Emperor Kanmu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor Kanmu桓武天皇 |
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Portrait of Emperor Kanmu, 16th century
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| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 30 April 781 – 9 April 806 | ||||
| Enthronement | 10 May 781 | ||||
| Predecessor | Kōnin | ||||
| Successor | Heizei | ||||
| Born | Yamabe (山部) 4 February 736 |
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| Died | 9 April 806 (aged 70) | ||||
| Burial | Kashiwabara no misasagi (柏原陵) (Kyoto) | ||||
| Spouse | Fujiwara no Otomuro | ||||
| Issue Among others... |
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| House | Yamato | ||||
| Father | Emperor Kōnin | ||||
| Mother | Takano no Niigasa | ||||
Emperor Kanmu (桓武天皇 (Kammu-tennō, 735 – 9 April 806)) was the 50th emperor of Japan. He ruled from 781 to 806. During his time, the emperor's power was at its strongest. He is famous for moving the capital of Japan twice and for appointing the first Shogun.
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Who Was Emperor Kanmu?
Emperor Kanmu's personal name was Yamabe. He was the oldest son of Prince Shirakabe, who later became Emperor Kōnin. His mother, Takano no Niigasa, was a descendant of King Muryeong of Baekje from Korea.
Kanmu became crown prince even though his half-brother, Prince Osabe, was first in line. After some difficult events, Kanmu became emperor in 781. He then made his younger brother, Prince Sawara, the new crown prince. However, Prince Sawara was later exiled and died.
Important Leaders Under Kanmu
Emperor Kanmu appointed the first Shogun in Japan. A Shogun was a powerful military leader who had great control over the country.
- Ōtomo no Otomaro: In 794 CE, Emperor Kanmu named him the first "Sei-i Taishōgun." This title means "Barbarian-subduing Great General."
- Sakanoue no Tamuramaro: Kanmu also gave this title to Tamuramaro. He helped to control the Emishi people in northern Honshu.
Emperor Kanmu's Family
Emperor Kanmu had many children. He had 16 empresses and consorts, and 32 imperial sons and daughters. Three of his sons later became emperors: Emperor Heizei, Emperor Saga, and Emperor Junna.
Some of his family members later became famous warriors. They were known as the Kammu Taira or Kammu Heishi. The famous poet Ariwara no Narihira was also one of his grandsons.
Emperor Kanmu is honored at his tomb, called the Kashiwabara Imperial Mausoleum. It is located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.
Key Events During Kanmu's Reign
Emperor Kanmu was a very active ruler. He worked hard to make the government stronger and more organized.
- 737: Kanmu was born.
- 773: He received the title of crown prince.
- April 30, 781: Kanmu became emperor.
- 784: He moved the capital of Japan from Nara (Heijō-kyō) to Nagaoka-kyō.
- 793: Construction began on the Enryaku Temple under the leadership of Dengyō.
- 794: The capital was moved again, this time to Heian-kyō, which is modern-day Kyoto. The new palace was called "palace of peace/tranquility." This move marked the start of the Heian period.
- November 17, 794: The emperor traveled in a grand procession to the new capital of Heian-kyō.
- 806: Kanmu died at the age of 70, after ruling for 25 years.
Eras of Kanmu's Reign
The years of Emperor Kanmu's rule are known by different era names (nengō):
Emperor Kanmu's Policies
Emperor Kanmu made important changes to how Japan was governed.
Moving the Capital
Earlier emperors had supported Buddhism a lot. This led to Buddhist priests becoming very involved in politics. To reduce their power, Kanmu moved the capital from Nara to Nagaoka-kyō in 784. The main Buddhist temples and their leaders stayed in Nara.
However, this move faced many problems. There were natural disasters, like floods, and the main architect of the new capital was killed. Because of these issues, Kanmu decided to move the capital again in 794 to Heian-kyō (Kyoto).
Military and Society Changes
Kanmu's armies were expanding the empire's borders. This led to some uprisings and defeats. In 789, there was also a severe drought and famine. Many people were sick, and some tried to avoid being forced into the military or labor.
To fix this, Kanmu stopped the national draft in 792. Instead, each province formed its own local militia from noble families.
Education and Religion
Emperor Kanmu also changed the university's courses. He wanted to strengthen the idea that the Emperor was the "Son of Heaven" and should rule over all lands. He supported new teachings based on the Spring and Autumn Annals. These teachings became required reading at the government university in 798.
He also helped two important monks, Saichō and Kūkai, travel to China. When they returned, they started new branches of Buddhism in Japan: Tendai and Shingon Buddhism.
Important Court Officials
The Kugyō was a small group of the most powerful men in the Emperor's court. These were experienced nobles who reached the highest positions in government.
During Kanmu's reign, some of these top officials included:
- Sadaijin (Minister of the Left): Fujiwara no Uona (781–82), Fujiwara no Tamaro (783).
- Udaijin (Minister of the Right): Ōnakatomi no Kiyomaro (771–81), Fujiwara no Tamaro (782–83), Fujiwara no Korekimi (783–89), Fujiwara no Tsuginawa (790–96), Miwa ōkimi (798–806), Fujiwara no Uchimaro (806–12).
- Dainagon (Major Counselor)
Emperor Kanmu's Legacy
In 2001, Emperor Akihito of Japan mentioned a connection to Korea. He said that Emperor Kanmu's mother was a descendant of King Muryong of Baekje from Korea. This was the first time a Japanese emperor publicly spoke about Korean ancestry in the imperial family.
See also
- Emperor of Japan
- List of Emperors of Japan
- Heian-kyō
- Heian Shrine
- Kammu Seamount
