Princess Izumi
Encyclopedia
was a person in Japan
during the Asuka Period
and the Nara Period
. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenji
. Her mother was Lady Shikobuko, whose father was Oshimi no Miyakko Otatsu. She had an elder brother, Prince Kawashima, and an elder sister, Princess Ōe
.
Although her sister, Princess Ōe, and other half-sisters were married to Emperor Temmu
or his sons, Izumi did not marry because she was too young. When she reached the age suitable for marriage, she could not marry, because there were no appropriate men among Emperor Temmu's sons.
In addition to that condition, her brother Prince Kawashima betrayed Prince Ōtsu
and his followers, and they were all punished. Because of that, Prince Kawashima and his relatives became the targets of criticism. After Prince Kawashima and Princess Ōe died several years later, she was completely isolated.
She was selected by divination as the Saio
in 701 when she was in her thirties, because the Saio of that year, Princess Taki
, was suddenly dismissed. In principle, a newly selected Saio was supposed to make preparation by staying in the Abstinence-house near the capital for two years prior to going to Ise. However, she was in the Abstinence-house for over five years from 701 to 706. Also, she stayed in the Saikū
in Ise for only half a year and was made to retire from the post. These unprecedented cases might be because of some political intentions.
She was almost 40 years old when she returned to the capital. She could not marry anyone as she became too old, and lived an unmarried life until she died in 734, in her sixties.
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...
during the Asuka Period
Asuka period
The , was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 , although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period...
and the Nara Period
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenji
Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
. Her mother was Lady Shikobuko, whose father was Oshimi no Miyakko Otatsu. She had an elder brother, Prince Kawashima, and an elder sister, Princess Ōe
Princess Oe
was a person in Japan during the Asuka Period. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenji. Her mother was Lady Shikobuko , whose father is Oshiumi no Miyakko Otatsu . Her siblings include Prince Kawashima and Princess Izumi....
.
Although her sister, Princess Ōe, and other half-sisters were married to Emperor Temmu
Emperor Temmu
was the 40th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Temmu's reign lasted from 672 until his death in 686.-Traditional narrative:...
or his sons, Izumi did not marry because she was too young. When she reached the age suitable for marriage, she could not marry, because there were no appropriate men among Emperor Temmu's sons.
In addition to that condition, her brother Prince Kawashima betrayed Prince Ōtsu
Prince Otsu
was a Japanese poet and the son of Emperor Temmu.-Background:His mother was Princess Ōta whose father was Emperor Tenji. He was therefore the younger full-blood brother of Princess Ōku. His consort was Princess Yamanobe, daughter of Emperor Tenji, thus his cousin...
and his followers, and they were all punished. Because of that, Prince Kawashima and his relatives became the targets of criticism. After Prince Kawashima and Princess Ōe died several years later, she was completely isolated.
She was selected by divination as the Saio
Saio
A , also known as "Itsuki no Miko", was an unmarried female relative of the Japanese emperor, sent to Ise to serve at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century. The Saiō's residence, Saikū , was approximately 10 km north-west of the shrine...
in 701 when she was in her thirties, because the Saio of that year, Princess Taki
Princess Taki
was a Japanese princess during the Asuka period of Japanese history. She was a daughter of Emperor Temmu, a wife of Prince Shiki and the mother of Prince Kasuga. She was a Saio.-Genealogy:...
, was suddenly dismissed. In principle, a newly selected Saio was supposed to make preparation by staying in the Abstinence-house near the capital for two years prior to going to Ise. However, she was in the Abstinence-house for over five years from 701 to 706. Also, she stayed in the Saikū
Saiku
, also known as "Itsukinomiya" , was a village located approximately 10 kilometers north-west of Ise Shrine, arguably the most significant Shinto shrine in Japan...
in Ise for only half a year and was made to retire from the post. These unprecedented cases might be because of some political intentions.
She was almost 40 years old when she returned to the capital. She could not marry anyone as she became too old, and lived an unmarried life until she died in 734, in her sixties.