Prince Osakabe

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Prince Osakabe (刑部(忍壁)親王, Osakabe Shinnō) (died June 2, 705) was a Japanese imperial prince who helped write the Taihō Code(681 A.D.),[1] alongside Fujiwara no Fuhito. The Code was essentially an administrative reorganization, which would serve as the basis for Japan's governmental structure for centuries afterwards.

Background[]

Prince Osakabe was born to Emperor Tenmu and Kajihime no Iratsume in approximately 663 A.D.[2]

According to the Nihon Shoki in the fifth month, on the fifth day of 679 A.D. Prince Osakabe, Prince Kusakabe, Prince Otsu, Prince Takechi, , and Prince Shiki, all swore to Emperor Tenmu that they wouldn't engage in future succession disputes. This occurred after Emperor Tenmu ascended the throne after the Jinshin War.[3] In the first months of 704 A.D. he, Prince Naga, Prince Toneri, and Prince Hozumi were collectively awarded two hundred households by Emperor Monmu and Empress Genmei.[4]

Along with Prince Kawashima, Osakabe was appointed to lead the emperor's 681 initiative, which was tasked with compiling the Imperial Chronicles and Fundamental Dicta.[5]

Works[]

The Nihon Shoki or The Chronicles of Japan, are a historiographical collection of writing composed into thirteen books covering the Japanese history from its beginning until Empress Jitō was forced to relinquish her throne in 697. Prince Osakabe was a contributor to the project since its inception in the 680's.[6] Osakabe, like many other courtiers of the time, was also a poet, and one of his poems is included in the Man'yōshū. The Volume III of this collection opens with a poem - written by Kakinomoto no Asomi Hitomaro - dedicated to Osakabe.[7]

Osakabe's contribution to the reforms undertaken by Emperor Monmu included the draft of several laws and decrees based on the Chinese model.[8] With small modifications, many of these are still valid today.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Sakamoto, Taro (2011). The Six National Histories of Japan. UBC Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0774842969.
  2. ^ Singer, Kurt (2002). The Life of Ancient Japan : Selected Contemporary Texts Illustrating Social Life and Ideals before the Era of Seclusion. Taylor and Francis. p. 66. ISBN 9781903350010.
  3. ^ Torquil., Duthie (2014). Man'yo{u00AF}shu{u00AF} and the Imperial Imagination in Early Japan. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-9004264540. OCLC 872642540.
  4. ^ Sakamoto, TarÅ (1991). The Six National Histories of Japan. UBC Press. p. 35. ISBN 0774842962.
  5. ^ Sakamoto, Taro (1991). The Six National Histories of Japan. Vancouver: UBC Press. p. 35. ISBN 0774803797.
  6. ^ Brown, Delmer M (1993). Asuka and Nara Culture: Literacy, literature, and music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 468. ISBN 9780521223522.
  7. ^ Duthie, Torquil (2014). Man'yōshū and the Imperial Imagination in Early Japan. Leiden: BRILL. p. 281. ISBN 9789004251717.
  8. ^ a b Saito, Hisho (2010). A History of Japan. Oxon: Routledge. p. 25. ISBN 9781136924637.
  • Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
  • Brown, Delmer M (1993). "Asuka and Nara Culture: Literacy, literature, and music." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.


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