In recent years, there has been a fierce debate in Japanese historiography over the question of whether a woman can serve as emperor. In fact, in Japan's history, there have been eight female emperors who ruled for ten generations. This is the unique era of the empress, and it is rare in the history of the world.
In the perception of modern people, the policy of ancient Japan was inherited from the Han and Tang dynasties, so Japan, like the Central Plains Dynasty, was a capital that pursued "male supremacy". Since the concept of "emperor" was formed, there have been a total of 126 emperors in Japan, and 10 of them have been women. Moreover, the reign of the female emperor was relatively concentrated, and in less than 180 years, from 592 to 770 AD, the female emperor ruled for 90 years.
Emperor Suiko: Japan's "Wu Zetian".
Of all the Japanese emperors, Emperor Suiko is the most special one. It can be said that Emperor Suiko was the first female ruler in the history of Japan. As the daughter of the 29th Emperor Qinming, Tuigu's life was uncertain and ill-fated with the turbulent political situation. The ethical concept of ancient Japan was quite abnormal, and his half-brother Emperor Minda actually married his sister and took her as the imperial concubine, and even canonized Suiko as the empress five years later. Obviously, this situation is difficult for the state of religion to accept.
Originally a woman, Tyko had no chance of ascending to the throne, but a subsequent political incident put her on the throne. In 592 AD, Emperor Shojun died in a coup d'état, and after the rebellion was suppressed, it became imperative to elect a new emperor. At that time, the most vocal people in the imperial court were Suiko's nephew, Prince Shotoku, and her son, Prince Takeuchi. The political power of the two princes is equal, and they have never been able to distinguish between the superior and the inferior. In the end, the two sides simply made a compromise, neither of them became emperors, and the thirty-eight-year-old Suigu became emperor.
After all, Tuigu was born in the imperial family, her father, brother, and husband are all emperors, and in so many years of exposure to it, Tuigu's political ability has become higher and higher. Faced with Prince Shotoku, who had competed with his son for the throne, Zoku did not radically exclude him from the political center, but adopted a policy of gentleness and made him the regent. This tolerant policy quickly dissipated tensions within the royal family. During the 36 years of Tygu's reign, there was no more infighting in the royal family, and society became more stable.
The political ingenuity of the ancients.
I have to say that Tuigu's move is very ingenious. Prince Shotoku was a political talent, and with his help, Tyko's reign was a smooth one. Unlike the traditional and conservative male emperors, Suiko's political views were very groundbreaking. Following the example of China, Tui Gu carried out drastic reforms to the established system, consolidated the centralization of power, weakened the power of the aristocracy, and won the hearts of the people by promoting religion. Under a series of policies of Tuigu, Japan's development seems to have entered the fast lane, and it is out of control.
At first, the Japanese court elected Suiko as emperor because the dignitaries at the time felt that Suiko was an insightless woman who was easy to manipulate. However, after ascending to the throne, Tigu quickly proved her ability to the world with practical actions. No one expected that Suigu would be more ambitious than the average male emperor. After establishing diplomatic relations with China, Tuigu actually wanted to be on an equal footing with the Great Sui Emperor. In 607 AD, Tuigu sent people to China to negotiate with the Great Sui, arguing that Japan was no longer a vassal state and demanding that the two sides establish diplomatic relations on an equal footing.
In order to achieve this goal, Tuigu constantly sent envoys to China to absorb the relatively advanced Chinese culture. It was precisely because of the large amount of Han culture introduced by Japan that the "Asuka Age" was created.
The wisdom and tolerance of Tygu.
Emperor Suiko was still clear-headed in her later years, and as she advanced in her age, the prince began to engage in a series of political activities to pave the way for his future accession to the throne. At the same time, the power of the powerful minister Su I Mazi became bigger and bigger, and he fought against the prince of the stable, and the two sides continued to friction, causing many political incidents.
At this time, Emperor Suiko did not lean towards either side, but continued to carry out the policy of softness and reconcile the contradictions between the two sides. It can be said that no emperor in the history of Japan was better at maintaining the balance of power than Emperor Suiko, who ensured that imperial power would be passed on in his family without incurring resentment from the aristocracy.
Although the power of the Soga clan, a foreign relative, has reached its peak, in the face of national interests, Emperor Suiko will never make the slightest concession to the Soga clan. In 624 A.D., Soga Mako asked the emperor for the administration of Katsuragi Prefecture, but Emperor Suiko skillfully refused: "I am your niece, and if I give up the land to my relatives, the future generations will nail you and me to the pillar of shame, and everyone will call me stupid and accuse you of being unfaithful." After a few words, Su Ma Zi, who was full of power, could not refute it, and the matter of asking for a fief was naturally over.
The legacy of Tygu.
On April 15, 628 (March 7, 36 years of Emperor Suiko), Emperor Suiko died at the age of 75 in Kokenda Palace. The day before his death, Emperor Suiko summoned Emperor Minda's grandson, Prince Tamura, to his pillow and warned him to be cautious and sensible, and called Prince Shotoku's son, Yamabei, to his pillow and told him to take the opinions of others and did not designate a successor.
It can be said that Emperor Suiko is one of the most outstanding female emperors in Japan, and he is still praised by Japanese society today.
References: "Nihon Shoki", "Book of Sui".
Emperor Suiko: The Political Wisdom of a Female Leader.
Emperor Suiko, as a female leader in Japanese history, has demonstrated remarkable political prowess and wisdom. Her reign not only brought social stability to Japan, but also promoted the development of the country, making her one of the most prominent female emperors in Japanese history.
First of all, Emperor Suiko did an excellent job of maintaining the stability of the imperial family. Under her rule, there was no more infighting in the Imperial family, and Suiko adopted a sensible policy of softness, skillfully balancing the relationship between the different forces. In the fight between his brother Prince Shotoku and his son, Prince Takeuchi, the descendants of Emperor Minda, Suiko chose to have them hold important positions separately, and achieved harmonious coexistence within the family. This kind of tolerant and wise political means enabled the Imperial Family to maintain relative unity during Suiko's reign, which brought stability to Japanese society.
Second, Emperor Suiko was forward-looking and bold in promoting political reform.
decision-making. Compared to the traditional male emperors, Suiko's political views were more groundbreaking. She followed China's example and carried out drastic reforms, consolidating the centralization of power and weakening the power of the aristocracy. This kind of determination and courage not only freed Japanese society from some old shackles, but also laid the foundation for the long-term development of the country. Tui Gu learned Xi from China, sent envoys to learn Xi advanced culture, and even put forward a request for the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Great Sui on an equal footing, demonstrating her vision for national independence and development.
Tygu's wisdom is also reflected in her handling of the balance of her relatives' forces. In the face of the demands of the powerful minister Soga Mazi, Suigu skillfully refused to claim the right to administer Katsuragi Prefecture. She refused in the name of her family, not only protecting the interests of the family, but also helpless her political opponents with her wise rhetoric. This wise leadership style allowed Tygu to maintain a balance between power and strategy, ensuring the stability and prosperity of the country.
In the end, in the way she dealt with Tugu in her later years, she did not take sides, and still continued to adopt a soft policy to reconcile the contradictions between the two sides. This tolerant attitude was particularly important in the political situation of the antique era, and by maintaining the balance of power, she skillfully avoided crises that could lead to social unrest.
Emperor Suiko's political career has shown remarkable wisdom as a female leader. Her achievements in maintaining unity within the imperial family, promoting political reform, and dealing with the balance of power among foreign relatives set an example for the position of women in politics in Japanese history. Emperor Suiko's legacy is not only reflected in the social changes of her time, but also in the profound impact she left on Japanese history.
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