Emperor Shomu

Emperor Sh?mu (???? Sh?mu Tenn?) (701 - May 2, 756{{an|Japanese_dates1 1}}) was the 45th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He was the son of Emperor Mommu and Fujiwara no Miyako, a daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito. Sh?mu's aunt and predecessor, Empress Gensh?, gave him the throne when she abdicated in 724. In, 749, Sh?mu himself abdicated in favor of his daughter, Empress K?ken, but continued to control the government.

Related Topics:
701 - Imperial ruler - Japan - Emperor Mommu - Fujiwara no Fuhito - Empress Gensh? - 724 - 749 - Empress K?ken

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Sh?mu is mainly remembered for commissioning the sixteen-meter high statue of the Vairocana Buddha in the T?daiji Temple of Nara. At the time, this was such a massive undertaking that later chroniclers accuse him of having completely exhausted the country's reserves of bronze and precious metals. The former emperor personally painted in the statue's eyes at the opening ceremony in 752 and declared himself a servant of the three treasures: the Buddha, Buddhist teachings and the Buddhist community, making this the closest anyone ever came to declaring Japan a Buddhist nation. He likewise established the system of provincial temples.

Related Topics:
Vairocana Buddha - T?daiji Temple - Nara - Bronze - Precious metal - 752 - Three treasures - Buddha - Buddhist teachings - Buddhist community - Provincial temple

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Sh?mu is also known as the first emperor whose consort was not born into the imperial household. His consort K?my? was a Fujiwara woman. The two had a son who died in childhood.

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