Princess Hashihito no Anahobe

Empress consort of Japan
Hashihito no Anahobe
Statue of Empress Taiza and her son, Prince Shōtoku
Empress consort of Japan
Tenure1 January 585 – 21 May 587
BornHashihito no Anahobe
560
Japan
Died621 (age 61)
Japan
Burial
Eifuku-ji Temple, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture[1]
SpouseEmperor Yōmei (m. 564)
Prince Tame
IssuePrince Shōtoku
Prince Kume
Prince Eguri
Prince Mamuta
Princess Satomi
ClanYamato
FatherEmperor Kinmei
MotherSoga no Oane

Princess Hashihito no Anahobe (穴穂部間人皇女, Anahobe no Hashihito no Himemiko, 560 – 7 February 622[2]), also known as Empress Taiza (間人皇后), was a member of the Japanese imperial family in the Asuka period. She was the empress consort through her marriage to Emperor Yōmei.

It is said that Prince Shōtoku, Princess Anahobe's eldest son, built the Chūgū-ji temple for his mother. The temple is located in Ikaruga, Yamato Province, Nara Prefecture, Japan.

Chūgū-ji temple

Genealogy

Princess Hashihito no Anahobe was born into the ruling clan of Japan. She was the daughter of Emperor Kinmei and his consort, Soga no Oane. The princess has five full brothers: two elder brother and three younger brothers. One of her younger brother will later become Emperor Sushun.

In 574, Princess Hashihito no Anahobe married her eldest half-brother, Imperial Prince Ōe, born by another consort of the emperor. Their mothers were full sisters, making them cousins. The marriage produce four sons among which none of them ascended the throne. On 3 October 585, prince Ōe became emperor and Princess Hashihito no Anahobe was named Empress Consort (Chūgū) in January of the same year. Sadly, her husband died three years later after his ascension.

The widowed Empress married her stepson, Prince Tame, born by her husband's concubine, who also was her full sister.the couple had only one daughter.

  • First Husband: Emperor Yōmei (用明天皇, 517 – 21 May 587), her half-brother and cousin
    • Son: Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子, Shōtoku Taishi, 7 February 574 – 8 April 622)
    • Son: Prince Kume (来目皇子, d.603)
    • Son: Prince Eguri (殖栗皇子)
    • Son: Prince Mamuta (茨田皇子, 579-643)
  • Second Husband: Prince Tame (田目皇子), her nephew and stepson
    • Daughter: Princess Satōmi (佐富女王), Wife of Prince Hatsuse no Okimi (son of Prince Shōtoku)

There is a famous anecdote in "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan) that when Princess Hashihito no Anahobe was the empress of the Emperor Yōmei, she gave birth to the Prince Umayado (Prince Shotoku) at Umaya no toguchi (a door of a stable).

References

  1. ^ "Itineraries". OSAKAINFO. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  2. ^ 朝日日本歴史人物事典:(株)朝日新聞出版. “穴穂部間人皇女”. コトバンク. 2021年9月6日閲覧
Japanese royalty
Preceded by Empress consort of Japan
586–587
Succeeded by
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Legendary
Jōmon
660 BC–291 BC
Yayoi
290 BC–269 AD
Yamato
Kofun
269–539
Asuka
539–710
Nara
710–794
Heian
794–1185
Kamakura
1185–1333
Northern Court
1333–1392
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Muromachi
1333–1573
Azuchi-Momoyama
1573–1603
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Edo
1603–1868
Empire of Japan
1868–1947
State of Japan
1947–present

Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD  1 individuals that were given the title of empress posthumously 2 individuals elevated to the rank of empress due to their position as honorary mother of the emperor 3 Shōshi served briefly as honorary empress for her younger brother Emperor Go-Daigo