Emperor Kōshō

Hear this tale on Episode B13 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• • Reign: 475-393BC
  • Born: 507/508BC
  • Period: Legendary Period
  • Family: Emperor Itoku (father) Amatoyotsuhime (mother) Yosotarashi hime (wife) Emperor Kōan (son) Ameoshitarashihiko (son) Takeshihiko (brother)
  • Burial place: misasagi on Hakatayama in Waki no Kami
  • Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Itoku  * Successor Emperor Kōan

Emperor Kōshō

Emperor Kōshō (孝昭 天皇) was the fifth Emperor of Japan also known as Mimatsuhiko Kaweshine (真津日子訶恵志泥命).¹² He ruled from 475-393BC.¹

Family

Emperor Kōshō was one of two sons of Emperor Itoku and Amatoyotsuhime.¹² Kōshō would go on to marry Yosotarashi hime¹²³ and together they would have two sons, these being the future Emperor Kōan and Ameoshitarashihiko.²³

Reign

Emperor Kōshō ascended to the throne in 475BC,⁴ after having been made heir to the throne in the ”22nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 12th day,” of Itoku’s reign. He is said to have been 18 at the time.²

Ponsonby states he was made heir in the 12th year of his fathers reign.¹

Events from his reign detailed in the Nihongi are as follows:

• • 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.²

Emperor Kōshō died aged 114¹⁴ and is said to have reigned 93 years in the Kojiki and not 83 as in other sources.⁵

His misasagi is located on Hakatayama in Waki no Kami.⁵

He was buried in his misasagi in the 38th year, Autumn, 8th month, 146th day of the reign of Emperor Kōan.²

Footnotes

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

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