Family tree of Japanese monarchs

The following is a family tree of the emperors of Japan, from the legendary Emperor Jimmu to the present monarch, Naruhito.[1]

Modern scholars have come to question the existence of at least the first nine emperors; Kōgen's descendant, Emperor Sujin (98 BC – 30 BC?), is the first for whom many agree that he might have actually existed.[2] These monarchs are regarded by historians as "legendary emperors", since there is insufficient material available for further verification and study.[3]

The reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509–571 AD), the 29th emperor,[4] is the first for which the contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates.[5] However, the conventionally accepted names and dates of the early emperors were not to be confirmed as "traditional" until the reign of Emperor Kanmu (737–806), the 50th sovereign of the imperial dynasty.[6]

This family tree emphasizes the medieval to modern history of the Japanese royal family. For more info on the genealogies of earlier figures see Family tree of Japanese deities

  1. ^ Kamu-yamato Iware-biko. Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Yoshida, Reiji. "Life in the Cloudy Imperial Fishbowl", Japan Times. March 27, 2007; retrieved 2013-8-22.
  3. ^ Kelly, Charles F. "Kofun Culture", Japanese Archaeology. April 27, 2009.
  4. ^ Titsingh, pp. 34–36; Brown, pp. 261–262; Varley, pp. 123–124.
  5. ^ Hoye, Timothy. (1999). Japanese Politics: Fixed and Floating Worlds, p. 78; excerpt, "According to legend, the first Japanese emperor was Jimmu. Along with the next 13 Emperors, Jimmu is not considered an actual, historical figure. Historically verifiable emperors of Japan date from the early sixth century with Kimmei.
  6. ^ Aston, William. (1896). Nihongi, pp. 109.