Emperor Richu
Encyclopedia
was the 17th emperor
of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession.
No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 400–405.
According to Nihonshoki and Kojiki
, Richū was the eldest son of Emperor Nintoku
and Iwanohime
.
Richū's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō
. Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven." Alternatively, Richū might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great King of Yamato."
Some scholars identify him with King San
in the Book of Song
. King San sent messengers to the Song Dynasty at least twice in 421 and 425.
Richū succumbed to disease in his sixth year of reign. His tomb is in Kawachi province, in the middle of present-day Osaka prefecture
. He was succeeded by his younger brother Emperor Hanzei
. None of his sons succeeded to the throne, although two grandsons would eventually ascend as Emperor Kenzō
and as Emperor Ninken
.
The actual site of Richū's grave
is not known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial
Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Sakai, Osaka
.
The Imperial Household Agency
designates this location as Richū's mausoleum
. It is formally named Mozu no mimihara no minami no misasagi. It is also identified as the Kami Ishizu Misanzai kofun
(上石津ミサンザイ古墳).
Empress(second): Kusaka no Hatabi no Himemiko (草香幡梭皇女), daughter of Emperor Ōjin
Futohime no Iratsume (太姫郎姫), daughter of Funashiwake (鯽魚磯別王)
Takatsuru no Iratsume (高鶴郎姫), sisters of Futohime
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.
No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 400–405.
Legendary narrative
Richū is considered to have ruled the country during the early-5th century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study.According to Nihonshoki and Kojiki
Kojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
, Richū was the eldest son of Emperor Nintoku
Emperor Nintoku
was the 16th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 313–399.-Legendary narrative:...
and Iwanohime
Princess Iwa
, sometimes known as , was a poet and the Empress consort of Emperor Nintoku, who was the 16th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. She was a descendant of Emperor Kōgen....
.
Richū's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō
Empress Jito
was 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, Richū might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great King of Yamato."
Some scholars identify him with King San
Five kings of Wa
The five kings of Wa are kings of ancient Japan who sent envoys to China during the 5th century to strengthen the legitimacy of their claims to power by gaining the recognition of the Chinese emperor. Details about them are unknown...
in the Book of Song
Book of Song
The Book of Song , also called "The History of the Song," is a historical text of the Liu Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties of China. It covers history from 420 to 479, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories, a traditional collection of historical records. It was authored by Shen Yue from...
. King San sent messengers to the Song Dynasty at least twice in 421 and 425.
Richū succumbed to disease in his sixth year of reign. His tomb is in Kawachi province, in the middle of present-day Osaka prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
. He was succeeded by his younger brother Emperor Hanzei
Emperor Hanzei
, also known as Emperor Hanshō, was the 18th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 406 to 410....
. None of his sons succeeded to the throne, although two grandsons would eventually ascend as Emperor Kenzō
Emperor Kenzo
, also spelled Ghen-so-tennō, was the 23rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 485–487....
and as Emperor Ninken
Emperor Ninken
, also known as Ninken-okimi, was the 24th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 488–498....
.
The actual site of Richū'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 not 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 shrine (misasagi) in Sakai, Osaka
Sakai, Osaka
is a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the Medieval era.Following the February 2005 annexation of the town of Mihara, from Minamikawachi District, the city has grown further and is now the fourteenth most populous city in...
.
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 Richū'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 Mozu no mimihara no minami no misasagi. It is also identified as the Kami Ishizu Misanzai kofun
Kofun
Kofun are megalithic tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century. They gave their name to the Kofun period . Many of the Kofun have a distinctive keyhole-shaped mound , unique to ancient Japan...
(上石津ミサンザイ古墳).
Consorts and Children
Empress(first): Kurohime (黒媛), daughter of Katsuragi no Ashita no Sukune (葛城葦田宿禰)- Prince Iwasaka no itinohe no Oshiha (磐坂市辺押磐皇子), father of Emperor KenzōEmperor Kenzo, also spelled Ghen-so-tennō, was the 23rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 485–487....
and Emperor NinkenEmperor Ninken, also known as Ninken-okimi, was the 24th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 488–498....
- Prince Mima (御馬皇子)
- Princess Aomi no Himemiko (青海皇女)
Empress(second): Kusaka no Hatabi no Himemiko (草香幡梭皇女), daughter of Emperor Ōjin
Emperor Ojin
, also known as Homutawake or , was the 15th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 270 to 310....
- Princess Nakashi no Himemiko (中磯皇女), wife of Ookusaka
Futohime no Iratsume (太姫郎姫), daughter of Funashiwake (鯽魚磯別王)
Takatsuru no Iratsume (高鶴郎姫), sisters of Futohime
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...
- Five kings of WaFive kings of WaThe five kings of Wa are kings of ancient Japan who sent envoys to China during the 5th century to strengthen the legitimacy of their claims to power by gaining the recognition of the Chinese emperor. Details about them are unknown...