Takenouchi no Sukune

Takenouchi no Sukune
武内宿禰
Takenouchi no Sukune drawn by Kikuchi Yosai
Ōomi
Personal details
Born84 AD
DiedUnknown
Children
Parent

Takenouchi no Sukune (武内宿禰) or Takeshiuchi no Sukune was a legendary Japanese hero-statesman of the 1st century, and a Shinto kami.

He is recorded in Japan's earliest literary texts, the Kojiki (ca. 712) and the Nihon Shoki (720).

Life

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Takenouchi no Sukune was supposedly the son of Princess Kagehime, and is said to be grandson to Prince Hikofutsuoshinomakoto (彦太忍信命). Descended from Emperor Kōgen, Takenouchi no Sukune served under five legendary emperors, Emperor Keikō, Emperor Seimu, Emperor Chūai, Emperor Ōjin, and Emperor Nintoku, but was perhaps best known for his service as Grand Minister (Ōomi) to the Regent Empress Jingū, with whom he supposedly invaded Korea. While Jingu was regent to her son, Ojin, Takenouchi was accused of treason. He underwent the "ordeal of boiling water" as a way to prove his innocence.

In addition to his martial services to these emperors, he was reputedly also a saniwa, or spirit medium.

He is said to have been the grandson of HIkofutsuoshinomakoto in the Nihon Shoki, where as the Kojiki states that he was the son of Hikofutsuoshinomakoto.[1]

Possible connections to Korea

[edit]

Japanese historians have theorized a possible inference to Takenouchi no Sukune found in ancient Korea's Samguk Sagi where a name called "Udojugun (于道朱君/우도주군)" is mentioned.[2] In the book, it states that during the time a Japanese envoy "Galnago (葛那古/갈나고)" stayed in Silla, a royal named "Seok Uro (昔于老/석우로)" accompanied him. However after a while, the two started to banter where Seok Uro threatened to "make the emperor of Japan a salt making slave and his wife who cooks rice" as a heavy joke. After relaying the message to the emperor himself (referred to as Emperor Ookimi[?]/大王/オオキミ), a general named Udojugun was sent to the Korean peninsula and declared war against Silla.[2]

According to scholars, Udojugun and Takenouchi no Sukune might have been the same individual as Takenouchi no Sukune's pronunciation would have been closer to "Utusukune (内宿禰)" in Old Japanese. In addition, Wakan Sansai Zue also mentions Takenouchi no Sukune's accomplishments during the Silla-Wa War (新羅・倭戦争) further adding credence to his involvement during the Silla period.[3] As a similar sounding name appears in Korean records while also having historical documents that support his authenticity to an extent, scholars deduced that though not completely accurate, Takenouchi no Sukune can be considered an individual who had truly existed.

According to world-renowned linguist and Japanese language expert Alexander Vovin, due to Amenohiboko being of Korean origin, Empress Jingū and her son and successor, Emperor Ōjin might have been native speakers of the Korean language.[4] Vovin states that since Takenouchi no Sukune was able to interact with Korean kingdoms during their rule, he stated that Takenouchi no Sukune may also have been of foreign origin as not only did he have jurisdiction over Japan-Korean affairs, but was also the father of many clan founders that have heavy connections with Korea.[4]

Legacy

[edit]

Twenty-eight Japanese clans are said to be descended from Takenouchi no Sukune, including Takeuchi and Soga. He is a legendary figure, and is said to have drunk daily from a sacred well, which helped him live to be 280 years old. He is enshrined as a Kami at the Ube shrine, in the Iwami district of the Tottori Prefecture and at local Hachiman shrines.

His portrait has appeared on the Japanese yen, and dolls of him are popular Children's Day gifts.

Yen bill with a representative drawing attributed to Takenouchi no Sukune on its obverse.
  • First convertible silver yen bill (1889-1958)
  • First five yen bill (1899-1939)
  • Third five yen bill (1916-1939)
  • Second one-yen bill (1943-1958)
  • Second 200 yen bill (1945-1946)

Family

[edit]

Family tree

[edit]
Genealogy of early Japanese emperors and empresses
Nunakawahime[5] Ōkuninushi[6][7]: 278 
(Ōnamuchi)[8]		Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto[9]
Kotoshironushi[10][11] Tamakushi-hime[9] Takeminakata[12][13] Susa Clan[14]
1 Jimmu[15]1Himetataraisuzu-hime[15]Kamo no Okimi[10][16]Mirahime [ja]
2 Suizei[17][18][19][20][21][22] 2Isuzuyori-hime[20][21][22][16][23]Kamuyaimimi[17][18][19]
3 Annei[24][10][20][21][22]〔Ō clan[25][26]〕〔Aso clan[27]〕3 Nunasokonakatsu-hime[28][10]Kamo clan
TakakurajiMiwa clan
4 Itoku[24][10]Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja][24]Ame no Murakumo [ja]
4Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja][24]Amaoshio no mikoto [ja]
5 Emperor Kōshō[24][10][29]5Yosotarashi-hime[10]Okitsu Yoso [ja]
6 Emperor Kōan[10]Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja][29]Owari clan
6Oshihime [ja][10][29]〔Wani clan〕[30]
7 Emperor Kōrei[31][10][29][32] 7Kuwashi-hime[32]
8 Emperor Kōgen[33][32]8Utsushikome [ja][33]Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso[31]Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto[34]Wakatakehiko [ja]
9Ikagashikome[a] [36][37]
Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja][37]9 Emperor Kaika[33]Prince Ohiko [ja][38]〔Kibi clan〕
Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja][37]10 Emperor Sujin[39][40]10Mimaki-hime[41]〔Abe clan〕[38]
Takenouchi no Sukune[37]11 Emperor Suinin[42][43]11Saho-hime[44]12Hibasu-hime [ja][45]Yasaka Iribiko[46][47][48]Toyosukiiri-hime [ja][49]Nunaki-iri-hime [ja][31]
Yamatohime-no-mikoto[50]
〔Katsuragi clan〕13Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja]12 Emperor Keiko[43][45]14Yasakairi-hime [ja][46][47][48]
Otoyo no mikoto [ja]
Futaji Irihime [ja][51]Yamato Takeru[52][53]Miyazu-himeTakeinadane [ja] Ioki Iribiko13Emperor Seimu[52][53]
14Emperor Chūai[52][53] [54]15Empress Jingū[55] Homuda
Mawaka
15Emperor Ōjin[55]16Nakatsuhime[56][57][58]
16Emperor Nintoku[59]


Artwork

[edit]
  • Empress Jingū (above) and Takenouchi no Sukune (below) Fishing at Chikuzen
    Empress Jingū (above) and Takenouchi no Sukune (below) Fishing at Chikuzen
  • Minister Takeuchi carrying the infant Emperor Ōjin. Made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
    Minister Takeuchi carrying the infant Emperor Ōjin.
    Made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
  • Empress Consort Jingū and Takenouchi fish in Chikuzen. Print of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1876)
    Empress Consort Jingū and Takenouchi fish in Chikuzen.
    Print of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1876)
  • The Regent Takeuchi no Sukune. Print of Totoya Hokkei (1822)
    The Regent Takeuchi no Sukune.
    Print of Totoya Hokkei (1822)
  • Daijin Takenouchi no Sukune by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
    Daijin Takenouchi no Sukune by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ There are two ways this name is transcribed: "Ika-gashiko-me" is used by Tsutomu Ujiya, while "Ika-shiko-me" is used by William George Aston.[35]

References

[edit]
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