Emperor Sujin
Encyclopedia
; also known as Mimakiiribikoinie no Sumeramikoto or Hatsukunishirasu Sumeramikoto; was the tenth 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 97 BC–30 BC, but he may have lived in the early 1st century, or the third or fourth century.
by later generations.
Sujin is regarded by historians as a "legendary emperor" and there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study. The reign of Emperor Kimmei
(509-571), the 29th emperor of Japan
according to the traditional order of succession, is the first for which contemporary historiography are able to assign verifiable dates; however, the conventionally accepted names and dates of the early emperors were not to be confirmed as "traditional" until the reign of Emperor Kammu
(737–806), the 50th sovereign of the Yamato dynasty.
According to Kojiki
and Nihonshoki, Sujin was the second son of Emperor Kaika
. Sujin's mother was Ikagashikome no Mikoto, a stepmother of his father. He founded some important shrines in Yamato province
, sent generals to subdue local provinces and defeated a prince who rebelled against him. He was credited with having subdued Queen Himiko
or her successor; and another theory suggests that Himiko was a paternal great-aunt of the Emperor Sujin.
Jien
records that Kōan ruled from the palace of Mizogaki-no-miya at Shiki in what will come to be known as Yamato province
. He is said to have been interested in agriculture and irrigation. His reign encompassed a period of relative prosperity; and he may have been the first to establish and regularize a system of taxation.
Sujin is a posthumous name
. It is undisputed that this identification is Chinese in form and Buddhist in implication, which suggests that the name must have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Sujin, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the Yamato dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki
.
The actual site of Sujin's grave
is not known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial
Shinto
shrine
(misasagi) at Nara
.
The Imperial Household Agency
designates this location as Sujin's mausoleum
. It is formally named Yamanobe no michi no Magari no oka no e no misasagi. This site can be visited today in Yanagimoto-cho, Tenri City.
Tootsuayumemaguwashihime (遠津年魚眼眼妙媛), daughter of Kii
no Arakahatobe (荒河戸畔)
Owari no Ooamahime (尾張大海媛)
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 97 BC–30 BC, but he may have lived in the early 1st century, or the third or fourth century.
Legendary narrative
Modern scholars have come to question the existence of at least the first nine emperors; and Sujin is the first many agree might have actually existed, in third or fourth century. The name Sujin-tennō was assigned to him posthumouslyPosthumous 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...
by later generations.
Sujin is regarded by historians as a "legendary emperor" and there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study. The reign of Emperor Kimmei
Emperor Kimmei
was 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:...
(509-571), the 29th emperor 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, is the first for which contemporary historiography are able to assign verifiable dates; however, the conventionally accepted names and dates of the early emperors were not to be confirmed as "traditional" until the reign of Emperor Kammu
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
(737–806), the 50th sovereign of the Yamato dynasty.
According to 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...
and Nihonshoki, Sujin was the second son of Emperor Kaika
Emperor Kaika
; also known as Wakayamatonekohikooobi no Mikoto; is the ninth 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 157 BC–98 BC, but he may have lived in the...
. Sujin's mother was Ikagashikome no Mikoto, a stepmother of his father. He founded some important shrines in Yamato province
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
, sent generals to subdue local provinces and defeated a prince who rebelled against him. He was credited with having subdued Queen Himiko
Himiko
Himiko or Pimiko was an obscure shaman queen of Yamataikoku in ancient Wa . Early Chinese dynastic histories chronicle tributary relations between Queen Himiko and the Cao Wei Kingdom , and record that the Yayoi period people chose her as ruler following decades of warfare among the kings of Wa...
or her successor; and another theory suggests that Himiko was a paternal great-aunt of the Emperor Sujin.
Jien
Jien
Jien was a Japanese poet, historian, and Buddhist monk.-Biography:Jien was the son Fujiwara no Tadamichi, a member of the Fujiwara family of powerful aristocrats. He joined a Buddhist monastery of the Tendai sect early in his life, first taking the Buddhist name Dokaie, and later changing it to...
records that Kōan ruled from the palace of Mizogaki-no-miya at Shiki in what will come to be known as Yamato province
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
. He is said to have been interested in agriculture and irrigation. His reign encompassed a period of relative prosperity; and he may have been the first to establish and regularize a system of taxation.
Sujin is a 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...
. It is undisputed that this identification is Chinese in form and Buddhist in implication, which suggests that the name must have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Sujin, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the Yamato dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the 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...
.
The actual site of Sujin'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
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 Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
.
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 Sujin'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 Yamanobe no michi no Magari no oka no e no misasagi. This site can be visited today in Yanagimoto-cho, Tenri City.
Consorts and Children
Empress: Mimakihime (御間城姫), daughter of Oohiko (大彦命)- Prince Ikumeirihikoisachi (活目入彦五十狭茅尊) (Emperor SuininEmperor Suinin; also known as Ikumeiribikoisachi no Mikoto; was the 11th 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 29 BC–AD 70....
) - Prince Hikoisachi (彦五十狭茅命)
- Princess Kunikatahime (国方姫命)
- Princess Chichitsukuyamatohime (千千衝倭姫命)
- Prince Yamatohiko (倭彦命)
- Princess Ikahime (伊賀比売命)
Tootsuayumemaguwashihime (遠津年魚眼眼妙媛), daughter of Kii
Kii Province
, or , was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today Wakayama Prefecture, as well as the southern part of Mie Prefecture. Kii bordered Ise, Izumi, Kawachi, Shima, and Yamato Provinces. The Kii Peninsula takes its name from this province....
no Arakahatobe (荒河戸畔)
- Prince Toyokiirihiko (豊城入彦命), ancestor of Keno Clan (毛野君)
- Princess Toyosukiirihime (豊鍬入姫命), First 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...
Owari no Ooamahime (尾張大海媛)
- Prince Ooiriki (大入杵命), ancestor of NotoNoto Provincewas an old province in the area that is today the northern part of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, including the Noto Peninsula which is surrounded by the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called . Noto bordered on Etchū and Kaga provinces....
no kuni no MiyatsukoKuni no miyatsukoKuni no miyatsuko were officials in ancient Japan at the time of the Yamato court.They were in charge of provinces , although it is not always very clear what those provinces were...
(能登国造) - Prince Yasakairihiko (八坂入彦命)
- Princess Nunakiirihime (渟名城入媛命)
- Princess Toochiniirihime (十市瓊入媛命)