Princess Iwa
Encyclopedia
, sometimes known as , was a poet and the Empress consort of Emperor Nintoku
, who was the 16th emperor of Japan
, according to the traditional order of succession. She was a descendant of Emperor Kōgen
.
No firm dates can be assigned to Emperor Nintoku's life or reign, nor to that of his first wife. Nintoku is considered to have ruled the country during the late-fourth century and early-fifth century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study.
Princess Iwa's poetry, or poems attributed to her, are included in the Kojiki
, the Nihon shoki
and the Man'yōshū. Her tomb is said to be located in Nara Prefecture
.
and in the Nihon shoki
. Nintoku is reported to have suffered the resentment of the Iwa-no hime during a period in which he stopped the collection of taxes, which meant that even ordinary repairs to the palace were also deferred.
Poetry attributed to Iwa is collected in the Man'yōshū, the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry
believed to have been collected by Ōtomo no Yakamochi
(大伴 家持). In her four songs she expressed love and longing for her husband. Some modern scholars, however, advise a healthy skepticism in these difficult to verify attributions.
Since my lord has gone away;
So shall I go and meet him.
And not wait an endless wait.
. Both kofun
-type Imperial tombs are characterized by a keyhole-shaped island located within a wide, water-filled moat.
Emperor Nintoku
was the 16th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 313–399.-Legendary narrative:...
, who was the 16th emperor of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, according to the traditional order of succession. She was a descendant of Emperor Kōgen
Emperor Kogen
, also known as Ooyamatonekohikokunikuru no Mikoto, was the eighth emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 214 BC–158 BC.-Legendary narrative:Modern...
.
No firm dates can be assigned to Emperor Nintoku's life or reign, nor to that of his first wife. Nintoku is considered to have ruled the country during the late-fourth century and early-fifth century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study.
Princess Iwa's poetry, or poems attributed to her, are included in the Kojiki
Kojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
, the Nihon shoki
Nihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
and the Man'yōshū. Her tomb is said to be located in Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
.
Literature
Poems which Iwa-no hime is said to have exchanged with her husband are related in the KojikiKojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
and in the Nihon shoki
Nihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
. Nintoku is reported to have suffered the resentment of the Iwa-no hime during a period in which he stopped the collection of taxes, which meant that even ordinary repairs to the palace were also deferred.
Poetry attributed to Iwa is collected in the Man'yōshū, the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry
Japanese poetry
Japanese poets first encountered Chinese poetry during the Tang Dynasty. It took them several hundred years to digest the foreign impact, make it a part of their culture and merge it with their literary tradition in their mother tongue, and begin to develop the diversity of their native poetry. For...
believed to have been collected by Ōtomo no Yakamochi
Otomo no Yakamochi
was a Japanese statesman and waka poet in the Nara period. He is a member of the . He was born into the prestigious Ōtomo clan; his grandfather was Ōtomo no Amaro and his father was Ōtomo no Tabito. Ōtomo no Kakimochi was his younger brother, and Ōtomo no Sakanoe no Iratsume his aunt...
(大伴 家持). In her four songs she expressed love and longing for her husband. Some modern scholars, however, advise a healthy skepticism in these difficult to verify attributions.
- Longing for Emperor Nintoku (君が行き 日長くなりぬ 山たずね 迎へか行かむ 待ちにか待たむ).
-
- Kimi ga yuki
- Kenagaku narinu
- Yamatazu no
- Mukae o yukamu
- Matsu ni wa mataji
- Long now are the days
Since my lord has gone away;
- As elder leaves meet,
So shall I go and meet him.
And not wait an endless wait.
Burial mound tomb
The Imperial tomb of Iwa-no hime no Mikoto is said to be located in Saki-chō in the city of NaraNara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
. Both kofun
Kofun
Kofun are megalithic tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century. They gave their name to the Kofun period . Many of the Kofun have a distinctive keyhole-shaped mound , unique to ancient Japan...
-type Imperial tombs are characterized by a keyhole-shaped island located within a wide, water-filled moat.
Issue
- Prince Ooe no Izahowake (大兄去来穂別尊) Emperor RichūEmperor Richuwas the 17th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 400–405.-Legendary narrative :...
- Prince Suminoe no Nakatsu (住吉仲皇子)
- Prince Mizuhawake (瑞歯別尊) Emperor HanzeiEmperor Hanzei, also known as Emperor Hanshō, was the 18th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 406 to 410....
- Prince Oasatsuma wakugo no Sukune (雄朝津間稚子宿禰尊) Emperor IngyōEmperor Ingyowas the 19th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 411–453.-Legendary narrative:...