Emperor Kōtoku

17/08/2018| Eli| 0 Comment| 9:37 am

Reign: 645-654AD
Period: Asuka Period
Family: Emperor Kogyoku (sister) Prince Naka (nephew)
Burial Place: –
Order of Succession: Predecessor Empress Kogyoku * Successor Empress Saimei

Emperor Kōtoku

Emperor Kōtoku (孝徳天皇) was the 36th Emperor of Japan, reigning from 645-654AD.¹
His name prior to ascension was Karu.²

Reign

Kōtoku came to the throne after it was declined by Prince Naka, the Prince declining after listening to the advice of Nakatomi no Kamatari.

During his reign, he made Naka the Crown Prince and instigated two new governmental departments. These were the Jingikan (Office of Shinto Worship) and the onmyōdō (Office of Ying and Yang Divination). The Taika Reforms were created during his rule and he died at the age of 59.²

It is said that during his reign tensions arose which is why his sister Kōgyoku came to the throne once more after his reign ended as Empress Saimei to alleviate these growing tensions.¹

However, a different publication by Peter Martin states that Crown Prince Naka did not ascend after Kōtoku seeing the role of Emperor as more restrictive and so reinstalled his mother as Empress Saimei.²

Footnotes

1. Tsurumi, P. (1981) “Early Female Emperors” Historical Reflections Vol.8 No.1 pp.41-49.
2. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.