Tenmu

Two of the most influential documents in Japanese history are the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. They describe the earliest emperors and their connection to the goddess Amaterasu. The Nihon Shoki was created by the Tenmu Emperor line after 677 to justify his rise to power and cement his connection to the goddess.

Who was Tenmu?

The brother of the previous Emperor Tenji he started a rebellion in 672 after his nephew was appointed Emperor over him. He was also the first person to be considered Emperor while he was still living. He reigned from 673-686.

Jishin War

In the Asuka period Tenmu had been appointed as the successor but was passed over by Emperor Tenji in favor of his son, Kobun who was the son of a lower ranked mother. Before Tenji died in 671 Tenmu declared his support for Kobun and moved to the countryside of Yoshino to become a monk but in reality started a rebellion in July of 672. It lasted a month. Tenmu was victorious, Kobun was killed and the capital was burned down and then moved to Asuka.

Tenmu connected himself to his brother by marrying Tenji`s daughter Jito but later historians have considered his dynasty to be an invasion and a hundred or so years after his death the Emperor line moved back to Tenji`s descendants.

Why was he important?

In addition to being the first living Emperor he was described in the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest Japanese historical text, as being connected to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Most of the actual connections were done in the Kojiki which cronicalled the Emperors up to the 33rd Empress Suiko who died in 628. However, according to the story Amaterasu sent her grandson, Ninigi, down to earth. He in turn founded the Emperor line with Jinmu whos descendent and 40th emperor was Tenmu. A confusing story but one that connected everybody involoved to divinity. 

The Nihon Shoki comes in after that, largely ignoring the mythologic beginnings but ending with two chapters on Tenmu and one on Jito, the 41st Emperor. It is a political document written in a Chinese style and largely created to solidify Tenmu`s claim to the throne and justify his position. That said it was one of the most important documents for much of Japanese history. 

Some of Tenmu`s accomplishments include, increasing the favour of Buddhism in the court, strengthened the power of the emperor, connected the imperial family to Ise, tied Buddhism to the court by having the government appoint the monks to the temples, continuing the Taiho legal code started by his brother and more. He was powerful and went to great lengths to make sure his power would be transmitted to his sons after his death.

So Tenmu was one of the earliest recognized Emperors in Japanese history and set up, or continued many of the reforms to government that continued for centuries and still have influence in the present day.