Takano no Niigasa
Encyclopedia
Takano no Niigasa (ca.720 – 790) was a concubine of Emperor Kōnin
and the mother of Emperor Kammu
. Her full name was Takano no Asomi Niigasa.
(白壁王), a grandson of Emperor Tenji
, and bore Prince Yamabe
(山部王) in 737 and Prince Sawara (早良王) in 750. Prince Shirakabe was also married to Princess Inoe (井上内親王), a daughter of Emperor Shōmu
(聖武天皇) in 744. When Empress Shotoku
died in 770, Prince Shirakabe was appointed her successor and acceded to the throne as Emperor Kōnin
. Princess Inoe and her son, Prince Osabe (他戸親王), were nominated as the Empress and the crown prince respectively, because of her noble birth.
The sons of Niigasa had not been considered to be successors until 772, when the Empress was suddenly stripped of her rank following accusations that she had cursed the Emperor. The crown prince, her son, was also disinherited. They were dead two years later. Although Niigasa did not became the Empress, Prince Yamabe, her son, was appointed as the crown prince and acceded to the throne as Emperor Kammu
.
origin/ The Title
of Yamato clan had been Yamato no Fubito (和史, lit. "Scribe of Yamato") and later given a new title, Takano no Asomi (高野朝臣). Shoku Nihongi
describes the Yamato clan as a distant descendant of an exiled prince of Baekje, son of King Muryeong of Baekje
. Nihon Shoki
mentions that the prince died in Japan in 513. The Yamato clan had persisted for 200 years by the time of Niigasa's birth, longer than many other aristocratic clans of foreign origin, such as the Kudara no Konikishi
clan.
Emperor Konin
was the 49th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōnin's reign lasted from 770 to 781.-Traditional narrative:The personal name of Emperor Kōnin was given was As a son of Imperial Prince Shiki and a grandson of Emperor Tenji., his formal style was Prince Shirakabe...
and the mother of Emperor Kammu
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
. Her full name was Takano no Asomi Niigasa.
Life
Niigasa was a daughter of Yamato no Ototsugu (和乙継). She became a concubine of Prince ShirakabeEmperor Konin
was the 49th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōnin's reign lasted from 770 to 781.-Traditional narrative:The personal name of Emperor Kōnin was given was As a son of Imperial Prince Shiki and a grandson of Emperor Tenji., his formal style was Prince Shirakabe...
(白壁王), a grandson 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:...
, and bore Prince Yamabe
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
(山部王) in 737 and Prince Sawara (早良王) in 750. Prince Shirakabe was also married to Princess Inoe (井上内親王), a daughter of Emperor Shōmu
Emperor Shomu
was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 723.-Traditional narrative:...
(聖武天皇) in 744. When Empress Shotoku
Empress Koken
, also known as , was the 46th and the 48th emperor of Japan respectively, according to the traditional order of succession. Empress Kōken first reigned from 749 to 758, then she reascended the throne as Empress Shōtoku from 765 until her death in 770....
died in 770, Prince Shirakabe was appointed her successor and acceded to the throne as Emperor Kōnin
Emperor Konin
was the 49th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōnin's reign lasted from 770 to 781.-Traditional narrative:The personal name of Emperor Kōnin was given was As a son of Imperial Prince Shiki and a grandson of Emperor Tenji., his formal style was Prince Shirakabe...
. Princess Inoe and her son, Prince Osabe (他戸親王), were nominated as the Empress and the crown prince respectively, because of her noble birth.
The sons of Niigasa had not been considered to be successors until 772, when the Empress was suddenly stripped of her rank following accusations that she had cursed the Emperor. The crown prince, her son, was also disinherited. They were dead two years later. Although Niigasa did not became the Empress, Prince Yamabe, her son, was appointed as the crown prince and acceded to the throne as Emperor Kammu
Emperor Kammu
was the 50th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kammu reigned from 781 to 806.-Traditional narrative:Kammu's personal name was . He was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe , and was born prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne...
.
Yamato clan
Yamato no Ototsugu, Niigasa's father, was a noble of BaekjeBaekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
origin/ The Title
Kabane
were hereditary titles used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing. There were more than thirty. Some of the more common kabane were omi, muraji, , , , , , and ....
of Yamato clan had been Yamato no Fubito (和史, lit. "Scribe of Yamato") and later given a new title, Takano no Asomi (高野朝臣). Shoku Nihongi
Shoku Nihongi
The is an imperially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 797, it is the second of the Six National Histories, coming directly after the Nihon Shoki and followed by Nihon Kōki. Fujiwara no Tsugutada and Sugano no Mamichi served as the primary editors...
describes the Yamato clan as a distant descendant of an exiled prince of Baekje, son of King Muryeong of Baekje
Muryeong of Baekje
Muryeong of Baekje was the 25th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. During his reign, Baekje remained allied with Silla against Goguryeo, and expanded its relationships with China and Japan.-Background:...
. 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...
mentions that the prince died in Japan in 513. The Yamato clan had persisted for 200 years by the time of Niigasa's birth, longer than many other aristocratic clans of foreign origin, such as the Kudara no Konikishi
Kudara no Konikishi
The Kudara no Konikishi was a Japanese clan whose founder Zenkō was a son of the last king of Baekje, King Uija.Kudara was an uji or clan name that represented their country of origin...
clan.