Emperor Monmu

The 42nd Emperor (reigned 697-707). His name was Karu. He was the grandson of Emperor Tenmu. He was the second son of Prince Kusakabe. His mother was Princess Ahe (later Empress Genmei), the daughter of Emperor Tenji. He was made Crown Prince in February 697, and ascended to the throne in August of the same year. His wife was Miyako, the daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito. He was 15 years old at the time. During the first half of his 10-year reign, his grandmother, Empress Jito, oversaw all government affairs, but during this period Prince Osakabe, Fujiwara no Fuhito and others carried out the great task of compiling the Ritsuryo Code. Eventually, eleven volumes of the Code and six volumes of the Code were completed, and in 701 (the 1st year of the Taiho era) the era name was established as Taiho, with the Code and Code coming into effect from that year to the following year. This was the Taiho Code, and the Ritsuryo national system was established in both name and reality. However, in the latter half of his reign, due to public unrest caused by disasters and epidemics, he carried out the so-called Keiun reforms, quickly putting the Ritsuryo system back on track. He also wanted to move the capital to Heijo-kyo, but this was not realized, and he passed away at the young age of 25. His tomb is at Hinokuma Akoyama Tomb in Asuka Village, Takaichi County, Nara Prefecture.

[Oshibe Yoshiaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

第42代天皇（在位697～707）。名は珂瑠(かる)。天武(てんむ)天皇の孫。草壁(くさかべ)皇子の第2子。母は天智(てんじ)天皇の娘阿閇(あへ)皇女（のち元明(げんめい)天皇）。697年2月立太子、同年8月即位、藤原不比等(ふひと)の娘宮子(みやこ)を夫人とする。ときに15歳。治世10年間のうちの前半は、祖母にあたる持統太上(じとうたいじょう)天皇が後見して政務一般を総覧したが、この時期には刑部(おさかべ)親王、藤原不比等らによって律令編纂(りつりょうへんさん)の大事業がなされた。やがて令十一巻、律六巻が完成して、701年（大宝1）には年号を大宝(たいほう)と建元し、令・律は同年から翌年にかけて施行された。これがすなわち大宝律令であり、ここに名実ともに律令国家体制は確立したのである。しかし治世の後半には災害や飢疫の流行などによる世情不安から、いわゆる慶雲(けいうん)の諸改革を断行して、早くも律令制を軌道修正した。また平城京遷都を望んだが果たせず、25歳の若さで世を去った。御陵は奈良県高市(たかいち)郡明日香(あすか)村の檜隈(ひのくま)安古(あこ)山陵。

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