• Period: Asuka Period
• Occupation: General, Governor
• Family: –
• Birth: c.575AD
• Death: 664AD

Abe no Hirafu

Abe no Hirafu (阿倍 比羅夫) was a member of the Abe Clan who lived during the mid 7th century.¹ Louis Frederick gives the period of his life from c.575-664.²

For a part of his life he was Governor of Koshi, at this time going by the name of Abe no Omi.²

He was a general and records from the nihongi show that during the reign of Emperor Saimei he was sent three times between 658 and 660 to subdue the Ezo People, with some believing he may have gone as far north as Hokkaido.¹ He is said to have had 180 ships for his attacks on the Ezo.²

In 663, under Emperor Tenji, he led a force to Paekche to help protect them from the invasions of Silla. His naval forces were eventually routed at the Battle of Hakusuhinoe.

He was later positioned in Dazaifu (Kyushu) in anticipation of retalitary invasion from the continent.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Abe no Hirafu appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

• • See also: List of Provinces

Koshi Province

Koshi Province (越国) was an old Province of Japan.

It is said the inhabitants of this area were of foreign origins, from Manchuria and Korea. These people were known as Koshi-bito.¹

Mythical Associations

The area known as the Tsutsu Cape located here is mentioned in the ‘Land Pulling Myth’ of the Izumo Fudoki when the kami Yatsukamizu Omitsuno takes land from here to add it to Izumo Province.²

Tales from the Kojiki relate how the fearsome Dragon known as Yamata no Orochi came from this Province.³

Legendary Period

During the reign of Emperor Sujin it says he ordered Ohobiko to go there and subdue the people.³

Yamanobe no Ohotaka passed through here on his way to catch a swan for the Prince Homutsuwake.³

Asuka Period

During the Taika Reforms the Province was dissolved into the Provinces of Etchu, Echizen and Echigo.¹

Abe no Hirafu acted as Governor of this province for a time during his life.¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Carlqvist, A. (2010) “The Land Pulling Myth and Some Aspects of Historical Reality”. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Vol. 37, No.2, pp.185-222.
3. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Koshi Province appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

Hear about Emperor Tenji on Episode 70 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Reign: 661-672AD
• Period: Asuka Period
• Family: Emperor Kōgyoku (mother) Emperor Kōtoku (uncle) Emperor Kōbun (son) Empress Jitō (daughter) Emperor Tenmu (brother)
• Burial Place: –
• Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Saimei * Successor Emperor Kōbun

Emperor Tenji

Emperor Tenji (天智天皇) was the thirty-eighth Emperor of Japan, living from 626-672AD, and ruling from 661-72AD⁴. His son would become the later Emperor Kōbun and his brother was Emperor Tenmu. He and his brother are noted as two of the most powerful sovereigns in the line of succession.¹ He was the son of Empress Kōgyoku.² His daughter Princess Uno, would become the later Empress Jitō.⁴

Prior to Reign

Prior to being crowned Emperor, he was known as ”’Prince Naka no Ōe ”'(中大兄皇子). During this time as Prince he was recruited by Nakatomi no Kamatari to aid in the downfall of the soga. Together they killed Soga no Iruka in front of his mother the Empress leading finally to the destruction of Soga House. He declined the throne after Empress Kōgyoku abdicated, convinced to turn it down by Kamatari.

He was then made Crown Prince by Emperor Kōtoku and with the help of Kamatari created the Taika Reforms.¹

His mother as Empress Saimei comes to throne a second time after Emperor Kōtoku to ensure her sons succession and Prince Naka is said to have held the real power during her second reign.²

His mother as Empress joined him in giving aid to the leader of Paekche (Korea) who had appealed to them for help to fight against Silla.²

Reign

As Emperor as a sign of gratitude to Kamatari for everything he had helped him with so far he gave him the new family name of Fujiwara in 669AD. Due to this he was reverred by the Fujiwara Clan, including its decendants such as Fujiwara no Teika.⁴

In 663 Abe no Hirafu led a force to Paekche to help protect them from the invasions of Silla. His naval forces were eventually routed at the Battle of Hakusuhinoe.³

After his Death

A succesion dispute breaks out following his death between Prince Oama and Prince Otomo, which would later be known as the Jinshin no Ran (壬申の乱). Oama would eventually prevail and ascend as Emperor Tenmu.⁴

Poetry

Emperor Tenji was also known for his poet. One can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu (No.1) and goes as follows:

Footnotes

1. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
2. Tsurumi, P. (1981) “Early Female Emperors” Historical Reflections Vol.8 No.1 pp.41-49.
3. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
4. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
5. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Emperor Tenji appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

• • Reign: 642-645 (Kōgyoku) 655-661 (Saimei)
  • Period: Asuka Period
  • Family: Emperor Jomei (husband) Prince Naka (son) Emperor Kotoku (brother)
  • Burial Place: –
  • Order of Succession:
    • 1st Reign Predecessor Emperor Jomei * Successor Emperor Kōtoku
    • 2nd Reign Predecessor Emperor Kōtoku * Sucessor Emperor Tenji

Empress Kōgyoku

Empress Kōgyoku (皇極天皇) was the thirty-fifth Emperor of Japan. She was the wife of Emperor Jomei and mother to Prince Naka who would later become Emperor Tenji.¹² She would rule again as the Empress Saimei (斉明天皇) and be the thirty-seventh Emperor of Japan.¹

Prior to her Reign

Before her reign began she held a reputation for being a Shaman and as such communicated with kami. She was not politically active prior to her rule.²

Her son Prince Naka should have come to the throne instead of Kōgyoku, however Soga no Emishi and his son Soga no Iruka placed instead Kōgyoku on the throne.

Reign as Kōgyoku

She came to the throne aged 49² and during her reign, hatred for the Soga Clan reached it’s peak leading to a coup d`etat ending with Iruka being killed in front of the Empress. This in turn led to the subsequent destruction of the Soga House and Clan.¹

After this due to pressure from political figures she abdicated for her brother Emperor Kōtoku.²

Reign as Saimei

The Empress came back to rule aged 60 from 655-661, renaming herself as Saimei to ‘alleviate tension’ created during her brother’s reigns, and to ensure her son; Crown Prince Naka could succeed. He appears to have been the one to hold power during her second reign and she was more a political puppet.²

Between the years of 658 and 660 Abe no Hirafu was sent north three times to subdue the Ezo People.³

She joins the Crown Prince on an expedition to aid the leader of Paekche (Korea) who requested help to fight against Silla. During this she fell ill and died on active service in Chikuzen Province aged 67.²

Footnotes

1. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
2. Tsurumi, P. (1981) “Early Female Emperors” Historical Reflections Vol.8 No.1 pp.41-49.
3. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Empress Kōgyoku appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

• Co-ordinates: 33°N 131°E
• Prefectures: Fukuoka Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture, Saga Prefecture

Kyushu

Kyushu (九州, Nine Provinces) also called Tsukushi (筑紫島, Lands End) in the kojiki and nihongi is one of the four main islands of Japan, the islands older name of Tsukushi could also be read as ‘Stone Carvers’ due to the stone effigies of people, animals and shields which ring many barrows on the island.¹

It is stated in the nihongi during the events of Emperor Keiko’s life that the common people of Tsukushi called a drinking cup an ‘Ukushi’.²

Mythical Associations

According to the kojiki this island is the fourth of the Great Land of Eightfold Isles to have been born by Izanami and Izanagi¹, whereas the nihongi says it was the third to have been created.²

The Kojiki elaborates more stating the island is made up of one body with four faces. Each face of the island was inhabited by a kami. The North face called Tsukushi (Lands End) is inhabited by Shirahiwake, with South face called the land of the Bear Folk inhabited by Takehiwake.

The North-West face is called Toyo (Abundance) inhabited by Toyohiwake, according to a fudoki named as such by Emperor Keikō after seeing the abundance of yams growing here. The South-West face is called Hi (Firelight) inhabited by Takehimukaitoyokujihinewake, according to a fudoki named as such due to occurrence of mysterious supernatural fires which occur here.¹

Later in the narrative of the kojiki and nihongi it is said that this island is the location of the Tachibana River, where Izanagi cleanses himself after venturing into Yomi to see his deceased wife.¹²

We see it briefly mentioned again in the nihongi with connections to the kami Isotakeru. He wished to fill the islands of Japan with trees, and it is said the island of Kyushu was the first island he did this to.²

Reign of Emperor Sujin

During the reign of this Emperor, it is said that Izumo Furune was spending time here when the Emperor sent for the Sacred Treasures that were under his care in Izumo Shrine.²

A Place of Exile

Kyushu during its history became a place associated with exile, and being posted here, no matter how elaborately disguised it may have been; was seen as exile by those sent there.⁵

Those that were exiled there (and the date they were sent) include:

• • ??Haji no Mimichi??
  • ??Abe no Hirafu??
  • ??Fujiwara no Takaie??
  • ??Matsudono Motofusa??
• • 723 – Priest Manzei
  • 727/728 – Ōtomo no Tabito
  • 738 – Fujiwara no Hirotsugu
  • 745 – Priest Genbō
  • 901 – Sugawara no Michizane
  • 996 – Fujiwara no Korechika
  • 1064 – Abe no Munetō

Heian Period

In 941AD Fujiwara no Tadabumi was given the task of putting down a revolt led by Fujiwara no Sumitomo and Taira no Masakado. During his attempts to quell the revolt he was helped at sea by Ono no Yoshifuru who saw to Sumitono’s pirates being defeated.

This led to Sumitono seeking refuge on Kyushu where Tadabumi eventually tracked him down in Iyo Province where he killed him.⁶

Azuchi-Momoyama Period

During this period the Battle of Mimikawa occurred. On one side was Ōtomo Sōrin who wished to bring Kyushu under his rule as a Christian state.⁴

Yōkai

The island has links to the Yōkai known as the Hyōsube, small dolls which became alive and vengeful after being dumped in a river close to Shiomi Jinga Shrine in Saga Prefecture. Additionally the natural phenomenon known as the Shiranui has links to the island.³

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: over Publications, Inc.
4. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Ninja Attack: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai and Outlaws” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.
5. Miller, R. A.. (1981) “The Lost Poetic Sequence of the Priest Manzei”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.36 No.2 pp.133-172
6. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Kyushu appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

• For a full list of Clans: See Clans.

Emishi

The Emishi (蝦夷 – Eastern Barbarians), also called at time the Ezo People¹, were a Clan of people living on the periphery of the Yamato borders. Some scholars believe they could be the ancestors of the Ainu.² Historically they are known to have lived in northern Japan, in particular Mutsu Province.¹

Description

In the 28th year of Emperor Keikō‘s reign Takeuchi no Sukune makes a report on the Emishi saying they tie up their hair and have tatoos upon their body.⁴

It is during his reign that we see a description of the people in the nihongi which describes them as people that, live together promiscously with no distinction of father and child. In the winter they live in holes, in summer they dwell in nests. Their clothing consists of fur and they drink blood and that when recieving favour they forget it, but when injured they never forget to take revenge. Due to this they keep arrows in their tops knots and swords in their clothes.⁴

Legendary Period

Takeuchi no Sukune reccomends Emperor Keikō attack them as they hold lots of fertile lands in a place called Hitakami in the East.⁴

Later, in the 40th year⁴ of Emperor Keiko’s reign he send Yamato Takeru to subdue the Emishi, accompanied by Takehiko, Takehi no Muraji and Nanatsukahagi.²⁴

Prior to this Ministers inquired as to who should be the one to go deal with the threat with Yamato Takeru saying his brother Ōsu should go.⁴ This of course contradicts the kojiki as Yamato Takeru had already ripped apart his brother in that narrative.⁵⁶

Once more he visits his aunt who gives him this time the sword Kusanagi⁴ and flints for lighting fire.²

He travels through Suruga with the people there tricking him to go hunt deer in the moor there. He does, but find the moor set on fire by those who sent him there to hunt. He makes a counter fire and survives and so then goes to kill all the brigands who tricked him.

An alternative version of the nihongi says because of this event Murokumo became called Kusanagi.

Venturing on the Sagami he wished to cross the sea to reach Kadzusa. Whilst sailing a storms begins an so Ototachibanahime, who was with him in the boat, sacrifices herself and the storm stops. Due to this Yamato Takeru can continue on and goes to Michi no Oku after Kadzusa.

Continuing on, he reaches Shimosa where he finds two Emishi leaders in Take called Shimatsukami and Kunitsukami. Upon seeing his ship, knowing they would be defeated, they throw down their weapons and so Yamato Takeru makes them his personal attendants.⁴

The Emishi that Yamato Takeru had captured were said to have fought day and night, with Yamatohime saying to not allow them near to the Ise Grand Shrine; and so they were sent to live next to Mount Mimoro.

They continue to fight, scaring those that live in the area and so the Emperor sends them to live in Harima, Sanuki, Iyo, Aki and Aha Provinces.

Prince Mimorowake later deals with the Emishi in the Tōsandō Provinces when he was attacked by the Emishi he fought back with the leaders Ashifurihe, Ohohafurihe and Tohotsu Kurahohe bowing to him in defeat.

They handed their territory to him and so he pardoned them. Those who did not submit he had killed.⁴

Asuka Period

Abe no Hirafu is recorded in the nihongi as being sent three times by Emperor Saimei between 658 and 660 to subdue the Ezo People, with some believing he may have gone as far north as Hokkaido.¹ He is said to have had 180 ships for his attacks on the Ezo.³

Nara Period

Fujiwara no Tsuginawa (727-796AD) and Fujiwara no Oguromaro (733-794) are sent north to battle the Emishi.³

Heian Period

Miltary outposts known as Nutari no Ki and Iwafune no Ki were constructed in the Province of Echigo to hold troops to aid in the control of the Emishi/Ezo people¹ and by 801AD they had been subdued by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. Additonally, other buidlings, such as Tagajō, Izawajō and Akitajō were built to also aide in the subjugation of these people.¹³

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Littleton. C.S. (1995) “Yamato-takeru: An Arthurian Hero in Japanese Tradition”. Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 54, No.2, pp.259-274.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
4. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
6. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Emishi appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

Abe Clan

The Abe Clan (安倍氏) is one of the various Clans of Japan.

Families

This particular clan finds itself in two different areas of Japan. (This could make it difficult in piecing together which ‘family’ of Abe they are a part of)

The first family were based in Uji in Yamato Province. These are stated in the nihongi and shinsen shōjiroku to be descended from Emperor Kōgen.

The next family claimed descent from a man known as ‘Abi‘ who was the elder brother of the Chieftain Nagasunehiko. He was a man who resisted the conquest of Emperor Jimmu. This particular family rose to power in Northern Honshu in the mid-Heian Period.¹

Asuka Period

They are known to have taken charge of the Onmyōdō alongside the Kamo Clan after its creation by Emperor Kōtoku.²

Between 658 and 660 Abe no Hirafu was sent to subdue the Ezo People and later in 663 he was sent to aide the forces of Paekche (Korea). Unfortunately he was defeated in the Battle of Hakusuhinoe.¹

Heian Period

The Earlier Nine Years War was was begun by Abe no Yoritoki after he decided to invade neighboring territories and stop paying taxes. He was eventually defeated in 1057, though his sons continued the fight.¹

Yamato Members

• • Abe no Hirafu – fl. 7th century.
  • Abe no Kurahashimaro –
  • Abe no Manao –
  • Abe no Nakamaro – 698-770
  • Abe no Seimei – 921-1005

Mutsu Members

• • Abe no Munetō – fl. 11th century.
  • Abe no Sadatō – 1019-1062
  • Abe no Yoritoki – ?-1057

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Martin, P. (1997) “The Chrysanthemum Throne” Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Abe Clan appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.