Kōbun: Biography, Facts and Career

Prince Ōtomo (648–672), also known under the posthumous title Emperor Kōbun, was a Japanese noble who briefly ruled over the imperial court in 672, during the Jinshin War of the late Asuka period. He was initially known as Prince Iga, the son of Prince Naka no Ōe and Yakako, one of his many consorts. Iga changed his name to Ōtomo and took his cousin Princess Tōchi as his wife. After several years as regent, Naka ascended to the throne as Emperor Tenji in 668. Either Ōtomo or Tenji's younger brother Prince Ōama served as his crown prince. Ōtomo was appointed as the first Daijō-daijin ('prime minister'), overseeing the Daijō-kan ('council of state'). Following Tenji's death in 671, a succession dispute broke out between Ōtomo (residing at court in Ōmi) and Ōama (who had traveled to Yoshino, possibly fearing a plot against him). Fearing an attack by Ōtomo's forces, Ōama fled and rallied soldiers across the eastern province in mid-672, beginning the Jinshin War. A month later, Ōama's forces routed those of the Ōmi court. Ōtomo is said to have fled to the mountains and committed suicide, although he may have instead been betrayed by his minister Mononobe no Maro. Ōama ascended to the throne as Emperor Tenmu and returned the capital to Asuka. The poetry anthology Man'yōshū avoids direct mention of Ōtomo, although one of his poems is included in another anthology, the Kaifūsō. No sources prior to the 10th century describe him as having been enthroned as emperor. The compilers of the 18th century chronicle Dai Nihonshi named him as an emperor, a historiographical position adopted by the Japanese government in 1870. Following this, he was granted the posthumous name Kōbun.

Quick facts about Kōbun

• Full name: Kōbun
• Born: 0648-01-01
• Nationality: Japan
• Known as: Royal
• Wikidata ID: Q357242

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