Editing Emperor Seimu

{{Short description|13th Emperor of Japan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Emperor Seimu<br>{{nobold|{{lang|ja|成務天皇}}}}
| succession   = [[Emperor of Japan]]
| image        = Emperor Seimu.jpg
| reign        = 131–190 (traditional)<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322210732/http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/genealogy/img/keizu-e.pdf|archivedate=March 22, 2011|url=http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/genealogy/img/keizu-e.pdf|title=Genealogy of the Emperors of Japan|work=Kunaicho.go.jp|access-date=31 July 2019}}</ref>
| coronation   = 
| cor-type     = Japan
| predecessor  = [[Emperor Keikō|Keikō]]
| successor    = [[Emperor Chūai|Chūai]]
| posthumous name = [[Posthumous name#Chinese-style (Han-style) shigō|Chinese-style ''shigō'']]:<br/>Emperor Seimu ({{lang|ja|成務天皇}})<br/><br/>[[Posthumous name#Japanese-style shigō|Japanese-style ''shigō'']]:<br/>Wakatarashi hiko no Sumera mikoto ({{lang|ja|稚足彦天皇}})
| spouse       = {{plainlist|
*{{ill|Oto-takara|ja|弟財郎女|vertical-align=sup}}<ref name="asiatic-society-of-japan-1881a">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IRBLAQAAMAAJ&q=Ototakara-no-Iratsume&pg=RA4-PA226|title=Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, Volumes 9-10|publisher=Asiatic Society of Japan|year=1881|pages=226–227|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref> <!--Please do not link "Oho-takara" to ja:wiki without checking to see if sources have been added there.-->
*Kibi-no-Iratsume
}}
| issue        = Prince Wakanuke{{efn|It is assumed by historians that Wakanuke died at a young age}}
| royal house  = [[Imperial House of Japan]]
| father       = [[Emperor Keikō]]
| mother       = {{ill|Yasakairi-hime|lt=Yasakairi-hime|ja|八坂入媛命}}<ref name="toyo-bunko-1974a">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uxUUAQAAMAAJ&q=Wakatarashihiko|title=Memoirs of the Research Department of the Tōyō Bunko (the Oriental Library), Issues 32-34|publisher=[[Tōyō Bunko]]|year=1974|pages=63–64|access-date=1 August 2019 }}</ref>
| religion     = [[Shinto]]
| birth_name   = Wakatarashi hiko ({{lang|ja|稚足彦尊}})
| birth_date   = 84<ref name="kenneth-henshall-2013a">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmYYAgAAQBAJ&q=Seimu+84&pg=PA487|title=Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945|author=Kenneth Henshall|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2013|page=487|isbn=9780810878723}}</ref>
| birth_place  = 
| death_date   = 190 (aged 107)<ref name="kenneth-henshall-2013a"/><ref name="kidder-jonathan-e-2007a">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pEOicqsjv0C&q=Seimu+crown+prince&pg=PA227|title=Himiko and Japan's Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai: Archaeology, History, and Mythology|author=Kidder, Jonathan E.|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|year=2007|page=227|isbn=9780824830359|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref>{{efn|The ''Kojiki'' records that he was 95 when he died.}}
| death_place  = 
| burial_place = {{Nihongo||狭城盾列池後陵|''Saki no Tatanami no misasagi''}} (Nara)|
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Emperor Seimu'''|成務天皇|Seimu-tennō}}, also known as {{Nihongo||稚足彦天皇|Wakatarashi hiko no Sumera mikoto}}, was the 13th [[legend|legendary]] [[Emperor of Japan]], according to the traditional [[List of Emperors of Japan|order of succession]].<ref name="imperial-household-agency-kunaicho-2019a">{{cite web|url=http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/ryobo/guide/013/index.html|title=成務天皇 (13)|work=[[Imperial Household Agency]] (Kunaichō)|language=ja|access-date=31 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="titsingh-isaac-1834a">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&q=nipon%20o%20dai%20itsi%20ran&pg=PA34|title=Nihon Ōdai Ichiran|author=Titsingh, Isaac.|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland|language=fr|year=1834|pages=14, 34–36|author-link=Isaac Titsingh}}</ref> Both the ''Kojiki'', and the ''Nihon Shoki'' (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Seimu's alleged lifetime. This legendary Emperor is best known for organizing his local governments by making the first appointments of their kind to provinces under his rule. Seimu had only one recorded wife who bore him a single child; he also had a concubine but she had no children. This is in stark contrast to his father, who is said to have had at least 80 children with multiple wives.

Seimu's reign is conventionally considered to have been from 131 to 190 AD. An issue ultimately occurred when his only son allegedly died at a young age.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ&q=Suinin|title=''The Imperial House of Japan''|author=Ponsonby-Fane, Richard|publisher=Ponsonby Memorial Society|year=1959|page=34|author-link=Richard Ponsonby-Fane}}</ref> Seimu appointed [[Emperor Chūai|one of his nephews]] to be crown prince before his death in 190 AD, marking the first of later generations which would cede the throne to a non-direct successor. While the location of Seimu's grave (if any) is unknown, he is traditionally venerated at a [[memorial]] [[Shinto]] [[kofun|tomb]]. Modern historians have come to the conclusion that the title of "Emperor" and the name "Seimu" was used by later generations to describe this legendary Emperor. It has also been proposed that Seimu actually reigned much later than he is attested.

==Legendary narrative==
The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum (misasagi) for Seimu is currently maintained. The following information available is taken from the [[Pseudohistory|pseudo-historical]] ''[[Kojiki]]'' and ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'', which are collectively known as {{Nihongo|''Kiki''|記紀}} or ''Japanese chronicles''. These chronicles include legends and myths, as well as potential historical facts that have since been [[Tall tale|exaggerated and/or distorted]] over time. The records state that Seimu was born to {{ill|Yasakairi-hime|lt=Yasakairi-hime|ja|八坂入媛命}} sometime in 84 AD, and was given the name {{Nihongo|''Wakatarashihiko''|稚足彦尊}}.<ref name="toyo-bunko-1974a"/><ref name="kenneth-henshall-2013a"/> It is unknown how he was chosen as crown prince, but Wakatarashihiko later ascended to the throne in 131 AD. Seimu is best known for organizing his local governments by appointing the first provincial governors and district officials.<ref name="martin-peter-1997a">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A1nJbdwgQVUC&q=Seimu|title=''The Chrysanthemum Throne: A History of the Emperors of Japan''|author=Martin, Peter|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|year=1997|page=23|isbn=9780824820299|access-date=31 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="brinkley-frank-dairoku-kikuchi-1915a">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_NnsEAAAAMAAJ|quote=emperor Seimu.|title=A History of the Japanese People: From the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era|author-link1=Francis Brinkley |last1=Brinkley|first1=Frank|author-link2=Kikuchi Dairoku|first2=Dairoku|last2=Kikuchi|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Company|year=1915|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_NnsEAAAAMAAJ/page/n86 87]–88|access-date=1 August 2019 }}</ref> While the details of his system of governing remain elusive, at the time Imperial princes were sent to important places in the provinces. These members are designated as ''wake'', which represented their status as a branch of the Imperial family.<ref name="brinkley-frank-dairoku-kikuchi-1915a"/> It has been theorized by [[Francis Brinkley|Brinkley]] and [[Kikuchi Dairoku|Kikuchi]] that these appointments of local governors were designed to extend the "prestige of the Court". Those that were eligible included "men of merit", Imperial princes, or chiefs of [[Indigenous peoples|aboriginal tribe]]s.<ref name="brinkley-frank-dairoku-kikuchi-1915a"/>

The records state that Seimu had a wife named {{Nihongo|''Oho-takara''|弟財郎女}}, who was the daughter of ''Take-oshiyama-tari-ne''.<ref name="asiatic-society-of-japan-1881a"/> Oho-takara bore the Emperor one child, named {{Nihongo|Prince Wakanuke|和訶奴気王}}. Seimu's only son appears to have died at a young age as the Emperor appointed [[Yamato Takeru]]'s son as Crown Prince, before his own death in 190 AD at the age 107 years old.<ref name="kidder-jonathan-e-2007a"/><ref name="martin-peter-1997a"/> His nephew ''Tarashinakatsuhiko'' was later enthroned as the [[Emperor Chūai|next emperor]] in 192 AD.<ref name="kenneth-henshall-2013a"/> Seimu's death marked an end of direct lineage from legendary [[Emperor Jimmu]], and was the first split branch of others that later followed.

==Known information==
[[File:Seimu-tenno sakinotatanaminoikeshirinomisasagi1.jpg|thumb|right|Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Emperor Seimu]]

Emperor Seimu is regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor" as there is insufficient material available for further verification and study. His existence is open to debate given this lack of information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/kofun.html|title=Kofun Culture|author=Kelly, Charles F.|work=t-net.ne.jp|access-date=31 July 2019}}</ref> If Seimu did exist, there is no evidence to suggest that the title ''tennō'' was used during the time period to which his reign has been assigned. It is much more likely that he was a chieftain, or local clan leader, and the polity he ruled would have only encompassed a small portion of modern-day Japan.<ref name="aston-william-george-1896a">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_oEfAAAAYAAJ|title=Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697, Volume 2|author=Aston, William George.|publisher=The Japan Society London|date=1896|page=109 & 214–216|isbn=9780524053478 |author-link=William George Aston}}</ref> The name Seimu''-tennō'' was more than likely assigned to him [[Posthumous name|posthumously]] by later generations.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistoryjapanes00kikugoog|title=''A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the end of the Meiji Era''|author=Brinkley, Frank|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Company|year=1915|page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistoryjapanes00kikugoog/page/n33 21]|quote=Posthumous names for the earthly ''Mikados'' were invented in the reign of Emperor Kanmu (782–805), i.e., after the date of the compilation of the ''Records'' and the ''Chronicles.''|author-link=Francis Brinkley}}</ref> His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Seimu, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the [[Imperial House of Japan|imperial dynasty]] were compiled as the chronicles known today as the ''[[Kojiki]]''.<ref name="aston-william-george-1896a"/> There is a possibility that Seimu ruled during the first half of the 4th century when Japan became a unified state ruled from [[Yamato Province|Yamato]], making these accounts "not improbable".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzjWCgAAQBAJ&q=seimu+existence&pg=PA255|title=Kojiki|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2015|page=90|isbn=9781400878000|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref>

While the actual site of Seimu's [[grave (burial)|grave]] is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a [[memorial]] [[Shinto]] [[shrine]] (''misasagi'') at [[Nara, Nara|Nara]]. The [[Imperial Household Agency]] designates this location as Seimu's [[mausoleum]], and is formally named ''Saki no Tatanami no misasagi''.<ref name="imperial-household-agency-kunaicho-2019a"/><ref>{{cite book|title=''Studies in Shinto and Shrines''|author=[[Richard Ponsonby-Fane|Ponsonby-Fane, Richard]]|publisher=Ponsonby-Fane Society Publications|year=1953|page=419}}</ref> Outside of the ''Kiki'', the reign of [[Emperor Kinmei]]{{efn|The 29th Emperor<ref name="titsingh-isaac-1834a"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJKIC&pg=PA261|title=A Translation and Study of the Gukanshō, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219|author-link1=Delmer Brown |last1=Brown|first1=Delmer M.|first2=Ichirō|last2=Ishida |publisher=[[University of California Press]]|year=1979 |pages=248, 261–262|isbn=9780520034600 }}</ref>}} ({{circa|509}}&nbsp;– 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography has been able to assign verifiable dates.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=axRyAAAAMAAJ&q=According+to+legend%2C+the+first+Japanese+Emperor+was+Jimmu.+Along+with+the+next+13+Emperors%2C+Jimmu+is+not+considered+an+actual%2C+historical+figure.+Historically+verifiable+Emperors+of+Japan+date+from+the+early+sixth+century+with+Kimmei.|title=''Japanese Politics: Fixed and Floating Worlds''|author=Hoye, Timothy.|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=1999|page=78|quote=According to legend, the first Japanese Emperor was Jimmu. Along with the next 13 Emperors, Jimmu is not considered an actual, historical figure. Historically verifiable Emperors of Japan date from the early sixth century with Kimmei.|isbn=9780132712897}}</ref> The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of [[Emperor Kanmu]]{{efn|Kanmu was the 50th sovereign of the imperial dynasty}} between 737 and 806 AD.<ref name="aston-william-george-1896a"/>

==See also==
* [[Emperor of Japan]]
* [[List of Emperors of Japan]]
* [[Imperial cult]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
[[File:Imperial Seal of Japan.svg|thumb|right|120px|[[Imperial Seal of Japan|Japanese Imperial kamon]] — a stylized [[chrysanthemum]] blossom]]
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[William George Aston|Aston, William George.]] (1896). [https://books.google.com/books?id=_oEfAAAAYAAJ  ''Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697''.] London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner.  {{OCLC|448337491}}
* [[Delmer Brown|Brown, Delmer M.]] and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). [https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJKIC&q=Gukansho  ''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past''.] Berkeley: University of California Press. {{ISBN|978-0-520-03460-0}};  {{OCLC|251325323}}
* [[Basil Hall Chamberlain|Chamberlain, Basil Hall.]] (1920). [http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kj/index.htm ''The Kojiki''.] Read before the Asiatic Society of Japan on 12 April, 10 May, and 21 June 1882; reprinted May 1919.  {{OCLC|1882339}}
* [[Richard Ponsonby-Fane|Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon]]. (1959). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Imperial+House+of+Japan  ''The Imperial House of Japan''.] Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. {{OCLC|194887}}
* [[Isaac Titsingh|Titsingh, Isaac.]] (1834). ''[[Nihon Ōdai Ichiran]]''; ou, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&q=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran  ''Annales des empereurs du Japon''.]  Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland.  {{OCLC|5850691}}
* [[H. Paul Varley|Varley, H. Paul.]] (1980). [https://books.google.com/books?id=tVv6OAAACAAJ  ''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns''.] New York: Columbia University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-231-04940-5}};  {{OCLC|59145842}}

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{{s-bef|before=[[Emperor Keikō]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Emperors of Japan|Legendary Emperor of Japan]]|years=131–190<br>''(traditional dates)''}} 
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{{Emperors of Japan}}

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[[Category:Legendary emperors of Japan]]
[[Category:People of Yayoi-period Japan]]
[[Category:2nd-century monarchs in Asia]]
[[Category:2nd-century Japanese monarchs]]