WHO WAS ASIA'S FIRST FEMALE EMPEROR SUIKO OF JAPAN (r.592-628)
THE GLORIAN POST (TGP)
"Since Ancient times, when has a woman ever established order like Shao and Yun?" Chinese proverb.
As the Heavenly Sun goddess Amaterasu
ARTICLE SECTION : WOMEN AND POWER
CHAPTER THREE : EMPRESS SUIKO OF JAPAN (r.592-628)
SUIKO TENNŌ
Empress Suiko (推古天皇, Suiko-tennō)
(Born 3 December554 – 15 April 628)
She was the 33rd monarch of Japan according to the traditional order of succession.
Empress Suiko
推古天皇
Empress Regnant of Japan
Reign : 8 December 592 – 7 March 628
Predecessor : Emperor Sushun
Successor : Emperor Jomei
Regent : Prince Shōtoku (593–621)
: Soga no Umako
: Soga no Emishi
Empress consort of Japan
Tenure : 576 – 585
Born : Nukatabe 3 December 552
Died :15 April 628 (aged 75)
Burial : Shinaga no Yamada no misasagi
Spouse :Emperor Bidatsu
Issue : Princess Uji no Shitsukahi (born c. 570)
: Prince Takeda
: Princess Woharida (born c. 572)
: Princess Umori (Karu no Mori)
: Prince Wohari
: Princess Tame
: Princess Sakurawi no Yumihari
Posthumous name
Japanese style : Toyomikekashikiya-hime no Sumeramikoto (豊御食炊屋姫天皇)
Chinese style: Empress Suiko (推古天皇)
House : Yamato
Father : Emperor Kinmei
Mother : Soga no Kitashihime
THE PRINCESS WHO WOULD BECOME EMPEROR
'What was the life of Suiko and what shaped the future of the First Female Sovereign in Asia?'
Suiko as she is known today in the history of Japan was the first of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The seven women sovereigns reigning after Suiko were Kōgyoku/Saimei, Jitō, Genmei, Genshō, Kōken/Shōtoku, Meishō and Go-Sakuramachi.
Her ascension to the Chrysanthemum throne in the year 592 marked the beginning of an new Era in Asia which was to be dominated by Female Sovereigns and it was considered the earlier revolution to a series of justified female reigns before it was even the case in Europe.
Though not necessarily the first female Emperor in the world, Suiko by nature was the very foundation that women at the time needed to foster themselves into politicians that were as competent as men and even run a government and steer it to success and prosperity where some men had failed being weak and incompetent to only bring chaos and disaster, however, her life wasn't necessarily something that was easy and moreso for a woman to take on the role that hadn't been possesed by another on the continent she went through a lot of ups and downs and automatically, the greater challenge came in both rising to prominence and surviving the political stage in Japan which was dominated by bloodshed and sibling rivalry moreso civil war and the influence of Aristocratic clans that wished to gain power for themselves.
In her nature she was very beautiful and intelligent and smart, wise, benevolent, kind and surpassingly graceful, shrewd and astute at that which gives me a reason to believe that the very combination of all these characters in one way become the very tool that she needed and used to effectively exploit the annals of history.
The Emperor's Daughter
Suiko was born on 3rd December, 552. It was most likely a rainy or a winter night or day in the walls of Shikishima no Kanazashi Palace (It's likely) to Emperor Kinmei who was the 29th ruler of Japan at the time known as Wa/ Nippon/ Yamato and his fourth Concubine Soga no Katashishime who was the second Daughter of a powerful Courtier Ōomi Soga no Iname who was additionally a very influential aristocrat from a clan that was struggling to climb the political ladder in his Empire. Because of this, it could be suggested that the marriage between her parents was most likely an arranged one for her clan to gain power and the Emperor to have unwavering support and Loyalty from the Sogas while keeping the most powerful Courtiers in line marrying his nieces as well.
The ascension of her father to the throne was amidst a very great deal of resistance as he had succeeded his brother Emperor Senka and married his niece Princess Ishihime who later became his Empress and was additionally a major power behind the throne until her death which wasn't recorded. As a result, it was only natural that through a marriage alliance he'd gain power from the Highest Court Official and he would solidify the foundation on which he reigned for about 32years.
Suiko In the order of birth she was the third Daughter of Emperor Kinmei and she was the seventh surviving child at the time which points out the fact that with her birth, she surpassed childhood without any expectation of bearing the Crown, at her birth she was known as Imperial Princess Toyomike Kashikiya Hime no Mikoto and her name Nukatabe could have been received much later while she was in the twilight years of her teenagehood or her early adulthood.
It couldn't have changed when she became older because at the time Emperor Kinmei had about fifteen surviving sons all of whom being males had a much greater claim to the throne than she ever did but why and how did it happen that she ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne despite their presence?
According to the Nihon Shoki she was wise and surpassingly graceful while it is possible that given the fact that she ascended the throne she could have been a very ambitious woman as well it can't be altered that prior to being a child from a Soga mother, she was most capable and befitting of a man's title and she apparently rose at a time her predeccessors too had powerful sons with support in the Imperial Court.
THE CROWN PRINCE AND HIS FAVORITE
Princess Toyomike was seventeen years old when she had the Crown Prince Nunakakura future Emperor Bidatsu's daughter and her first child Princess Uji no Shitsukahi and a year later the two were married in 571 as Princess Toyomike was eventually elevated and became Imperial Consort and to consolidate her position she went ahead to have a son at that same time who was Imperial Prince Takeda as it was that sons were very valuable and their presence was enough to attract the support of other Courtiers her ambition was clear. In 572, when her husband ascended the throne, there was so much controversy in the Imperial Court as the Sogas proposed that she be named the Empress Consort but that attempt failed as she was held back by both age and seniority, perhaps she was destined to never become the Empress her enemies would have thought but the story of hers was far from over.
For Imperial Consort Toyomike to have borne the most of her husband's children 7 to be exact it suggests that at the time, despite being the youngest of his wives she was also most likely his favorite and as it is that she was known to have been exceedingly beautiful it can be assumed that on my side she must have gained her prominence through which she was later to wield the reins of the nation's power.
However, in the process of gaining the Emperor's favour, she created for herself enemies as well especially amongst the very women with whom she shared a husband.
Empress Hirohime, the first wife and most legitimate Consort of Emperor Bidatsu needed to secure her son's claim Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe on the throne and additionally there was Consort Kasuga no Ominako no Iratsume who had two twin sons Prince Naniwa and Prince Kasuga who were not much younger than her own seemed capable as well, there was also the Emperor's mother Empress Ishi Hime her mother in law who to consolidate her son's power was much disapproved to his marriage of a Princess with Soga heritage, at the time that Buddhism and Shinto were rival religions she supported the latter which her daughter in law didn't pushed her on edge it can be asserted that the two antagonistic parties rivalled with Princess Toyomike against her own beloved husband's mother.
The Palace became bloody and her second son Prince Wohari died in infancy of an unknown cause but as it was that perhaps heaven was on her side, in the Fifth year of her husband's reign, Empress Hirohime died and Consort Toyomike was elevated to the position of Okisaki (Official Consort of the Emperor) and there her political influence itself had just started as she proved to be an intellectual and much fitting for the title than her other rival Consort Kasuga and her mother in law at that time was most likely dead as well which nullified the possibility of a resistance in the Inner Court thus her primary enemies in the Palace had been defeated but a revolt in future was still certain.
EMPRESS NUKATABE
After Nine years with her declaration as the Emperor's Official Consort, she had already became a senior member of the Inner Court by Rank.
Empress Nukatabe's husband Emperor Bidatsu fell ill at the time as she was 32 years and in his reign's minority able as she was, she became a regent at the time while her husband seemed to be recuperating though not being strained by the affairs of state which she proved were by her most effectively managed. Once in a while Emperor Bidatsu resumed his duties but she was nonetheless pulling the biggest strings.
Her diplomacy calmed down the resistance of her stepson who might have feared that his claim on the throne was being hampered by his stepmother to prepare the throne for her one and only surviving son while she on the other hand being fearful for her people became most responsible for state affairs shortly while her husband struggled through treatment of all forms hoping for revival against his illness.
At the time her political acumen must have proved most remarkable and significant enough that it was felt throughout the dominion and her husband trusting and loving her was more than enough but as the man she loved couldn't beat the situation any longer, eventually, after months of resistance, he succumbed to his ailments and perished in 585 in Osada no Miya of Iware and he was buried in Kawachi no Shinaga no naka no o no misasagi as Empress Nukatabe became the Dowager Empress Nukatabe who mourned him constantly at Hinkyu(Funeral Parlour) where she decided that it was up to herself to ensure a safer transition of power and defend her own position especially her son Prince Takeda and her surviving five Daughters.
Remarkably, unable to trust her husband's first son who was just as powerful and backed by the Mononobes, her clan's rivals despite being married to one of her daughters, she used her authority and struck him from the consideration of the Historical annals he never gained the throne.
Given that he wasn't even born of a Soga mother, she had each and every reason to be afraid of him as it is that her ambition gave her more grandiose dreams for her country, she had to clear everything that would hamper her as well.
THROUGH HER BROTHER'S REIGNS AS DOWAGER EMPRESS NUKATABE
With the untimely death of Emperor Bidatsu, the country was struck with a succession Crisis, the Emperor's eldest son was ignored as Empress Nukatabe who herself was wielding a reasonable amount of power pushed for her older brother who ascended the throne as Emperor Yōmei and knowing that through him she would secure herself and her children, it was during his reign that her political influence in the Imperial court increased as the Dowager Empress. She exercised so much authority, held the Imperial Seal as it's protector and successfully became a prominent figure while still playing the role of the senior member of the Imperial family, at one time, the Imperial Prince Anahobe following the death of her brother two years later wanted to rape her hoping to turn her into a political pone as his Empress and ascend the throne but knowing of his evil intentions she was infuriated and ordered for the palace to remain locked and heavily guarded under Miwa no Sakau, her Late husband's most trusted retainer that awful night he was most determined to push through with his plans, to get even with him, she could have been involved in his assassination as it had been that she was considered a threat many of her brothers curried favour with her to gain the throne for themselves and protect themselves against the wrath of the Imperial Court.
She further frustrated Prince Anahobe when she chose to protect her Late brother Emperor Yomei's wives and their children with her power and consequently with his demise, she led the campaign in which Ōmuraji Mononobe no Moriya and a few of his supporters were defeated and killed in battle against her own forces at Shigisan.
Her power gradually increased as a result as the Sogas became confident and assured of protection following her.
They helped consolidate her position in the Inner Court along with her mother Consort Dowager Katashishime and another key incident in which it was seen that her political aura was very much domineering, she played the most active role in the installation of her other brother Emperor Sushun formerly Prince Hatsusebe on the throne who reigned for another five years while Princess Nukatabe was still increasing her political influence behind the scenes most probably as a de-facto ruler.
Eventually, Emperor Sushun began to resent Soga no Umako's power and with brewed hatred for his wife Empress Otehime posthumously known as Ōtomo no Koteko that he'd considered deposing her, she most probably joined forces with Umako and Emperor Sushun too was assassinated on the orders of Nukatabe's uncle Soga no Umako by Yamatoaya no Ataikoma at last creating another political vacuum to which his wife was very much involved in indirectly.
Empress Otehime then breaking their alliance he became afraid that the new Empress Dowager's clan's power would rival his own was forced to turn to his niece.
As it was that she had even taken vows to be a Buddhist Nun to protect herself from her brother, in need of a comeback on the political stage it was at that very moment she decided that enough was enough after her Uncle pleaded with her by then a very powerful virtual politician herself after three times she acquisced to avert a power struggle and perhaps redeem her son Prince Takeda who had died earlier on hence on 2nd December, 592 for the first time in the history of Asia and Japan, a woman ascended the Chrysanthemum throne to reign over the realm in her own right as Emperor Suiko at the age of 39.
SUIKO TENNŌ
Suiko's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great Queen who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Suiko might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great Queen of Yamato".
THE REIGN OF EMPRESS SUIKO
The Reign of Empress Suiko is considered by most Historians to have been the most significant era in the Asuka period and in more than one way it kick-started what seemed to be a golden age in Ancient Japan as there were a number of things that Suiko did and much different from the women who succeeded her and the very men that proceeded her, her political acumen was intensely felt throughtout the whole realm it even struck the mainland just the same.
To begin with, in the year 593, she appointed her nephew Prince Umayado and posthumously named him Crown Prince Shōtōku, went ahead to create him Regent along with her Uncle Umako and if there was something that Emperor Suiko resented then it was the thought of herself becoming absolute like many other monarchs before her.
As it was with Empress Jingu who ruled as a regent for her son but not in her own right, she was described in myths to have been a dictatorial and authoritative woman whereas Emperor Suiko's desire wasn't to be demonized.
In the following year of 594 she Commanded her two regents to publish the Flourishing Three Treasures Edict in which she officially recognized Buddhism as the New state religion having weakened her opposition, a decision she backed up with the construction of Buddhist Temples and also welcoming missionaries from the Mainland Kingdoms of Paekche and Shilla upon which she was able to foster good diplomatic relations.
Prior to her ascension and also during her early reign very many people were still reluctant to accept her claim on the throne and when the chance came after a big earthquake in 599 struck the country and destroyed buildings throughout the Yamato Province which would have been the excuse her enemies wanted, Suiko maneuvered them when she in the time of crisis proved her prowess herself unchallenged a resistance failed before it would even rise and additionally she was able to keep an eye on all her Officials that it is most probably how she survived resistance and secured her position.
In the year 600 Suiko had already proven to be much more powerful even though political power during Suiko's reign is widely viewed as having been wielded by Prince Shōtoku and Soga no Umako, Suiko was far from powerless herself as it was that she championed the reformist activities in Japan to mould it into the country that she wanted so prosperous, free, beautiful and peaceful.
It was during that same year that her Court opened up diplomatic relations with the Sui dynasty Court under Emperor Yang after she sent him an envoy to represent her much distant state in which she recognized herself as someone with an equal stature as a fellow Sovereign, these diplomatic relations fluorished commerce and trade with Sui (China) and a lot of wealth was brought to her country whereas fashion styles evolved, make up ideas including political ones were developed and a series of industries such as mining were boosted while gold and silver smelting which was rare at the moment became prominent as well.
In 603 the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System was adopted and it was a clear dustinction that ranked Aristocrats depending on their wealth and influence, the scholars were including and the Senso (Succession) was redefined with the intention of curbing the succession disputes in the future and while she was able to redefine the political hierarchy in her Kingdom it is believed that rather than service to an absolute cause, Suiko ushered in a new system upon which Japan became more centralized as a state.
In 604 to consolidate a centralized metropolitan state, she adopted the Seventeen article constitution which became a very successful achievement as it consequently became a model upon which the latter constitutions including that of the present day Japan were formed, in this she reinforced law and order in the society and fostered political, social, economic and religious organization.
It is to be noted that in that same year, A Sexagenary Cycle Calendar (Jikkan Jūnishi) under her patronage.
In 607, She sent another envoy Ono no Imoko who presented a letter to Emperor Yang from the Emperor Suiko herself in which she still implied that herself and him were Sovereigns of the same stature which had infuriated him in the first place but her relations with the two Korean Kingdoms consolidated her claims which not being nullified became a foundation upon which the Japanese in the latter seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries built a strong colonial Empire in East Asia controlling the Joseon Dynasty and parts of China itself as well.
Suiko iconized herself as a religious leaders taking on the fashion of the Sui Emperors to build some statues of Buddha with her facial image. Even the Shintos who believed that there Emperors were descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu idolized her as well and being an equivalent of the Kami (gods) she was in possession of all religious power which in her own way uplifted her status amongst men especially the staunch Shintos that even after her death she is still commemorated to this very day.
Her power at its height was best portrayed at the time when she refused to grant her Powerful Uncle the Lands of Kazuraki no Agata in 624 which was an Imperial Estate saying to him "Up to now you I have given so much but should the Imperial family lose its hold of Kazuraki, future generations shall call you disloyal and myself too foolish." The authority with which she remained unyielding and she dictated confined whatever little power that Umako possesed and the Sovereign herself remained most supreme and unanswerable to him.
At that point in time, the dark days had set it and firstly her mother died at a ripe old age while not so long after Prince Shōtoku died in 621 at the age of 49 while his son Prince Yamashiro who was ambitious and rude hoped to ascend in his place.
Umako perished four years later without gaining possession of Kazuraki and he was succeeded by his son Soga no Emishi who served as a regent for the Female Emperor in the next four years.
DEATH
SUIKO died peacefully in 628 in Oharida no Miya Palace at an old age of Seventy five years having reigned over the realm of Japan for 35years and 7months making her it's fifth longest reigning monarch and she was buried at Shinaga no Yamada no misasagi where she is venerated to this very day right next to her son Prince Takeda at the Khofun Tumulus.
She was succeeded by Prince Tamura and at a time when imperial succession was generally determined by clan leaders, rather than the emperor, Suiko left only vague indications of succession to two candidates while on her deathbed. One, Prince Tamura, was a grandson of Emperor Bidatsu and was supported by the main line of Sogas, including Soga no Emishi. The other, Prince Yamashiro, was a son of Prince Shōtoku and had the support of some lesser members of the Soga clan. After a brief struggle within the Soga clan in which one of Prince Yamashiro's main supporters was killed, Prince Tamura was chosen and he acceded to the throne as Emperor Jomei in 629.
LEGACY
Thanks to Emperor Suiko, when her Successor Emperor Jomei died, following in her mould another female Emperor Kōgyoku ascended the throne abdicating and reascending it as Emperor Saimei. She was the justification to other female Sovereigns in Japan. Although there were seven other reigning empresses, their successors were most often selected from amongst the males of the paternal Imperial bloodline, which is why some conservative scholars argue that the women's reigns were temporary nevertheless the fact that they ascended the throne either way is attributed to her great contributions as she was a peak that they never reached.
Also to justify her reign, Empress Genmei, was followed on the throne by her daughter, Empress Genshō which had never happened in Asia before except in Shilla.
The Reign of Emperor Suiko paved way for other female Sovereigns elsewhere notably Queen Seondeok of Shilla, Queen Jindeok of Shilla, Emperor Wú Ze Tiān of Tang(Zhou).
It can be argued that thanks to Emperor Suiko, she was the perfect Japanese Example that even women themselves are fit to rule and that like men, they too could serve a much greater cause of sustaining the country.
The mere fact that her reign lasted so long without much significant resistance and her court managed to survive with order it can all be attributed to her most remarkable political skills as all her rivals being defeated and her maternal clan the Sogas reached the peak of its regime to be most powerful.
She mothered the Asuka period which itself paved the very way for Japan to modernise and turn into the great nation she is today.
THE POWER
She is the most powerful woman to have existed in History of Japan and the fact that she chose to go against all odds to prove competent she's a motivation of what collosal talents someone's sex can never define.
REFERENCES
1.SUIKO; a webnovel by myself Benjamin Glorian
2.Aston, William George. (1896). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner. OCLC 448337491
3.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
4.Varley, H. Paul. (1980). A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231049405; OCLC 6042764
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