Emperor Junnin

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Emperor Junnin
47th Emperor of Japan
Reign 758 - 764
Born Tenpyō 5 (733)
Died the 23th Day of the 10th Month of Tenpyō-jingo 1 (765)
Place of death Awaji Island (Hyōgo)
Buried Awaji no Misasagi (Hyōgo)
Predecessor Empress Kōken
Successor Empress Shōtoku
Consort Awata no Morone
Father Prince Toneri
Mother Tagima no Yamashiro

Emperor Junnin (淳仁天皇 Junnin-tennō) (733-765) was the 47th imperial ruler of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 758 to 764.[1]

Contents

[edit] Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina)[2] was Ōi-shinnō (Ōi-no-ō).[3]

He was the seventh son of Prince Toneri, a son of Emperor Temmu.[4] 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.

[edit] Events of Junnin's life

His fate was changed in 757 when Empress Kōken, 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.

  • Tenpyō-shōhō 2, on the 1st day of the 8th month (758): 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’’).[5]
  • Tenpyō-hōji 4 (760): 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.[6]

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. He died (or was assassinated) in Awaji Province while in exile.

In some older Japanese documents, he was usually referred as Haitei (廃帝), the unthroned emperor.

In 1870, Emperor Meiji gave him 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 for Emperor Kōbun and Emperor Chukyo.

[edit] Kugyō

Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan 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:

[edit] Era of Junnin's reign

The years of Junnin's reign are more specifically encompassed within a single era name or nengō.[7]

[edit] Consorts and Children

Awata no Morone (粟田諸姉), widow of Fujiwara no Mayori (the first son of Fujiwara no Nakamaro)

Unknoun woman

[edit] References

  1. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 75-78; ; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, p. 275; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki. p. 143-144.
  2. ^ Brown, pp. 264. [Up until the time of Emperor Jomei, the personal names of the emperors (their iminia) were very long and people did not generally use them. The number of characters in each name diminished after Jomei's reign.]
  3. ^ Brown, p. 275, Varley, p. 143.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Brown, p. 275.
  5. ^ Titsingh, p. 75; Brown, p. 275; Varley, p. 44, 144. [A distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Go-Murakami.]
  6. ^ Appert, Georges et al. (1888). Ancien japon, pp. 29-30.
  7. ^ Titsingh, p. 75.



Preceded by
Empress Koken
Emperor of Japan Junnin
758-764
Succeeded by
Empress Shōtoku