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Nintoku16th Emperor of Japan
Country:
 Japan |
Content:
- Nintoku: The 16th Emperor of Japan
- Historical Doubts and Speculations
- Family and Early Life
- Rise to Power
- Reign and Legacy
- Mausoleum
Nintoku: The 16th Emperor of Japan
Nintoku (posthumous name) was the 16th emperor of Japan, ruling from February 14, 313 to February 7, 399. His personal names were Osazaki (Ohosadzaki) and Seitei ("Sacred Emperor").
Historical Doubts and Speculations
The exact timeline of Nintoku's reign has been debated by scholars, with some questioning his historical existence altogether. However, the majority of Japanese, Western, and Russian historians believe he ruled in the early 5th century (corrected chronology: 418-425/427). Chinese sources mention a Japanese ruler named Zan, which is believed to be a reference to Nintoku.
Family and Early Life
Nintoku was the fourth son of Emperor Ojin (personal name: Homuda). Towards the end of Ojin's reign, he divided power among his three sons: Prince Uji-no Waki-iratsuko, Prince O-sadzaki (Nintoku), and Prince O-yama-mori. After Ojin's death, Prince Uji-no Waki-iratsuko became known as Emperor Uji.
Rise to Power
A succession struggle ensued among the three princes, culminating in O-sadzaki's ascent to the throne as Emperor Nintoku.
Reign and Legacy
Nintoku's first wife, Princess Iwa (Empress Iwa-no-hime), was a poet whose works are included in the Manyoshu anthology. During Nintoku's reign, the Namba no Horie and Yokono embankments were constructed to protect the Kawaachi plain from flooding. These were the first long-term engineering projects in Japan and were overseen by the Imperial Court.
Mausoleum
The Mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku in Sakai, near Osaka, is the largest kofun (ancient burial mound) in Japan. It is said to be the final resting place of the emperor and his empress.
