Emperor Richū

• Reign: 400-406AD
• Period: Kofun Period
• Family: Emperor Hanzei (brother) Emperor Kenzo (grand-son) Emperor Ninken (grandson) Oshinumi (granddaughter)
• Burial Place: –
• Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Nintoku  * Successor Emperor Hanzei

Emperor Richū

Emperor Richū (履中天皇) is the seventeenth Emperor of Japan, claiming the throne after a dispute with a rival candidate. After his death, his grandsons Emperor Kenzo and Emperor Ninken would become the twenty-third and fourth Emperors of Japan due to a lack of suitable succession candidates.¹

It appears Chinese was become more widespread in Japan as in the 4th year of his reign it is noted that:

”local Recorders were appointed for the first time in the various provinces, who noted down statements, and communicated the writings of the four quarters.”¹²

The Imperial Treasury was also formally established during his reign whose accountants had control of:

”gold and silver, jewels, precious utensils, brocade and satin, sarsnet, rugs and mattresses, and the rare objects sent as tribute by the various barbarians.”

It is said he died from a lack of harmony in the ‘elements of water and earth’ within him. Showing Chinese Ying and Yang theories had reached Japan by his reign.¹

Footnotes

1. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

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