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Revision as of 05:31, 3 August 2005
Emperor Jinmu, also spelled Jimmu (神武天皇; Jinmu Tennō; given name: Kamuyamato Iwarebiko, January 1, 711 BC–March 11, 585 BC) was the mythical founder of Japan and its first emperor. He is also regarded as a direct descendant of the Shinto deity Amaterasu. The goddess reportedly had a son called Ame no Oshihomimi no Mikoto and through him a grandson named Ninigi-no-Mikoto. She sent her grandson to the Japanese islands where he eventually married Princess Konohana-Sakuya. Among their three sons was Hikohohodemi no Mikoto also called Yamasachi-hiko who married Princess Toyotama. She was the daughter of Owatatsumi, the Japanese sea god and brother of Amaterasu. They had a single son called Hikonagisa Takeugaya Fukiaezu no Mikoto. The boy was abandoned by his parents at birth and consequently raised by Princess Tamayori, a younger sister of his mother. They eventually married each other and had a total of four sons. The last of them would grow to become emperor Jinmu. The Imperial house of Japan bases its claim to the throne on its descent from Jinmu. His posthumous name literally means "divine might".
In 1889, Kashihara Shrine was built to enshrine him in Kashihara, Nara.
Emperor Jinmu's existence cannot be verified by standard historical means, but the mythology surrounding him places him in the 7th century BC. February 11, 660 BC is the traditional founding date of Japan by emperor Jinmu.
New Year's Day in Japanese lunisolar calendar was traditionally celebrated as the regnal day of emperor Jinmu. In 1872, the Meiji government proclaimed that February 11, 660 BC in the Gregorian calendar was the foundation day of Japan. This mythical date was commemorated in the holiday Kigensetsu ("Empire Day") from 1872 to 1948, which was resurrected in 1966 as the holiday Kenkoku Kinen-bi ("National Foundation Day").
References and external links
| Preceded by(none) | Legendary Emperor of Japan 660 BC-585 BC |
Succeeded bySuizei |