Born: 169 AD
Empress Jingū (神功皇后, Jingū-kōgō) was a legendary Japanese empress who ruled as a regent following her husband’s death in 200 AD. Her life and reign are recorded in both the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, which are considered to be the oldest extant chronicles of Japan. Although Jingū’s reign is shrouded in legend and myth, her influence on Japanese history is significant.
According to the legends, Empress Jingū sought revenge on the people who murdered her husband and then turned her attention to a promised land. This alleged invasion of the Korean Peninsula by Jingū has been a subject of controversy among historians, as it has been used as justification for imperial expansion during the Meiji period. The records also claim that Jingū gave birth to a baby boy named Homutawake three years after her husband’s death.
Born with the birth name Okinaga-Tarashi, Jingū was born in 169 AD to her father Okinaganosukune and mother Kazurakinotakanuka-hime. Her mother was believed to be a descendant of Amenohiboko, a legendary prince from Korea. It is worth noting that Amenohiboko is believed to have moved to Japan at least 100 years after Jingū’s birth. Jingū married Tarashinakahiko, who would later become Emperor Chūai, and served as his Empress consort during his reign until his death in 200 AD.
Jingū’s reign as a regent is conventionally considered to have been from 201 to 269 AD, making her the 15th Japanese imperial ruler according to traditional accounts. However, modern historians have proposed that Jingū may have actually reigned at a later time. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact dates of her reign, Empress Jingū is acknowledged as the last de facto ruler of the Yayoi period.
While the location of Jingū’s grave remains unknown, she is traditionally venerated at a kofun and at a shrine. The Japanese have long accepted her historical existence, and a mausoleum for Jingū is currently maintained. It is widely believed that Empress Jingū ruled as a regent until her son, Ōjin, became the Emperor upon her death.
Empress Jingū’s story is not only a legendary tale but also an important part of women’s history in Japan. Her reign as a regent demonstrated the power and influence women could have in a male-dominated society. Her determination, courage, and leadership in seeking revenge and exploring new territories left a lasting impact on Japanese history.