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He Won a Civil War With Nothing But His Own Presence: Emperor Tenmu and the Jinshin War
The Jinshin War of 672 was ancient Japan's greatest civil conflict. Prince Oama (later Emperor Tenmu), hiding as a monk in the mountains, raised an army from nothing and defeated his nephew Prince Otomo. The result was the Japan we know today.
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In 672, Prince Oama (later Emperor Tenmu) fled to the mountains of Yoshino as a Buddhist monk, raised an army from virtually nothing, and within a month defeated his nephew Prince Otomo in the Jinshin War — ancient Japan’s greatest civil conflict. As emperor he formalized the title ‘tenno’ (emperor), promoted the ritsuryo legal code, and ordered the compilation of the Kojiki and Nihonshoki.
Horyuji Temple, Nara — UNESCO World Heritage site representing the Asuka period's Buddhist culture that formed the spiritual foundation of Tenmu's state
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Ancient emperor image — Tenmu formalized the title 'tenno' (emperor) and established the institutional foundation of Japan's imperial system
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Horyuji, Nara — a masterpiece of Asuka Buddhist architecture brought to completion under Tenmu, symbolizing the era of peace and state-building after the Jinshin War
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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Emperor Tenmu
Victor of the Jinshin War, Builder of the Ritsuryo State
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