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 . He was the son of Emperor Jomei , but was preceded as ruler by his mother Empress Saimei . Prior to his accession , he was known as . Events of Tenji ' s life . As prince , Naka no Ōe played a crucial role in ending the near - total control the Soga clan had over the imperial family . In 644 , seeing the Soga continue to gain power , he conspired with Nakatomi no Kamatari and Soga no Kurayamada no Ishikawa no Maro to assassinate Soga no Iruka in what has come to be known as the Isshi Incident . Although the assassination did not go exactly as planned , Iruka was killed , and his father and predecessor , Soga no Emishi , committed suicide soon after . Following the Isshi Incident , Iruka ' s adherents dispersed largely without a fight , and Naka no Ōe was named heir apparent . He also married the daughter of his ally Soga no Kurayamada , thus ensuring that a significant portion of the Soga clan ' s power was on his side . Events of Tenji ' s reign . Naka no Ōe reigned as Emperor Tenji from 661 to 672 . Tenji was particularly active in improving the military institutions which had been established during the Taika reforms . Death of the emperor . Following his death in 672 , there ensued a succession dispute between his fourteen children ( many by different mothers ) . In the end , he was succeeded by his son , Prince Ōtomo , also known as Emperor Kōbun , then by Tenji ' s brother Prince Ōama , also known as Emperor Temmu . Almost one hundred years after Tenji ' s death , the throne passed to his grandson Emperor Kōnin . The actual site of Tenji ' s grave is known . This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine ( " misasagi " ) at Yamashina - ku , Kyoto . The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Tenji ' s mausoleum . It is formally named " Yamashina no misasagi " . Poetry . The " Man ' yōshū " includes poems attributed to emperors and empresses ; and according to Donald Keene , evolving " Man ' yōshū " studies have affected the interpretation of even simple narratives like " The Three Hills . " The poem was long considered to be about two male hills in a quarrel over a female hill , but scholars now consider that Kagu and Mimihashi might be female hills in love with the same male hill , Unebi . This still - unresolved enigma in poetic form is said to have been composed by Emperor Tenji while he was still Crown Prince during the reign of Empress Saimei : One of his 31 - letters poems was chosen by Fujiwara no Teika as the first in the very popular anthology " Hyakunin Isshu . " After his death , his wife , Empress Yamato wrote a song of longing about her husband . " Kugyo " . The top during Emperor Tenji ' s reign included : Prince Ōtomo ( Ōtomo " - shinnō " ) was the favorite son of Emperor Tenji ; and he was also the first to be accorded the title of " Daijō - daijin . " Non " - nengō " period . The years of Tenji ' s reign are not linked by scholars to any era or " nengō " . The Taika era innovation of naming time periods – " nengō " – languished until Mommu reasserted an imperial right by proclaiming the commencement of Taihō in 701 . In this context , Brown and Ishida ' s translation of " Gukanshō " offers an explanation about the years of Empress Jitō ' s reign which muddies a sense of easy clarity in the pre - Taiho time - frame : Consorts and Children . Empress : Empress Yamato ( 倭姫王 ) ( ? – ? ) , daughter of Prince Furuhito - no - Ōe ( son of Emperor Jomei ) . " Hin " : Soga no Ochi - no - iratsume ( 蘇我遠智娘 ) ( ? – 651 ? ) , daughter of Soga no Kura - no - yamada no Ishikawa - no - maro " Hin " : Soga no Mei - no - iratsume ( 蘇我姪娘 ) , daughter of Soga no Kura - no - yamada no Ishikawa - no - maro " Hin " : Soga no Hitachi - no - iratsume ( 蘇我常陸娘 ) , daughter of Soga no Akae " Hin " : Abe no Tachibana - no - iratsume ( 阿部橘娘 ) ( ? – 681 ) , daughter of Abe no Kurahashi - maro Court lady : Oshinumi no Shikibuko - no - iratsume ( 忍海色夫古娘 ) Court lady : Koshi - no - michi no Iratsume ( 越道伊羅都売 ) Court lady : Kurikuma no Kurohime - no - iratsume ( 栗隈黒媛娘 ) Court lady ( " Uneme " ) : Yakako - no - iratsume , a lower court lady from Iga ( 伊賀采女宅子娘 ) ( " Iga no Uneme " )