was the 47th

emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')
淳仁天皇 (47)
/ref> according to the traditional

order of succession An order of succession or right of succession is the line of individuals necessitated to hold a high office when it becomes vacated such as head of state or an honour such as a title of nobility.Prince Toneri (January 28, 676 – December 6, 735) was a Japanese imperial prince in the Nara period. He was a son of Emperor Tenmu. He was given the posthumous name, , as the father of Emperor Junnin. In the beginning of the Nara period, he gained politic ...

and a grandson of Emperor Tenmu, his reign spanned the years 758 to 764.

Traditional narrative

Before his ascension to the

throne A throne is the seat of state of a potentate or dignitary, especially the seat occupied by a sovereign on state occasions; or the seat occupied by a pope or bishop on ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the mona ...

, his name (''

imina in modern times consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, in that order. Nevertheless, when a Japanese name is written in the Roman alphabet, ever since the Meiji era, the official policy has been to cater to Western expecta ...

'') was Ōi''-shinnō'' (Ōi-no-ō). He was the seventh son of

Prince Toneri (January 28, 676 – December 6, 735) was a Japanese imperial prince in the Nara period. He was a son of Emperor Tenmu. He was given the posthumous name, , as the father of Emperor Junnin. In the beginning of the Nara period, he gained politic ...

, a son of Emperor Tenmu.Brown, p. 275. And although his father died when he was three, he was not given any rank or office at the court. In the older Japanese documents, he is usually referred to as Haitai (廃帝), the dethroned emperor. The

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given mostly to the notable dead in East Asian culture. It is predominantly practiced in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments ...

of Emperor Junnin was given by Emperor Meiji a thousand years later.

Ascension and reign

In 757 the

Empress Kōken , also known as , was the 46th (with the name Empress Kōken) and the 48th monarch of Japan (with the name Empress Shōtoku), Emperor Kōnin, Takano Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency according to the traditional order of succession. ...

, his third cousin appointed him to be her

crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wi ...

instead of Prince Funado, who had been appointed to this position in the will of the

Emperor Shōmu was the 45th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 聖武天皇 (45)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 749, during the Nara period. Traditional narrative ...

. In the tenth year of Kōken''-tennō''s reign (), on December 7, 758 (''

Tenpyō-shōhō was a after '' Tenpyō-kanpō'' and before ''Tenpyō-hōji.'' This period spanned the years from July 749 through August 757. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 749 : The new era name of Tenpyō-shōhō (meaning "Heavenly Peace and V ...

2, 1st day of the 8th month''), the empress abdicated and the succession (''senso'') passed to her adopted son. Shortly afterwards, Emperor Junnin is said to have ascended to the throne (''sokui''). In 760 (''

Tenpyō-hōji was a after '' Tenpyō-shōhō'' and before '' Tenpyō-jingo.'' This period spanned the years from August 757 through January 765. The reigning Emperor was , who was a mere figurehead while authority was in the hands of Fujiwara no Nakamaro a ...

4''), additional coins were put into circulation—copper coins bearing the words ''Mannen Ten-hō'', silver coins bearing the words ''Teihei Genhō'', and gold coins bearing the words ''Kaiki Shōhō''. The years of Junnin's reign, 758–765, are more specifically encompassed within a single

era name A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin ''regnum'' meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year of ...

or ''

nengō The , also known as , is the first of the two elements that identify years in the Japanese era calendar scheme. The second element is a number which indicates the year number within the era (with the first year being ""), followed by the literal ...

'', ''

''. Junnin seemingly had very little power and was possibly a mere figurehead. In 764, six years after Empress Kōken had abdicated, the former empress reclaimed the throne during Fujiwara no Nakamaro's Rebellion, forcing Junnin to abdicate.

Death and mausoleum

On November 10, 765 (''

Tenpyō-jingo was a after ''Tenpyō-hōji'' and before '' Jingo-keiun.'' This period spanned the years from January 765 through August 767. The reigning empress was . This was the same woman who had reigned previously as . Change of era * 765 : The new era ...

1, 23rd day of the 10th month''), the former emperor died while in exile. The site of Junnin's actual

grave A grave is a location where a dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as grav ...

is unknown, and he is traditionally venerated at a memorial

Shinto Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...

shrine A shrine ( la, scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred or holy space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they ...

(''misasagi'') at Awaji. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Junnin's mausoleum: It is formally named ''Awaji no misasagi''.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420. Though Junnin had, technically, been emperor, he was not featured on the official List of Japanese Emperors until the late nineteenth century. In 1870, Emperor Meiji conferred the posthumous name and title by which Emperor Junnin is now known. His place in the traditional order of succession was confirmed at the same time as announcements about

Emperor Kōbun was the 39th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 弘文天皇 (39)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 53. Kōbun's reign lasted on ...

and

Emperor Chūkyō (October 30, 1218 – June 18, 1234) was the 85th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned only months in 1221, and he was not officially listed amongst the emperors until 1870 because of doubts caused ...

were made public.

Kugyō

is a collective term for the few most powerful men attached to the court of the

Emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his position is derived from "the ...

in pre- Meiji eras. In general, this elite group included only three or four men at a time, and they were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of their careers. During Junnin's reign, the ranks of this group of ''

Daijō-kan The , also known as the Great Council of State, was (i) (''Daijō-kan'') the highest organ of Japan's premodern Imperial government under the Ritsuryō legal system during and after the Nara period or (ii) (''Dajō-kan'') the highest organ of J ...

'' included: * Taishi (

Daijō-daijin The was the head of the ''Daijō-kan'' (Great Council of State) during and after the Nara period and briefly under the Meiji Constitution. Equivalent to the Chinese (Grand Preceptor). History Emperor Tenji's favorite son, Prince Ōtomo, wa ...

): Fujiwara Oshikatsu, also known as Emi no Oshikatsu (恵美押勝) (formerly

Fujiwara no Nakamaro , also known as , Brown, Delmer M. (1979). ''Gukanshō,'' p. 274 was a Japanese aristocrat (''kuge''), courtier, and statesman. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"Fujiwara no Nakamaro"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 207. He was Chancellor ('' Daij ...

) (藤原仲麻呂). * Taiho (

Udaijin was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the ''udaijin'' in the context of a central administ ...

): Fujiwara Oshikatsu. * Sadaijin:,

Fujiwara no Toyonari was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Toyonari" in ; Brinkley, Frank ''et al.'' (1915). Career Toyonari served as a minister during the reigns of Emperor Shōm ...

(藤原豊成). *

, Fujiwara no Toyonari (藤原豊成). *

Naidaijin The , literally meaning "Inner Minister", was an ancient office in the Japanese Imperial Court. Its role, rank and authority varied throughout the pre- Meiji period of Japanese history, but in general remained as a significant post under the Tai ...

(not appointed) *

Dainagon was a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century. This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century.Nussbaum, "Dainag ...

Consorts and children

Consort: Awata no Morone (粟田諸姉), widow of Fujiwara no Mayori, the first son of

By Unknown woman: * Daughter: Imperial Princess Abe (安倍内親王) married Prince Isobe

Ancestry

Notes

References

* Appert, Georges and Hiroji Kinoshita. (1888)
''Ancien japon.''
Tokyo: Kokubunsha. * Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979)
''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''
Berkeley: University of California Press. ; * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. * Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). '' Nihon Odai Ichiran''; ou
''Annales des empereurs du Japon.''
Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. * Varley, H. Paul. (1980)
''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns.''
New York: Columbia University Press. ;