June 12, 645.
At the Asuka Itabuki Palace, Soga no Iruka was assassinated.
This was the Isshi Incident.
Witnessing Iruka’s death, one prince hurried back to his palace.
This was Prince Furuhito no Ōe, son of Emperor Jomei.
The “Nihon Shoki” records the words of Prince Furuhito no Ōe at that moment.
“The Koreans have killed Kuratsukuri no Obito. My heart aches.”
Kuratsukuri no Obito referred to Soga no Iruka.
The “Nihon Shoki” notes that this “Koreans” refers to the occasion when Iruka was killed during a ceremony reading a tribute from the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Prince Furuhito no Ōe expressed his “heartache,” then retreated to his chambers, closing the gates and refusing to come out.
About three months later.
The “Nihon Shoki” records that Prince Furuhito no Ōe plotted a rebellion.
Prince Naka no Ōe sent troops to eliminate Prince Furuhito no Ōe.
Furthermore, according to another account cited in the “Nihon Shoki,” on November 30, Prince Furuhito no Ōe was executed along with his child, and his consorts committed suicide.
Just over five months after the Isshi Incident.
Why did the son of Emperor Jomei meet his end within that year?
Emperor Jomei and the Grandson of Soga no Umako
Prince Furuhito no Ōe was born as the son of Emperor Jomei.
His mother was Hoteirōhime.
She was the daughter of Soga no Umako.
The “Nihon Shoki” in the Jomei Chronicle clearly states that Umako’s daughter, Hoteirōhime, gave birth to Prince Furuhito.
Thus, the prince carried the blood of the imperial family on his father’s side and the Soga clan on his mother’s side.
Meanwhile, Emperor Jomei and Empress Takara had other children: Prince Katsuragi, Princess Hashihito, and Prince Ōama.
Prince Katsuragi would later become known as Prince Naka no Ōe.
Prince Furuhito no Ōe and Prince Naka no Ōe were half-brothers, both sons of Emperor Jomei.
641 AD—The Passing of Emperor Jomei
In 641, Emperor Jomei passed away.
The following year, in 642, it was neither Prince Furubito no Ōe nor Prince Naka no Ōe who ascended the throne.
It was Empress Kōgyoku, the former consort of Emperor Jomei.
She became the 35th sovereign, Empress Kōgyoku.
During Kōgyoku’s reign, Soga no Emishi and his son, Soga no Iruka, wielded significant political power.
The “Nihon Shoki” records that in 642, Iruka took control of the government, surpassing even his father, Emishi, in influence.
Then came the year 643.
The name of Prince Furubito no Ōe emerged clearly in the movements surrounding the imperial succession.
643 AD—Iruka’s Attempt to Install Prince Furubito no Ōe as Emperor
In the second year of Kōgyoku’s reign, 643 AD.
Soga no Iruka launched an attack on Prince Yamashiro no Ōe at Ikaruga.
Prince Yamashiro no Ōe was the son of Prince Umayado, known as Prince Shōtoku.
The “Nihon Shoki” clearly states Iruka’s intention at this time.
He aimed to destroy the lineage of the Upper Palace and install Prince Furubito no Ōe as emperor.
Prince Furubito no Ōe was the prince whom Soga no Iruka intended to place on the throne.
Prince Yamashiro no Ōe initially fled to Mount Ikoma.
When Iruka was about to go in search of him, Prince Furubito no Ōe appeared.
And then,
he spoke to Iruka with words to the effect of, “A mouse lives by hiding in its hole. Without a hole, it dies.”
Iruka, upon hearing these words, decided against entering the mountain himself.
However, the “Nihon Shoki” attributes the plan to eliminate Prince Yamashiro no Ōe to Soga no Iruka.
There is no record of Prince Furubito no Ōe himself devising a plan to destroy Prince Yamashiro no Ōe.
Subsequently, Prince Yamashiro no Ōe returned to Ikaruga Temple and ended his life along with his family.
Thus, in 643, Prince Furubito no Ōe appears in historical records as the individual whom Soga no Iruka sought to make the next emperor.
June 12, 645 AD—The Assassination of Soga no Iruka
Two years later.
June 12, 645.
At the Asuka Itabuki Palace, a ceremony was held to read out official letters from the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Prince Naka no Oe and Nakatomi no Kamatari were plotting to assassinate Soga no Iruka during this event.
Prince Naka no Oe held a long spear, while Nakatomi no Kamatari was armed with a bow and arrows.
Soga no Kurayamada Ishikawa Maro began reading the official letters.
Saeki no Komaro and Katsuragi no Wani no Amida attacked Iruka, and Prince Naka no Oe joined the assault.
Wounded, Iruka approached Empress Kogyoku’s throne, pleading for a trial to determine his guilt.
Empress Kogyoku asked Prince Naka no Oe for an explanation.
Prince Naka no Oe accused Iruka of attempting to destroy the imperial family and usurp the throne.
After Empress Kogyoku withdrew from the hall, Iruka was killed.
Prince Furubito no Oe was also present at the scene.
Upon Iruka’s death, Prince Furubito no Oe rushed back to his palace.
He lamented,
“The Koreans have killed Kurazukuri no Omi. My heart aches.”
With these words, he retreated to his chamber and shut the doors.
The following day, June 13.
Soga no Emishi set fire to his residence on Mount Amakashi and took his own life.
The political power of the main Soga family, which had been passed down from Soga no Umako to Emishi and then to Iruka, crumbled.
June 14 — Abdication of the Throne
Two days after the Isshi Incident.
On June 14, Empress Kogyoku decided to abdicate.
She intended to pass the throne to Prince Naka no Oe.
Prince Naka no Oe consulted with Nakatomi no Kamatari.
Kamatari pointed out that Prince Furubito no Oe was older than Prince Naka no Oe, and that Prince Karu was his uncle.
To avoid ascending the throne before his elder brother and uncle, Kamatari advised supporting Prince Karu instead.
Prince Naka no Oe accepted this advice.
Prince Karu, having received the throne from Empress Kogyoku, then offered it to Prince Furubito no Oe.
However, Prince Furubito no Oe declined.
He approached Empress Kogyoku, expressing his wish to renounce worldly life and enter the mountains of Yoshino to practice Buddhism while supporting the emperor.
He then unbuckled the sword at his waist and cast it to the ground.
He entered between the Buddha Hall and the pagoda of Hoko-ji Temple, shaved off his beard and hair, and donned a monk’s robe.
This act of taking religious vows was his way of expressing his intention to renounce the throne.
After Prince Furubito no Oe stepped down, Prince Karu ascended to the throne as Emperor Kotoku, the 36th sovereign.
Prince Naka no Oe became the Crown Prince.
Prince Furubito no Oe withdrew to Yoshino.
Prince Furubito no Oe’s Retreat to Yoshino
Prince Furubito no Oe’s withdrawal to Yoshino came immediately after the Isshi Incident.
At that time, the Nihon Shoki does not record any attempt by Prince Furubito no Oe to stage a rebellion.
According to historical sources, he renounced the throne, took religious vows, and retreated to Yoshino, stepping away from the political stage.
However, in the same year, 645, in September,
Prince Furubito no Oe’s name surfaced again.
This time, it was in connection with a “rebellion.”
September 3rd—Nihon Shoki Records a Rebellion
On September 3rd, the first year of Taika.
The Nihon Shoki records that Prince Furubito no Oe and others plotted a rebellion.
The names listed include:
Prince Furubito no Oe
Soga no Taguchi Kawamori
Mononobe no Bokui Shiiko
Kibi no Kasatori
Yamato no Aya no Fumimaro
Hata no Ichi no Tanekatsu
and others.
About three months after Prince Furubito no Oe entered Yoshino,
the main text of the Nihon Shoki clearly treats this plan as a “rebellion.”
However, the article at this stage does not detail the content of the plan.
September 12th—Kibi no Kasatori Surrenders
On September 12th,
Kibi no Kasatori, who had been involved in the rebellion, surrendered to Prince Naka no Oe.
Kasatori confessed that Prince Furubito no Oe and Soga no Taguchi Kawamori had plotted a rebellion, and that he was part of their group.
The Nihon Shoki also includes an alternative account that Kasatori surrendered to Minister Abe and Minister Soga.
Upon receiving the report, Prince Naka no Oe mobilized troops.
He ordered Uda no Bokushitsu Ko and Koma no Miyachi to lead forces to attack Prince Furubito no Oe and his allies.
Having renounced the throne and retreated to Yoshino on June 14th, by September, Prince Furubito no Oe found himself on the side being suppressed by the court.
What Was Prince Furubito no Oe Planning?
The main text of the Nihon Shoki records the actions of Prince Furubito no Oe and his group as a “rebellion.”
Kibi no Kasatori also confessed to being part of their group.
On the other hand, the specific details of the plan are not recorded.
When were they planning to raise an army?
How much military force had they gathered?
How much did Prince Furubito no Oe himself lead the plan?
In what way were they intending to remove Prince Naka no Oe and Emperor Kotoku?
The main text of the “Nihon Shoki” does not confirm this.
There are no articles indicating that a rebellion was being planned as early as June, when he entered Yoshino after taking religious vows.
The historical records trace a sequence of events: on June 14, he renounced the throne and became a monk, entering Yoshino; on September 3, an article about a rebellion appeared; and on September 12, Kibi no Kasatari surrendered himself.
The Final Days of Prince Furubito no Ōe—The Main Text Remains Silent
After Prince Nakano Ōe dispatched a punitive force, how did Prince Furubito no Ōe meet his end?
The main text of the “Nihon Shoki” does not detail his final moments.
The specific circumstances of his death are conveyed in an “alternate account” cited by the “Nihon Shoki.”
One such account states that on November 30, Prince Nakano Ōe sent Abe no Koso and Saeki no Komaro to attack Prince Furubito no Ōe.
The force consisted of 30 soldiers.
Prince Furubito no Ōe was slain along with his son.
Furthermore, his consorts and concubines took their own lives by hanging.
Another “alternate account” states,
“In November, Prince Yoshino Ōe plotted a rebellion, which was discovered, leading to his execution.”
The date of the slaying on November 30, and the fate of his son and consorts, are known through this alternate tradition, not the main text of the “Nihon Shoki.”
From Heir Apparent in 643 to Target of Suppression in 645
The figure of Prince Furubito no Ōe becomes prominent between 643 and 645.
In 643,
Soga no Iruka destroyed Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and sought to enthrone Prince Furubito no Ōe as emperor.
On June 12, 645,
Iruka was killed by Prince Nakano Ōe and others.
Prince Furubito no Ōe returned to his palace, lamenting, “My heart aches.”
On June 14,
when Empress Kōgyoku abdicated, the throne was about to pass to Prince Furubito no Ōe.
However, he cast aside his sword, shaved his head, and withdrew to Yoshino as a monk.
On September 3,
the “Nihon Shoki” records the rebellion of Prince Furubito no Ōe and others.
On September 12,
Kibi no Kasatari surrendered, prompting Prince Nakano Ōe to send a punitive force.
According to the alternate tradition in the “Nihon Shoki,” on November 30, Prince Furubito no Ōe was slain with his son, and his consorts also took their own lives.
In 643, Soga no Iruka intended to enthrone him as emperor.
By June 645, he had renounced the throne and retreated to Yoshino.
That same autumn, Prince Furubito no Ōe was suppressed under the charge of “rebellion.”
The “Nihon Shoki” does not reveal the full scope of the plan or the inner thoughts of Prince Furubito no Ōe.
What remains is a record of how Prince Furubito no Ōe’s position rapidly changed amid the struggle for the throne, and how he vanished within the year of the Isshi Incident in 645.
Learn more in depth 📖↓
【Free shipping on orders over 3,000 yen】The Taika Reform / Toshiki Mizutani / Yukihiro Osugi
History Reader October 2014 Special Digital Edition "The Most Powerful Clan of Ancient Times: The Soga Clan" 【eBook】[ History Reader Editorial Department ]
