Princess Hashihito no Anahobe explained

Consort:yes
Hashihito no Anahobe
Succession:Empress consort of Japan
Reign:1 January 585 – 21 May 587
Royal House:Imperial House of Japan
Father:Emperor Kinmei
Mother:Soga no Oane
Birth Name:Hashihito no Anahobe
Birth Date:560
Birth Place:Japan
Death Date:621 (age 61)
Death Place:Japan
Burial Place:Eifuku-ji Temple, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture[1]
Spouse:Emperor Yōmei (m. 564)
Prince Tame
Issue:Prince Shōtoku
Prince Kume
Prince Eguri
Prince Mamuta
Princess Satomi

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.

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.

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).

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Itineraries . 13 August 2022 . OSAKAINFO.
  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