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Japan has been ruled by emperors since antiquity. The sequence, order and dates of the early emperors are almost entirely based on the 8th-century Nihon Shoki, which was meant to retroactively legitimise the Imperial House by dating its foundation further back to the year 660 BC. Emperor Kinmei () is often considered the first historical emperor, but the first Japanese ruler supported by historical evidence is actually Emperor Yūryaku (), who is mentioned in the 5th-century Inariyama and Eta Funayama Swords. According to Chinese sources, the unification of Japan took place between the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
The terms Tennō ('Emperor', ), as well as Nihon ('Japan', ), were not adopted until the late 7th century AD. Still presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Ikume<br />
| Emperor Suinin<br />
| 29 BC–AD 70<br />
| 69 BC–AD 70<br />
Son of Emperor Sujin. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Ōtarashihiko <br />
| Emperor Keikō<br />
| 71–130<br />
| 13 BC–AD 130<br />
Son of Emperor Suinin. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Wakatarashihiko <br />
| Emperor Seimu<br />
| 131–190<br />
| 84–190<br />
Son of Emperor Keikō. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Tarashinakatsuhiko<br />
| Emperor Chūai<br />
| 192–200<br />
| 149–200<br />
Grandson of Emperor Keikō; nephew of Seimu. First emperor to ascend the throne without being the son of the previous emperor. Died during a campaign against the Kumaso tribe. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Okinagatarashi<br />
| Empress Jingū<br />
| 201–269<br />
| 170–269<br />
Wife of Emperor Chūai; mother and regent of Emperor Ōjin. Not counted among the officially numbered emperors. Presumed legendary.
|-
|
| 100px
| Homutawake<br />
| Emperor Ōjin<br />
| 270–310<br />
| 201–310<br />
Son of Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū. Deified in Shinto and Buddhism in Japan as Hachiman. Likely a historical ruler that lived much later.
|-
|
| 100px
| Ohosazaki<br />
| Emperor Nintoku<br />
| 313–399<br />
| 290–399<br />
Son of Emperor Ōjin. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Ōenoizahowake<br />
| Emperor Richū<br />
| 400–405<br />
| 336–405<br />
Son of Emperor Nintoku. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Mizuhawake<br />
| Emperor Hanzei<br />
| 406–411<br /><!-- Official page of the Imperial house gives his death as 410, but the Nihon Shoki implies 411. The fact that the next emperor accession is given as 412 (two years later) could mean that 411 is just an error for 410 -->
| 352–411<br />
Son of Emperor Nintoku; younger brother of Emperor Richū. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Oasatsuma Wakugo no Sukune<br />
| Emperor Ingyō<br />
| 411–453<br />
| 376–453<br />
Son of Emperor Nintoku; younger brother of Emperor Richū and Emperor Hanzei. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Anaho<br />
| Emperor Ankō<br />
| 453–456<br />
| 401–456<br />
Son of Emperor Ingyō. Assassinated by Prince Mayowa. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Ōhatuse no Wakatakeru<br />
| Emperor Yūryaku<br /><br />
| 456–479<br />
| 418–479<br />
Son of Emperor Ingyō; younger brother of Ankō. First historical emperor.
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|
| 100px
| Shiraka<br />
| Emperor Seinei<br />
| 480–484<br />
| 444–484<br />
Son of Emperor Yūryaku. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Iitoyo<br />
| Empress Tsunuzashi<br />
| 484<br />
| 440–485<br />
Imperial princess; granddaughter of Emperor Richū, wife of Emperor Seinei and mother of Emperor Kenzō according to later traditions; not counted among the official emperors.
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|
| 100px
| Woke<br />
| Emperor Kenzō<br />
| 485–487<br />
| 450–487<br />
Grandson of Emperor Richū; cousin and adopted son of Emperor Seinei. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Oke<br />
| Emperor Ninken<br />
| 488–498<br />
| 448–498<br />
Grandson of Emperor Richū; cousin and adopted son of Emperor Seinei; older brother of Emperor Kenzō. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Ohatsuse no Wakasazaki<br />
| Emperor Buretsu<br />
| 499–506<br />
| 489–506<br />
Son of Emperor Ninken. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Ohodo<br />
| Emperor Keitai<br /><br/>
| 3 March 507<br />–<br />10 March 531<br />
| 450<br />–<br />10 March 531<br />
5th-generation grandson of Emperor Ōjin. Became emperor at the recommendation of Ōtomo no Kanamura. Possible founder of a new dynasty.
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|
| 100px
| Magari<br />
| Emperor Ankan<br /><br/>
| 10 March 531<br />–<br />25 January 536<br />
| 466<br />–<br />25 January 536<br />
Son of Emperor Keitai. Presumed legendary.
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|
| 100px
| Hinokuma-no-takata<br />
| Emperor Senka<br /><br/>
| 25 January 536<br />–<br />15 March 539<br />
| 466<br />–<br />15 March 539<br />
Son of Emperor Keitai; younger brother of Emperor Ankan. Presumed legendary.
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Classical Japan (538–1185)
Asuka period (538–710)
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" |
! class="unsortable" | Portrait
! scope="col" | Personal name
! scope="col" |
! scope="col" width="200px" class="unsortable" | Reign and era names
! scope="col" width="275px" class="unsortable" | Life details
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|
| 100px
| Amekunioshiharakihironiwa<br />
| Emperor Kinmei<br /><br />
| 540–571<br />
| 509–571<br />
Son of Emperor Keitai; younger brother of Ankan and Senka. Often considered the first historically verifiable emperor.
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|
| 100px
| Yoshihito<br />
| Emperor Taishō<br />
| 30 July 1912<br />–<br />25 December 1926<br />
Taishō
| 31 August 1879<br />–<br />25 December 1926<br />
Son of Emperor Meiji. Taishō Democracy shifted political power from the genrō to the Imperial Diet and political parties. His eldest son, Crown Prince Hirohito, served as Sesshō (; "Regent") from 1921 to 1926 because of Taishō's illness.
|}
Posthumously recognized individuals
This is a list of individuals who did not reign as emperor during their lifetime but were later recognized as Japanese emperors posthumously.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" | Portrait
! scope="col" width="200px" | Personal name
! scope="col" width="200px" | Posthumous name
! scope="col" width="180px" class="unsortable" | Year recognized
! scope="col" width="320px" class="unsortable" | Life details
|-
| 100px
| Prince Kusakabe<br/>
| Emperor Oka<br/>
| 759
| 662–689<br />
Son of Emperor Tenmu; husband of Empress Genmei; father of Emperor Monmu and Empress Genshō. Made crown prince in 681; heir to Emperor Tenmu. Died prior to acceding the throne following Emperor Tenmu's death.
|-
| 100px
| Prince Toneri<br/>
| Emperor Sudōjinkei<br/>
| 759
| 676–735<br />
Son of Emperor Tenmu; half-brother of Prince Kusakabe; father of Emperor Junnin.
|-
| 100px
| Prince Shiki<br/>
| Emperor Kasuga<br/>
| 770
| died 716
Son of Emperor Tenji; half-brother of Emperor Tenmu, Empress Jitō, Empress Genmei and Emperor Kōbun; father of Emperor Kōnin; half-uncle of Prince Kusakabe and Prince Toneri.
|-
| 100px
| Prince Sawara<br/>
| Emperor Sudō<br/>
| 800
| 750–785<br />
Son of Emperor Kōnin; younger brother of Emperor Kanmu. Made crown prince in 781. Implicated in the assassination of Fujiwara no Tanetsugu. Died on the way to exile.
|-
| 100px
| Prince Masahito<br/>
| Yōkōin<br/>
| Before 1611
| 1552–1586<br />
Son of Emperor Emperor Ōgimachi; father of Emperor Go-Yōzei. Posthumously recognized as emperor by Emperor Go-Yōzei.
|-
| 100px
| Sukehito, Prince Kan'in<br/>
| Emperor Kyōkō<br/>
| 1884
| 1733–1794<br />
Grandson of Emperor Higashiyama; father of Emperor Kōkaku.
|}
See also
- Emperor of Japan
- Empress of Japan
- List of empresses consort of Japan
- Sesshō and Kampaku
- Shogun
- List of shoguns
- Prime Minister of Japan
- List of prime ministers of Japan
- Family tree of Japanese monarchs
- Princess Iitoyo
References
Notes
Citations
Sources
External links
- The Imperial Household Agency
- Japan opens imperial tombs for research