Legendary narrative

Ninken is considered to have ruled the country during the late-5th century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study.

In his youth, he was known as . Along with his younger brother, Prince Woke, Oke was raised to greater prominence when Emperor Seinei died without an heir. The two young princes were said to be grandsons of Emperor Richū. Each of these brothers would ascend the throne as adopted heirs of Seinei, although it is unclear whether they had been "found" in Seinei's lifetime or only after that.

Oke's younger brother, who would become posthumously known as Emperor Kenzō, ascended before his elder brother. This unconventional sequence was in accordance with an agreement made by the two brothers.

Ninkens reign

When Emperor Kenzo died without heirs, Prince Oke succeeded him as Emperor Ninken.

Ninken's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Rather, it was presumably , meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Ninken might have been referred to as or the "Great King of Yamato".

Ninken married to Emperor Yūryaku's daughter Kasuga no Ōiratsume no Himemiko, a second cousin of him. Their daughter Tashiraka was later married to Emperor Keitai, successor or possibly usurper after her brother, and became mother of Emperor Kinmei, a future monarch and lineal ancestor of all future monarchs of Japan. There apparently was also another daughter, Princess Tachibana, who in turn is recorded to have become a wife of Senka and mother of Princess Iwahime, who herself became a consort of Kimmei and bore Emperor Bidatsu, a future monarch and lineal ancestor of current monarchs of Japan.

Ninken was succeeded by his son, who would accede as Emperor Buretsu.

The actual site of Ninken's grave is not known. The Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Osaka.

The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Ninken's mausoleum. It is formally named Hanyū no Sakamoto no misasagi.

Consorts and Children

• Empress: , Emperor Yūryaku's daughter

　•

　•

　• , married to Emperor Keitai

　•

　• , married to Emperor Senka

　• , later Emperor Buretsu

　•

• Consort: , Wani Nitsume's daughter

　• , married to Emperor Ankan

Ancestry

歷史

家族

• 父：市邊押磐皇子

• 母：荑媛

• 皇后：春日大娘皇女（雄略天皇皇女，仁賢天皇二年二月立）

• 宮人：糠君娘

• 皇子：武烈天皇

• 皇女：

　• 高橋大娘皇女（母春日大娘皇后）

　• 朝嬬皇女（母不明）

　• 璋冰皇女（母不明）

　• 手白香皇女（繼體天皇皇后）

　• 橘仲皇女（宣化天皇皇后）

　• 真稚皇女（高橋大娘皇女同母妹）

　• 春日山田皇女（安閑天皇皇后）

參考

• 《日本書紀》——卷十五 清寧天皇、顯宗天皇、仁賢天皇