Emperor Seinei

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Emperor Seinei (清寧天皇, Seinei-tennō?), or rather Shiraka no okimi[clarify] was the 22nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. [1] No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign. Seinei is considered to have ruled the country during the late 5th century, but there is a paucity of information about him. Scholars can only lament that, at this time, there is insufficient material available for further verification and study.

According to Kojiki and Nihonshoki, he was a son of Emperor Yūryaku. His name in birth was Shiraka. "Shiraka" means "white-haired" in Japanese, and it is said that the color of his hair was white since his birth (possibly due to albinism). After the death of his father, Seinei won the fight against Prince Hoshikawa, his brother, for the throne and so succeeded his father. Traditional dates which are ascribed to this emperor's reign are from 480 till 484.

He had no children, which concerned him greatly. However, two grandsons of Emperor Richū, Prince Oke and Prince Woke, were found and Seinei adopted them as his heirs.[2]

His tomb was made in Kawachi province, which is today in the eastern Osaka prefecture.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 28-29; Varley, Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, pp. 115-116.
  2. ^ Aston, William. (1998). Nihongi, Vol. 1, pp. 373-377.


[edit] See also


Preceded by
Emperor Yūryaku
Emperor of Japan:
Seinei

480-484
(traditional dates)
Succeeded by
Emperor Kenzō