JIMMU TENNO

Jimmu Tennō – First Emperor of Japan

Jimmu Tennō is regarded in Japanese mythology as the first emperor of Japan. He was the great-grandson of Ninigi-no-Mikoto and the great-great-grandson of Amaterasu-Ōmikami, the sun goddess and divine ancestress of the imperial line.

Before assuming the name Jimmu Tennō, he was known as Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto. He was the youngest son of Amatsuhiko-no-Mikoto, who was himself descended from Hoori-no-Mikoto and the daughter of Owatatsumi, the kami of the sea.

The Journey from Takachiho

From their father’s palace in Takachiho, Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto and his eldest brother travelled eastward with the intention of establishing peaceful rule over the land.

Their progress was gradual. They built palaces along the way and remained in certain places for several years before continuing their journey.

At Hayasuhi, they encountered an earthly kami named Sawonetsuhiko, who was fishing while standing upon the back of a tortoise. Unlike the heavenly deities who had descended from Takamagahara with Ninigi-no-Mikoto, Sawonetsuhiko belonged to the land itself. He agreed to guide the brothers along the sea routes.

The Battle at Shirakata

At Shirakata, the brothers were ambushed by Nagasunehiko of Toumi. During the attack, Jimmu’s elder brother was struck by an arrow. The wound eventually proved fatal.

The loss left Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto as the leader of the expedition. He continued eastward with his warriors, determined to complete the conquest and establish his rule.

The Enchantment at Kumano

When the expedition reached Kumano, Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto and his troops were overcome by a supernatural sleep. The deities of Kumano had bewitched them, appearing in the form of a bear.

A man named Takakuraji came to their aid. He presented a sacred sword to the sleeping hero, and the moment the weapon was brought before him, Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto and his warriors awakened.

With the power of the sword, they defeated the hostile deities of Kumano.

The weapon had been sent by Takemikazuchi-no-Kami on the orders of Amaterasu-Ōmikami. It was called Futsu-no-Mitama and later became one of the most important sacred swords in Japanese tradition.

The Guidance of the Divine Crow

From Kumano, the hero was guided through the mountains by a giant crow sent by the heavenly deities. This divine bird, later known as Yatagarasu, led the expedition safely through unfamiliar territory.

As Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto advanced, many earthly kami recognised his authority and became his retainers. Others resisted him and were defeated.

The Treachery of Yeukashi

In Uda, a man named Yeukashi attempted to ambush the approaching ruler. When this plan failed, Yeukashi built a hall containing a hidden trap and invited Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto inside.

The plot was revealed by Yeukashi’s younger brother, Otoukashi. Once the deception had been exposed, Yeukashi was forced into his own trap and killed.

Otoukashi submitted to the hero and was accepted into his service.

The Pacification of Yamato

The conquest continued as Kamu-Yamato-Iware-Hiko-no-Mikoto confronted the remaining groups who opposed his rule. Among them were the eighty strong men of the pit dwellings of Osaka, who were killed during a feast prepared as part of the campaign.

Once the region had been pacified, the hero established his palace at Kashihara in Yamato. There he assumed the imperial title Jimmu Tennō and began his reign as the first emperor of Japan.

Myth and Historical Memory

The story of Jimmu Tennō is filled with supernatural beings, sacred weapons, divine guidance and miraculous events. Yet the detailed place names, clan ancestors and political alliances suggest that the myth may preserve the memory of a real historical process.

It may reflect the gradual migration or conquest of central Japan by the people of Yamato. According to this interpretation, the Yamato travelled from Kyushu, crossed towards the Kii Peninsula and advanced through the region around modern Osaka before establishing their kingdom near present-day Nara.

The process probably took place over many generations rather than during the lifetime of a single ruler.

The Imperial Charter of Japan

The myth of Jimmu Tennō also served an important political purpose. By presenting the emperor as a direct descendant of Amaterasu-Ōmikami, it gave the imperial house a divine origin and justified its authority.

The clans that supported Jimmu in the myth were often identified as the ancestors of powerful historical families. In this way, the story explained not only the beginnings of the imperial line but also the relationships between the emperor, the land and the ruling clans of ancient Japan.

The narrative also preserves traces of older customs, including ancient rituals, marriage traditions and forms of habitation. Archaeological discoveries of pit dwellings resemble some of the settlements described in the story, suggesting that the myth contains fragments of very early Japanese cultural memory.

Explore Japanese Mythology More Deeply

The story of Jimmu Tennō is more than an account of a legendary emperor. It brings together divine ancestry, sacred kingship, conquest, clan identity and the establishment of political order.

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References and further reading:

Aston, William G., trans. 1956. Nihongi. London: Allen and Unwin.
Davis, S. Hadland. 1913. Myths and Legends of Japan. London: George Harrap. (Facsimile edition 1992, New York: Dover Publications.) Annotated collection of legends, folktales, and myths.
Philippi, Donald, trans. and ed. 1968. Kπjiki. Tokyo: Tokyo University Press.