Emperor Ingyō was the 19thEmperor 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 410 to 453.
Legendary narrative
Ingyō is regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor" of the 5th century. The reign of Emperor Kinmei, the 29th Emperor, is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates; however, the conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not to be confirmed as "traditional" until the reign of Emperor Kanmu, the 50th sovereign of the Yamato dynasty. According to Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, he was the fourth son of Emperor Nintoku and his consort Princess Iwa, and therefore a younger brother of his predecessor Emperor Hanzei. He sat on the throne after Hanzei died and ruled for 41 years. His name was Oasazuma Wakugo no Sukune. Ingyō's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi, meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Ingyō might have been referred to as or the "Great King of Yamato". His consort was Oshisaka no Ōnakatsu no Hime. They had five sons and four daughters, including Emperor Ankō and Emperor Yūryaku. He reformed the system of family and clan names, because many named themselves false names using higher ranked clan or family names.
Events of Ingyō's reign
The earliest documented earthquake in Japan occurred during Ingyō's reign, in 416, when the Imperial Palace at Kyoto was leveled by the severity of the Earth's tremors. Some scholars identify Ingyō with King Sai in the Book of Song. This would have been a king of Japan who is said to have sent messengers to the Liu Song dynasty at least twice, in 443 and 451. According to Nihon Shoki, the king of the Korean Silla Kingdom grieved very much when Ingyō died. To comfort the soul of Ingyo, he presented Japan 80 musicians. The actual site of Ingyō's grave is not known. The Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorialShinto shrine near Osaka. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Ingyō's mausoleum. It is formally known as Emperor Ingyō's misasagi, in Fujiideracity near Osaka.
Consorts and children
Empress: Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime, Prince Wakanuke-Futamata's daughter
