Emperor Yomei

The 31st Emperor (reigned 585-587). His Japanese posthumous name was Tachibana Toyohi. He was the fourth son of Emperor Kinmei. His mother was Soga no Kitashihime, and he was the first son of her. He was the father of Prince Umayado (Prince Shotoku). After Emperor Bidatsu, he ascended to the throne at Ikebe no Mitsuki no Miya, and his minister was Soga no Umako, and his chief minister was Mononobe no Moriya. He also appointed Princess Sukatehime, born to him and Katsuragi no Hiroko, as the Saiou of Ise. His half-brother Prince Anahobe (from Soga no Oane no Kimi) was apparently dissatisfied with the emperor's accession to the throne and allied with Mononobe no Moriya in various ways, coming into conflict with Soga no Umako and further complicating the political situation. This conflict escalated in February 587 (the second year of Emperor Yomei's reign) when the emperor, who had fallen ill, questioned the propriety of Buddhist belief, and in the midst of this, the emperor died. Shortly afterwards, Umako defeated Moriya and his supporters. His mausoleum is at Shinagahara Tomb in Minamikawachi County, Osaka Prefecture.

[Teiji Kadowaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

第31代とされる天皇（在位585～587）。和風諡号(しごう)は橘豊日(たちばなとよひ)天皇。欽明(きんめい)天皇の第四皇子。母は蘇我堅塩媛(そがのきたしひめ)で、その第1子。厩戸(うまやど)皇子（聖徳太子）の父である。敏達(びだつ)天皇のあと池辺双槻宮(いけべなみつきのみや)で即位し、大臣は蘇我馬子(うまこ)、大連(おおむらじ)は物部守屋(もののべのもりや)。また、葛城(かずらき)広子との間に生まれた酢香手姫(すかてひめ)皇女を伊勢斎王(いせさいおう)とした。異母弟の穴穂部(あなほべ)皇子（母は蘇我小姉君(おあねのきみ)）は、この天皇の即位に不満であったらしく、なにかと物部守屋と結んで蘇我馬子と対立し、政局の混迷を深めた。この対立は、587年（用明天皇2）2月、病を得た天皇が仏教信仰の是非を問うたことから極度に高まり、そのなかで天皇は死んだ。その直後に馬子は守屋とその支持勢力を討ち滅ぼした。陵墓は、大阪府南河内(かわち)郡の磯長原(しながはら)陵。

［門脇禎二］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例