EMPEROR YAMABE/KAMMU

50TH Emperor of Japan

Facts about Emperor

Kammu
Born: February 4, 736
Died: April 9, 806 (aged 70)
Reign: 781-806
Enthronement: April 30, 781
Successor: Emperor Heizei

Life of Emperor Kammu

Kammu's personal name (imina) was Yamabe(山部). He was the eldest
son of Prince Shirakabe (later known as Emperor Kōnin), and was born
prior to Shirakabe's ascension to the throne. According to the Shoku
Nihongi(続日本紀), Yamabe's mother, Yamato no Niigasa (later
called Takano no Niigasa), was a 10th generation descendant
of Muryeong of Baekje.
Emperor Kammu (r. 781-806) reigned over the establishment of Kyôto,
then known as Heian-kyô, as the capital of Japan. He is thus one of the
most important emperors in history - Kyoto would remain the imperial
capital for over 1000 years after his death.
He succeeded his father, Emperor Kônin, to the throne in 781.
Ten years prior to the establishment of Heian-kyô, Kammu also presided
over the moving of the capital first to Nagaoka-kyô from Heijô-kyo
(today known as Nara), which had been the capital for the previous 74
years or so. These moves away from Nara, it is said, were spurred
mainly by a desire to distance the seat of secular power from that of the
major Buddhist temples; it was for that reason as well that Kammu
strictly limited the construction of major temples in the new capital for a
time.
His reign saw battles against the Emishi (natives to the north), meaning
further expansion and/or securing of the borders of the state; he also
sponsored the journeys of Saichô and Kûkai to China - they returned to
found the Shingon and Tendai schools of Buddhism, and to become
hugely prominent Japanese historical figures.
Emperor Kammu is buried in Fushimi; just over 1100 years later,
in 1912, the tomb of Emperor Meiji was established nearby.
Among his sons were his successor, Emperor Heizei; Prince Kazurahara,
from whom the Kammu Heishi(Taira clan) claimed descent; and Prince
Iyo, from whom the Kôno clan claimed descent.

Achievements of Emperor Kanmu

 On 773, he received the title of crown prince
 On 783, he became the new idaijan to replace the late Fujiwara no
Tamaro
 On 781, He became the emperor of Japan
 He established the Japanese capital at Heian-kyo, where it
remained until 1868