# Saho-hime

Saho-hime (狭穂姫命) was the legendary empress consort of Japan from 28 BC to 25 BC.

## Life

In both the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki, she was a granddaughter of Emperor Kaika and gave birth to one son who, according to the Nihon Shoki could not speak. Saho-hime died during a rebellion caused by her older brother, Sahohiko. Sahohiko tried to persuade her to kill her husband Emperor Suinin. He asked her whom she loved more, him or the Emperor. When she said the Emperor he reminded her that he had other mistresses. This plan worked and she agreed to kill Emperor Suinin. Saho-hime almost killed the Emperor but she cried and her tears woke the Emperor up. She revealed the plot by her brother to him out of guilt. Infuriated that his brother-in-law tried to make his wife kill him, the Emperor sent his troops to his brother-in-law's palace to take his life.

## The Nihon Shoki's account of her demise

After her husband sent troops to her brother's castle, in the Nihon Shoki, Saho-hime went to her brother's palace with their son out of guilt for attempting to kill the Emperor, and refused to leave until it burned down. As it was burning, her brother escaped, along with Saho-hime's son but the Empress died.

## The Kojiki's account of her demise

In the Kojiki, after Emperor Suinin woke up and Saho-hime went to her brother's castle she gave birth. The Emperor ordered his guards to turn away until she gave birth, and then retrieve her. While the palace was still burning she gave birth. As the Emperor's men came to retrieve Saho-hime's newborn, the child was placed outside the fortress and Saho-hime shaved her head. As the men took Saho-hime, her clothes fell off, as did her hair allowing her to escape. The Emperor was angered and as she was escaping asked her to choose a name for the child. She chose the name Homutsuwake (fire-possessing lord) as the palace was burning whilst she was giving birth. Whilst she and her brother were escaping Suinin killed her brother and Saho-hime herself.

## Legacy

It is believed Saho-hime is the deity that lives on Mount Saho and is the goddess of spring.
There is a poem attributed to Emperor Go-Toba about her:
   "The hazy clothes of Princess Saho are faded, and the flower brocades are quickly faded"

## Family tree

vteGenealogy of early Japanese emperors and empresses :
| | | | | | | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | | | | | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | | | | | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | | | | | | | | | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | | | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan |
| | | | | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | | | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | | | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | | | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | | | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | | | | | | | | | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | | | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | | | | | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | | | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | | | | | | | | | | | | | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | | | | | | | | | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | | | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | | | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | | | | | | | | | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | | | | | | | | | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | | | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | | | | | | | | | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | | | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | | | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | | | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | | | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | | | | | | | | | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | | | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | | | | | | | | | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | | | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | | | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | | | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | | | | | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | | | | | | | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | | | | | | | | | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | | | | | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | | | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | | | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | | | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | | | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | | | | | | | | | | | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |