Emperor Tenji and Emperor Kōbun (Prince Ōtomo)

Emperor Tenji

¶Emperor Tenji was at first called Prince Katsuragi (Note: this follows the account given in the second year of Emperor Jomei's reign in the original text). He was also known as Prince Naka-no-Ōe. He was the legitimate son of Emperor Jomei, and his mother was Empress Kōgyoku.

¶The prince had long observed that Soga-no-Iruka wielded power arbitrarily, and that signs of his usurping ambitions, overstepping his proper station, were growing ever more apparent. He therefore plotted in secret with Nakatomi-no-Kamatari to remove him. Following this plan, he took a daughter of Soga-no-Ishikawamaro in marriage, so as to secure her father's backing. Kamatari, for his part, recommended Saeki-no-Komaro and Katsuragi-no-Wakainukai-no-Amita to join the plot.

¶In the sixth month of the fourth year of Empress Kōgyoku's reign, the three Han presented tribute at court. The empress took her seat in the Daigokuden, the Hall of State, and Iruka entered the palace in court dress. Prince Naka-no-Ōe had beforehand ordered Ishikawamaro to read aloud the memorial of tribute from the three Han. Komaro and Amita were to cut Iruka down at that moment; the prince further ordered the Emonfu, the Palace Gate Guards, to close all twelve of the gates and cut off passage in and out, while he himself took up a long spear and stood beside the hall. Kamatari stood guard with bow and arrows. As Ishikawamaro was coming to the end of the memorial, Kamatari urged Komaro forward, but Komaro, overcome with fear, could not move. Ishikawamaro's hands trembled and his voice faltered, and sweat soaked his back. Iruka, suspicious, asked him what was wrong, and Ishikawamaro answered, "I find myself so close to the empress's awesome presence that I cannot help it." Fearing that the moment would pass and the plot be discovered, the prince sprang out at once and struck Iruka himself, wounding him in the head and shoulder. Komaro and the others then came forward and cut off one of his legs. Iruka crawled to the empress's seat and, striking his head to the ground, cried, "I am aware of no crime of my own — may Heaven's own judgment make this plain!" The empress asked Prince Naka-no-Ōe, "What crime has Iruka committed?" The prince prostrated himself and answered, "Kuratsukuri" — that is, Iruka — "has sought to destroy the whole of the imperial house and to overturn the throne itself. How could Kuratsukuri be allowed to take the place of the Heaven-descended line?" The empress at once rose and withdrew within. Komaro and the others then put Iruka to death. Fearing that further trouble might break out, the prince took refuge in Hōkōji and made ready there; the princes and the court nobles all hastened to join him. Iruka's corpse was given over to his father, Emishi. The Aya-no-Atai and their followers rallied to Emishi's side and sought to raise a revolt, but the prince ordered the general Kose-no-Tokuta to explain to them the principle of loyalty and rebellion. The rebels threw down their arms and scattered, and Emishi submitted to his punishment.

¶Empress Kōgyoku wished to pass the throne to Prince Naka-no-Ōe, but the prince, following Kamatari's counsel, secretly petitioned that it be yielded instead to Emperor Kōtoku. The empress approved of this, and in the end yielded the throne to Emperor Kōtoku, installing the prince as crown prince to assist in the government.

¶When Empress Saimei ascended the throne a second time, the prince continued as crown prince as before.

¶In the first month of the seventh year, the prince took part in the western campaign. In the seventh month, Empress Saimei died at the temporary palace of Asakura. The crown prince took charge of the government while still in mourning dress, ruling without formally ascending the throne. In this month, the Tang general Soteihō, together with Keihitsu Kariki of the Tokketsu — the Göktürks — advanced by land and sea alike and pressed to the very walls of a Koma fortress. On the first day of the eighth month, the day Kinoe-ne, the crown prince, bearing the empress's remains, moved to the palace of Nagatsu and took charge of military affairs overseas. In this month he sent the former generals Azumi-no-Hirafu, of Daikege rank, and Kawabe-no-Momoe, of Shōkege rank, and the later generals Abe-no-Hikita-no-Hirafu, of Daikege rank, Mononobe-no-Kuma, of Daisenjō rank, and Mori-no-Ōiwa, of Daisenjō rank, to go to the relief of Kudara, and furnished them with weapons and grain. In the ninth month, he conferred the Shokkan cap on the Kudara prince Yoho and sent him back to his country, having Sai-no-Ajimasa, of Daisenge rank, and Echi-no-Hata-no-Takutsu, of Shōsenge rank, lead more than five thousand troops to escort him. On the seventh day of the tenth month, the day Tsuchinoto-mi, the crown prince, bearing the empress's coffin, set out from Nagatsu, and on the twenty-third day, the day Kinoto-tori, returned to Naniwa. On the seventh day of the eleventh month, the day Tsuchinoe-inu, Empress Saimei's body was laid in a mourning hall at Asuka-Kawara, where mourning rites continued for nine days. In the twelfth month, Koma reported that it had won a great victory over the Tang forces and had taken two of their forts. In this year, Kishida-maro, provincial governor of Harima, found a precious sword and presented it to the court.

¶In the year Mizunoe-inu, on the twenty-seventh day of the first month, the day Hinoto-mi, a hundred thousand arrows, five hundred kin of thread, a thousand kin of silk floss, a thousand lengths of cloth, a thousand tanned hides, and three thousand koku of rice seed were bestowed on the Sapyeong of Kudara, Kishitsu Fukushin. On the fourth day of the third month, the day Mizunoto-mi, three hundred lengths of cloth were bestowed on the Kudara prince Yoho. In this month, the people of Tang and of Silla together attacked Koma, and Koma sent envoys to beg for aid. In the fourth month, a mouse bore young on the tail of a horse. In the fifth month, the generalissimo, Azumi-no-Hirafu, of Daikinchū rank, led a fleet of a hundred and seventy ships to Kudara, proclaimed the imperial decree, and installed Yoho as king. He bestowed a gold tally on Kishitsu Fukushin and praised him by imperial decree. On the twenty-eighth day of the sixth month, the day Hinoe-inu, Kudara presented tribute. In this year, in order to go to the aid of Kudara, armor and weapons were repaired, and ships and provisions were made ready.

¶In the year Mizunoto-i, on the second day of the second month, the day Hinoe-inu, Kudara presented tribute. In this month, Kishitsu Fukushin presented captives taken from Tang, among them Shokushugen. In the third month, the former generals Kamitsukeno-no-Wakugo and Hashihito-no-Ōfuta, the middle generals Kose-no-Kamusaki-no-Osa and Miwa-no-Nemaro, and the later generals Abe-no-Hikita-no-Hirafu and Ōyake-no-Kamatsuka were sent out leading twenty-seven thousand troops to attack Silla. In the eighth month, Silla invaded Kudara and laid siege to its royal capital. The generals fought the Tang forces at Hakusukinoe but were defeated (Note: the Book of Tang gives the place as Hakkōkō). Echi-no-Hata-no-Takutsu, of Shōsenge rank, fell in this battle. King Yoho of Kudara fled to Koma. In the ninth month, the whole army returned from Kudara. The Sapyeong Yojishin, and the Dassotsu-rank officers Mokuso Kishi, Kokuna Shinshu, and Okurai Fukuru, led the people of the country in following them back.

¶In the year Kinoe-ne, on the ninth day of the second month, the day Hinoto-i, the crown prince ordered Prince Ōama (Note: the original text calls him "Daikōtei," the Imperial Younger Brother; but since the emperor had not yet formally ascended the throne at this time and was still styled crown prince, he is called "prince" here. On consideration, it is the general practice of the original text, whenever a crown prince is installed, to record the fact twice: in the chronicle of the previous emperor it is written, "In such a year, such a prince was installed as crown prince," and in the chronicle of the reign in which that prince himself ascends the throne it is written, "In such a year of such an emperor's reign, he was installed as crown prince." Yet the chronicle of Emperor Tenji alone does not record his installation as crown prince at all; it is only in the chronicle of Emperor Tenmu that it first appears, in the words, "In the first year of Emperor Tenji's reign, he was installed in the Eastern Palace." This differs from the usual practice followed elsewhere. Moreover the titles and forms "Daikōtei," "Tōgū Daikōtei," and "crown prince" are themselves not clearly distinguished. For this reason, in both this chronicle and that of Emperor Tenmu, his installation in the Eastern Palace is not separately recorded) to reform the titles of cap rank and increase them to twenty-six grades. The offices of uji-no-kami, clan head, kakibe, hereditary dependents, and yakabe, household dependents, were established. Great swords were bestowed on the clan heads of the greater clans, small swords on the clan heads of the lesser clans, and shields and bows and arrows on the clan heads among the tomo-no-miyatsuko. In the third month, Prince Zenkō of Kudara and his companions were settled at Naniwa. A star fell north of the capital. This spring there was an earthquake. On the seventeenth day of the fifth month, the day Kinoe-ne, Ryūjingan, the Tang garrison commander in Kudara (Note: on consideration, according to the Book of Tang, Ryūjingan had by this time already returned to Tang, and it was Ryūjinki who remained to hold Kudara; the same holds true below), sent Kakumusō, Chōsan-taifu, and others, who presented a memorial and gifts of tribute. In this month, the Minister, Soga-no-Murajiko, of Daishi rank, died (Note: the Shoku Nihongi states that the minister of the Ōmi court was Murajiko, of Daishi rank. The Kugyō Bunin and the Ichidai Yōki both state that the Minister, Soga-no-Murajiko-no-Omi, of Daishi rank, became minister in the first year and remained so as before; the date of his appointment is not clear. He died in the third month of the third year, having held office for three years; one account holds that he was appointed in the third month and died not long after). In the sixth month, Shima, the August Grandmother, died. On the fourth day of the tenth month, the day Tsuchinoe-tora, Kakumusō and his party were entertained, and gifts were bestowed on them, each according to his rank. In the twelfth month, Ōmi reported that stalks of grain, a sign of good omen, had grown together in both Sakata and Kurita Districts. In this year, sakimori, frontier guards, and tobuhi, beacon-fires, were set up in the lands of Tsushima, Iki, and Tsukushi; and at Tsukushi a great bank was raised to hold back the water, and this was named the Mizuki, the "Water Fortress."

¶In the year Kinoto-ushi, on the twenty-fifth day of the second month, the day Hinoto-tori, the Empress Dowager Hashihito died. In recognition of the past merit of the Sapyeong Kishitsu Fukushin, the Dassotsu-rank Kishitsu Shūshi was granted the Shōkinge cap. More than four hundred men and women of Kudara were settled in Kamusaki District in Ōmi and given rice fields. In the eighth month, the Kudara man Tōhon Shun was sent to build, for the first time, a fortress at Nagato. Okurai Fukuru and Shihi Fukubu were sent to Tsukushi to build the two fortresses of Ōno and Ki. People of Tamna came to the court. On the twenty-third day of the ninth month, the day Mizunoe-tatsu, the Tang envoy Ryūtokukō, military governor of Kishū, and his party presented a memorial. On the eleventh day of the tenth month, the day Tsuchinoto-tori, a grand military review was held at Uji. On the thirteenth day of the eleventh month, the day Kanoto-mi, the Tang envoys were entertained. In the twelfth month, Ryūtokukō and his party returned home, and gifts were bestowed on them, each according to rank. In this year, Mori-no-Ōiwa, of Shōkin rank, Sakaibe-no-Iwazumi, of Shōsen rank, and Kimi-no-Harima, of Daiotsu rank, were sent to Tang (Note: a note in the original text states that this was probably in order to escort the Tang envoys home).

¶In the year Hinoe-tora, on the eleventh day of the first month, the day Tsuchinoe-tora, Koma presented tribute. Tamna sent its prince Kojo to present tribute as well. In the third month, the crown prince visited the house of Saeki-no-Komaro to inquire after his illness. In the seventh month there was a great flood, and for this reason the land tax and tribute of that autumn were remitted. On the twenty-sixth day of the tenth month, the day Tsuchinoto-hitsuji, Koma again sent envoys to present tribute. This winter, rats moved from the capital to Ōmi. More than two thousand men and women of Kudara were settled in the eastern provinces. The monk Chiyu presented a south-pointing chariot.

¶In the year Hinoto-u, on the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the day Tsuchinoe-uma, Empress Saimei was buried. Princess Hashihito was buried together with her (Note: on consideration, Princess Hashihito was a daughter of Emperor Jomei, the consort of Emperor Kōtoku, and a cousin of Empress Saimei. She was earlier called "Empress Dowager" and is here called "princess," but both follow the old text of the original work as it stands. Why she was not buried at the Shinaga Misasagi but was instead interred together with the empress at the Ochi Misasagi is not clear). People of Koma, Kudara, and Silla, along the way, showed their grief. The crown prince said to the assembled ministers, "In accordance with the late empress's testament, and mindful of the burden on the people at large, I have halted the labor of building a stone burial chamber. Let this stand forever as a warning to later ages." On the nineteenth day of the third month, the day Tsuchinoto-u, the capital was moved to Ōmi (Note: the Ichidai Yōki states that the move, to the Ōtsu Palace in Shiga District, took place in the first month). The people did not wish for this, and for this reason songs of complaint, wazauta, were sung at the entrances to the villages. Fires also broke out repeatedly, and many houses were burned. In the sixth month, Kadono District presented a white swallow. On the eleventh day of the seventh month, the day Tsuchinoe-mi, Tamna presented tribute. In the eighth month, the crown prince went to the capital of Yamato. On the ninth day of the eleventh month, the day Kinoto-ushi, Ryūjingan, the Tang garrison commander in Kudara, sent Shiba Hōsō, magistrate of Yūzan county, and others, to escort Sakaibe-no-Iwazumi, of Daisenge rank, and his party to the Tsukushi Tokufu, the Tang's governor-general's office at Tsukushi. On the thirteenth day, the day Tsuchinoto-mi, Shiba Hōsō and his party returned home, escorted by Iki-no-Hakatoko, of Shōsenge rank, and Kasa-no-Moroiwa, of Daiotsuge rank. In this month, fortresses were built at Takayasu in Yamato, Yashima in Sanuki, and Kanata on Tsushima.

¶In the first year, the year Tsuchinoe-tatsu, in spring, on the third day of the first month, the day Tsuchinoe-ne, the emperor ascended the throne. He was called Amemikoto-Hirakasuwake-no-sumeramikoto (Note: one account in a note to the original text states that he ascended the throne in the third month of the sixth year. On consideration, the original text takes the year Mizunoe-inu as the first year of his reign; but the chronicle of Emperor Tenmu states, "In the twelfth month of the fourth year, Emperor Tenji died." This takes the year of his actual accession as the first year of his reign for reckoning purposes, and that is the reckoning followed here). He was forty-three years of age at the time (Note: this follows the chronicle of Emperor Jomei in the original text). The emperor was a model of filial devotion: he kept the mourning vigil, mogari, for the late empress for six full years, and only now ascended the throne (Note: this follows the Gukanshō and the Ichidai Yōki). On the seventh day, the day Mizunoe-tatsu, he gave a banquet for the assembled ministers in the palace. On the twenty-third day, the day Tsuchinoe-saru, Iki-no-Hakatoko, of Shōsenge rank, and his party returned from Kudara. On the twenty-third day of the second month, the day Tsuchinoe-tora, Princess Yamato was installed as empress, and Lady Ochi, Lady Mei, Lady Tachibana, and Lady Hitachi were received as consorts. In summer, on the sixth day of the fourth month, the day Kanoe-saru, Kudara presented tribute. On the fifth day of the fifth month, the day Tsuchinoe-ne, a hunt was held on the plain of Gamō; Prince Ōama and the princes and the assembled ministers below him all attended. In autumn, in the seventh month, Koma presented tribute. In this month, military exercises were held in Ōmi, and numerous pastures were established for the grazing of horses. The land of Koshi presented burning earth, coal, and burning water, petroleum. On the twelfth day of the ninth month, the day Mizunoto-mi, Silla presented tribute. On the twenty-ninth day, the day Kanoe-inu, Fuse-no-Mimimaro was sent to present a ship to the king of Silla for carrying tribute. In winter, in the tenth month, Tang destroyed Koma. On the first day of the eleventh month, the day Kanoto-mi, fifty bolts of silk, five hundred kin of silk floss, and a hundred tanned hides were bestowed on the king of Silla. On the fifth day, the day Kinoto-tori, Michimori-maro, of Shōsenge rank, and Kishi-no-Oshibi were sent to Silla. In this year, a Silla monk, Dōgyō, stole the sacred sword Kusanagi and sought to flee back to his own country with it, but he could not succeed and was stopped.

¶In the second year, the year Tsuchinoto-mi, in spring, on the eleventh day of the third month, the day Tsuchinoto-ushi, the king of Tamna sent his son Kumaki to present tribute. On the eighteenth day, the day Hinoe-saru, as Kumaki was about to return home, seeds of the five grains were bestowed on the king of Tamna. In summer, on the fifth day of the fifth month, the day Mizunoe-uma, a hunt was held on the plain of Yamashina; Prince Ōama and the assembled ministers all attended. In autumn, on the eleventh day of the ninth month, the day Hinoto-i, Silla presented tribute. This autumn, lightning struck the residence of the Uchi-tsu-omi, Nakatomi-no-Kamatari. In winter, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the day Kinoto-u, the emperor's carriage visited Kamatari's residence to inquire after his illness. On the fifteenth day, the day Kanoe-saru, Prince Ōama was sent to Kamatari's residence, bestowed on him the surname Fujiwara, and conferred on him the Daishoku cap, the highest rank, making him Inner Minister. The office of Inner Minister began with this. On the sixteenth day, the day Kanoto-tori, the Inner Minister Fujiwara-no-Kamatari died. On the nineteenth day, the day Kinoe-ne, the emperor visited Kamatari's residence, proclaimed a decree, and bestowed gifts of condolence, fu. In the twelfth month, the Great Storehouse caught fire. This winter, the fortress of Takayasu was repaired, and the taxes of the home provinces were stored there. Ikaruga-dera caught fire. In this year, Kawachi-no-Kujira, of Shōkinchū rank, and others were sent to Tang. The Kudara officials Sapyeong Yojishin and Sapyeong Kishitsu Shūshi, together with more than seven hundred men and women, were moved to Gamō District in Ōmi. The Tang envoy Kakumusō and more than two thousand others came to the court.

¶In the third year, the year Kanoe-uma, in spring, on the seventh day of the first month, the day Kanoto-mi, a decree was issued having the court nobles, maetsukimi, and officials, shi, hold a grand archery contest, taisha, at court. On the fourteenth day, the day Tsuchinoe-ne, the ceremonial etiquette of the court, and the manner in which travelers on the road should yield the way to one another, were established, and every manner of strange and reckless conduct was forbidden. In the second month, household registers were made, and thieves and vagrants were brought under control. The emperor made a progress to the plain of Hitsuni in Gamō District and inspected the site for a new palace. He also had the fortress of Takayasu repaired, and salt and grain stored there. The fortresses of Nagato and of Tsukushi were likewise repaired. On the ninth day of the third month, the day Mizunoe-uma, seats for the gods of Heaven and earth were set up by the sacred well of Yama-no-mii, and offerings, heihaku, were distributed. In summer, on the last day of the fourth month, the day Mizunoe-saru, at night, lightning struck Hōryūji and set it ablaze. In the sixth month, a certain man caught a tortoise. On its shell was marked the character "saru," monkey; it was yellow above and black below, and about six sun in length. In autumn, on the first day of the ninth month, the day Kanoto-hitsuji, Azumi-no-Tsuratari was sent to Silla. In this year, a water-powered trip-hammer was built to forge iron.

¶In the fourth year, the year Kanoto-hitsuji, in spring, on the second day of the first month, the day Kanoe-ne, Soga-no-Akae, of Daikinjō rank, and Kose-no-Hito, of Daikinge rank, offered the New Year's felicitations. On the fifth day, the day Mizunoto-u, Nakatomi-no-Kane, of Daikinjō rank, performed the rites of the gods. On this day, Prince Ōtomo was appointed Grand Minister of State, Soga-no-Akae was made Minister of the Left, Nakatomi-no-Kane Minister of the Right, and Soga-no-Hatayasu, Kose-no-Hito, and Ki-no-Ushi were made Gyoshi-taifu, councillors of state. On the sixth day, the day Kinoe-tatsu, Prince Ōama (Note: one account in a note to the original text gives this as Prince Ōtomo) received the imperial command to promulgate the statutes of cap rank, and a general amnesty was granted throughout the realm. On the ninth day, the day Hinoto-hitsuji, Koma presented tribute. On the thirteenth day, the day Kanoto-i, Ryūjingan, the Tang garrison commander in Kudara, sent Ri Shushin and others, who presented a memorial. In this month, rank was conferred on the Kudara officials Sapyeong Yojishin, Sataku Shōmyō, and more than fifty others, in varying degrees. On the twenty-third day of the second month, the day Kanoe-tora, Kudara presented tribute. On the third day of the third month, the day Kanoe-ne, Kibumi-no-Honjitsu presented a water-level, for surveying. On the seventeenth day, the day Kinoe-tora, Hitachi presented a person of dwarf stature, whose height was one shaku six sun. In summer, on the twenty-fifth day of the fourth month, the day Kanoto-u, a water-clock was for the first time installed in the New Pavilion, Niiutena, and bells and drums were sounded to mark the hours. In this month, Tsukushi reported that a fawn had been born with eight legs. On the fifth day of the fifth month, the day Kanoto-ushi, a banquet was held in the Western Hall, Nishi-no-kodono; Prince Ōama and the assembled ministers attended, and the Ta-mai, a dance of the rice fields, was performed. On the fifteenth day of the sixth month, the day Kanoe-tatsu, Kudara presented tribute. In this month, Silla presented tribute as well, offering a water buffalo and a copper pheasant, one of each. In autumn, in the ninth month (Note: one account in a note to the original text gives this as the eighth month), the emperor took to his sickbed. In winter, on the seventh day of the tenth month, the day Kanoe-uma, Silla presented tribute. On the eighth day, the day Kanoto-hitsuji, a ceremony of consecration was held in the palace for a hundred Buddha images, and envoys were sent to Hōkōji to offer kesa robes, a gold bowl, ivory, aloeswood incense, sandalwood, and various other treasures. On the seventeenth day, the day Kanoe-tatsu, the emperor's illness grew grave. He summoned Prince Ōama and entrusted to him the affairs that were to follow. The prince bowed twice, firmly declined on the grounds of illness, and asked leave to renounce the world and become a monk. His wish was sincere and urgent, and it was granted. That same day he had his head shaved, and by imperial decree was given a kesa robe. On the nineteenth day, the day Mizunoe-uma, he once more entered the palace to take his leave, and withdrew to Yoshino. At this, Prince Ōtomo was installed as crown prince (Note: the account from "At this" onward follows the Mizukagami. On consideration, the Kaifūsō states that Prince Ōtomo was appointed Grand Minister of State at the age of barely twenty, and was installed as crown prince at twenty-three; and that, meeting soon after with the conflict of the year Mizunoe-saru, he was unable to fulfill his mandate from Heaven, and was twenty-five years old at that time. Reckoning from this, Prince Ōtomo would have become Grand Minister of State at twenty-one in the first year, and crown prince in the third year — differing considerably from both the original text and the Mizukagami. Yet that work was written by Ōmi-no-Mifune, a grandson of Prince Ōtomo himself, and is not of the kind that distorts or conceals the facts as the old histories sometimes do; it may therefore be closer to the truth. This is appended here for reference). In the eleventh month, the Dazai of Tsukushi reported that the Tang envoy Kakumusō and his party had reached the island of Hichi. On the twenty-fourth day, the day Hinoto-mi, the Ōmi Palace caught fire. On the last day of the month, the day Mizunoe-inu, the Minister of the Left, Soga-no-Akae, and four others, together with the crown prince, swore an oath in the emperor's presence. On this day, silk, coarse silk, silk floss, and tanned hides were bestowed on the king of Silla. In this year, a chicken with four legs was hatched in Sanuki, and a tripod cauldron in the Ōi-no-Tsukasa, Bureau of the Palace Table, rang of itself. On the third day of the twelfth month, the day Kinoto-ushi, the emperor died at the Ōmi Palace, at the age of forty-six (Note: this age follows the statement in the chronicle of Emperor Jomei in the original text that the emperor was sixteen when Emperor Jomei died. The Kōin Shōunroku, the Jinnō Shōtōki, and the Kōnendai Ryakki all give his age as fifty-eight, and the Ichidai Yōki gives it as fifty-three). On the eleventh day, the day Mizunoto-tori, his body was laid in a mourning hall at the new palace, and he was buried at the Yamashina Misasagi in Yamashiro (Note: the account from "he was buried" onward follows the Engishiki. The Mizukagami states that one day the emperor rode out on horseback and was never seen again; that his shoes were later found at Yamashina, and a mausoleum was accordingly built there and his shoes interred and buried; but this account is not adopted here). A memorial rite, kokki-sai, was instituted at Sūfukuji, to be observed every year on the anniversary of his death (Note: this follows the Gōke Shidai).

¶The emperor loved learning and excelled in literary composition, and was thoroughly versed in the essentials of government. He established schools, shōjo, summoned men of outstanding talent, shōsai, fixed the Five Rites, and promoted all manner of institutions (Note: this follows the preface to the Kaifūsō). He once ordered the assembled ministers to compile a code of laws in twenty-two volumes, known as the Ōmi Code (Note: this follows the preface to the Kōnin Kyakushiki and the Honchō Shojaku Mokuroku). He composed a great many writings, but none of them survive today (Note: this follows the preface to the Kaifūsō). A hundred volumes of his calligraphy, writings used for practicing the brush, existed, and in the reign of Empress Kōken these were deposited at Sūfukuji (Note: this follows the Shoku Nihongi). While he was still crown prince, he himself built a water-clock; when he ascended the throne, he had it installed in the New Pavilion. Earlier, when the emperor had accompanied Empress Saimei on the western campaign, a palace was built for them at Mount Asakura. Its timbers were left unhewn, in keeping with a spirit of simplicity, and people of the time called it the Kuroki-no-Gosho, the "Palace of Unhewn Timber," or the Kimaro-dono. The emperor himself composed a song about the Kimaro-dono of Asakura, and this was later made into a Kagura song (Note: the account from "Earlier" onward follows the Ryōjin Guanshō). He also once intended to repair the fortress of Takayasu in Yamato, but, mindful that the people were worn out at the time, and reluctant to burden them further, he called off the work on several occasions. People of the time praised the emperor for his benevolence. He was posthumously given the title Emperor Tenji.

Emperor Kōbun

¶Emperor Kōbun was at first called Prince Iga. He was the eldest son of Emperor Tenji (Note: that he was the eldest son follows the Kaifūsō). His mother was Yakako-no-Iratsume, a palace attendant, uneme, from Iga.

¶He was a man of large and imposing build, naturally quick of understanding, of broad and profound bearing, with eyes that shone brightly; he was widely learned, versed in both ancient and modern affairs, and possessed talent in both the civil and the military arts. The Tang envoy Ryūtokukō, on seeing him, was astonished, and said, "The prince's bearing is quite extraordinary — he does not look like an ordinary man of this world" (Note: the account from "He was a man" onward follows the Kaifūsō).

¶In the first month of the fourth year of Emperor Tenji's reign, he was appointed Grand Minister of State, and when he took charge of the hundred officials and the general business of government, the ministers below him were all filled with awe. He took as his teachers and friends the learned Kudara scholars Sataku Shōmyō, Tōhon Shunso, Kichi Daijō, Kosotsumo, and Mokuso Kishi, and his literary skill advanced with each passing day (Note: the account from "took charge of" onward follows the Kaifūsō). On the seventeenth day of the tenth month, the day Kanoe-tatsu, Emperor Tenji's illness grew grave. Prince Ōama declined the position of heir, chōi, and firmly asked leave to renounce the world and take up religious practice. The emperor granted this, and thereupon installed Prince Ōtomo as crown prince (Note: that he was crown prince follows the Mizukagami). On the twenty-third day of the eleventh month, the day Hinoe-tatsu, the crown prince sat before the embroidered image of the Buddha in the Western Hall, attended by the Minister of the Left, Soga-no-Akae, the Minister of the Right, Nakatomi-no-Kane, and the Gyoshi-taifu Soga-no-Hatayasu, Kose-no-Hito, and Ki-no-Ushi. The crown prince himself took up an incense burner, rose, and swore an oath: "Let you, my lords, and I be of one mind in upholding the imperial decree" (Note: the wording of the decree itself is not recorded in the original text). "Should anyone break this oath, may Heaven's punishment fall upon him." Akae and the others then took up the incense burner in turn, and, weeping tears of blood, swore: "We five vassals shall follow Your Highness and uphold the decree. Should any of us break this oath, may we receive the punishment of the gods, may our descendants be cut off, and may our houses perish." The five ministers then, together with the crown prince, swore a further oath before the emperor himself (Note: again, the wording of this oath is not recorded in the original text). On the third day of the twelfth month, the day Kinoto-ushi, Emperor Tenji died. On the fifth day, the day Hinoto-u, the crown prince ascended the throne (Note: the account from "on the fifth day" onward follows the Mizukagami and the Ryūbō Shidai. On consideration, the Ōkagami likewise states that he became Grand Minister of State and in that same year became emperor; this is appended here for reference). He was twenty-four years of age at the time (Note: this follows the statement in the Kaifūsō that he was twenty-five in the year Mizunoe-saru; the Mizukagami and the Ryūbō Shidai give him as twenty-five in the year Kanoto-hitsuji).

¶In the first year, the year Mizunoe-saru (Note: on consideration, the Rekidai Kōki, the Gukanshō, the Teiō Hennenki, and the Kōdaiki all state that, a red crow having been obtained in the year Mizunoe-saru, an era name was established, Suzaku, and that in the same year, Bingo having presented a white pheasant, the era name was changed to Hakuhō. The Kōnendai Ryakki, the Kōdaiki, and the Kōin Shōunroku all take Emperor Tenmu's accession as the second year of Hakuhō, though it is not clear on what this is based. A decree of the first year of Jinki in the Shoku Nihongi, in the tenth month, states: "From Hakuhō onward and before Suzaku, the years lie far in the past, and inquiry cannot make them clear; the records kept by the offices concerned are for the most part incomplete." Nor is it clear, either, to which emperor's reign this era name belongs. This is appended here for reference), in spring, on the eighteenth day of the third month, the day Tsuchinoto-tori, Don-no-Inashiki, of Naishō-shichii rank, was sent to Tsukushi to inform the Tang envoy Kakumusō of the death of the late emperor, Tenji. Kakumusō and his party put on mourning dress to show their grief, and, facing east, performed keishu, bowing with their heads to the ground. On the twenty-first day, the day Mizunoe-ne, Kakumusō and his party presented a sealed letter and gifts of tribute. In summer, on the twelfth day of the fifth month, the day Mizunoe-tora, armor, bows and arrows, coarse silk, cloth, and silk floss were bestowed on Kakumusō and his party. On the twenty-eighth day, the day Tsuchinoe-uma, Koma presented tribute.

¶In the sixth month, Prince Ōama raised an army at Yoshino. He sent his generals Murakuni-no-Oyori, Wanibe-no-Kimite, and Mugetsu-no-Hiro to Mino, to levy troops there and hasten to seal off the road at Fuwa. He had Ōkida-no-Esaka and others request the post-horse bells from Prince Takasaka, the officer left in charge of the capital of Yamato, but Prince Takasaka would not comply. The prince thereupon set out eastward, and had Miyake-no-Iwatoko, provincial governor of Ise, and others lead five hundred troops to seal off the Suzuka mountain road. The capital was thrown into great alarm. The emperor, Ōtomo, summoned the assembled ministers and held council. Some urged, "We should at once send out our finest cavalry in pursuit, and strike them down; if we delay, the moment will be lost." But the emperor did not accept this counsel, and instead sent Ina-no-Iwasuki, Fumi-no-Kusuri, and Oshisaka-no-Ōmaro to the eastern provinces; Hozumi-no-Momotari, his younger brother Momoe (Note: in one version given as Ioe), and Mononobe-no-Himuka to the capital of Yamato; Saeki-no-Otoko to Tsukushi; and Kusu-no-Iwate to the land of Kibi, each to raise troops there. He further instructed Saeki-no-Otoko and Kusu-no-Iwate, saying, "Prince Kurikuma, the Dazai of Tsukushi, and Taima-no-Hiroshima, governor of the land of Kibi, have long inclined their hearts toward Yoshino. If they will not obey, kill them on the spot." Iwate, on reaching the land of Kibi, delivered the written order and, deceiving Hiroshima, killed him. Otoko reached Tsukushi, but Prince Kurikuma, though he received the order, declined and would not consent to raise troops. Iwasuki and the others reached Fuwa, but Kusuri and Ōmaro were seized by an ambush, and Iwasuki alone fled back. Prince Takasaka, together with Hozumi-no-Momotari and the others, encamped beneath the zelkova tree west of Asuka-dera. Momotari was lured out and killed by the Yoshino general Ōtomo-no-Fukei. Momoe and Himuka were likewise captured, and at this Prince Takasaka and Prince Wakasa, in fear, surrendered.

¶In autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, the day Kanoe-tora, the Yoshino general Sakamoto-no-Takara took the fortress of Takayasu. On the second day, the day Kanoto-u, at dawn, Iki-no-Karakuni divided his army and advanced by the two roads of Ōtsu and Tajihi to attack Takara at Takayasu. Takara and his men advanced and crossed the Ega River, and Karakuni fought them on the western bank and drove them back. Kume-no-Shioko, provincial governor of Kawachi, plotted to answer the call of the army at Fuwa and secretly gathered troops, but Karakuni became aware of it. Shioko, learning that his plan had been discovered, took his own life. At this time, Prince Yamabe, Soga-no-Hatayasu, and Kose-no-Hito were leading several tens of thousands of troops and had encamped at the Inukami River, intending to attack Fuwa. Prince Yamabe was killed by Hatayasu and Hito, and the army fell into confusion and could advance no further. Hatayasu took his own life, and Hata-no-Yakuni and his son Ushi led their whole clan over to the Yoshino side. On the fourth day, the day Mizunoto-mi, the general Ōno-no-Hatayasu attacked Ōtomo-no-Fukei at Mount Nara and inflicted a great defeat on him, pursuing him as far as Yatsukuchi, but suspecting an ambush, he withdrew. On the fifth day, the day Kinoe-uma, Tanabe-no-Osumi attacked by night the camp at Kurafu held by the Yoshino general Tanaka-no-Tarimaro, and won a great victory. On the sixth day, the day Kinoto-hitsuji, Osumi advanced his troops to attack the camp at Tarano, but was unsuccessful and withdrew. On the seventh day, the day Hinoe-saru, Sakaibe-no-Kusuri fought Murakuni-no-Oyori at Okinaga-no-Yokokawa, and his troops were defeated and he was killed in battle. On the ninth day, the day Tsuchinoe-inu, Hata-no-Tomotari fought Oyori at Mount Toko and was killed in battle. Iki-no-Karakuni fought Fukei by the shore of Ashi Pond, but without success. Fukei then divided his troops further and attacked from three directions. Inukai-no-Ikimi, facing the middle road, encamped at Muraya, and had his subordinate general Ioi-no-Kujira lead two hundred picked troops to strike at Fukei's camp. The camp was too well fortified to be taken, and Kujira could not advance. Before long, the Yoshino generals Miwa-no-Takechimaro and Okisome-no-Usagi inflicted a great defeat on the Ōmi forces of the Kamitsumichi road at the Hashi Misasagi, and at once cut off the rear of Kujira's own force. His soldiers panicked and fled in disorder, and many were killed or wounded. Kujira alone escaped on horseback. On the thirteenth day, the day Mizunoe-tora, Kosobe-no-Ōkuchi and Haji-no-Chishima fought Oyori by the Yasu River and were taken captive. On the seventeenth day, the day Hinoe-uma, Oyori attacked and defeated the army at Kurita. On the twenty-second day, the day Kanoto-i, Oyori and the others closed in on Seta. The emperor, Ōtomo, drew up his whole army on the western side of the bridge. Banners covered the plain, and the sound of gongs and drums shook the heavens. Chison led the finest troops as vanguard; he removed three jō of the bridge planking, left a single long plank in its place, and fitted it with a rope trap. The Yoshino troops dared not advance. Ōkida-no-Wakami threw down his halberd, drew his sword, and ran out across the plank; he cut the rope beneath it and pressed on through a hail of arrows, and at this the Ōmi troops were thrown into complete confusion. Chison, enraged, cut down those who tried to retreat, but even so could not stop the rout. Chison himself was killed in battle, and the army was at last defeated. On this day, the fortress of Mio fell. On the twenty-third day, the day Mizunoe-ne, Inukai-no-Ikimi and Tani-no-Shiote fought Oyori at Awazu market, were defeated, and died. The Ministers of the Left and Right and the assembled ministers all fled. Only Mononobe-no-Maro and one or two attendants remained with the emperor. On this day, the emperor, Ōtomo, died at Yamazaki, at the age of twenty-five.

¶Earlier, the emperor had dreamed that the heavens opened like a cave, and an old man in a vermilion robe appeared, holding up the sun and offering it to him; but suddenly another figure emerged from beneath his arm and snatched it away. On waking, he found this strange and told it to Fujiwara-no-Kamatari. Kamatari sighed and said, "After ten thousand years of the sacred reign" — meaning, after Emperor Tenji's death — "I fear some great schemer may seize the opportunity to do harm. Yet I have heard it said that the Way of Heaven favors no one in particular, but aids only the virtuous. If Your Highness applies yourself to cultivating virtue, there will be no cause to fear calamity or omen. I have a daughter; I beg that she be received into the palace to attend upon you." The emperor agreed to this. In the end, however, his heavenly mandate went unfulfilled. He had once, at a banquet, presented a poem praising the emperor's brilliance as bright as the sun and moon and his imperial virtue as all-sustaining as Heaven and earth, and declaring that Heaven, earth, and man alike flourished together in peace, and that the whole world paid homage to him as loyal subjects. On another occasion he composed verses reflecting on his own position, saying that he received the teachings of Heaven as to virtue, and left the true balance of government in the hands of a worthy chief minister, confessing his shame at lacking the skill to oversee and nurture the people, and wondering how he could ever hope to govern the whole world (Note: the account from "at the age of" onward follows the Kaifūsō. On consideration, the chronicle of Empress Jitō in the original text states that the writing of poetry began with Prince Ōtsu; but the Kaifūsō records poems by the emperor, Ōtomo, and by Prince Kawashima before those of Prince Ōtsu. Since Prince Ōtsu was only ten years old when the emperor died, it can be seen that the emperor composed his poems earlier than Ōtsu did).