was a Japanese prince, the fifth son of

Emperor Tenmu was the 40th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 天武天皇 (40) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 53. Tenmu's re ...

, who lived from the

Asuka Asuka may refer to: People * Asuka (name), a list of people * Asuka (wrestler), professional wrestler * Asuka (wrestler, born 1998), professional wrestler also known as Veny outside of Japan Places In Japan * , an area in Yamato Province (now ...

Nara period The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the cap ...

s. He was the first child of the emperor and

Soga no Ōnu-no-iratsume Soga may refer to: People * Soga clan, a Japanese clan of the Yamato period * Soga clan (Sagami Province), a Japanese clan * Soga people, of the Busoga kingdom in present-day Uganda * Machiko Soga, Japanese voice actress * Soga Tokimune, Japan ...

, who later had two daughters together as well. After the death of his half-sister Princess Tajima in 708, with whom he had had a

tryst Tryst may refer to: Art and entertainment * ''Tryst'' (novel), a 1939 novel by Elswyth Thane * ''Tryst'' (play), a 2006 play by Karoline Leach * ''Tryst'' (album), a 2019 studio album by Kate Ceberano and Paul Grabowsky * "Tryst", a song by Joh ...

, he married the poet Ōtomo no Sakanoe no Iratsume. Four of his poems (plus many by his wife and Tajima) are included in the ''

Man'yōshū The is the oldest extant collection of Japanese (poetry in Classical Japanese), compiled sometime after AD 759 during the Nara period. The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan's poetic compilations. The compiler, or the last in ...

'', including a lament written after the death of the Princess. He had two sons.''Man'yōshū'', Volume 4
Poem 694
/ref> Much of his early life is unknown. In 703 he was responsible for organising the funeral of

Empress Jitō was the 41st monarch of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 持統天皇 (41)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). In the history o ...

. He became Prime Minister in 705, taking over after the death of his half-brother

Prince Osakabe Prince Osakabe (刑部(忍壁)親王, ''Osakabe Shinnō'') (died June 2, 705) was a Japanese imperial prince who helped write the Taihō Code (681 A.D.), alongside Fujiwara no Fuhito. The Code was essentially an administrative reorganization, whic ...

. It has been speculated based on the ''

'' that he was banished to a mountain temple, , in Ōmi, where he became a monk after the discovery of his affair with Princess Tajima, who was married to his older half-brother

Prince Takechi was a member of the royal family in Japan during the Asuka period. He was the eldest son of Emperor Tenmu. He fought on the side of his father in the Jinshin War (672), a battle of succession, which resulted in his father becoming Emperor. At th ...

Family

Parents *Father:

(天武天皇, c. 631 – 1 October 686 *Mother:

(蘇我大蕤娘), Soga no Akae’s daughter Consort and issues: * Consort (Hi):

Ōtomo no Sakanoue no Iratsume , also known as Lady Ōtomo of Sakanoue, was a Japanese noblewoman and ''waka'' poet of the early-to-mid Nara period, best known for the inclusion of 84 of her poems in the '' Man'yōshū''. She was the aunt of Ōtomo no Yakamochi. Life Ōtomo no ...

(大伴坂上郎女), daughter of Ōtomo no Yasumaro (大伴安麻呂) **First Son: Prince Kamido (上道王, d. 28 April 727) **Second Son: Prince Sakaibe (境部王)

References

Japanese princes Year of birth uncertain 715 deaths Sons of emperors 8th-century Japanese people {{Japan-royal-stub