Emperor Junnin

was the 47th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 淳仁天皇 (47); retrieved 2011-10-26. according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 59.  His reign started in 758 and ended in 764.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834).  Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 75-78; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979).  Gukanshō, p. 275; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki. p. 143-144.

Traditional narrative
Before he became the monarch, this prince's personal name (imina) was Ōi-shinnō (Ōi-no-ō).Brown,  Gukanshō, p. 275; Varley, p. 143.  The posthumous name of Emperor Junnin was given by Emperor Meiji.

He was the seventh son of Prince Toneri, a son of Emperor Temmu.Brown,  p. 275. His father died when he was at the age of three, and he was given no rank nor office of the court.

In the older Japanese documents, he was often referred as the .

Events of Junnin's life
His fate was changed in 757 when Empress Kōken named him as her heir (crown prince).

 7 September 758 (Tenpyō-shōhō 2, 1st day of the 8th month): In the 10th year of Kōken's reign, the empress abdicated. The succession (senso) was received by her adopted son.  Then Emperor Jimmu is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).Titsingh, p. 75; Brown,  p. 275.  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.
 760 (Tenpyō-hōji 4): New coins were minted.Appert, Georges. (1888). Ancien japon, pp. 29-30.
 764 (Tenpyō-hōji 8): Junnnin was sent in exile to Awaji.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Junnin Tennō" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 437.
 10 November 765 (Tenpyō-jingo 1, 23rd Day of the 10th Month):  Former Emperor Junnin died in exile.

Junnin caused grain storage centers (Jōheisō) to be established in the provinces.  The government stored rice from the years of good harvests.  This rice was used to control higher prices when harvests of rice were not good.  The Jōheisō were abolished during the Kamakura period.Nussbaum, "Jōheisō" at p. 429.

After his death
The actual site of Junnin's grave is known.  This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Awaji.Junnin did not appear on the official List of Emperors of Japan until the late 19th century.

The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Junnin's mausoleum.  It is formally named Awaji no misasagi.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.

In 1870, Emperor Meiji conferred the posthumous name and title by which he is now known.

Era of Junnin's reign
The years of Junnin's reign are identified by a single era name.Titsingh, pp. 75-78.
 Tenpyō-hōji  (758-765)

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

References

Category:Emperors of Japan
Category:733 births
Category:765 deaths