Legendary narrative

In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only Kaika's name and genealogy were recorded. The Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, and an Imperial misasagi or tomb for Kaika is currently maintained; however, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Kaika was born sometime in 208 BC, and is recorded as being the second son of Emperor Kōgen. His empress mother was named Utsushikome, who was the daughter of Oyakuchisukune. Before he was enthroned sometime in 158 BC, his pre-ascension name was Prince Nikohiko Ō-hibi 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 Kaika had a chief wife (empress) named Ikagashikome, along with three consorts of which he fathered five children with. Kaika ruled until his death in 98 BC; his second son was then enthroned as the next emperor. His son/heir to the throne was posthumously named Sujin by later generations, and is the first emperor that historians say might have actually existed.

Known information

The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Kaika is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the eighth of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Kaika-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations.

His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Kaika, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. While the actual site of Kaika's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Nara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this ___location as Kaika's mausoleum, and its formal name is Kasuga no Izakawa no saka no e no misasagi.

Like Emperor Kōshō and Emperor Kōrei, there is a possibility that "Kaika" could have lived instead in the 1st century (AD). Historian Louis Frédéric notes this idea in his book Japan Encyclopedia where he says "more likely early AD", but this remains disputed among other researchers. 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: , Oohesoki's daughter

　• , later Emperor Sujin

　•

• Consort: , Taniwa no Ooagatanushi Yugori's daughter

　•

• Consort: , Prince Waninishisaihito's daughter

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• Consort: , Katsuragi no Tarumi no Sukune's daughter

　•

Family tree

历史与传说

稚日本根子彦大日日尊是孝元天皇次子，母亲是孝元天皇皇后郁色谜命（）。孝元天皇二十二年正月，以十六岁之龄被立为太子。孝元天皇于在位第57年九月驾崩，两个月后太子即位，是为稚日本根子彦大日日天皇（即开化天皇）。

隔年十月，天皇迁都春日率川宫。在位第五年二月葬先皇于剑池岛上陵，隔年正月立先皇妃子伊香色谜命为皇后，生有一子，即日后的崇神天皇。除此之外，天皇纳丹波竹野媛、姥津媛、鸇比売命为妃，共生三子。

开化天皇二十八年四月，立御间城入彦五十琼殖尊为皇太子，在位第60年四月，开化天皇驾崩，享寿110岁。同年十月葬于春日率川阪本陵。

系谱

孝元天皇次子。母为郁色雄命之妹郁色谜命。

• 皇后：伊香色谜命（物部氏之祖、大综麻杵之女）

　• 第二皇子：御间城入彦五十琼殖尊（崇神天皇）

　• 皇女：御真津比卖命（观松姫命）

• 妃：丹波竹野媛（丹波大县主由碁理之女）

　• 第一皇子：彦汤产隅命（比古由牟须美命），在《日本书纪》中称为彦蒋箦，其生平不详。彦汤产隅命有二子：大筒木垂根王、赞岐垂根王，大筒木垂根王的女儿迦具夜比卖，入第11代垂仁天皇（崇神天皇之子）后宫。

• 妃：姥津媛（意祁都比卖命。和珥氏之祖・姥津命之妹）

　• 第三皇子：彦坐王（景行天皇曾祖父、神功皇后高祖父）

• 妃：鸇比卖（葛城垂见宿祢女）

　• 皇子：建丰波豆罗和气王（武丰叶列别命・武齿颊命）

现代研究与怀疑

参考

• 《古事记》——卷之二 第九章 大和朝廷成立

• 《日本书纪》——卷第四　绥靖天皇　安宁天皇　懿德天皇　孝昭天皇