Emperor Junnin
Encyclopedia
was the 47th emperor
of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession.
Junnin's reign spanned the years 758 to 764.
, his personal name (imina) was Ōi-shinnō (Ōi-no-ō).
He was the seventh son of Prince Toneri
, a son of Emperor Temmu
. His father died when he was at the age of three, and he was given no rank nor office of the court.
In the older Japanese documents, he was usually referred as Haitei (廃帝), the unthroned emperor. The posthumous name
of Emperor Junnin was given by Emperor Meiji
.
, his first cousin twice removed, appointed him to her crown prince instead of Prince Funado who had been appointed to this position by the will of the Emperor Shōmu
.
Six years later she forced him to abdicate and reclaimed the throne. Though he technically reigned, he did not feature on the official List of Japanese Emperors until the late nineteenth century; he had very little power and was a mere figurehead.
The actual site of Junnin's grave
is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial
Shinto
shrine
(misasagi) at Awaji.
The Imperial Household Agency
designates this location as Junnin's mausoleum
. It is formally named Awaji no misasagi.
In some older Japanese documents, he was usually referred as Haitei (廃帝), the unthroned emperor.
In 1870, Emperor Meiji
conferred the posthumous name and title by which he is now known. His place in the traditional order of succession was confirmed at the same time as the announcements about Emperor Kōbun
and Emperor Chukyo
were made public.
in pre-Meiji
eras.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Junnin's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
)
Unknown woman
Emperor
An 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 Japan
Japan
Japan 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.
Junnin's reign spanned the years 758 to 764.
Traditional narrative
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum ThroneChrysanthemum Throne
The 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 Ōi-shinnō (Ōi-no-ō).
He was the seventh son of Prince Toneri
Prince Toneri of Japan
was a Japanese imperial prince in the Nara period. He was a son of Emperor Temmu. He was given the posthumous name, , as the father of Emperor Junnin. In the beginning of the Nara period, he gained political power as a leader of imperial family together with Prince Nagaya...
, a son of Emperor Temmu
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:...
. His father died when he was at the age of three, and he was given no rank nor office of the court.
In the older Japanese documents, he was usually referred as Haitei (廃帝), the unthroned emperor. The posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
of Emperor Junnin was given by Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
.
Events of Junnin's life
His fate was changed in 757 when Empress KōkenEmpress Koken
, also known as , was the 46th and the 48th emperor of Japan respectively, according to the traditional order of succession. Empress Kōken first reigned from 749 to 758, then she reascended the throne as Empress Shōtoku from 765 until her death in 770....
, his first cousin twice removed, appointed him to her crown prince instead of Prince Funado who had been appointed to this position by the will of the Emperor Shōmu
Emperor Shomu
was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...
.
- September 7, 758 (Tenpyō-shōhōTenpyo-shohowas a after Tenpyō-kanpō and before Tenpyō-hōji. This period spanned the years from July 749 through August 757. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
2, 1st day of the 8th month): In the 10th year of Kōken-tennō 's reign (称徳天皇10年), the empress abdicated; and succession (senso) was received by her adopted son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Jimmu is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).
- 760 (Tenpyō-hōjiTenpyo-hojiwas a after Tenpyō-shōhō and before Tenpyō-jingo. This period spanned the years from August 757 through January 765. The reigning empress was .-Change of era:* 757 ): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
4): Additional coins were put into circulation—each copper coin bearing the words Mannen Ten-hō, each silver coin bearing the words Teihei Genhō, and each gold coin bearing the words Kaiki Shōhō.
Six years later she forced him to abdicate and reclaimed the throne. Though he technically reigned, he did not feature on the official List of Japanese Emperors until the late nineteenth century; he had very little power and was a mere figurehead.
- November 10, 765 (Tenpyō-jingoTenpyo-jingowas a after Tenpyō-hōji and before Jingo-keiun. This period spanned the years from January 765 through August 767. The reigning empress was . This was the same woman who had reigned previously as the former .-Change of era:...
1, 23rd Day of the 10th Month): The former emperor died while in exile.
The actual site of Junnin's grave
Grave (burial)
A 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 memorial
Memorial
A 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....
Shinto
Shinto
or 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...
shrine
Shrine
A 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 Awaji.
The Imperial Household Agency
Imperial Household Agency
The 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 Junnin's mausoleum
Mausoleum
A 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 Awaji no misasagi.
In some older Japanese documents, he was usually referred as Haitei (廃帝), the unthroned emperor.
In 1870, Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
conferred the posthumous name and title by which he is now known. His place in the traditional order of succession was confirmed at the same time as the announcements about Emperor Kōbun
Emperor Kobun
was the 39th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Kōbun's reign lasted only a few months in 671–672.-Traditional narrative:...
and Emperor Chukyo
Emperor Chukyo
was the 85th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned only months in 1221, and he was not officially listed amongst the emperors until 1870 because of doubts caused by the length of his reign...
were made public.
Kugyō
is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of JapanEmperor 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...
in pre-Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
eras.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Junnin's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
- TaishiTaishiTaishi may refer to:*Taishi, Guangzhou, village in Guangdong, China*Taishi, Hyōgo, town in Hyōgo, Japan*Taishi, Osaka, town in Osaka, Japan*Taisi, Yunlin, also known as Taishi, township in Yunlin County, Taiwan*Taishi, a rank of Mongolian nobility...
, Fujiwara Oshikatsu, also known as Emi no Oshikatsu (恵美押勝) (formerly Fujiwara no NakamaroFujiwara no Nakamaro, later also given the name of by Emperor Kōnin, was an aristocrat and poet of Nara period in Japan. His father was Fujiwara no Muchimaro, founder of Nanke lineage of Fujiwara clan....
) (藤原仲麻呂). - TaihōTaihoTaihō or Taiho can refer to:* Taihō , a Japanese name for the years 701–704* Taihō Code, a reorganization of the Japanese government at the end of the Asuka period.* Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō...
, Fujiwara Oshikatsu. - Daijō-daijin, Fujiwara Oshikatsu.
- SadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Sadaijin in the context of a central...
, Fujiwara no ToyonariFujiwara no Toyonariwas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period.-Career:Toyonari served as a minister during the reigns of Emperor Shōmu, Empress Kōken, Emperor Junnin and Empress Shōtoku....
(藤原豊成). - UdaijinUdaijinUdaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Udaijin in the context of a central...
, Fujiwara no Toyonari (藤原豊成). - Naidaijin (not appointed)
- DainagonDainagonwas a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
Era of Junnin's reign
The years of Junnin's reign are more specifically encompassed within a single era name or nengō.- Tenpyō-hōjiTenpyo-hojiwas a after Tenpyō-shōhō and before Tenpyō-jingo. This period spanned the years from August 757 through January 765. The reigning empress was .-Change of era:* 757 ): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
(758-765)
Consorts and Children
Awata no Morone (粟田諸姉), widow of Fujiwara no Mayori (the first son of Fujiwara no NakamaroFujiwara no Nakamaro
, later also given the name of by Emperor Kōnin, was an aristocrat and poet of Nara period in Japan. His father was Fujiwara no Muchimaro, founder of Nanke lineage of Fujiwara clan....
)
Unknown woman
- Princess Yamao (山於女王), SaiōSaioA , also known as "Itsuki no Miko", was an unmarried female relative of the Japanese emperor, sent to Ise to serve at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century. The Saiō's residence, Saikū , was approximately 10 km north-west of the shrine...
in Ise ShrineIse Shrineis a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and ....
758-765
See also
- Emperor of JapanEmperor of JapanThe 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 cultImperial cultAn 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...
- Japanese empressesJapanese empressesIn Japan, empress may refer to either or .- Empresses regnant :There were eight female imperial reigns in Japan's early history between 593 and 770, and two more in the early modern period...