Takenouchi no Sukune

Takenouchi no Sukune (武内宿禰) or Takeshiuchi no Sukune was a legendary Japanese hero-statesman of the 1st century, and a Shinto kami.

Takenouchi no Sukune
武内宿禰
Takenouchi no Sukune drawn by Kikuchi Yosai
Ōomi
Personal details
Born84 AD
DiedUnknown
Children
  • Hata no Yashiro
  • Kose no Okara
  • Soga no Ishikawa
  • Heguri no Tsuku
  • Ki no Tsuno
  • Kume no Matio-hime
  • Nonoiro-hime
  • Katsuragi no Sotsuhiko
  • Wakugo no Sukune
Parent
  • Yanushioshiotakeogokoro-no-mikoto (father)

He is recorded in Japan's earliest literary texts, the Kojiki (ca. 712) and the Nihon Shoki (720).

Life

Takenouchi no Sukune was supposedly the son of Princess Kagehime, and is said to be grandson to Prince Hikofutsuoshinomakoto (彦太忍信命). Descended from Emperor Kōgen, Takenouchi no Sukune served under five legendary emperors, Emperor Keikō, Emperor Seimu, Emperor Chūai, Emperor Ōjin, and Emperor Nintoku, but was perhaps best known for his service as Grand Minister (Ōomi) to the Regent Empress Jingū, with whom he supposedly invaded Korea. While Jingu was regent to her son, Ojin, Takenouchi was accused of treason. He underwent the "ordeal of boiling water" as a way to prove his innocence.

In addition to his martial services to these emperors, he was reputedly also a saniwa, or spirit medium.

He is said to have been the grandson of HIkofutsuoshinomakoto in the Nihon Shoki, where as the Kojiki states that he was the son of Hikofutsuoshinomakoto.[1]

Legacy

Twenty-eight Japanese clans are said to be descended from Takenouchi no Sukune, including Takeuchi and Soga. He is a legendary figure, and is said to have drunk daily from a sacred well, which helped him live to be 280 years old. He is enshrined as a Kami at the Ube shrine, in the Iwami district of the Tottori Prefecture and at local Hachiman shrines.

His portrait has appeared on the Japanese yen, and dolls of him are popular Children's Day gifts.

Yen bill with a representative drawing attributed to Takenouchi no Sukune on its obverse.
  • First convertible silver yen bill (1889-1958)
  • First five yen bill (1899-1939)
  • Third five yen bill (1916-1939)
  • Second one-yen bill (1943-1958)
  • Second 200 yen bill (1945-1946)

Family
  • Father: Yanushioshiotakeogokoro-no-mikoto (屋主忍男武雄心命, ?–?)
  • Mother: Yamashita no Kage-hime (影媛), sister of Kiinokuni no Miyatsukuko Uzuhiko (Ujihiko) (山下影日売)
    • Wife(s): unknown
      • Son: Hata no Yashiro (羽田矢代, ?–?), ancestor of the Hata clan (波多氏).
      • Son: Kose no Okara (許勢小柄, ?–?), ancestor of the Kose clan (巨勢氏).
      • Son: Soga no Ishikawa (蘇我石川, ?–?), ancestor of the Soga clan (蘇我氏).
      • Son: Heguri no Tsuku (平群木菟, ?–?), ancestor of the Heguri clan (平群氏).
      • Son: Ki no Tsuno (紀角, ?–?), ancestor of the Ki clan (紀氏).
      • Daughter: Kume no Matio-hime (久米能摩伊刀比売, ?–?)
      • Daughter: Nonoiro-hime (怒能伊呂比売, ?–?)
      • Son: Kazuragi no Sotsuhiko (葛城襲津彦, ?–?), ancestor of the Katsuragi clan (葛城氏).
      • Son: Wakugo no Sukune (若子宿禰)

Artwork
  • Empress Jingū (above) and Takenouchi no Sukune (below) Fishing at Chikuzen
    Empress Jingū (above) and Takenouchi no Sukune (below) Fishing at Chikuzen
  • Minister Takeuchi carrying the infant Emperor Ōjin. Made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
    Minister Takeuchi carrying the infant Emperor Ōjin.
    Made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
  • Empress Consort Jingū and Takenouchi fish in Chikuzen. Print of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1876)
    Empress Consort Jingū and Takenouchi fish in Chikuzen.
    Print of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1876)
  • The Regent Takeuchi no Sukune. Print of Totoya Hokkei (1822)
    The Regent Takeuchi no Sukune.
    Print of Totoya Hokkei (1822)
  • Daijin Takenouchi no Sukune by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
    Daijin Takenouchi no Sukune by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

References
  1. "Takeuchi no Sukune • . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史". . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.