Emperor Kimmei

Emperor Kimmei (???? Kinmei Tenn?) (509-571) was the 29th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and the first to whom contemporary historiography assigns clear dates. His father was Emperor Keitai and his mother was Emperor Ninken's daughter, Princess Tashiraka (?????). He was also known by the name Emperor Amehara Oshiharaki Hironiwa (???????). Upon the death of his older brother Emperor Senka in 539, Emperor Kimmei acceded to the throne and moved his court to Shikishima no Kanazashi Palace (??????) in Yamato. Mononobe no Okoshi and Nakatomi no Kanamura were both appointed ?muraji, and Soga no Iname was appointed ?omi. Although the imperial court did not move to the Asuka region of Japan until 592, Emperor Kimmei's rule is considered by some to be the beginning of the Asuka period of Yamato Japan, particularly those who associate the Asuka period primarily with the introduction of Buddhism to Japan.

Related Topics:
509 - 571 - Imperial ruler - Japan - Emperor Keitai - Emperor Ninken's - Emperor Senka - 539 - Yamato - Mononobe no Okoshi - Nakatomi no Kanamura - ?muraji - Soga no Iname - ?omi - Asuka - 592 - Asuka period - Yamato - Buddhism

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According to the Nihon Shoki, Emperor Kimmei received a bronze statue of Buddha as a gift from the king of Paekche Song Myong Wang (???, Seimei ?) in 552. {However, according to the 'J?g? Sh?toku H?? Teisetsu', Buddhism was introduced in 538.) Although Buddhism was already practiced in Japan by many Korean immigrants by this time, this episode is widely regarded as the official introduction of Buddhism to the country.

Related Topics:
Nihon Shoki - Buddha - Paekche - 552 - 538 - Korea

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With the introduction of a new religion to the court, a deep rift developed between the Mononobe clan, who supported the worship of Japan's traditional deities, and the Soga clan, who supported the adoption of Buddhism. According to one famous episode, shortly after the Soga's began worshipping the new Buddha statue, a plague broke out, which the Mononobe's promptly attributed to a curse by Japan's traditional deities as punishment for worshipping the foreign god. Mononobe no Okoshi and his men promptly threw the statue into a river in Naniwa and burned the temple that the Soga's had built to hold it.

Related Topics:
Mononobe clan - Naniwa

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Because of several temporal discrepancies in the account of Emperor Kimmei in the Nihon Shoki, some believe that his was actually a rival court to that of Emperors Ankan and Senka. According to the Nihon Shoki, Emperor Kimmei ruled until his death in 571 and was buried in the Hinokuma no Sakai Burial Mound (?????) but a stronger theory holds that he was actually buried in the Misemaruyama Tumulus (??????) located in Kashihara City (???).

Related Topics:
Ankan - Senka - 571

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