I was in Miyazaki until yesterday and visited several shrines related to Emperor Jimmu, so this time I would like to write about "Emperor Jimmu".
The Guinness Book of Records is also in trouble
In the Guinness Book of Records, there is an item called "A dynasty that continues with the same bloodline." There seems to be some doubt about whether to register the Ethiopian royal family or the Japanese emperor family in this item.
The origin of the hesitation is about the first emperor, "Emperor Jimmu".
This area is quite confusing.
The Ethiopian Empire originated in the 5th century BC and lasted for 2500 years until the abdication of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, but since Emperor Jimmu's coronation was 660 BC, this is older and now. But it continues.
The Ethiopian Empire is also recorded in the "History" of the Greek historian Herodotus, who often appears in this blog, and it is relatively credible, but for Emperor Jimmu, including its existence and age. There are various discussions.
The Guinness Book of Records also seems to be bothering me around here.
Therefore, the Guinness Book of Records regards Japan as the oldest dynasty, and the proviso states that it is "actually the 4th century."
Personally, I think it is quite impossible for Emperor Jimmu to be crowned in 660 BC.
The oldest description of Japan is about the "King of Na gold seal" written in the "King of Han", which was the era of Emperor Guangwu, the founder of Han in 57 AD. It will be around 239 years for "Himiko".
Since Japan has been a country without letters for a long time, there is no history book itself until the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki are compiled, only the description in Chinese books is relied on, and other than that, it is colloquially conveyed. Has been done.
This is almost the same in the history of every country, and there are few countries where the rise of that country is clear.
The history of any country begins with a myth
Only China and Rome were enthusiastic about leaving history, and many ancient histories such as England and France are speculated based on Roman books.
Most of the parts of Rome and China that cannot be considered to be true in the history of the founding of the country, especially in Rome, the first king Romulus is the grandson of the war god Mars in order to enhance the legitimacy of the country.
Therefore, many people are skeptical about the existence of Romulus itself, and China is also a myth at first, and it is okay to have a snake in the lower body or two heads.
I personally think that the Bible translated as "the Bible" is the founding history of the Jewish people, and it has a large mythical element.
Therefore, I think that Emperor Jimmu also has a large mythical element.
Emperor Jimmu is born with the blood of the gods
The name of Emperor Jimmu's father is enshrined in the famous "Udo Shrine", which is called "Ugayafukiaezu".
I went to Udo Shrine, so let me post a photo.
Udo Shrine is said to have been built in the Iwaya where Ugayafukiaezu was born.
By the way, the famous Qingdao Shrine near Udo Shrine enshrines "Hikobuki Demison", the father of Ugayafukiaezu. I've been here too so let me post a photo.
There is also a mysterious land called "Devil's Washboard" nearby.
Giants also come to visit.
Hikobuki Demison is the grandson of Ninigi-no-Mikoto, the grandson of Amaterasu Noomikami, so the quick story is that Emperor Jimmu is a descendant of Amaterasu Noomikami.
The Japanese emperor has a very venerable lineage.
The theory that Momotaro is Emperor Jimmu
According to Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, Emperor Jimmu started an expedition from Kyushu to the land of Yamato at the age of 45 with his brother and his subordinates. It is the famous Jinmu's eastern expedition.
Tosei started from the country of Hyuga, which is the present Miyazaki prefecture, and passed through the country of Tsukushi around the present Fukuoka prefecture, the country of Aki around Hiroshima, the country of Kibi around Okayama, and then Namba, Kawachi, Kii, and Yamato. Is said to have settled. In other words, a huge kingdom was established from Kyushu to Kinki.
When the country of Yamato was settled, he became the throne the following year, and Emperor Jimmu was born.
When I was little, my father was enthusiastic about the story that Momotaro was Emperor Jimmu.
Oni are the forces centered around the country of Yamato, and monkeys, dogs, and pheasants are the countries that cooperated with the surrounding Emperor Jimmu.
No one will know if that is true anymore, but it may be similar.
When I tried googled with "Emperor Jimmu Momotaro", such a story came out quite a bit.
Every Japanese person knows Momotaro's story, but no one knows when it was told. That is a mysterious story.
Emperor Jimmu's Eastern Expedition and Futsunomitama
The sword that Emperor Jimmu had was the famous "Futsunomitama". This was originally the property of Takemikazuchi, the famous thunder god in the Persona series, and became the property of Emperor Jimmu during the eastern expedition.
He is a guy who often appears in RPG.
According to folklore, Emperor Jimmu died 76 years after his coronation. His life is 127 years, the longest life in the world. I'm sure the Guinness Book of Records is bothering me in this regard as well.
Emperor Jimmu and Miyazaki Shrine
Emperor Jimmu is enshrined at Miyazaki Shrine in Miyazaki, the country of birth.
I've been there so I'll post a photo.
Does Emperor Jimmu really exist after all? When was the person on earth?
There are many unclear points in Japanese history, especially when there was a time when the turmoil in China became so intense that there was almost no description on the Japanese side, as it is said to be a blank "150 years", and what happened in that part? I don't know. Personally, I think Emperor Jimmu is a person of this era.
If Emperor Jimmu had settled Kyushu and Kinki before Himiko, the existence of Yamatai would be a little strange.
It is not known whether Yamatai is Kyushu or Yamato, but if it is after Shinbu, it will be a force that is hostile to the Emperor, and there will be a contradiction with the description in the Wei book.
There is also the idea that Himiko itself is Amaterasu no Omikami, and it is also possible that the Emperor's family was born in the flow of Yamatai country.
Even if this is not the case, considering the later version of the Yamato administration, I think that Emperor Jimmu is a general term for people from the 3rd to 4th centuries AD or a person who lived in that era.
There is a description of people called "Five Kings of Wa" in the record of "Song (Liu Song, 420-479)" in the middle of the 6th morning of China, and these people are famous for the ancient tombs. There is an opinion that they are emperors, and since Emperor Nintoku is the 16th emperor, it is not so strange.
On the other hand, if you are a person in 660 BC, you are only in your 15s in about 1000 years, so this is quite strange.
I think it's a personally convincing conclusion that Yamatai is in Kyushu, and that Emperor Jimmu conquered the east and unified western Japan except Shikoku.
Since His Majesty the First Emperor must have existed, I think that "Emperor Jimmu" itself existed. However, I don't know if Western Japan was settled in one generation. It's possible that some of the achievements have been combined into one, and I don't think it's at least 660 BC.