Emperor Ōjin


Emperor Ōjin, also known as or, was the 15th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Both the Kojiki, and the Nihon Shoki record events that took place during Ōjin's alleged lifetime. Ōjin is traditionally listed as the first emperor of the Kofun period, and is primarily known for being the controversial son of Empress Jingū. Historians have mixed views on his factual existence; if Ōjin was indeed a historical figure, then it is assumed he reigned much later than he is attested.
No firm dates can be assigned to Ōjin's life or reign, but he is traditionally considered to have reigned from 270 to 310. According to the Shinto religion and Buddhism in Japan, Emperor Ōjin is the divine spirit of the deity Hachiman. While the location of Ōjin's grave is unknown, he is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto tomb. Modern historians have come to the conclusion that the title of "Emperor" and the name "Ōjin" was used by later generations to describe this possibly legendary Emperor.

Legendary narrative

The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum for Ōjin is currently maintained. The following information available is taken from the pseudo-historical Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, which are collectively known as Kiki or Japanese chronicles. These chronicles include legends and myths, as well as potential historical facts that have since been exaggerated and/or distorted over time. The circumstances surrounding the future emperor's birth are controversial as they involve a supposed invasion of the Korean Peninsula as well as a biologically impossible gestation period. It is said by the Kiki that Ōjin was conceived but unborn when his father Emperor Chūai died. Empress Jingū then became a de facto ruler who allegedly invaded a "promised land" out of revenge, then returned three years later to the Japanese mainland to give birth. The records state that Ōjin was born to Empress Jingū in Tsukushi Province sometime in 201 AD, and was given the name. He became the crown prince at the age of four, but was not crowned Emperor until 270 AD at the age of 70. Emperor Ōjin supposedly lived in two palaces which are now located in present-day Osaka. His reign lasted 40 years until his death in 310 AD, in all he fathered 28 children with one spouse and ten consorts. His fourth son Ōosazaki was later enthroned as the next emperor in 313 AD.

Known information

While the historical existence of Emperor Ōjin is debated among historians, there is a general consensus that he was "probably real". There is also an agreement that Ojin's three year conception period is mythical and symbolic, rather than realistic. William George Aston has suggested that this can be interpreted as a period of less than nine months containing three "years", e.g. three harvests. If Ōjin was an actual historical figure then historians have proposed that he ruled later than attested. Dates of his actual reign have been proposed to be as early as 370 to 390 AD, to as late as the early 5th century AD. At least one Japanese historian has cast doubt on this theory though, by revising a supporting statement given in 1972. In this new narrative Louis Perez states: "only kings and emperors after the reign of Ojin......are seen as historical figures". In either case there is also no evidence to suggest that the title tennō was used during the time to which Ōjin's reign has been assigned. It is certainly possible that he was a chieftain or local clan leader, and that the polity he ruled would have only encompassed a small portion of modern-day Japan. The name Ōjin-tennō was more than likely assigned to him posthumously by later generations.
While the actual site of Ōjin's grave is not known, this regent is traditionally venerated at a kofun-type Imperial tomb in Osaka. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Ōjin's mausoleum, and is formally named Eega no Mofushi no oka no misasagi. At some point Ōjin was made a guardian Kami of the Hata clan, and is now also deified as Hachiman Daimyōjin. Outside of the Kiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei is the first for which contemporary historiography has been able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Family

Emperor Ōjin's family allegedly consisted of 28 children, which include 2 unnamed princesses from a previous marriage. He had one spouse who bore him a son that would become the next Emperor, as well as 10 consorts.

Spouse & concubines

PositionNameFatherIssue
KōgōNakatsu-hime
HomudamawakaPrincess Arata
Prince Netori
Prince Ōosazaki
ConsortHomudamawakaPrince Izanomawaka
Princess Komukuta
Prince Nukata no Ōnakatsuhiko
Princess Ohara
Prince Ōyamamori
ConsortOto-hime
HomudamawakaPrincess Ahe
Princess Awaji no Mihara
Princess Ki no Uno
Princess Mino no Iratsume
Princess Shigehara
ConsortMiyanushiyaka-hime
Wani no Hifure no OmiPrincess Metori
Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko
Princess Yata
ConsortOnabe-hime
Wani no Hifure no OmiPrincess Uji no Wakiiratsu-hime
ConsortOkinaga Mawakanakatsu-hime
Kawamata NakatsuhikoPrince Wakanuke no Futamata
ConsortIto-hime
Sakuraitabe no Muraji ShimatarinePrince Hayabusawake
ConsortHimuka no Izumi no Naga-hime
Princess Hatabi no Wakairatsume
Prince Ōhae
Prince Ohae
ConsortKaguro-hime
SumeiroōnakatsuhikoPrince Kataji
Princess Kawarata no Iratsume
Princess Tama no Iratsume
ConsortKatsuragi no Irome
Takenouchi no SukunePrince Izanomawaka
ConsortE-hime
Kibi-no-Takehiko

Issue

StatusNameMotherComments
PrincessArataNakatsu-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceŌosazakiNakatsu-himeWould later become Emperor Emperor Nintoku.
PrinceNetoriNakatsu-himeAncestor of Ōta no Kimi, married Princess Awaji no Mihara.
PrinceIzanomawakaTakakiiri-himeAncestor of Fukakawawake.
PrinceNukata no ŌnakatsuhikoTakakiiri-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceŌyamamoriTakakiiri-himeŌyamamori died in 310 AD.
PrincessKomukutaTakakiiri-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessŌharaTakakiiri-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessAheOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessAwaji no MiharaOto-himeMarried to Prince Netori
PrincessKi no UnoOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessMino no IratsumeOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessShigeharaOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceUji no WakiiratsukoMiyanushiyaka-himeUji was a Crown Prince.
PrincessMetoriMiyanushiyaka-himeMetori died in 353 AD, and was married to Prince "Hayabusawake".
PrincessPrincess YataMiyanushiyaka-himeYata was later married to Emperor Nintoku.
PrincessUji no Wakiiratsu-himeOnabe-himeUji was later married to Emperor Nintoku.
PrinceWakanuke no FutamataOkinaga Mawakanakatsu-himeAncestor of Okinaga clan, and great-grandfather of Emperor Keitai.
PrinceHayabusawakeIto-himeHayabusawake was the husband of Princess Metori.
PrinceŌhaeHimuka no Izumi no Naga-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceOhaeHimuka no Izumi no Naga-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessPrincess Kusakanohatabino-himeHimuka no Izumi no Naga-himeHatabi was later married to Emperor Richū
PrincessKawarata no IratsumeKaguro-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessTama no IratsumeKaguro-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceKatajiKaguro-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceIzanomawakaKatsuragi no IromeVery little is known about this person.

Family tree