Emperor Keikō


Emperor Keikō, also known as was the 12th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Both the Kojiki, and the Nihon Shoki record events that took place during Keikō's alleged lifetime. Keikō was recorded as being an exceptionally tall emperor who had a very large family. During his reign he sought to expand territorial control through conquest of local tribes. He had a very important son named "Prince Ōsu", who was in possession of the Kusanagi when he died. This treasure was later moved to Atsuta Shrine, and is now a part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan. There is a possibility that Keikō actually lived or reigned in the 4th century AD rather than the 1st, but more information is needed to confirm this view.
Keikō's reign is conventionally considered to have been from 71 to 130 AD. During his alleged lifetime, he fathered at least 80 children with two chief wives and nine consorts. One of his sons became the next emperor upon his death in 130 AD, but the location of Keikō's grave is unknown. Keikō is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto tomb at Nara.

Legendary narrative

The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and a mausoleum for Keiko is currently maintained. The following information available is taken from the pseudo-historical Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, which are collectively known as Kiki or Japanese chronicles. These chronicles include legends and myths, as well as potential historical facts that have since been exaggerated and/or distorted over time. The records state that Keikō was born sometime in 13 BC, and was given the name "Otarashihiko-no-mikoto". He was the 3rd son of Emperor Suinin, and his second empress wife "Hibasu-hime". Otarashihiko-no-mikoto was allegedly chosen as crown prince over his elder brother based on a casual question on what they both had wished for. In the former's case he said "The Empire" while his elder brother said "Bow and arrows". Otarashihiko-no-mikoto later ascended to the throne in 71 AD, coming a year after his father's death.
Accounts in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki are split when it comes to initial territorial expansion during Emperor Keikō's reign. In the Kojiki, the Emperor is said to have sent his son "Prince Ōsu" to Kyūshū to conquer local tribes. Alternatively, the Nihon Shoki records that he went there himself and won battles against local tribes. Both sources agree that Keikō later sent Yamato Takeru to Izumo Province, and eastern provinces to conquer the area and spread his territory. According to traditional sources, Yamato Takeru died in the 43rd year of Emperor Keiko's reign. The possessions of the dead prince were gathered together along with the sword Kusanagi; and his widow venerated his memory in a shrine at her home. Sometime later, these relics and the sacred sword were moved to the current location of the Atsuta Shrine.
Emperor Keikō was recorded as 10 feet 2 inches tall, who had at least 80 children from multiple wives. This claim would put him into the category of Gigantism if verified, although as with other aspects it was more than likely exaggerated. Other than Yamato Takeru, at least three of Keikō's children were ancestors of notable clans. Emperor Keikō died in 130 AD at the age of 143, and his son Prince Wakatarashihiko was enthroned as the next emperor the following year.

Known information

Emperor Keikō is regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor" as there is insufficient material available for further verification and study. The name Keikō-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations. His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Keikō, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the Yamato dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. There is a possibility that Keikō's era was in the 4th century AD rather than the 1st. This period is concurrent with the Kentoshi having an audience with the Tang Emperor, more evidence is needed though to make any conclusions. Like his father before him, Keikō is also known to have an exaggerated lifespan which is unlikely to be factual. The consecutive reigns of the emperors began to be compiled in the 8th century, and it is thought that age gaps were "filled up" as many lacunae were present. For comparison, verified ages in the 110s have since been documented and recorded as the "oldest in the world".
While the actual site of Keikō's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine at Nara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Keikō's mausoleum, and is formally named Yamanobe no michi no e no misasagi. Outside of the Kiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei is the first for which contemporary historiography has been able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and children

Emperor Keikō allegedly had a very large family which consisted of 2 wives, 9 concubines, and more than 80 children. It is now questionable and open to debate though, if these numbers are genuine or not. Some of his listed children might actually be duplicates of the same person. The size of Keikō's family also could have been exaggerated over time through legends and word of mouth stories.

Spouse

Concubines

Issue

StatusNameMotherComments
PrinceKushitsunowakeHarima no Inabi no Ōiratsume
PrinceŌsuHarima no Inabi no ŌiratsumeAncestor of Mugetsu no kimi
PrinceYamato Takeru Harima no Inabi no ŌiratsumeŌsu, later known as Yamato Takeru, was the father of Emperor Chūai.
PrinceEmperor SeimuYasakairi-himeWakatarashihiko became the next emperor.
PrinceIokiirihikoYasakairi-hime
PrinceOshinowakeYasakairi-hime
PrinceWakayamatonekoYasakairi-hime
PrinceŌsuwakeYasakairi-hime
PrincessNunoshino-hime-mikoYasakairi-hime
PrincessIokiirihime-mikoYasakairi-hime
PrincessKagoyori-hime-mikoYasakairi-hime
PrinceIsakiirihikoYasakairi-himeIsakiirihiko is the ancestor of Mitsukai no Kabane
PrinceKibinoehikoYasakairi-hime
PrincessTakagiiri-hime-mikoYasakairi-hime
PrincessOto-hime-mikoYasakairi-hime
PrincessIonono-hime-mikoMizuhanoiratsumeIonono-hime-miko was possibly also a Saiō.
PrinceKamukushiIkawa-hime
PrinceInaseirihikoIkawa-hime
PrinceTakekunikoriwakeAbenotakada-hime
PrinceHimuka no SotsuhikoHimuka no Kaminagaootane
PrinceKunichiwakeSonotake-hime
PrinceKunisewakeSonotake-hime
PrinceToyotowakeSonotake-hime
PrinceToyokuniwakeHimukanomihakashi-himeAncestor of Hyūga Province
PrinceMawakaInabinowakairatsume
PrinceHikohitoōeInabinowakairatsume
PrinceIgotohikoIgoto-hime
PrincessShiroganeMarried Prince Hikohitoōe
PrinceWakaki-no-IrihikoSpeculated as the same person with Prince Iokiirihiko
PrinceWakayahiko
PrinceAmatarashine
PrinceTakekunikowakeSpeculated as the same person with Prince Takekunikoriwake
PrinceOsoshikowake
PrinceIwakosowake
PrinceTakeoshiwakeSpeculated as the same person with Prince Oshinowake
PrinceSonomewake
PrinceTochiribiko
PrinceSonowashiwake
PrinceShirokoriwake
PrinceOkinaga-no-hikohitoōe-MizukiSpeculated as the same person with Prince Hikohitoōe
PrinceKuma-no-Oshitsuhiko
PrinceTakeotowake
PrinceKusaki
PrinceTagotowake
PrinceOaretowake
PrinceToyohiwake
PrinceMikawa-no-Sukune
PrinceToyotewaka
PrinceYamato-no-Sukune
PrinceToyotsuhiko
PrinceOkoriwake