was the 34th
emperorAn emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, according to the traditional
order of succession.
Jomei's reign spanned the years from 629 through 641.
Traditional narrative
Before Jomei's ascension to the
Chrysanthemum ThroneThe is the English term used to identify the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term can refer to very specific seating, such as the takamikura throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace....
, his personal name (imina) was or . As emperor, his name would have been Okinagatarashi Hironuka no mikoto.
He was a grandson of
Emperor Bidatsuwas the 30th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Bidastsu's reign spanned the years from 572 through 585.-Traditional narrative:Bidatsu was called in the Nihonshoki....
both paternally and maternally. His father was Prince Oshisakanohikohito-no-Ōe, his mother was Princess Nukate-hime, who was a younger sister of his father.
Events in Jomei's reign
He succeeded his great aunt,
Empress Suikowas the 33rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Suiko's reign spanned the years from 593 until her death in 628....
. Suiko did not make it clear who was to succeed her after her death. Before her death, she called Tamura and
Prince Shōtoku, also known as or , was a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko. He was a son of Emperor Yōmei and his younger half-sister Princess Anahobe no Hashihito. His parents were relatives of the ruling Soga clan, and was involved in the defeat...
's son,
Prince Yamashiro-no-Ōewas the eldest son of one of the most famous figures in Japanese history, Prince Shōtoku. Yamashiro claimed the right to Imperial succession in 628, following the death of Empress Suiko...
, and gave some brief advice to each of them. After her death the court was divided into two factions, each supporting one of the princes for the throne.
Soga no Emishiwas a statesman of the Yamato Imperial Court. His alternative names include Emishi and Toyora no Ooomi . After the death of his father Soga no Umako, Emishi took over Ooomi, the Minister of state, from his father....
, the head of
Soga clanThe was one of the most powerful clans in Yamato Japan and played a major role in the spread of Buddhism. For many generations, in the 5th and 7th centuries, the Soga monopolized the position of Great Royal Chieftain and was the first of many families to dominate the Imperial House of Japan by...
, supported Tamura. He claimed that Empress Suiko's last words suggested her desire that Tamura succeed her to the throne. Prince Yamashiro-no-Ōe was later attacked by the Soga clan and committed suicide along with his entire family.
- 629: In the 36th year of Empress Suiko's reign (推古天皇36年), she died, and despite a dispute over who should follow her as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by a grandson of Emperor Bidatsu
was the 30th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Bidastsu's reign spanned the years from 572 through 585.-Traditional narrative:Bidatsu was called in the Nihonshoki....
and a great-grandson of Emperor Kimmeiwas the 29th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.His reign is said to have spanned the years from 539 through 571.-Traditional narrative:...
. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Jomei is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).
Jomei's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of
Emperor Temmuwas the 40th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Temmu's reign lasted from 672 until his death in 686.-Traditional narrative:...
and
Empress Jitōwas the 41st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697.In the history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The two female monarchs before Jitō were Suiko and Kōgyoku/Saimei...
. Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven." Alternatively, Jomei might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great King of Yamato."
During Emperor Jomei's reign, Soga no Emishi seized several political initiatives. After his death, the throne was passed to his wife and niece,
Princess Takara, also known as , was the 35th and 37th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Kōgyoku's reign spanned the years from 642-645. Her reign as Saimei encompassed 655-661...
and then to her younger brother,
Emperor Kōtokuwas the 36th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.The years of his reign lasted from 645 through 654.-Traditional narrative:Before Kōtoku ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or...
, before eventually being inherited by two of his sons,
Emperor Tenji, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
and Emperor Temmu.
Emperor Jomei's reign lasted 13 years. In the 13th year of Jomei-tennōs reign (舒明天皇13年), he died at the age of 49.
The actual site of Jomei's
graveA grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a
memorialA memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
Shintoor Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrineA shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
(misasagi) at Nara.
The
Imperial Household AgencyThe is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal...
designates this location as Jomei's
mausoleumA mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
. It is formally named Osaka no uchi no misasagi.
Poetry
The Man'yōshū includes poems attributed to emperors and empresses, including "Climbing Kagu-yama and looking upon the land," which is said to have been composed by Emperor Jomei:
-
-
- Countless are the mountains in Yamato,
- But perfect is the heavenly hill of Kagu;
- When I climb it and survey my realm,
- Over the wide plain the smoke-wreaths rise and rise,
- Over the wide lake the gulls are on the wing;
- A beautiful land it is, the land of Yamato!
-
-
- -- Emperor Jomei
Consorts and Children
Empress: Princess Takara (宝皇女) (
Empress Kōgyoku, also known as , was the 35th and 37th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Kōgyoku's reign spanned the years from 642-645. Her reign as Saimei encompassed 655-661...
) (594?–661)
- Prince Kazuraki(Prince Naka-no-Ōe) (葛城皇子, 中大兄皇子) (Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
) (626–672)
- Prince Ōama (大海人皇子) (Emperor Temmu
was the 40th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Temmu's reign lasted from 672 until his death in 686.-Traditional narrative:...
) (ca. 631–686)
- Princess Hashihito (間人皇女) (?–665), Empress Consort of Emperor Kōtoku
was the 36th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.The years of his reign lasted from 645 through 654.-Traditional narrative:Before Kōtoku ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or...
Hi: Princess Tame (田眼皇女), daughter of
Emperor Bidatsuwas the 30th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Bidastsu's reign spanned the years from 572 through 585.-Traditional narrative:Bidatsu was called in the Nihonshoki....
Bunin: Soga no Hote-no-iratsume (蘇我法提郎女), daughter of
Soga no Umakowas the son of Soga no Iname and a member of the powerful Soga clan of Japan.Umako conducted political reforms with Prince Shōtoku during the rules of Emperor Bidatsu and Empress Suiko and established the Soga clan's stronghold in the government by having his daughter married with members of the...
- Prince Furuhito-no-Ōe (古人大兄皇子) (ca. 612–645)
- Princess Nunoshiki (布敷皇女)
Bunin: Awata no Kagushi-hime (粟田香櫛媛)
- Princess Oshisaka-no-watamuki (押坂錦向皇女)
Bunin: Soga no Tetsuki-no-iratsume (蘇我手杯娘), daughter of
Soga no Emishiwas a statesman of the Yamato Imperial Court. His alternative names include Emishi and Toyora no Ooomi . After the death of his father Soga no Umako, Emishi took over Ooomi, the Minister of state, from his father....
Court lady (Uneme): a lower court lady from Kaya (蚊屋采女姉子) (Kaya no Uneme)
See also
- Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
- List of Emperors of Japan
- Imperial cult
An imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors , are worshipped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense...