Emperor Keitai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor Keitai継体天皇 |
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Statue of Keitai in Mount Asuwa, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
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| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 3 March 507 – 10 March 531 | ||||
| Predecessor | Buretsu | ||||
| Successor | Ankan | ||||
| Born | 450 | ||||
| Died | March 10, 531 (aged 80–81) | ||||
| Burial | Mishima no Akinu no misasagi (三島藍野陵) (Osaka) | ||||
| Spouse | Tashiraka | ||||
| Issue among others... |
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| House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
| Father | Hikoushi no Ōkimi | ||||
| Mother | Furihime | ||||
Emperor Keitai (継体天皇, Keitai-tennō) (died March 10, 531) was the 26th legendary emperor of Japan. He is listed in the traditional order of succession.
It's hard to know the exact dates for Emperor Keitai's life or when he ruled. But people usually say he was emperor from March 3, 507, to March 10, 531.
Contents
Emperor Keitai's Story
Keitai is thought to have ruled Japan in the early 500s. We don't have a lot of clear information about him. The old Japanese books, the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, tell slightly different stories.
The Kojiki says he was born in 485 and died on April 9, 527. In this book, he is called Ohodo (袁本杼).
The Nihon Shoki says he was born in 450 and died on February 7, 531, or maybe 534. This book calls him Ohodo (男大迹) and Hikofuto (彦太).
Some old records say he was first the King of Koshi. This was a smaller group of people in northern central Japan, possibly near the Sea of Japan. Today, some history books just call him King Ohodo of Koshi.
Keitai probably wasn't called tennō (Emperor) during his time. Most historians believe this title started later, with Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Instead, he was likely called Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王). This means "the great king who rules all under heaven." He might also have been called ヤマト大王/大君, or the "Great King of Yamato."
His Family Tree
Emperor Keitai was not the son of the emperor who ruled right before him. The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki say that Emperor Buretsu died without any children to take his place. So, Keitai, who was a great-great-great-grandson of Emperor Ōjin, became the new emperor.
Some historians think that Emperor Keitai started a new ruling family. If this is true, then Emperor Buretsu would have been the last ruler of Japan's first recorded ruling family.
The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki say Keitai's father was Hikoushi no Ō/Hikoushi no Ōkimi (彦主人王). His mother was Furihime (振媛). When Buretsu died, a powerful person named Kanamura suggested Keitai as the next ruler. Keitai was 58 years old at the time. His mother, Furihime, was related to Emperor Suinin. His father was related to Emperor Ōjin.
More family details come from an old text called Shaku Nihongi. It says Keitai was the son of Ushi no Ōkimi. This Ushi no Ōkimi is thought to be the same as Hikoushi no Ōkimi. The text traces his family back to Emperor Ōjin.
The family records from the Nihon Shoki are now lost. So, we don't know how accurate its stories are about Keitai's family. This makes some people wonder about his true family background.
Even with some questions about his family, many experts agree that Keitai was connected to the Okinaga clan. This was a strong local family in the Ōmi region (now part of Shiga Prefecture). This family gave many empresses and wives to the imperial family over time. The Nihon Shoki says Keitai's great-grandfather married into the Okinaga clan. Keitai's mother, Furihime, was from a local ruling family in Koshi. After his father died, his mother took him to her home. Many stories about this family are still told in shrines and old families in both regions.
After Keitai died, there were many arguments about who should be the next emperor. People supported different sons of Keitai. Some supported the sons who would become Emperor Ankan and Emperor Senka. Others supported the son who would become Emperor Kinmei.
Keitai's Time as Emperor
Keitai announced he was emperor in Kusuba, in northern Kawachi Province (which is now Shijonawate, Osaka). He married Princess Tashiraka, who was a younger sister of Emperor Buretsu. It seems not everyone was happy about him becoming emperor. It took him about 20 years to finally enter Yamato Province. Yamato was near Kawachi and was the main political center of Japan back then.
Later in Keitai's reign, around 527 or 528, a big fight called the Iwai Rebellion happened in Tsukushi province, in Kyūshū. Keitai sent Mononobe no Arakabi as a general to stop the rebellion in Kyūshū.
Among his sons, Emperor Ankan, Emperor Senka, and Emperor Kinmei all became emperors after him.
We don't know the exact place where Keitai is buried. But people traditionally honor him at a Shinto memorial shrine called a misasagi. This shrine is at the Ooda Chausuyama kofun in Ibaraki, Osaka.
The Imperial Household Agency says this spot is Keitai's official mausoleum. Its formal name is Mishima no Aikinu no misasagi.
His Wives and Children
Empress: Princess Tashiraka (手白香皇女, b. 489), daughter of Emperor Ninken
- Prince Amekunioshiharakihironiwa (天国排開広庭尊), later Prince Ahohiko
- Emperor Kinmei (欽明天皇)
Wife: Menokohime (目子媛), daughter of Owari no Muraji Kusaka
- First Son: Prince Magari no Ōe (勾大兄皇子), later Emperor Ankan
- Second son: Prince Hinokuma no Takata (檜隈高田皇子), later Emperor Senka
Wife: Wakakohime (稚子媛), younger sister of Mio no Tsunoori no Kimi
- Prince Ōiratsuko (大郎皇子)
- Princess Izumo (出雲皇女)
Wife: Hirohime (広媛), daughter of Prince Sakata no Ōmata
- Princess Kamusaki (神前皇女)
- Princess Manta (茨田皇女)
- Princess Umaguta (馬来田皇女)
Wife: Ominoiratsume (麻績娘子), daughter of Okinaga no Mate (息長真手王)
- Princess Sasage (荳角皇女), Saiō
Wife: Sekihime (関媛), daughter of Manda no Muraji Omochi (茨田連小望)
- Princess Manda no Ōiratsume (茨田大娘皇女)
- Princess Shirasaka no Ikuhihime (白坂活日姫皇女)
- Princess Ono no Wakairatsume (小野稚娘皇女)
Wife: Yamatohime (倭媛), daughter of Mio no Kimi Katahi (三尾君堅楲)
- Princess Ōiratsume (大郎子皇女)
- Prince Maroko (椀子皇子)
- Prince Mimi (耳皇子)
- Princess Akahime (赤姫皇女)
Wife: Haehime (荑媛), daughter of Wani no Omi Kawachi (和珥臣河内)
- Princess Wakayahime (稚綾姫皇女)
- Princess Tubira no Iratsuko (円娘皇女)
- Prince Atsu (厚皇子)
Wife: Hirohime (広媛), daughter of Ne (根王)
- Prince Usagi (菟皇子)
- Prince Nakatsu (中皇子)
See also
In Spanish: Keitai Tennō para niños
- The civil war of the Keitai and Kinmei dynasties
- Emperor of Japan
- List of Emperors of Japan
- Imperial cult
