Emperor Ōjin


Emperor Ōjin, also known as or, was the 15th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
No firm dates can be assigned to this Emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 270 to 310.

Legendary narrative

According to the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, Ōjin was the son of the Emperor Chūai and his consort Empress Jingū. As Chūai died before Ōjin's birth, his mother Empress Jingū became the de facto ruler. The history book written to the 8th century, alleged that the boy Ōjin was conceived but unborn when Chūai died. His widow, Empress Jingū, then spent three years in conquest of a promised land, which is conjectured to be Korea, but the story is largely dismissed by scholars for lack of evidence. Then, after her return to Japanese islands, the boy was born, three years after the death of the father.
Either a period of less than nine months contained three "years", e.g. three harvests, or the paternity is just mythical and symbolic, rather than real. Ōjin was born in Tsukushi Province upon the return of his mother from the invasion of the promised land, and was named Prince Hondawake. He became the crown prince at the age of four. He was crowned at the age of 70 and reigned for 40 years until his death in 310, although none of the TC dates around his reign have any historical basis. He supposedly lived in two palaces, both of which are in present-day Osaka.
Ōjin was traditionally identified as the father of Emperor Nintoku, who acceded after Ōjin's death.

Known information

While the historical existence of Emperor Ōjin is debated among historians, there is a general consensus that he was "probably real". If Ōjin was an actual historical figure then historians have proposed that he ruled later than attested. Dates of his actual reign have been proposed to be as early as 370 to 390 AD, to as late as the early 5th century AD. At least one Japanese historian has cast doubt on this theory though, by revising a supporting statement given in 1972. In this new narrative Louis Perez states: "only kings and emperors after the reign of Ojin......are seen as historical figures". In either case there is also no evidence to suggest that the title tennō was used during the time to which Ōjin's reign has been assigned. It is certainly possible that he was a chieftain or local clan leader, and that the polity he ruled would have only encompassed a small portion of modern-day Japan. The name Ōjin-tennō was more than likely assigned to him posthumously by later generations.
While the actual site of Ōjin's grave is not known, this regent is traditionally venerated at a kofun-type Imperial tomb in Osaka. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Ōjin's mausoleum, and is formally named Eega no Mofushi no oka no misasagi. At some point Ōjin was made a guardian Kami of the Hata clan, and is now also deified as Hachiman Daimyōjin. Outside of the Kiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei is the first for which contemporary historiography has been able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Family

Emperor Ōjin's family allegedly consisted of 28 children, which include 2 unnamed princesses from a previous marriage. He had one spouse who bore him a son that would become the next Emperor, as well as 10 consorts.

Spouse & concubines

Issue

StatusNameMotherComments
PrincessArataNakatsu-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceŌosazakiNakatsu-himeWould later become Emperor Emperor Nintoku.
PrinceNetoriNakatsu-himeAncestor of Ōta no Kimi, married Princess Awaji no Mihara.
PrinceIzanomawakaTakakiiri-himeAncestor of Fukakawawake.
PrinceNukata no ŌnakatsuhikoTakakiiri-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceŌyamamoriTakakiiri-himeŌyamamori died in 310 AD.
PrincessKomukutaTakakiiri-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessŌharaTakakiiri-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessAheOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessAwaji no MiharaOto-himeMarried to Prince Netori
PrincessKi no UnoOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessMino no IratsumeOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessShigeharaOto-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceUji no WakiiratsukoMiyanushiyaka-himeUji was a Crown Prince.
PrincessMetoriMiyanushiyaka-himeMetori died in 353 AD, and was married to Prince "Hayabusawake".
PrincessYataMiyanushiyaka-himeYata was later married to Emperor Nintoku.
PrincessUji no Wakiiratsu-himeOnabe-himeUji was later married to Emperor Nintoku.
PrinceWakanuke no FutamataOkinaga Mawakanakatsu-himeAncestor of Okinaga clan, amd great-grandfather of Emperor Keitai.
PrinceHayabusawakeIto-himeHayabusawake was the husband of Princess Metori.
PrinceŌhaeHimuka no Izumi no Naga-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceOhaeHimuka no Izumi no Naga-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessHatabi no WakairatsumeHimuka no Izumi no Naga-himeHatabi was later married to Emperor Richū
PrincessKawarata no IratsumeKaguro-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrincessTama no IratsumeKaguro-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceKatajiKaguro-himeVery little is known about this person.
PrinceIzanomawakaKatsuragi no IromeVery little is known about this person.