Empress Jitō (持統天皇, Jitō-tennō, 645 – 13 January 703) was a powerful and wise empress who ruled ancient Japan from 686 to 697. She was a remarkable leader who helped shape the future of her country, known for her intelligence, her dedication to good government, and her love for her family.

In the long history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to become an empress regnant. The two empresses before her were Suiko and Kōgyoku (also known as Saimei). After Jitō, five more women ruled as empresses: Genmei, Genshō, Kōken (also known as Shōtoku), Meishō, and Go-Sakuramachi.

Early Life and Family
Life as an Empress Consort
Children
Empress Jitō's Reign (686-697 CE)
- Important Court Officials
A Love for Poetry
Later years
Empress Jitō's Burial Place
Legacy
See also

Early Life and Family

Poem-by-Empress-Jito-by-Utagawa-Kuniyoshi

Poem by Empress Jitō

Empress Jitō was born Princess Unonosarara in 645 CE. Sometimes, she was simply called Uno.

Her Father: Princess Unonosarara was the daughter of Emperor Tenji, a very important emperor who made many changes to help Japan grow stronger. This meant she was born into the very heart of the imperial family, destined for a life of importance.
Her Mother: Her mother was Soga no Ochi-no-iratsume.
Her Husband: She married her uncle, Prince Ōama. Now, this might sound a little unusual today, but in ancient royal families, it was sometimes done to keep power and important family connections strong within the ruling family. Prince Ōama later became Emperor Tenmu, making Princess Unonosarara his empress consort.

Life as an Empress Consort

Before she became Empress Jitō herself, she was the empress consort to Emperor Tenmu. This meant she was his wife and played an important role by his side. She was known to be very intelligent and often helped her husband with important decisions. She learned a lot about how to run a country during this time, which prepared her for her own reign.

Children

Empress Jitō had one son with Emperor Tenmu, named Prince Kusakabe. He was a very important child because, as the son of the emperor and empress, he was expected to become the next emperor of Japan.

Prince Kusakabe was raised with the best education and training to prepare him for his future role. He learned about government, history, and how to lead. Sadly, he passed away in 689 CE when he was still quite young, before he could become emperor. This was a very difficult time for Empress Jitō and the entire imperial family. It meant that the plans for who would rule next had to change.

Empress Jitō's Reign (686-697 CE)

Empress Jitō ruled for eleven years from the Fujiwara Palace in Yamato. In 690, during her enthronement ceremony, she performed a special ritual and then gave pardon to many people. Her time as ruler was marked by many important achievements that helped shape ancient Japan. She was a strong and visionary leader.

One of her most famous achievements was moving the capital city to a brand new location called Fujiwara-kyō. This wasn't just any move; Fujiwara-kyō was Japan's first truly planned capital city. It was designed with wide streets, grand buildings, and a layout inspired by cities in China, which was a very advanced country at the time. Moving the capital showed how strong and organized the imperial government was becoming. It was a symbol of a new era for Japan.

Empress Jitō continued the work that her husband, Emperor Tenmu, had started in creating a more organized and fair government system. She helped to develop and implement the "Ritsuryō system," which was a set of laws and rules for how the government should work, how land should be divided, and how taxes should be collected. This system helped to create a more stable and unified country.
She also ordered a census, which is like counting all the people in the country. This helped the government understand its population better and plan for the future.

In 697, Jitō decided to step down from the throne. She gave the throne to Monmu. After she retired, she took the special title of daijō-tennō. This means "retired sovereign." After her, other emperors who retired also used this title.

Jitō continued to have power even after retiring. She became a cloistered ruler. This means she ruled from behind the scenes. This became a common way for powerful people to influence politics in Japan.

Important Court Officials

Kugyō (公卿) was a special name for the most powerful men in the emperor's court before the Meiji era.

This small group usually had only three or four men at a time. They were nobles who inherited their positions. Their experience helped them reach the highest levels of their careers. During Empress Jitō's reign, the top officials in the Daijō-kan (the government's highest office) included:

Daijō-daijin, Takechi-shinnō (who was Emperor Tenmu's third son)
Sadaijin
Udaijin
Naidaijin

A Love for Poetry

Empress Jitō wasn't just a skilled ruler; she was also a talented poet! She wrote beautiful poems, some of which are still famous today and can be found in an ancient collection called the Man'yōshū. This shows that she had both a strong mind for leadership and a creative spirit.

Japanese	Rōmaji	English
やすみしし我が大君の夕されば見したまふらし明け来れば問ひたまふらし神岳の山の黄葉を今日もかも問ひたまはまし明日もかも見したまはましその山を振り放け見つつ夕さればあやに悲しみ明け来ればうらさび暮らし荒栲の衣の袖は干る時もなし	Yasumishishi waga ōkimi no Yū sareba meshita furashi Akekureba toita furashi Kamuoka no yama no momichi to Kyō mo ka mo toita mawamashi Asu mo ka mo meshita mawamashi Sono yama o furisakemitsutsu Yū sareba aya ni kanashimi Akekureba Urasabikurashi Aratae no Koromo no sode wa Furu toki mo nashi	Oh, the autumn foliage Of the hill of Kamioka! My good Lord and Sovereign Would see it in the evening And ask of it in the morning. On that very hill from afar I gaze, wondering If he sees it to-day, Or asks of it to-morrow. Sadness I feel at eve, And heart-rending grief at morn— The sleeves of my coarse-cloth robe Are never for a moment dry.

Another poem by Empress Jitō was chosen by Fujiwara no Teika for a very popular poetry book called Hyakunin Isshu:

Japanese	Rōmaji	English
春過ぎて夏来にけらし白妙の衣干すてふ天の香具山	Haru sugite Natsu kinikerashi Shirotae no Koromo hosu chō Ama no Kaguyama	The spring has passed And the summer come again For the silk-white robes So they say, are spread to dry On Mount Kaguyama

Later years

Even though her son, Prince Kusakabe, passed away, Empress Jitō was determined to ensure a smooth succession for the imperial line. She focused on her grandson, Prince Karu (who was Prince Kusakabe's son).

She carefully guided Prince Karu, preparing him to become the next emperor. Her dedication to her grandson showed her deep commitment to the stability and future of Japan.

In 697 CE, Empress Jitō did something very unusual for a ruler: she "retired" from the throne. She passed the leadership to her grandson, who became Emperor Monmu. Even after retiring, she continued to advise him, showing her wisdom and ongoing care for the country. This was one of the first times an empress had retired in this way, setting a new example.

Empress Jitō's Burial Place

Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Empress Jitō

The exact place where Empress Jitō is buried is known. This empress is honored at a memorial Shinto shrine called a misasagi in Nara.

The Imperial Household Agency is in charge of royal burial sites. They officially call this location Jitō's mausoleum. Its formal name is Ochi-no-Okanoe no misasagi.

Legacy

Empress Jitō is remembered as one of Japan's most important and influential rulers. She was a strong, intelligent, and dedicated leader who:

Helped establish a new, grand capital city.
Strengthened the government and legal system.
Ensured a stable future for the imperial family.
Showed that women could be powerful and effective rulers.

Empress Jitō facts for kids

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