Legendary narrative

In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only Kōgen's name and genealogy were recorded. The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and an Imperial misasagi or tomb for Kōgen is currently maintained; however, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Kōgen was born sometime in 273 BC, and is recorded as being the eldest son of Emperor Kōrei. His empress mother was named "Kuwashi-hime", who was the daughter of Shiki no Agatanushi Oome. Before he was enthroned sometime in 214 BC, his pre-ascension name was Prince Ō-yamato-neko-hiko-kuni-kuru no Mikoto. The Kojiki records that he ruled from the palace of at Karu in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. Emperor Kōgen had a chief wife (empress) named Utsushikome, along with two consorts. His first son was named Prince Ōhiko, and according to the Nihon Shoki was the direct ancestor of the Abe clan. One of Kōgen's other sons named Prince Hikofutsuoshinomakoto was also grandfather to legendary Japanese hero-statesman Takenouchi no Sukune. Emperor Kōgen reigned until his death in 158 BC, his second son was then enthroned as the next emperor.

Known information

The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Kōgen is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the seventh of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Kōgen-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations. His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Kōgen, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the Yamato dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. While the actual site of Kōgen's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Kashihara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Kōgen's mausoleum, and its formal name is Tsurugi no ike no shima no e no misasagi.

The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei ( – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

Consorts and children

Empress: , Oyakuchisukune's daughter

• First Son: , ancestor of all the Abe clan's descends.

•

• Second Son: , later Emperor Kaika.

•

Consort: , Ōhesoki's daughter

• , grandfather of the .

Consort: , Kawachi-no-Aotamakake's daughter

•

歷史與傳說

大日本根子彥國牽尊是孝靈天皇嫡子，母親是孝靈天皇皇后細媛命。孝靈天皇三十六年正月，立十九歲的大日本根子彥國牽尊為太子。七十六年二月孝靈天皇駕崩，隔年太子即位，是為大日本根子彥國牽天皇（即孝元天皇）。

孝元天皇四年三月，遷都至輕地境原宮。在位第六年九月，葬先皇於片丘馬阪陵。在位第七年立鬱色謎命為皇后，生有兩男一女，其中嫡長男大彥命即神功皇后攝政時代名臣武內宿禰之祖父。除此之外，天皇納伊香色謎命與河內青玉繫女埴安媛兩妃，共生有兩子。

孝元天皇二十二年正月，依傳統立次子稚日本根子彥大日日尊為太子。在位第57年九月駕崩，享壽115歲。

系譜

孝元天皇是孝靈天皇太子。母為皇后細媛命。

• 皇后：鬱色謎命（鬱色雄命之妹）

　• 大彥命：阿倍臣、膳臣、阿閉臣、狹狹城山君、筑紫國造之祖

　• 少彥男心命。古事記作少名日子建豬心命，為天皇次男。

　• 稚日本根子彥大日日尊（開化天皇）

　• 倭跡跡姫命古事記無記載。

• 妃：伊香色謎命（物部氏之祖。大綜麻杵之女，後為開化天皇皇后、崇神天皇之母）

　• 彥太忍信命：武內宿禰的祖父（《古事記》稱是父親）、磐之媛命的高祖父（《古事記》作曾祖父）。葛城氏、蘇我氏、平群氏、紀氏之祖

• 妃：埴安媛（河內青玉繫之女）

　• 武埴安彥命：一說即是《魏志倭人傳》中所記載的狗奴國國王卑彌弓呼。

現代研究與懷疑

參考

• 《古事記》——卷之二 第九章 大和朝廷成立

• 《日本書紀》——卷第四　綏靖天皇　安寧天皇　懿德天皇　孝昭天皇