Prince Shiki (志貴皇子, ''Shiki-no-miko'', died 1 September 716), posthumously known as Emperor Kasuga (春日宮天皇), was a member of the

royal family A royal family is the immediate family of monarchs and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term papal family describes the family of a pope, while th ...

in Japan during the

Asuka period The was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710, although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato period, Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after the ...

. He was the seventh son of

Emperor Tenji , known first as and later as until his accession, was the 38th emperor of Japan who reigned from 668 to 671. He was the son of Emperor Jomei and Empress Kōgyoku (Empress Saimei), and his children included Empress Jitō, Empress Genmei, an ...

. Prince Shiki led a life devoted to cultural fields such as

waka poetry is a type of poetry in classical Japanese literature. Although ''waka'' in modern Japanese is written as , in the past it was also written as (see Wa, an old name for Japan), and a variant name is . Etymology The word ''waka'' has two differe ...

, rather than to politics. However, after his death, his sixth son, Prince Shirakabe married

Princess Inoe Princess Inoe or ''Inoue'' (717–775) was the empress consort of Emperor Kōnin of Japan. She was deposed in 772, accused of witchcraft. Biography Inoue was the daughter of Emperor Shōmu, who reigned from March 3, 724 until August 19, 749.I ...

and was supported by many ministers to ascend the throne. He was buried in Tawara Nishi tomb of the Imperial Mausoleum in

Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...

Family

Parents * Father:

(天智天皇, 626 – January 7, 672) * Mother: Court Lady Koshi-no-michi no Iratsume (越道伊羅都売) Consort and issue(s): * Consort ( ''Hi''):

Princess Taki was a Japanese princess during the Asuka period of Japanese history. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenmu, a wife of Prince Shiki and the mother of Prince Kasuga. She was a ''saiō''. Genealogy She was the daughter of Emperor Temmu and Lady Kajih ...

(託基皇女/多紀皇女, d. 25 February 751), daughter of

Emperor Tenmu was the 40th Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 天武天皇 (40) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 53. He ascended ...

** Son: Prince Kasuga (春日王, d. 2 June 745) ** Son: Prince Yuhara (湯原王) * Concubine: Ki no Tochihime (紀橡姫, d. 21 October 709), daughter of Ki no Shite (紀諸人) ** Daughter: Imperial Princess Nanba (難波内親王, d. 3 November 773) ** Son: Prince Shirakabe (白壁王, 18 November 708 – 11 January 782 ), later

Emperor Kōnin was the 49th emperor of Japan, Emperor Kōnin, Tahara no Higashi Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency according to the traditional order of succession. Kōnin's reign lasted from 770 to 781. Traditional narrative The personal name of ...

* Concubine: Unknown women ** Son: Prince Enai (榎井王) ** Son: Prince Ichi (壱志王) ** Daughter: Princess Kaijō (海上女王) ** Daughter: Princess Kinunui (衣縫内親王, d. 12 August 772) ** Daughter: Imperial Princess Sakaibe (坂合部内親王, d. 27 June 778)

Nihon Shoki The or , sometimes translated as ''The Chronicles of Japan'', is the second-oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the , the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeol ...

, 宝亀9年5月27日条

Poems

Prince Shiki wrote many poems during his lifetime. Below are two examples of his work. A poem composed by Prince Shiki after he moved from Asakura Palace to Fujiwara Palace. Uneme no/Sode fukikaesu / Asukakaze/Miyako o tōmi/Itazura nu fuku. Winds of Asuka Blowing back the weaving sleeves Of palaces women— Now the capital is far, And you blow in vain. A Poem composed by Prince Shiki when he visited Naniwa Palace (706) Ashibe yuku/Kamo no hagai ni/Shimi furite/Samuke yūke wa/Yamato shi omōyu In among the reeds Go to mallards through the frost Falling on their wings: Cold twilight, the still hour Of longing for Yamato.

References

716 deaths Year of birth unknown Sons of Japanese emperors Japanese male poets 7th-century Japanese poets 8th-century Japanese poets {{Asia-royal-stub