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Emperor Kammu
 
 
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(737–806) was the 50th imperial ruler
Emperor of Japan

The of Japan is the symbol of the state and of the unity of the Japanese people. He is the head of the Imperial House of Japan. Under Japan's present constitution, the Emperor is the "symbol of the state and the unity of the people," and is a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy ....
 of Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of 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. His reign spanned the years from 781 through 806.

re his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne
Chrysanthemum Throne

File:Emperor Tenji.jpgThe Chrysanthemum Throne is the English language term used to identify the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term can refer to very specific seating, as in the raised thrones constructed in the Shishin-den for Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun on November 10, 1928 ....
, his personal name (his imina) was Yamabe-shinno (Yama-no Bu-no shinno).

Yamabe was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe, later Emperor Konin
Emperor Konin

was the 49th Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 770 through 781....
. According to the , Yamabe's mother Yamato no Niigasa, later Takano no Niigasa
Takano no Niigasa

Takano no Niigasa was a concubine of Emperor Konin and the mother of Emperor Kammu. Her full name was Takano no Asomi Niigasa.Life...
, was a descendant of King Muryeong of Baekje.






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(737–806) was the 50th imperial ruler
Emperor of Japan

The of Japan is the symbol of the state and of the unity of the Japanese people. He is the head of the Imperial House of Japan. Under Japan's present constitution, the Emperor is the "symbol of the state and the unity of the people," and is a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy ....
 of Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of 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. His reign spanned the years from 781 through 806.

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne
Chrysanthemum Throne

File:Emperor Tenji.jpgThe Chrysanthemum Throne is the English language term used to identify the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term can refer to very specific seating, as in the raised thrones constructed in the Shishin-den for Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun on November 10, 1928 ....
, his personal name (his imina) was Yamabe-shinno (Yama-no Bu-no shinno).

Yamabe was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe, later Emperor Konin
Emperor Konin

was the 49th Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 770 through 781....
. According to the , Yamabe's mother Yamato no Niigasa, later Takano no Niigasa
Takano no Niigasa

Takano no Niigasa was a concubine of Emperor Konin and the mother of Emperor Kammu. Her full name was Takano no Asomi Niigasa.Life...
, was a descendant of King Muryeong of Baekje. Yamabe was born before his father ascended to the throne.

After his father, Konin, became emperor, Kammu's half-brother was appointed to the rank of crown prince; but instead of his half-brother, it was Kammu who was later named to succeed their father.

Later, when he ascended to the throne, Kammu appointed his young brother, Prince Sawara, whose mother was Takano no Niigasa
Takano no Niigasa

Takano no Niigasa was a concubine of Emperor Konin and the mother of Emperor Kammu. Her full name was Takano no Asomi Niigasa.Life...
, as crown prince. Prince Sawara was later expelled and died in exile.

Kammu had 16 empresses and consorts, and 32 imperial sons and daughters. Among them, three sons would eventually ascend to the imperial throne: Emperor Heizei
Emperor Heizei

Not to be confused with Emperor Heisei, the future posthumous name of the current reigning Emperor Akihito.Emperor Heizei was the 51st Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
, Emperor Saga
Emperor Saga

Emperor Saga was the 52nd Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 809 through 823....
 and Emperor Junna
Emperor Junna

Emperor Junna was the 53rd Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He was a son of Emperor Kammu. He reigned from 823 to 833....
.

Some of his descendants (known as the Kammu Taira or Kammu Heishi) took the Taira hereditary clan title, and in later generations became prominent warriors. Examples include Taira no Masakado
Taira no Masakado

Taira no Masakado was a member of the Kammu Taira clan of Japan. He was the son of Taira no Yoshimochi, Chinjufu Shogun. His childhood name was Soma Kojiro....
, Taira no Kiyomori
Taira no Kiyomori

was a general of the late Heian Period of Japan. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the History of Japan.After the death of his father Taira no Tadamori in 1153, Kiyomori assumed control of the Taira clan and ambitiously entered the political realm in which he had previously only held a minor post....
, and (with a further surname expansion) the Hojo clan
Hojo clan

See the late Hojo clan for the Hojo clan of the Sengoku Period.The in the history of Japan was a family who controlled the hereditary title of shikken, officially just a regent) of the Kamakura Shogunate....
. The waka
Waka (poetry)

Waka or Yamato uta is a classical Japanese poetry form and one of the major genres of Japanese literature. The term was coined during the Heian period, and was used to distinguish Japanese-language poetry from Kanshi , Chinese-language poetry written by Japanese poets, and later from renga....
 poet Ariwara no Narihira
Ariwara no Narihira

Ariwara no Narihira was a Japanese Waka poet and aristocrat. He was one of six waka poets referred in the preface in kana to Kokin Wakashu by Ki no Tsurayuki, and has been named as the hero of The Tales of Ise, whose hero was an anonym in itself but most of whose love affairs could be attributed to Narihira....
 was one of his grandsons.

Events of Kammu's life

During his reign, from 781 to 806, the Capital of Japan
Capital of Japan

Tokyo, the seat of the Government of Japan and home of the Emperor of Japan, is de-facto Capital of Japan. This is generally not in dispute, but it is not legally defined....
 was moved from Nara
Nara, Nara

is the capital cities of Japan of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture....
 (Heijo-kyo) -- first to Nagaoka
Nagaoka

* Nagaoka, Niigata is the name of a city in modern Niigata Prefecture, Japan.* Nagaoka-kyo was also the name of a city in the Kansai area of Japan....
 (Nagaoka-kyo
Nagaoka-kyo

was the capital of Japan from 784 to 794. Its location was reported as Otokuni District, Kyoto, Yamashiro Province, and Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, which prior to becoming a city was in that district, took its name from the capital....
 in 784, where the palace was named Nagaoka no Miya), and then to Heian-kyo
Heian-kyo

Heian-kyo , was one of several former names for the city now known as Kyoto. It was the capital of Japan for over one thousand years, from 794 to 1868....
 in 794, where the palace was named Heian no Miya. This marks the beginning of the Heian era in Japanese history.

Kammu was an active emperor who attempted to consolidate government hierarchies and functioning.

Kammu appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro

Sakanoue no Tamuramaro was a general and shogun of the early Heian Period of Japan. He was the son of Sakanoue no Karitamaro.Serving Emperor Kammu, he was appointed shogun and given the task of conquering the Emishi , a people native to the north of Honshu, which he subjugated....
 (758-811) to lead a military expedition against the Emishi
Emishi

The name Emishi was used by the Japanese to designate people who lived in northeastern Honshu in what is today known as the Tohoku region but appears in contemporary sources as michi no oku ....
.

  • Ten'o
    Ten'o

    was a after Hoki and before Enryaku. This period spanned the years from 781 through 782. The reigning emperor was ....
     1    , on the 3rd day of the 12th month (????, 781): In 11th year of Emperor Konin's reign (????11?), he abdicated; and the succession (the senso) was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Kammu is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).


  • Enryaku
    Enryaku

    was a after Ten'o and before Daido. This period spanned the years from 782 through 806. The reigning emperor was ....
     1    , in the 6th month (782): The sadaijin Fujiwara no Uona
    Fujiwara no Uona

    Fujiwara no Uona was a member of the Fujiwara clan in Japan and the foundingancestor of the northern branch of the Fujiwara. He was son of Fujiwara no Fusasaki ....
     was removed from his office and exiled to Kyushi. Some time later, the emperor did permit him to return to the capital where he died. In the same general time frame, Fujiwara no Tamaro was named Udaijin. During these days in which the offices of sadaijin and udaijin were vacant, the major counselors (the dainagon) and the emperor assumed responsibilities and powers which would have been otherwise delegated.


  • Enryaku 3, in the 3rd month (783): The udaijin Tamaro died at the age of 62 years.
  • Enryaku 3, in the 7th month (783): Fujiwara no Korekimi became the new udaijin to replace the late Fujiwara no Tamaro.
  • Enryaku 12 (793): Under the leadership of Dengyo, construction began on the Enryaku Temple.Brown, p. 279.
  • Enryaku 13, on the 21st day of the 10th month (794): The Emperor traveled by carriage from Nara to Heian-kyo in a grand procession.[see above]
Emperor Kammu's reign lasted for 25 years. He died at the age of 70.

Politics
Earlier Imperial sponsorship of Buddhism, beginning with Prince Shotoku
Prince Shotoku

, also known as , was a regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan. His existence, however, is disputed....
 (574–622), had led to a general politicization of the clergy, along with an increase in intrigue and corruption. In 784 Kammu shifted his capital from Nara
Nara, Nara

is the capital cities of Japan of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture....
 to Nagaoka in a move that was said to be designed to edge the powerful Nara Buddhist establishments out of state politics—while the capital moved, the major Buddhist temples, and their officials, stayed put. Indeed there was a steady stream of edicts issued from 771 right through the period of Kukai's studies which, for instance, sought to limit the number of Buddhist priests, and the building of clan temples. However the move was to prove disastrous and was followed by a series of natural disasters including the flooding of half the city. In 785 the principal architect of the new capital, and royal favourite, Fujiwara no Tanetsugu, was assassinated.

Meanwhile, Kammu's armies were pushing back the boundaries of his empire. This led to an uprising, and in 789 a substantial defeat for Kammu's troops. Also in 789 there was a severe drought and famine—the streets of the capital were clogged with the sick, and people avoiding being draft
Conscription

Conscription is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by an established authority. It is most often used in the specific sense of government policies that require citizens to serve in the military....
ed into the military, or into forced labour. Many disguised themselves as Buddhist priests for the same reason. Then in 794 Kammu suddenly shifted the capital again, this time to Heian-kyo, which is modern day Kyoto
Kyoto

Sorry, no overview for this topic
. The new capital was started early the previous year, but the change was abrupt and led to even more confusion amongst the populace.

Politically Kammu shored up his rule by changing the syllabus of the university. Confucian
Confucius

This articles talks about a Chinese thinker and social philosopher. For a food company in China with its brand name "Master Kong", please refer to Tingyi Holding Corporation....
 ideology still provided the raison d'ętre for the Imperial government. In 784 Kammu authorised the teaching of a new course based on the Annals of Spring and Autumn based on two newly imported commentaries: Kung-yang, and Ku-liang. These commentaries used political rhetoric to promote a state in which the Emperor, as "Son of Heaven," should extend his sphere of influence to barbarous lands, thereby gladdening the people. In 798 the two commentaries became required reading at the government university.

Kammu also sponsored the travels of the monks Saicho
Saicho

was a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Tendai school in Japan, based around the Chinese T'ien t'ai tradition he was exposed to during his trip to China beginning in 804....
 and Kukai
Kukai

Kukai , also known posthumously as , 774–835, was a Japanese people bhikshu, scholar, poet, and artist, founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism....
 to China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
, from where they returned to found the Japanese branches of, respectively, Tendai
Tendai

is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the China Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.David W. Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:...
 and Shingon
Shingon Buddhism

Shingon Buddhism is a major school of Japanese Buddhism, and is the other branch of Vajrayana Buddhism besides Tibetan Buddhism. It is often called "Japanese Esoteric Buddhism"....
 Buddhism
Buddhism

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal....
.

Kugyo
Kugyo is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan

The of Japan is the symbol of the state and of the unity of the Japanese people. He is the head of the Imperial House of Japan. Under Japan's present constitution, the Emperor is the "symbol of the state and the unity of the people," and is a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy ....
 in pre-Meiji
Meiji period

The , or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor, running, in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912. During this time, Japan started its modernization and rose to world power status....
 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 Kammu's reign, this apex of the Daijo-kan included:
  • Sadaijin
    Sadaijin

    Sadaijin , most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara period and Heian periods....
    , Fujiwara no Uona
    Fujiwara no Uona

    Fujiwara no Uona was a member of the Fujiwara clan in Japan and the foundingancestor of the northern branch of the Fujiwara. He was son of Fujiwara no Fusasaki ....
    , 781-782.
  • Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Tamaro, 783.
  • Udaijin
    Udaijin

    Udaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara period and Heian periods....
    , Onakatomi no Kiyomaro, 771-781
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Tamaro, 782-783.
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Korekimi, 783-789.
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Tsugutada
    Fujiwara no Tsugutada

    , the second son of Fujiwara no Toyonari, was a Kugyo of the end of Nara period and the beginning of Heian period who served as the Udaijin for Emperor Kammu....
    , 790-796.
  • Udaijin, Miwa okimi or Miwa oh, 798-806
  • Udaijin, Fujiwara no Uchimaro (756-812), 806-812.
  • Dainagon
    Dainagon

    , often translated as "Great Councillor," was a government post of the Japanese ritsuryo governmental system, which was in place for much of the classical and feudal periods....


Eras of Kammu's reign

The years of Kammu's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengo.
  • Ten'o
    Ten'o

    was a after Hoki and before Enryaku. This period spanned the years from 781 through 782. The reigning emperor was ....
     (781-782)
  • Enryaku
    Enryaku

    was a after Ten'o and before Daido. This period spanned the years from 782 through 806. The reigning emperor was ....
     (782-806)


Consorts and Children

Empress: Fujiwara no Otomuro (760-790), daughter of Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu
  • Imperial Prince Ate (Emperor Heizei
    Emperor Heizei

    Not to be confused with Emperor Heisei, the future posthumous name of the current reigning Emperor Akihito.Emperor Heizei was the 51st Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
    ) (774-824)
  • Imperial Prince Kamino (?????/????) (Emperor Saga
    Emperor Saga

    Emperor Saga was the 52nd Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 809 through 823....
    ) (786-842)
  • Imperial Princess Koshi (789-809), married to Prince Otomo(Emperor Junna
    Emperor Junna

    Emperor Junna was the 53rd Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He was a son of Emperor Kammu. He reigned from 823 to 833....
     later)


Hi: Princess Sakahito (754-829), daughter of Emperor Konin
Emperor Konin

was the 49th Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 770 through 781....
  • Imperial Princess Asahara (779-817), 12th Saio
    Saio

    A , also known as "Itsuki no Miko", was an unmarried female relative of the Emperor of Japan, sent to Ise, Mie to serve at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century....
     in Ise Shrine
    Ise Shrine

    Ise Shrine is a Jinja dedicated to goddess Amaterasu, located in the city of Ise, Mie in Mie prefecture, Japan....
    782-before 796, and married to Emperor Heizei
    Emperor Heizei

    Not to be confused with Emperor Heisei, the future posthumous name of the current reigning Emperor Akihito.Emperor Heizei was the 51st Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
     later


Bunin: Fujiwara no Tabiko (759-788), daughter of Fujiwara no Momokawa
  • Imperial Prince Otomo (Emperor Junna
    Emperor Junna

    Emperor Junna was the 53rd Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He was a son of Emperor Kammu. He reigned from 823 to 833....
    ) (786-840)


Bunin: Fujiwara no Yoshiko (?-807), daughter of Fujiwara no Korekimi
  • Imperial Prince Iyo (?-807)


Bunin: Tajihi no Mamune (769-823), daughter of Tajihi no Nagano
  • Imperial Prince Kazurahara (786-853)
  • Imperial Princess Inaba (?-824)
  • Imperial Princess Anou (?-841)
  • Imperial Prince Sami (793-825)
  • Imperial Prince Kaya (794-871)
  • Imperial Prince Ono(Daitoko) (????/????) (798-803)


Bunin: Fujiwara no Oguso, daughter of Fujiwara no Washitori
  • Imperial Prince Manta (788-830)


Nyogo: Tachibana no Miiko, daughter of Tachibana no Irii
  • Imperial Princess Sugawara (?-825)
  • Imperial Princess Kara (?-874)


Nyogo: Fujiwara no Nakako, daughter of Fujiwara no Ieyori

Nyogo: Fujiwara no Shoshi, daughter of Fujiwara no Kiyonari

Nyogo: Ki no Otoio(?-840)

Nyogo: Kudara no Kyoho (?-840), daughter of Kudara no Shuntetsu

Court lady: Fujiwara no Kamiko, daughter of Fujiwara no Oguromaro
  • Imperial Princess Shigeno (?-857)


Court lady: Tachibana no Tsuneko (788-817), daughter of Tachibana no Shimadamaro
  • Imperial Princess Oyake (?-849), married to Emperor Heizei
    Emperor Heizei

    Not to be confused with Emperor Heisei, the future posthumous name of the current reigning Emperor Akihito.Emperor Heizei was the 51st Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....


Court lady: Sakanoue no Matako (?-790), daughter of Sakanoue no Karitamaro
  • Imperial Princess Takatsu (?-841), married to Emperor Saga
    Emperor Saga

    Emperor Saga was the 52nd Emperor of Japan of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 809 through 823....


Court lady: Ki no Wakako, daughter of Ki no Funamori
  • Imperial Prince Asuka (?-834)


Court lady: Fujiwara no Kawako (?-838), daughter of Fujiwara no Otsugu
  • Imperial Prince Nakano (792-867)
  • Imperial Princess Ate (?-855)
  • Imperial Princess Oi (?-865)
  • Imperial Princess Ki (799-886)
  • Imperial Princess Yoshihara (?-863)


Court lady: Kudara no Kyonin, daughter of Kudara no Bukyo
  • Imperial Prince Ota (793-808)


Court lady: Fujiwara no Azumako (?-816), daughter of Fujiwara no Tanetsugu
  • Imperial Princess Kannabi (800-817)


Court lady: Sakanoue no Haruko (?-834), daughter of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
  • Imperial Prince Fujii (800-850)
  • vPrincess Kasuga (?-833)


Court lady: Fujiwara no Heishi/Nanshi (????/??) (?-833), daughter of Fujiwara no Takatoshi
  • Imperial Princess Ito (ca.801-861), married to Prince Abo(son of Emperor Heizei)


Court lady: Tachubana no Tamurako, daughter of Tachibana no Irii
  • Imperial Princess Ikenoe (?-868)


Court lady: Kudara no Jokyo, daughter of Kudara no Kyotoku
  • Imperial Princess Suruga (801-820)


Court lady: Nakatomi no Toyoko, daughter of Nakatomi no Oio
  • Imperial Princess Fuse (?-812), 13th Saio
    Saio

    A , also known as "Itsuki no Miko", was an unmarried female relative of the Emperor of Japan, sent to Ise, Mie to serve at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century....
     in Ise Shrine
    Ise Shrine

    Ise Shrine is a Jinja dedicated to goddess Amaterasu, located in the city of Ise, Mie in Mie prefecture, Japan....
     797-806


Court lady: Kawakami no Manu, daughter of Nishikibe no Haruhito
  • Imperial Prince Sakamoto (793-818)


Court lady(Nyoju): Tajihi no Toyotsugu, daughter of Tajihi no Hironari
  • Nagaoka no Okanari (?-848), removed from the Imperial Family by receiving the family name from Emperor (Shisei Koka, ????) in 787


Court lady: Kudara no Yokei, daughter of Asukabe no Natomaro (???????)
  • Yoshimine no Yasuyo (785-830), removed from the Imperial Family by receiving the family name from Emperor (Shisei Koka, ????) in 802


See also

  • Emperor of Japan
    Emperor of Japan

    The of Japan is the symbol of the state and of the unity of the Japanese people. He is the head of the Imperial House of Japan. Under Japan's present constitution, the Emperor is the "symbol of the state and the unity of the people," and is a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy ....
  • List of Emperors of Japan
    List of Emperors of Japan

    The following is a traditional list of Emperor of Japan. Dates for the first 28 emperors, and especially the first 16, are based on the Japanese era name system....
  • Imperial cult
    Imperial cult

    An Imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors , are worshiped as messiahs, demigods or deity. "Cult " here is used to mean "worship," not in the modern pejorative sense....
  • Heian kyo
  • Nagaoka-kyo
    Nagaoka-kyo

    was the capital of Japan from 784 to 794. Its location was reported as Otokuni District, Kyoto, Yamashiro Province, and Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, which prior to becoming a city was in that district, took its name from the capital....
    ,