We are creating this page to serve as a place to list all of the different Palaces built and used through Japanese history. We will continue to update this page as we gain more information.

Legendary Period

Akitsushima Palace

Located in Muro this was the palace of Emperor Kōan.⁵

Hishiro Palace

Located in Makimuku, this apalace is mentioned during the reign of Emperor Keikō.⁵

Ihodo Palace

Located in Kuroda this was the palace of Emperor Kōrei.⁵

Ikegokoro Palace

Located in Waki no Kami this was the palace of Emperor Kōshō.⁵

Isakaha Palace

Located in Kasuga this was the palace of Emperor Kaika.⁵

Kahakami Palace

Located in Totori this was the palace of Inishikinoiribiko.³⁴

Kambata Palace

Located in Ise Province, Emperor Keikō resided here for some time.⁵

Kuguri Palace

Located in Mino Province, Emperor Keikō stayed here in his 4th year.⁵

Magario Palace

Located in Karu this was the palace of Emperor Itoku.⁵

Midzukaki Palace

Located in Shiki this was the palace of Emperor Sujin.¹²³⁴

Nagaho Palace

Located in Ajimasa this was the palace of Homutsuwake.³⁴

Sakahibara Palace

Located in Karu this was the palace of Emperor Kōgen.⁵

Sakawori Palace

Located in in Kahi, Yamato Takeru stays here during his time fighting against the Emishi also composing a song while here.⁵

Takaanaho Palace

Located in Takaanaho in Shiga in Omi this was the palace of Emperor Seimu.¹² Emperor Keikō is said to have passed away in this palace.¹

Takaoka Palace

Located in Katsuragi this was the palace of Emperor Suizei.⁵

Takaya Palace

Located in Tsukushi, Hiuga Province, this palace is mentioned during the reign of Emperor Keikō where he resided for six years after defeating the Kumaso.⁵

Other sources state Yamato Takeru stayed here instead.²

Tamaki Palace

Located in Shiki this was the palace of Emperor Suinin.¹ (Tamaki Palace, Makimuku.²)

Ukiana Palace

Located in Katashio this was the palace of Emperor Annei.⁵

Footnotes

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

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• • Period: Legendary Period
  • Occupation: Prince
  • Family: Emperor Suinin (father) Sahobime (mother) Hinagahime (wife)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Homutsuwake

Homutsuwake (誉津別命) was the son of Emperor Suinin and Sahobime.¹²³

Birth

Nihongi Version

Homutsuwake was born prior to the assassination attempt on his father’s life by his mother.

His mother, mourning that she nearly took her husbands life, sneaks into her brothers castle (Sahobiko) with the prince Homutsuwake.

Attacks by the emperor against the castle intensify and eventually the castle is set on fire.¹

Kojiki Version

In the kojiki the Empress had not yet given birth, and so after entering the castle the Emperor turned aside his armies to allow her to have her child. After this the child was put outside the stronghold. The Emperor being told if he considered the boy his child he could come and take him.

He sends his men to take the child and to also try and capture the Empress.

Angered they were unable to capture his wife he asks her to choose the childs name. As he had been born as the castle burnt she gave him the name Homutsuwake (Fire-possessing Lord)

Suinin then asked how he should raise the child, Sahobime saying to give him a foster mother and bathing women.

He then asks who should remove the girdle she placed around his waist and in reply she says Yehime and Otohime, daughters of Tatsumichinoushi Prince of Taniha as their parentage is unsullied.

And so the Empreror kills Sahobiko and Sahohime.

Homuchiwake was then entertained after they made a canoe for him from cedar from Ahidzu in Wohari and they placed it in the pools of Ichishi and Karu in Yamato.²³

Homutsuwake learns to talk

Nihongi Version

By the age of 30 the prince still did not speak. One day he sees a swan and finally talks saying ‘what is this thing?’

The Emperor happy at this asks who will go and collect this swan for his son. Amano Yukaha Tana volunteers and pursues it all the way to Tajima.

After capturing the swan, he returns and presents it to Homutsuwake and he finally learns to speak.

The Emperor then gives Amano the title of Tottori no Miyakko and also at this time established the Be of Torikahibe and Homutsube.¹

Kojiki Version

It is said someone by the name of Yamanobe no Ohotaka was sent to go and collect the swan.

He followed the swan through Harima to Kii, Inaba to Tanba, Tajima then eastwards until Afumi,  Minu to Wohari, and finally Shinano to Koshi. There in the estuary of Wanami he caught it and brought it to the Emperor.

The emperor thought seeing the bird again would make the prince talk, but it did not, and so the Emperor retired and had a dream. He dreamt a kami said if he built a shrine like his abode then the prince would speak.

The next day he asks an oracle to see which deity spoke finding out it was Ōkuninushi who had placed this curse on the prince. The Emperor readied the Prince to go to the shrine to pay reverence, with a man called Aketatsu being sent to attend to him.

Aketatsu swore a sacred oath ‘if there is an answer to be found in adoring this kami, then let the heron I see on Sagisu no ike fall dead.’ And the heron then died.

In reply to this he said ‘by this oath live’ and the heron came back to life. By his oath he then made wither and come back to life an oak upon Cape Amakashi (Amakashi no saki)

They also leave with Prince Unakami leaving Nara through the Ki Gate, as leaving through the Nara Gate or Ohosaka Gate would have caused them to meet a lame or blind person which was bad luck. On their journey everyone they pass they give the name of Homujibe.

After arriving at the shrine, they pray and return. A temporary Palace with a black plaited bridge is then made for Homutsuwake in the middle of the River Hi.

A man called Kihisatsumi then made a mountain adorned with green leaves and placed it downstream. Just before he presented food to Homutsuwake he finally spoke.

‘This mountain is not a mountain, perhaps it is the court of those who worship Ashiharashikowo.’

And so they informed the Emperor and he rejoiced, and the prince was left to live in the palace of Nagaho in Ajimasa.

Here he married Hinagahime for a single night where he discovered she was a serpent and flees from her. She pursued him to the ocean, where he then flees up valleys in his boat towards Yamato.²³

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.

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

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

• • Reign: 510-477BC
  • Born: 554/553BC
  • Period: Legendary Period
  • Family: Emperor Annei (father) Nunasoko Nakatsuhime (mother) Amatoyotsuhime (wife) Emperor Kōshō (son) Takeshihiko (son)
  • Burial place: misasagi on Mount Unebi
  • Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Annei  * Successor Emperor Kōshō

Emperor Itoku

Emperor Itoku (懿徳 天皇) was the fourth Emperor of Japan also known as Oyamatohikosukitomo (大倭日子鉏友命).¹² He ruled from 510-477BC.¹

Family

Emperor Itoku was the second son of Emperor Annei and Nunasoko Nakatsuhime¹²³ though we are not sure why he was chosen over his older brother to take the throne.¹ Itoku would go on to marry Amatoyotsuhime and together they would have the future Emperor Kōshō.¹²⁴ The Kojiki mentions an additional child by the name of Takeshihiko.⁴

Reign

Emperor Itoku ascended to the throne in 510BC,³ having been made heir to the throne in the “11th year, Spring, 1st month” of Annei’s reign. He is said to have been 16 at the time.²

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

• • 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.²

Emperor Itoku died aged 77³ and is said to have reigned for 45 years in the Kojiki and not 34 years like in other sources.⁴

His misasagi is located on Mount Unebi.⁴

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. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
4. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia 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
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The post Emperor Itoku appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.