Emperor Kenzō

Emperor of Japan

Kenzō (顕宗天皇,, Kenzō-tennō) was the 23rd emperor of Japan,[2] according to the traditional order of succession.[3] Historians consider details about the life of Emperor Kenzō to be possibly legendary, but probable.[4] The name Kenzō-tennō was created for him posthumously by later generations.

Kenzō
Emperor of Japan
Reign485–487 (traditional)[1]
PredecessorSeinei
SuccessorNinken
Born450
Died487 (aged 36–37)
Burial
Kataoka no Iwatsuki no oka no kita no misasagi (Nara)
HouseYamato
FatherIchinobe-no Oshiwa

No certain dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign.[5] The conventionally accepted names and sequence of the early emperors were not to be confirmed as "traditional" until the reign of Emperor Kammu, who was the 50th monarch of the Yamato dynasty.[6]

Traditional history

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Kenzō was a grandson of Emperor Richū; and he was adopted as heir by the childless Emperor Seinei.[7]

Events of Kenzō's life

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Very little is known about the events of Kenzō's life and reign. Only limited information is available for study prior to the reign of the 29th monarch, Emperor Kimmei.[8]

After his death

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This emperor's official name after his death (his posthumous name) was regularized many centuries after the lifetime which was ascribed to Kenzō.[9]

According to the Imperial Household Agency, Kenzō final resting place is in an earthen tumulus (kofun). This emperor is venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) which is associated with the burial mound.[2]

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References

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The chrysanthemum symbol of the Japanese emperor and his family.
  1. "Genealogy of the Emperors of Japan" at Kunaicho.go.jp; retrieved 2013-8-29.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 顕宗天皇 (23); retrieved 2011-10-16.
  3. Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 29-30; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979) Gukanshō, p. 259; Varley, Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 116; Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric et al. (2002). "Traditional order of Tennō" in Japan encyclopedia, pp. 962-963.
  4. Kelly, Charles F. "Kofun Culture," Japanese Archaeology. April 27, 2009; retrieved 2011-10-16.
  5. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 30.
  6. Aston, William George. (1896). Nihongi, pp. 109.
  7. Aston, William. (1998). Nihongi, Vol. 1, pp. 373-377.
  8. Titsingh, pp. 34-36; Brown, pp. 261-262; Varley, pp. 123-124.
  9. Aston (1998), pp. 146-147.


Preceded by
Emperor Seinei
Legendary Emperor of Japan
Kenzō

485-487
(traditional dates)
Succeeded by
Emperor Ninken