Empress Genmei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Empress Genmei元明天皇 |
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| Empress of Japan | |||||
| Reign | August 18, 707 – October 3, 715 | ||||
| Predecessor | Monmu | ||||
| Successor | Genshō | ||||
| Born | Ahe (阿閇 or 阿部) April 20, 660 |
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| Died | December 29, 721 (aged 61) Nara, Japan |
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| Burial | Nahoyama no higashi no misasagi (Nara) | ||||
| Spouse | Prince Kusakabe | ||||
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| House | Yamato | ||||
| Father | Emperor Tenji | ||||
| Mother | Soga no Mei-no-iratsume | ||||
Empress Genmei (元明天皇 (Genmei-tennō)) was the 43rd ruler of Japan. She was an empress, meaning she was a woman who ruled the country. She reigned from 707 to 715 CE.
Genmei was born on April 20, 660, and passed away on December 29, 721. In Japan's long history, she was the fourth of eight women to become empress. Other famous empresses included Empress Suiko and Empress Jitō.
Contents
Empress Genmei's Family and Early Life
Before she became empress, her personal name was Abe-hime. She was the fourth daughter of Emperor Tenji. Her mother was Mei-no-Iratsume.
Genmei married Prince Kusakabe, who was the son of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Together, they had two children who would also become rulers: Emperor Monmu and Empress Genshō.
Becoming Empress: A Royal Responsibility
Empress Genmei took the throne in 707. This happened after her son, Emperor Monmu, passed away. He left behind a young son, who was Genmei's grandson.
Some stories say that Genmei became empress because her grandson was too young to rule. She took on the role to protect the throne for him until he was old enough.
Key Events During Genmei's Reign (707-715 CE)
Empress Genmei's time as ruler was very important for Japan. Many significant changes happened during these years.
New Capital: Moving to Nara
- 710 CE: Empress Genmei made a big decision. She moved the capital city of Japan to a new place called Heijō-kyō in Nara.
- For a long time, it was a tradition to move the capital with each new ruler. But Emperor Monmu had stayed in the old capital.
- Empress Genmei's move to Nara was a huge event. This new capital would stay important for the next seven rulers. The time when Nara was the capital is now known as the Nara period.
New Money: Discovering Copper
- 707 CE: People found large amounts of copper in a place called Chichibu. This was a very exciting discovery for Japan.
- 708 CE: To celebrate the copper discovery, the name of the era was changed to Wadō. Wa means "Japanese" and dō means "copper." So, Wadō means "Japanese Copper."
- May 5, 708 CE: A special sample of the new copper was shown at Genmei's court. A place to make coins was then set up in Ōmi Province.
Important Books: Recording History and Land
- 711 CE: A very important book called the Kojiki was finished and published. This book tells the history of Japan, starting from ancient myths about gods and rulers.
- Emperor Tenmu had started this project, but he passed away before it was done. Empress Genmei and her court helped make sure this huge history project was completed.
- 713 CE: Empress Genmei ordered the creation of another important set of books called the Fudoki. These books were meant to describe all the provinces, cities, mountains, and rivers in Japan.
- The Fudoki also recorded information about plants, animals, and important events that happened in the country. Parts of these books still exist today.
Roads and Provinces: Improving the Country
- 709 CE: There were some small uprisings in certain areas, but troops were quickly sent to stop them.
- 709 CE: Ambassadors from Silla (a kingdom in Korea) visited Japan and offered gifts.
- 712 CE: The large Mutsu Province was divided into two smaller provinces.
- 713 CE: Other provinces like Tanba Province and Mimasaka Province were also divided to make them easier to manage.
- 713 CE: Roads were made wider in areas like Mino Province and Shinano Province. This made it easier for people to travel across the country.
Empress Genmei Steps Down
Empress Genmei had planned to rule only until her grandson was old enough. In 715 CE, she decided to step down from the throne.
- 715 CE: Genmei gave the throne to her daughter, who then became known as Empress Genshō. This was special because it was rare for a mother to be followed by her daughter on the throne.
- After she stepped down, Genmei was known as Daijō-tennō, which means "retired emperor." She was only the second woman to hold this title.
- Empress Genmei lived for seven more years after retiring. She passed away in December 721, at the age of 61.
Empress Genmei's Legacy
Empress Genmei's burial place is known. It is a special Shinto shrine called a misasagi in Nara City. This place is where people honor her memory.
Poetry by the Empress
Empress Genmei was also a poet. A poem she wrote in 708 CE is found in an old collection called the Man'yōshū:
Listen to the sounds of the warriors' elbow-guards; Our captain must be ranging the shields to drill the troops. – Genmei-tennō
One of the ladies in her court, Minabe-hime, wrote a reply:
Be not concerned, O my Sovereign; Am I not here, I, whom the ancestral gods endowed with life, Next of kin to yourself? – Minabe-hime
Spouse and Children
- Husband: Prince Kusakabe (son of Emperor Tenmu)
- Daughter: Princess Hidaka, who later became Empress Genshō
- Son: Prince Karu, who later became Emperor Monmu
- Daughter: Imperial Princess Kibi
Eras During Genmei's Reign
In Japan, periods of time are often named after eras. Empress Genmei's reign included these eras:
Images for kids
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A monument for the Wadōkaichin copper coins
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A reconstructed image of the Daigokuden in Heijō-kyō, the new capital Empress Genmei moved to.
See also
In Spanish: Emperatriz Genmei para niños
