Emperor Monmu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor Monmu文武天皇 |
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| Emperor of Japan | |||||
| Reign | 697–707 | ||||
| Coronation | September 23, 697 | ||||
| Predecessor | Jitō | ||||
| Successor | Genmei | ||||
| Born | Karu (珂瑠 or 軽) 13 October 683 |
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| Died | 18 July 707 (aged 23) Fujiwara-kyō, Japan |
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| Burial | Hinokuma no Ako no oka no e no misasagi (檜隈安古岡上陵) (Nara) | ||||
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| House | Yamato | ||||
| Father | Prince Kusakabe | ||||
| Mother | Empress Genmei | ||||
Emperor Monmu (文武天皇, Monmu-tennō) was the 42nd emperor of Japan. He ruled from 697 to 707. His reign was an important time in Japanese history, as he helped bring back the use of official era names.
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Who Was Emperor Monmu?
Before he became emperor, his personal name was Karu-shinnō. He was the grandson of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. His father was Prince Kusakabe, and his mother was Princess Abe. Princess Abe later became Empress Genmei, ruling Japan herself.
Karu-shinnō was only six years old when his father, Crown Prince Kusakabe, passed away.
Key Events During Monmu's Reign
- 697: Empress Jitō, Monmu's grandmother, decided to step down from the throne. Monmu, her grandson, then became the new emperor. This event is called his "accession to the throne."
Emperor Monmu ruled for 10 years until his death in 707. He was only 25 years old when he died. After his death, his mother, Empress Genmei, became the next ruler. Monmu had a young son named Prince Obito, who later became Emperor Shōmu.
The place where Emperor Monmu is buried is known. It is a special memorial Shinto shrine called a misasagi in Nara. The Imperial Household Agency, which manages royal affairs, officially calls it Hinokuma no Ako no oka no e no misasagi.
Important People in Monmu's Court
During Emperor Monmu's time, there was a small group of very powerful men at the imperial court. This group was known as the Kugyō. These men were usually from important families and had a lot of experience in government. They helped the emperor make big decisions.
The top officials in the government during Monmu's reign included:
- Daijō-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm): Osakabe-shinnō
- Sadaijin (Minister of the Left)
- Udaijin (Minister of the Right)
- Naidaijin (Minister of the Center): Nakatomi Kamako no Muraji
- Dainagon (Chief Counselor): Fujiwara Fuhito
Eras of Monmu's Rule
In ancient Japan, emperors often gave special names to periods of their rule. These were called era names or nengō.
During Emperor Monmu's reign, two main era names were used:
- Taihō (era) (701–704)
- Keiun (704–708)
Interestingly, the very first years of Monmu's rule did not have an official era name. It was Emperor Monmu who brought back the tradition of using nengō when he announced the start of the Taihō era in 701.
Emperor Monmu's Family
Emperor Monmu had children with his wife, Fujiwara no Miyako. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito, one of the important officials in his court.
- First Son: Prince Obito, who later became Emperor Shōmu.
He also had children with other women, including Ki no Kamado-no-iratsume and Ishikawa no Tone-no-iratsume.
See also
In Spanish: Monmu Tennō para niños
- Emperor of Japan
- List of Emperors of Japan
- Imperial cult
- Taihō Code
