A review of Japan's history reveals that there have been eight female emperors in the country, for a total of 10 generations (two of whom served as emperor twice). In contrast, in ancient China, there was only one female emperor. The two neighboring countries, both of which have a tradition of male heirs, have significant differences in the number of female emperors. The following will be the reasons for the emergence of the female emperor of Japan from four perspectives.
1. The influence of early Japanese civilization.
The birth of the female emperor of Japan can be traced back to ancient history. Both mythology and early history have been written of goddesses and female rulers. In Japanese mythology, the sun goddess Amaterasu is revered as the ancestor of the imperial family. She is believed to have been the first emperor of Japan when her descendant, Emperor Jimmu, established the state of Japan around 660 BC. While the authenticity of Emperor Jimmu is questionable, it sets the tone for female imperial succession in Japan. Amaterasu himself is a female figure, and as the main god of Shinto, his influence is far-reaching. Therefore, it is not surprising that women in the Japanese imperial family have inheritance rights.
During the Yayoi period of Japanese history (300 BC - 250 AD), there existed a small country called Yamadai Province, which was ruled by women. After the death of Queen Himiko, despite the fact that she tried to make a man king, she was opposed by the people, but she finally chose a woman to be the king. This is not a legend in the Yamatai Kingdom from the end of the 2nd century to the 3rd century, but is truly recorded in the "Biography of Wei Zhiweiren". This fact once again justifies the existence of female rulers in ancient Japan, providing justification for the emergence of female emperors in Japan.
During the Kofun period (250-592 AD), there were also two female rulers in Japan, Empress Jikon and Empress Iitoyosei. During her 69-year reign after the death of her husband, Emperor Nakae, Empress Jikon was not officially enthroned, but she can be regarded as Japan's first true female monarch and can be called a quasi-emperor. After the death of Emperor Kiyonyeong, Emperor Iitoyo Sei ruled for a short period of 10 months, and although she was not canonized as emperor, she was actually the ruler of the time. Therefore, although the successors are mostly male, it is not uncommon for women to rule the royal family.
2. Safeguards to check and balance the forces of all parties.
Before 592 AD, the heirs of the ancient Japanese imperial family were mostly men. Unlike the ancient Chinese tradition of direct lineage in which the father dies and the son succeeds to the grandson, before the Ritsuryo system was established, Japan adopted the inheritance method of father-to-father-to-prime, eldest son to second son, and then brother-to-brother succession. This diversity of succession has led to the complexity of the royal lineage. In the midst of many struggles, in order to quickly stabilize the country, the female emperor came into being. This was the case with the first female emperor, Emperor Suiko. She is the daughter of Emperor Kinmei and the wife of Emperor Minda, and she has male heirs of her own. After the death of her husband, Emperor Suiko ascended the throne at the age of 48 due to a dispute over the heirs. This is a way to check and balance the forces of all parties and compromise the blood relationship of the heir with many parties.
In addition to Emperor Suiko, the second female emperor, Emperor Goku, was also proclaimed to the throne for the same reason. After the death of her husband, Emperor Shu Ming, two sons and a nephew who also had the right to inherit the throne began a battle for the throne. After a few months of scuffle, the 48-year-old former empress ascended the throne and became Emperor Gogoku. These female emperors ascended to the throne during a period of national turmoil, balanced the forces of all parties, and played a key role in stabilizing the country.
3. The lack of heirs plays a transitional role.
The Japanese Imperial Family is troubled by disputes over the number of heirs to the Imperial Family, but the lack of heirs is also a headache for the Imperial Family. In order to continue the throne, the female emperor came into being. It was under these circumstances that Emperor Jitoto, Emperor Motomei, and Emperor Motosho ascended the throne. After the death of his husband, Emperor Tenmu, the original heir, Prince Kusakabe, also died. In the absence of a suitable heir, Emperor Jiro ascended the throne in 690 AD and passed the throne to his 15-year-old grandson seven years later.
Emperor Motomei and Emperor Motosho also ascended the throne in the face of the untimely death of their heirs. Emperor Motomei was the wife of Prince Kusakabe and the mother of Emperor Bunmu. After the death of Emperor Bunmu, she faced a problem similar to that of her mother-in-law, Emperor Jitoi: the lack of a suitable heir. In order to ensure that the throne would not pass to her relatives, she chose to ascend the throne as emperor to ensure the right to inherit the throne. Emperor Motosho was the daughter of Emperor Motomei, who ascended the throne at the right time and laid the foundation for his nephew, Emperor Shomu, to stabilize the country. These female emperors played an important role in the smooth transition of the country during the period of political chaos.
Fourth, possess outstanding political talents.
Although many female emperors ascended to the throne in a context of balancing power or acting as a transition, their talents were crucial as elected rulers. Emperor Suiko was an outstanding statesman who achieved stability within the imperial family during her reign and promoted a series of reforms, such as establishing a new ** system, vigorously developing Buddhism, and maintaining contacts with the Sui Dynasty. Her leadership led Japan to a prosperous Asuka era.
Other female emperors have also made important contributions to the country. During the reign of Emperor Gogoku, he successfully executed the powerful minister Soga Irishi, showing a strong determination to lead. Emperor Jitong played an important role in the formulation of the Asuka Jogohara Ordinance, the establishment of the household registration system, and the relocation of the capital. Emperor Motomei and Emperor Motosho, mother and daughter, promoted policies that were beneficial to politics, economy, and culture, and laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Nara period.
Overall, the emergence of female emperors in Japan proves to some extent the status of women in ancient Japan and shows that women in the Japanese imperial family also have the right to inheritance. However, as female emperors, they often had to sacrifice their own happiness in pursuit of national stability and the preservation of the pure blood of the imperial family. These female emperors have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills throughout history and have made important contributions to the prosperity and development of the country.