Emperor Tenji

, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō):  天智天皇 (38) according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 52.   His reign started in 661 and ended in 671.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834).  Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 52-58.

Traditional narrative
Before he became the monarch, his personal name (imina) was  .Titsingh,  pp. 52-53.

He was the son of Emperor Jomei.

Events of Tenji's life
Prince Naka no Ōe was made heir apparent and Crown Prince in 661.

 661: In the third year of Empress Saimei's reign, she died. Her son received the succession (senso), but he governed as Crown Prince for the next six years.  He did not formally accept the monarch's role and duties and powers.Titsingh, pp. 52-54.
 668: Emperor Tenji became the monarch (sokui).Titsingh, p. 54.  This was confirmed in ceremonies.Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami. Compare Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō),  Ceremony of Accession (Sokui-no-Rei); retrieved 2011-12-23.
 668: In the seventh year of Tenji's reign, flammable water (petroleum) from Echigo Province was presented to Emperor Tenji.Aston, William George. (1896). Nihongi, p. 289 n2.
 672: Tenji is said to have compiled the first Japanese legal code. This was the Ōmi Code, consisting of 22 volumes.  These  law became effective in the last year of Tenji's reign.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 52; Varley, p. 136 n. 43.

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.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 53.

Tenji improved the military forces which had been established during the Taika reforms.Asakawa, Kan'ichi. (1903). The Early Institutional Life of Japan, p. 313.

After his death
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.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.

Related pages
 Emperor of Japan
 List of emperors of Japan
 Japanese imperial family tree

 References 

 Other websites

Category:626 births
Category:671 deaths
Category:Emperors of Japan