Emperor Junna

Japanese: 淳和天皇 - じゅんなてんのう

Year of death: May 8, 7th year of Jowa (June 11, 840)
Year of birth: Enryaku 5 (786)
An emperor in the early Heian period. Son of Emperor Kanmu and Matsuko, the daughter of Fujiwara no Momokawa. His name was Otomo. He became the crown prince in place of Prince Takaoka (Shinnyo), who was deposed in the Kusushi Incident (810), and ascended to the throne in April 823 (Kōnin 14) when his elder brother Emperor Saga abdicated. The day after his accession to the throne, the Otomo clan changed their name to Tomo, avoiding the imperial name (Otomo). He worked hard on cultural policies, such as compiling anthologies of poetry and prose such as the Keikokushū (827), the encyclopedia Hifuryaku (831), and the Ryō Gikai (833), as well as the establishment of legal codes. In February 833, he moved to Junna-in (near Junnain-cho, Nishi-in, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City), which had been a detached palace called Nanchi-in (also called Sai-in), which had been used by the Crown Prince during his younger brother's time, and abdicated. He initially declined the title and treatment of retired emperor, but since there were now two retired emperors, he was called "Go-Daijo Tenno" (Post-retired Emperor), whereas Saga was called "Sen (former) Daijo Tenno". He loved poetry and prose, and many of his works are included in the "Ryounshu", "Bunka Shureishu", and "Keikokushu". The letter of condolence he sent to Mount Koya when Kukai passed away (included in "Shoku Nihon Koki") is famous for being written with great sorrow. In accordance with his will, no tomb was built, and his remains were crushed and scattered in the mountains of Oharano. His cremation mound still exists in Mononobe (Muko City).

(Takinami Sadako)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：承和7.5.8(840.6.11)
生年：延暦5(786)
平安前期の天皇。桓武天皇と藤原百川の娘松子の子。名は大伴。薬子の変(810)で廃太子された高岳親王(真如)に代わって皇太弟となり,弘仁14(823)年4月,兄嵯峨天皇の譲位により即位。大伴氏は即位の翌日,天皇の名(大伴)を避け伴氏と改めた。『経国集』(827)をはじめ,百科事典『秘府略』(831),『令義解』(833)といった詩文集や法典整備の編纂など文化政策に努めた。天長10(833)年2月,皇太弟時代の離宮南池院(西院とも)を整備した淳和院(京都市右京区西院淳和院町付近)に移って譲位,当初,上皇の称号と待遇を辞退したが,上皇がふたりとなったことから,嵯峨を先(前)太上天皇と呼ぶのに対して「後太上天皇」と称された。詩文を好み,作品は『凌雲集』『文華秀麗集』『経国集』に多数収める。空海の死去に際し高野山に送った弔書(『続日本後紀』所収)は哀切に満ちた文章として著名である。遺言に従って山陵は築かれず,遺骨は砕いて大原野山中に散布された。物集女(向日市)には火葬塚が伝存。

(瀧浪貞子)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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