2]
In 670, Emperor Tenji grew ill. Realizing he would not live much longer, he wished that, after his death, the Imperial Dynasty would pass to his favorite son, Prince Ōtomo, who was appointed as the firstDaijō-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm) in 671.[2] Because Ōtomo's greatest rival was Ōama, the emperor attempted to drive his brother away; he invited the prince to his bedroom and asked if Ōama had an intention to take the throne. If Ōama answered yes, the emperor would have arrested and punished him as a traitor. However, the prince was clever enough to know his trick, and answered that he had no will to succeed the throne, wanting rather that Ōtomo be the next emperor.[5] He added that he wanted to become a monk instead of inheriting the throne and would retire to a temple inYoshino. Because there were no reasons to punish Ōama, the emperor accepted the prince's proposal: The next day, Ōama departed to Yoshino along with Tenji's daughter, PrincessUno-no-Sarara (the future Empress Jitō), to became a monk.[2]
The emperor declared Ōtomo his successor. Ōtomo summoned six subjects to the emperor's bedroom and made them swear to help him in front of his father. Tenji nodded his assent, and several days later, he died.
After the emperor's death, Prince Ōtomo began his administrative activities as the new emperor. Soga no Akae (蘇我赤兄), Soga no Hatayasu (蘇我果安), Kose no Omi Hito (巨勢臣比等), Ki no Ushi (紀大人) and other subjects followed him.
Meanwhile, Prince Ōama pretended to be a monk at a temple in Yoshino, all the while looking for the opportunity to instigate a rebellion against his nephew and drive him away. He secretly began collecting weapons and soldiers. In June 672, after learning that the Ōmi court plotted to kill him, he raised an army and departed Yoshino, marching for the palace in Ōtsu, where the new emperor resided. He strengthened his army by rallying local clans as he advanced throughUda,Iga andSuzuka,[2] many of whom were dissatisfied by reforms put into place by Ōtomo's father. On his way, he was reunited with his sons who had fled from Ōmi. His eldest sonPrince Takechi notably distinguished himself during this conflict.[2] To cut off reinforcements from the eastern provinces, Prince Ōama seized strategic checkpoints such as theFuwa Barrier, controlling ingress to theKinai region.[2]
Many challenges stood in the way of Ōama's forces: in some counties, guerrilla attacks prevented their march forward for many days. Every time they faced such difficulties, however, they fought bravely and patiently, gaining supporters to their cause along the way.
Ultimately, the war lasted for about a month. The important old capital ofAsuka, was seized by general Ōtomo no Fukei on behalf of Ōama.[6] Then on August 22, the outnumbered Ōmi court forces made their final stand west of the Seta Bridge in Ōmi, but were defeated.[2] After a desperate struggle, Ōama captured the capital. Prince Ōtomo escaped to Mount Nagara near the palace, where he strangled himself to death. The subjects who supported him were arrested by Ōama's troops, and were punished as war criminals. Many ancient clans were destroyed or fell into obscurity as a result of the war.
The victor eventually burnt the capital down and returned to Asuka, where he built the Asuka-Kiyomihara Palace and married Empress Uno no Sarara. Ōama (Emperor Tenmu), then instituted political and military reforms that consolidated imperial power and centralized governance with the emperor at its core. He was notably the first monarch of Japan contemporaneously documented as using the titleTennō (emperor), Tenmu's predecessors were retroactively given the title by later generations.
The following dates are given in accordance with the Julian Calendar.
