Emperor Kanmu (桓武天皇, Kanmu-tennō) (737–806) was the 50th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 781 through 806.^[1]

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Yamabe-shinnō (Yama-no Bu-no shinno).^[2]

Yamabe was the eldest son of Prince Shirakabe later, Emperor Kōnin.^[3] According to the Shoku Nihongi (続日本紀, Shoku Nihongi), Yamabe's mother Yamato no Niigasa, later Takano no Niigasa, was a descendant of King Muryeong of Baekje. Yamabe was born before his father ascended to the throne.

After his father Kōnin became emperor, Kammu's half brother was appointed to the rank of crown prince; but instead of his half brother, it was Kammu who was later named to succeed their father.

Later, when he ascended to the throne, Kammu appointed his young brother, Prince Sawara, whose mother was Takano no Niigasa, as crown prince. Prince Sawara was later expelled and died in exile.

Kammu had 16 Empresses and consorts, and 32 Imperial sons and daughters.^[4] Among them, three sons would eventually ascend to the imperial throne: Emperor Heizei, Emperor Saga and Emperor Junna.

Some of his descendants (known as the Kammu Taira or Kammu Heishi) took the Taira hereditary clan title, and in later generations became prominent warriors. Examples include Taira no Masakado, Taira no Kiyomori, and (with a further surname expansion) the Hōjō clan. The waka poet Ariwara no Narihira was one of his grandsons.

Events of Kammu's life

During his reign, from 781 to 806, the Capital of Japan was moved from Nara (Heijō-kyō) -- first to Nagaoka (Nagaoka-kyō in 784, where the palace was named Nagaoka no Miya), and then to Heian-kyō in 794, where the palace was named Heian no Miya.^[4] This marks the beginning of the Heian era in Japanese history.

Kammu was an active emperor who attempted to consolidate government hierarchies and functioning.

Kammu appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758-811) to lead a military expedition against the Emishi.^[6]

• Ten'ō 1, on the 3rd day of the 12th month (天応元年, 781): In 11th year of Emperor Kōnin's reign (光仁天皇11年), he abdicated; and the succession (the senso) was received by his son.^[7] Shortly thereafter, Emperor Kammu is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).^[8]
• Enryaku 1, in the 6th month (782): The sadaijin Fujiwara no Uona was removed from his office and exiled to Kyushi. Some time later, the emperor did permit him to return to the capital where he died. In the same general time frame, Fujiwara no Tamaro was named Udaijin. During these days in which the offices of sadaijin and udaijin were vacant, the major counselors (the dainagon) and the emperor assumed responsibilities and powers which would have been otherwise delegated.^[9]
• Enryaku 3, in the 3rd month (783): The udaijin Tamaro died at the age of 62 years.^[9]
• Enryaku 3, in the 7th month (783): Fujiwara no Korekimi became the new udaijin to replace the late Fujiwara no Tamaro.^[9]
• Enryaku 12 (793): Under the leadership of Dengyō, construction is begun on the Enryaku Temple.^[12]
• Enryaku 13, on the 21st day of the 10th month (794): The Emperor moves by carriage iun a grand procession from Nara to Heian-kyō.^[12]

Emperor Kammu's reign lasted for 25 years. He died at the age of 70.^[14]

Politics

Earlier Imperial sponsorship of Buddhism, beginning with Prince Shōtoku (574–622), had lead to a general politicization of the clergy, along with an increase in intrigue and corruption. In 784 Kanmu shifted his capital from Nara to Nagaoka in a move that was said to be designed to edge the powerful Nara Buddhist establishments out-of-state politics—while the capital moved, the major Buddhist temples, and their officials, stayed put. Indeed there were a steady stream of edicts issued from 771 right through the period of Kūkai's studies which, for instance, sought to limit the number of Buddhist priests, and the building of clan temples. However the move was to prove disastrous and was followed by a series of natural disasters including the flooding of half the city. In 785 the principal architect of the new capital, and royal favourite, Fujiwara no Tanetsugu, was assassinated.

Meanwhile, Kanmu's armies were pushing back the boundaries of his empire. This led to an uprising, and in 789 a substantial defeat for Kanmu's troops. Also in 789 there was a severe draught and famine—the streets of the capital were clogged with the sick, and people avoiding being drafted into the military, or into forced labour. Many disguised themselves as Buddhist priests for the same reason. Then in 794 Kanmu suddenly shifted the capital again, this time to Heian-kyō, which is modern day Kyoto. The new capital was started early the previous year, but the change was abrupt and led to even more confusion amongst the populace.

Politically Kanmu shored up his rule by changing the syllabus of the university. Confucian ideology still provided the raison d'être for the Imperial government. In 784 Kanmu authorised the teaching of a new course based on the Annals of Spring and Autumn based on two newly imported commentaries: Kung-yang, and Ku-liang. These commentaries used political rhetoric to promote a state in which the Emperor, as "Son of Heaven," should extend his sphere of influence to barbarous lands, thereby gladdening the people. In 798 the two commentaries became required reading at the government university.

Kanmu also sponsored the travels of the monks Saichō and Kūkai to China, from where they returned to found the Japanese branches of, respectively, Tendai and Shingon Buddhism.

Kugyō

Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.-- kugyō of Kammu-tennō (French)

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Kammu's reign, this apex of the ''Daijō-kan included:

• Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Uona　(藤原魚名),　781-782.^[15]
• Sadaijin, Fujiwara no Tamaro　(藤原田麿),　783.
• Uadaijin, Fujiwara no Tamaro　(藤原田麿),　781-783.^[15]
• Udaijin, Ōo Nakatomi no Kiyomaro　(大中臣清麿),　771-781
• Udaijin, Fujiwara no Tamaro　(藤原田麿),　782-883.
• Udaijin, Fujiwara no Korekimi　(藤原是公),　783-789.^[15]
• Udaijin, Fujiwara no Tsugutada　(藤原継縄),　790-796.^[15]
• Udaijin, Miwa ookimi ou Miwa oh　(神王),　798-806
• Nadaijin, Fujiwara Uchimaro (756-812).^[15]
• Dainagon

Eras of Kanmu's reign

The years of Kammu's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.^[9]

• Ten'ō (781-782)
• Enryaku (782-806)

References

• Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). [ Jien, 1221], Gukanshō (The Future and the Past, a translation and study of the Gukanshō, an interpretative history of Japan written in 1219). Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-03460-0
• Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652], Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon, tr. par M. Isaac Titsingh avec l'aide de plusieurs interprètes attachés au comptoir hollandais de Nangasaki; ouvrage re., complété et cor. sur l'original japonais-chinois, accompagné de notes et précédé d'un Aperçu d'histoire mythologique du Japon, par M. J. Klaproth. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland.--Two copies of this rare book have now been made available online: (1) from the library of the University of Michigan, digitized January 30, 2007; and (2) from the library of Stanford University, digitized June 23, 2006. Click here to read the original text in French.
• Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). [ Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359], Jinnō Shōtōki ("A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa" translated by H. Paul Varley). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-04940-4

See also

• Heian kyō

Preceded by Emperor Kōnin	Emperor of Japan: Kanmu 781-806	Succeeded by Emperor Heizei