B13 – Jimmu’s Successors

Show Notes for bonus 13 of our Podcast – Jimmu’s Successors.

Story Notes

Here follows the events, as detailed in the nihongi, of Jimmu’s Successors. These are the reigns of the 2nd to 9th Emperors of Japan. There are a few extra pieces of information from other sources as well. More information pertaining to them can be found on their individual pages.

Emperor Suizei

• 1st year, Spring, 1st Month, 8th Day: Ascends to the throne with his capital at Katsuragi residing in the Palace of Takaoka. He also gives the Empress (Himetatara) the title of Kodaigō (Great Empress)
• 2nd year, Spring, 1st Month. Isuzuyori is appointed Empress.
  • Two alternative versions say this was:
    • Kahamatahime, daughter of Agatanushi of Shiki.
    • Itorihime, daughter of Ohohimoro, Agatanushi of Kasuga.
  • She bore him a son, the future Emperor Annei.
• 4th year, Summer, 4th Month Kamiyawimimi dies, buried on the Northern side of Mt. Unebi.
• (557BC) 25th year, Spring, 1st month, 7th day. Annei made heir.
• 33rd year, Summer, 5th month. The Emperor falls ill, 10th day of the same month he passes away.

Suizei died aged aged 84. and his misasagi was located at Tsukidaoka.

He was buried in his misasagi in the 1st year, Winter, 10th month, 11th day of Annei’s reign.

Emperor Annei

• 1st year, Winter, 10th month, 11th day. Emperor Suizei buried in his misasagi. He also gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
• 2nd year, capital moved to Katashio residing in the Palace of Ukiana.
• 3rd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Nunasoko Nakatsuhime made empress.
  • Two alternative versions say this was:
    • Kahatsuhime, daughter of Haye, Agatanushi of Shiki.
    • Daughter of Ohama no Sukune.
  • Before making her Empress she bore him two sons, Ikishimimi and Itoku.
    • An alternative version says Tokotsuhikoirone, Itoku, then Shikutsuhiko.
• 11th year, 1st month, 1st day. Itoku made Prince Imperial.
• 38th year, Winter, 11th month, 6th day the Emperor passes away.

Emperor Annei died aged 57 and his misasagi is located on Mount Unebi.

He was buried in his masasagi in the 1st year, Autumn, 8th month, 1st day of Emperor Itoku’s reign.

Emperor Itoku

• 1st year, Spring, 2nd month, 4th day Itoku takes the throne.
• Autumn, 8th month, 1st day. Emperor Annei is buried in his misasagi.
• 9th month, 14th day. He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
• 2nd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Capital is moved to Karu residing in the Palace of Magario.
• 2nd month, 11th day. Amatoyotsuhime is made Empress.
  • Two alternative versions say this was:
    • Idzuhime, daughter of Otoite, son of Haye, Agatanushi of Shiki.
    • Ihihime, daughter of Futomawakahiko, Agatanushi of Shiki.
• 22nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 12th day. Kōshō is made heir.
• 34th year, Autumn, 9th month, 8th day. Itoku passes away.

Emperor Itoku died aged 77 and is said to have reigned for 45 years in the Kojiki and not 34 years like in other sources.

His misasagi is located on Mount Unebi.

Emperor Kōshō

• 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 9th day Kōshō takes the throne.
• Summer, 4th month, 5th day. He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
• 7th month. The capital is moved to Waki no Kami, residing in the Palace Ikegokoro.
• 29th year, Spring, 1st month, 3rd day. Yosotarashi hime is made Empress.
  • Two alternative versions say this was:
    • Nunakitsuhime, daughter of Haye, Agatanushi of Shiki.
    • Ohowihime, daughter of Toyoakisatao from Yamato.
  • The Empress gives birth to Emperor Kōan and Ameoshitarashihiko.
• 68th year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Kōan is made heir.
• 83rd year, Autumn, 5th day. Kōshō passes away.

Emperor Kōshō died aged 114 and is said to have reigned 93 years in the Kojiki and not 83 as in other sources.

His misasagi is located on Hakatayama in Waki no Kami.

Emperor Kōan

• 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 7th day Kōan takes the throne.
• Autumn, 8th month, 1st day. He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
• 2nd year, Winter, 10th month. Capital moved to Muro, residing in the Palace of Akitsushima.
• 26th year, Spring, 2nd month, 14th day, Oshihime is made Empress.
  • Two alternative versions say this was:
    • Nagahime, daughter of Haye, Agatanushi of Shiki.
    • Isakahime, daughter of Isahiko, Agatanushi of Tohochi.
  • The Empress gives birth to Emperor Kōrei.
• 38th year, Autumn, 8th month, 146th day. He buries his father.
• 76th year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day Kōrei is made heir.
• 102nd year, Spring, 1st month, 9th day the Emperor dies.

Kōan died aged 137 though the Jinnō Shōtōki says he died aged 120. In total he is said to have ruled for 123 years in the Kojiki and not 101/102 as in other sources.

His misasagi is located in Tamade.

He was buried in his misasagi in Autumn, 9th month, 132nd the same year he died.

Emperor Kōrei

• Winter, 2th month, 4th Day – Capital moved to Kuroda, residing in the Palace of Ihodo.
• 1st Year, Spring, 1st Month, 12th Day – Kōrei ascends throne. He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
• 2nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 11th day. ‘Hosohime’ (Kuwashihime) made Empress.
  • Two alternative versions say this was:
    • Kasuga no Chichihayayamakahime.
    • Mashitahime, daughter of Toso, Agatanushi of Tohochi.
  • The Empress gives birth to Emperor Kōgen.
  • With concubine Yamato no kunikahime they have Yamatototohimomosobime, Kibitsuhiko and Yamatototowakayabime.
  • With concubine Hayeiroto they have Hikosajima and Wakatakehiko.
• 36th year, Spring, 1st month, 1st day. Kōgen is made heir.
• 76th year, Spring, 2nd month, 8th day – The Emperor dies.

The Jinnō Shōtōki gives some additional information concerning his reign stating that the Chinese Emperor Ch’in sought out the The Elixir of Life in Japan during his reign. In response they asked for copies of the book of Five Kings and Three Emperors which were then sent to Japan.

Kōrei died aged 128 though the Jinnō Shōtōki says he died aged 110. In total he is said to have ruled for 106 years in the Kojiki and not 76 years as in other sources.

His misasagi is located on Mumazaka in Kataoka.

He was buried in his misasagi in the 6th year, Autumn, 9th month, 6th day of his sons reign.

Emperor Kōgen

• 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day – Kōgen ascends the throne. He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
• 4th year, Spring, 3rd month, 11th day – Capital moved to Karu, residing in the Palace of Sakahibara.
• 6th year, Autumn, 9th month, 6th day – Emperor Kōrei is buried in his misasagi on Mumazaka in Kataoka.
• 7th year, Spring, 2nd month, 2nd day – Uchishikome is made Empress.
  • The Empress gives birth to Ohobiko, Emperor Kwaika and Yamatototohime.
  • With concubine Ikashikome they have Hikofutooshimakoto.
  • With concubine Haniyasuhime they have Takehaniyasuhiko.
• 22nd year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day – Kwaika is made heir.
• 57th year, Autumn, 9th month, 2nd day – The Emperor dies.

Kōgen died aged 116 though the Jinnō Shōtōki says he died aged 117 and the kojiki says he died aged 57. In total he is said to have ruled for 57 years.

His misasagi is located on Tsurugi Lake.

He was buried in his misasagi on the “5th year, Spring, 2nd month, 6th day” of his sons reign.

Emperor Kaika

• Winter 11th month, 12th day – Kaika ascends the throne.
• 1st year, Spring, 1s month, 4th day – He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
• Winter, 10th month, 13th day – Capital moved to Kasuga, residing in the Palace of Isakaha.
• 5th year, Spring, 2nd month, 6th day. Emperor Kōgen buried in his misasagi on the island of Tsurugi lake.
• 6th year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day – Ikagashikome is made Empress.
  • The Empress gives birth to Emperor Sujin.
  • With Taniha no Takanohime he has Hikoyumusumi.
  • With Oketsuhime he has Hikoimasu.
• 28th year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day – Sujin is made heir.
• 60th year, Summer, 4th month, 9th day – The Emperor dies.

Kaika died aged 115 according to the nihongi and Jinnō Shōtōki,  whereas the kojiki states he died aged 63. In total he ruled for 60 years.

His misasagi is located in Isakaha, Kasuga.

Header Image: Chrysanthemum’s from Pixabay.

References

• Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
• Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
• Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
• Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
• Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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