During the Kofun period-Asuka period, the conflict between the great tribes was investigated when examining the process leading up to the conflict between the great tribes. Let's focus on the situation leading up to the beginning of the event, and what happened after that.
In fact, regardless of the essential events in the textbook, " Taika Reform " I have not yet grasped the actual situation.
While there are various theories such as the siblings of Prince Kinashi no Karu and the empress Kogyoku, and the mastermind mastermind theory of Kamatari, I would like to take up the theory that Mr. Soga was not a bad person this time.
What is Taika Reform?
Recently, " Taika Reform =Assassination of Soga no Iruka by Prince Nakatomi and Kamatari Nakatomi Instead of Soga no Iruka / Ezo The event that was assassinated was " Yin Wood Snake " from the zodiac. Is often called. Basically Taika Reform Is basically after the destruction of the Soga clan Political reform Is pointing to.
Yin Wood Snake :The assassination of Soga no Iruka and the destruction of the Soga Soke
Taika Reform :Political reform after the Isshi Incident
Let's review the situation in Japan at that time
The environment surrounding Japan at that time was strongly influenced by neighboring countries, so let's search from neighboring countries first.
Let's take a look at the current situation around China and the Korean Peninsula
[Neighboring countries after the 6th century]- 552 years of rush happening
- In 552, the border line where Baekje was deprived of part of its territory by Silla changed, and Baekje was no longer next to Goguryeo.
- 562 Gaya nations are destroyed
- Sui was founded in 581
- 612-Sui invades Goguryeo three times for fear of connecting Goguryeo with Göktürk
- In 618, the Sui dynasty was destroyed due to repeated invasions of Goguryeo, the founding country of the Tang dynasty.
- 630 Tang defeats East Turkestan The situation in Tang gradually stabilizes
- 631? Did Buyeo Pung, the prince of Baekje, go to Wakoku? It is inferred from the description in Nihon Shoki. There is also a theory that went to other years.
- January 642 A turbulence occurred in Baekje There is a theory that Buyeo Pung of Baekje went to Wakoku due to the turbulence.
- October 642 Coup d'etat in Goguryeo Tang tried to avenge Goguryeo, so he tried to reorganize the country.
- 642 Goguryeo and Baekje de Rasai Alliance
- 642 Allied forces of Goguryeo and Baekje collide with Silla
- In 643, instead of asking Tang for reinforcements, Silla urged the abolition of the Queen of Silla and the establishment of a new king from the Tang royal family. Divided into two
In the latter half of the 6th century, the unified dynasty called Sui in China (It happened six years ago, going back to the time when Mr. Soga left one). In response to this, the situation in the surrounding area will change significantly.
Sui Göktürk to the north I had a problem with a different race called (Totsutsu). So Goguryeo And Göktürk 3 times Goguryeo I attacked but failed. Here Silla Has become more and more powerful ( Baekje ) Silla in 552 Goguryeo since betrayed by Since it does not face, it is not affected as much as Silla).
The fact that an overwhelming country was created nearby would have weighed more heavily on neighboring countries than expected. Of course Sui And Tang Coups have occurred in various places to prepare for the event or to establish a relationship and use it.
Let's take a look at the internal circumstances of Wakoku
By the way, I talked about the situation around Wakoku earlier, but while Baekje and Silla repeatedly cooperated and became hostile, Wakoku had a good relationship with Baekje.
From Baekje's point of view, cooperation with Wakoku can prevent the island from becoming an isolated island, and for Wakoku, it seems that it was a win-win relationship where iron and advanced technology could be obtained.
When Goguryeo, who had repeated the battle against the Sui dynasty, lost his power and gained the power of Silla, it became necessary for Baekje to have a way to counter Silla. not.
It's no wonder that we need to build a relationship with Sui ... or get information. This is envoy to Sui It will lead to dispatch.
Baekje actively communicated the culture and techniques to Wakoku, perhaps because he wanted to deepen his relationship with Wakoku in order to be involved in the survival of his own country. Some of these cultures and techniques are Buddhist tradition in 538 (552). Is also included.
It may have been effective in building the same values. The Wakoku side has also come out with a force to actively adopt Buddhism in connection with the domestic power struggle. It is a so-called "Buddhist sect".
What is the conflict caused by the introduction of Buddhism?
Speaking of the representative of the Buddhist sect, Soga who was rising to the influential tribe at that time ..
On the other hand, Mononobe who was a vested interest side Reveals a confrontational stance as a Buddhist sect. As a result, in 587, the Soga clan Soga Succeeded in gaining power. It is said that Mr. Soga took control of the migrants and was quite familiar with the trends of neighboring countries. This Mr. Mononobe Soga no Umako is the central figure who settled the battle with (Sogano Umako) and Prince Shotoku (Umaya Douji = Prince Shotoku )was.
* The details of the rise of the Soga clan are described in the article below.
What is the politics of Empress Suiko, Prince Shotoku, and Soga no Umako? ??
In 588, the construction of Asuka-dera Temple started in a three-person system. This is seen as a stepping stone to build a city in Asuka, Soga Is taking the lead. Asuka A place like a natural fortress that is easy to defend .. Baekje Buyeo Since it is very similar to the base, it is pointed out that there is a possibility that "it was a relocation considering the trends of neighboring countries ...?".
Furthermore, in 592, the emperor of the time, Emperor Sushun Was assassinated. Soga no Umako He was the emperor who was recommended by the emperor, but the de facto power is Soga . I had it and started to feel dissatisfied. It is said that this led to the event of assassination.
However, one month after the assassination, he moved the palace and Empress Suiko . Is the coronation ... Because of the situation, Empress Suiko (Princess Fukiya before the coronation) Maybe other royal families and royal families were also involved? It is said that.
A year later, Prince Shotoku Is regent (=Assistant to the Emperor) Mr. Soga Together with the aggressive foreign policy, the first mission to Sui in 600 years Will be sent. At this time, Sui There is still a story that it was lightly treated. In response to such a situation, the imperial court decided to increase the authority of the emperor and enhance the domestic system.
The representative system is
- Twelve Stage Cap and Rank System
- Article 17 of the Constitution
Especially Twelve Stage Cap and Rank Is a system that allows individuals to be promoted unlike before. In addition, it is said that the target was the lower hierarchy of the Taifu (Maetsukimi) layer, and Mr. Soga, the royal family, and the local lords were outside the frame of the crown award.
Mr. Soga after that
When Emperor Suiko, who had not nominated a successor, died, the next king selection began. The candidate is Prince Yamashiro And Prince Tamura It was (later Emperor Jomei).
- Prince Yamashiro → Father:Prince Shotoku Mother:Soga's daughter
- Prince Tamura → Father:Prince Oshisaka-Hikoto, Mother:Princess Nukate-hime (Nukadehime no Himemiko)
So, of the two, Prince Yamashiro is the closest to Mr. Soga.
But at this time, after all
- Empress Suiko Is Prince Yamashiro It was so dangerous that he made a will of the kind of "immature" (still young at that time).
- Mr. Soga Anti-Soga forces by not continuing the emperor of the system I wanted to prevent a conflict with
For the above reasons (not all of them are clear), Prince Tamura as the successor to Empress Suiko. Is Emperor Jomei It was decided to coronate as.
Emperor Jomei who succeeded the throne after Empress Suiko Are the daughters of the Soga clan, and Emperor Jomei Daughter of half-brother, Queen 寶 (=Takara no Mikohime, later Emperor Kogyoku , Emperor Saimei ) And married. At that time, Soga no Umako Prince Furuhito no Otoko with his daughter , Emperor Kyoku Middle and big brother (Later Emperor Tenji ), The 40th Prince of the Sea (later Emperor Tenmu ).
This Emperor Jomei Even after his demise, it was difficult to select his successor. The candidates at this time are the four people drawn by the yellow line ...
- Prince Furuhito no Otoko (Furuhito no Oe no Miko)
- Prince Kinashi no Karu (Karu no Miko)
- Prince Yamashiro
- Middle and Big Brother Prince
was. The one closest to the throne was Prince Yamashiro . However, there are multiple candidates for succession to the throne, so Emperor Jomei Temporarily Empress Kogyoku after the demise Will be on the throne. Of course, the empress Kogyoku's succession to the throne only puts off the issue of succession to the throne.
Prince Yamashiro Soga no Iruka, who succeeded Soga no Emishi, drives himself into suicide. The reason why this incident happened is in "Toshi Kaden".
May cause rebellion in connection with the throne of Emperor Kogyoku
It seems thatis written because Irika conspired with another imperial family.
However, as I mentioned earlier, Prince Yamashiro is very close to Mr. Soga. In other words, for Mr. Soga, one of the pipes with the imperial family is broken.
Although it wasn't the decision of the deer (it seems that his father, Ezo, said something stupid about the incident that drove Prince Yamashiro ...), there was a group inside Mr. Soga who recommended Prince Yamashiro. , A ditch has also been created between the Soke and other clans.
Why was it said that Mr. Soga's profession was terrible?
As a result of driving Prince Yamashiro into suicide, " Soga I got the impression that "=the profession is terrible." Furthermore, it was the fact that Mr. Soga's dedication was made more fruitful.
- A mansion was built overlooking the Emperor's Palace, and an armory and a strong samurai were deployed.
- It was badly written in Nihon Shoki
This is the fact. Regarding the Nihon Shoki, it is understandable that it will be a stance closer to Mr. Anti-Soga because the people involved in Kamatari, a Nakatomi clan who later pushed into the murder of Ezo and the self-harm of deer, are gathered, but why is the mansion in a position overlooking the palace? Did you build it? Next, let's explore it.
Why did Mr. Soga build a mansion in Amakashi-no-oka?
It is said that the residence of Soga no Emishi and Iruka parents and children was built in 644 by reclaiming a valley on the east side of a hill called Amakashi-no-oka overlooking the emperor's palace. A long stone wall and a castle fence were installed, and an arsenal was also fully equipped.
On the other hand, the palace of the emperor and the emperor Kogyoku at that time is Itabuki Palace. It was built in the same year after the death of her husband, Emperor Jomei, in 642, but this palace was located overlooking Amakashi-no-oka.
It was to the anti-Soga group that a large number of people were used to do large construction work to fill the valley and set up a mansion with military power.
- You look down on the emperor too much
- Trying to replace the Emperor
I gave the excuse, but the fact that "there was an emperor's palace in front of me" is
Easy to find in the event of an unforeseen situation
You can also look at it from another side,.
After all, Soga and his son were the central figures in politics and were very familiar with overseas affairs. In China in 618, the Sui dynasty was destroyed and the country called Tang was founded, and the overseas situation changed considerably, and Tang was moving to get the Korean Peninsula. Parents and children were thinking.
On the other hand, Soga parents and children also got information that Tang is a very advanced country, and were worried that they would not be able to stand by the attitude of emphasizing Baekje at that time.
Yin Wood Snake
Mr. Soga's political stance was in the same position as before, but some of the central figures in politics at that time seemed to have a decisively different political stance. That is Emperor Tenji is. The political positions of both parties are as follows.
- Soga no Iruka ... Baekje while solidifying Asuka's defense Besides Tang Develop a harmony route with (estimated from the location of temples around Asuka and the traces of Namba's port development)
- Middle and big brother prince ... Baekje Emphasis on conservative stance
So, due to the difference in diplomatic stance, Soga Is recommended by Prince Furuhito no Otoko Only, the position of the middle and big brother prince will be very strict. Furthermore, since the prince came to Wakoku from Baekje at this time, it seems that he or the surrounding Baekje people also purchased information on frequent coups on the Korean Peninsula.
This situation was the assassination of Mr. Soga Yin Wood Snake It is thought that it was connected to. This is not the cause of Mr. Soga's dedication, but the theory that the difference in diplomatic stance and the struggle for successors are the cause of Otomi's change.
After the change of Otomi
After all, after the Isshi Incident, Prince Kinashi Is Emperor Kotoku It was decided to coronate as. It is said that it was the middle-aged brother and prince who actually tried to give up the throne, but he declined the throne. Not only because he was young, but also because he was involved in the assassination, it would have been difficult to succeed to the throne.
In this way, from the circumstantial evidence that he actually became the emperor after the change of Otomi, the theory of the mastermind of the light prince and the emperor Kogyoku is whispered. There is also a story that another central figure of Isshi Incident, Nakatomi Kamatari, was approaching the time of Prince Kinashi no Karu.
Emperor Kotoku Reigned until 654. After his demise, Saimei again (Emperor) The Emperor has a reign from 655 to 661. If we sort out the events (including just before) that seemed to be related to the Taika Reform during this time,
- July 10, 645 Soga no Iruka was assassinated by Prince Nakatomi and Nakatomi Kamashita.
- July 11 Soga no Emishi Suicide Soga Soke is destroyed
- July 12 Emperor Kogyoku abdicates and Emperor Kotoku takes the throne
- July 17th The first year in Japan, "Taika", will be set.
- October Conquer the Prince Furuhito no Otoko
- December Moved to Naniwa Nagara-Toyomiya
- 646 Taika Reform Edict =New policy
You can see that it is prepared in an impossibly careful manner. Perhaps the assassination of Mr. Soga had already been factored in at the upper level. At this time, it was Nakatomi Kamatari who acted like a warrior. It seems that it is supposed to be.
When the Taika Reform Edict was issued in 646, the " Nihon Shoki " was established that the public land civil system, the tax system of Zu Yong Diao, and the Kumada collection method were established. 』Is telling. However, it was later discovered that the content of the edict was added to posterity. At the time of this renewal ... In other words, Taika Reform Although a series of political reforms were carried out in Ritsuryo It is becoming clear that the policy of is not clarified.
So what made Japan move on to the path of a Ritsuryo nation? It is said that the answer is the Battle of Baekgang.
Was the Battle of Baekgang the turning point for Japan's ritualization?
Emperor Kotoku collapsed (654) when the political system was set up to some extent by the Taika Reform. I was wondering if the middle-aged and big brothers would see the sun around here, but Emperor Tenji was appointed to the throne as Emperor Saimei. I think that the fact that the palace was dyed with blood was more tailored than I had imagined.
Baekje amid continued confusion such as the destruction of Baekje (660), which should have been emphasized, and the demise of Emperor Saimei (661). Dispatched in 663 to recapture. The battle at this time is Battle of Baekgang Called Tang And Silla Will be defeated by the Allied Forces.
Since this battle, we have built banks and mountain castles in various places to strengthen national defense, and Koshi's proclamation to organize and rank the powerful tribes. And carried out national affairs reform. Middle and big brother prince who moved from the palace in Asuka to Otsu palace Is 668, Emperor Tenji Enthroned as.
After that, we will lay the foundation of the Ritsuryo nation by creating the first nationwide family register in Japan and actually inaugurating the Kumada collection method.
It cannot be admitted that it was a mistake to destroy Mr. Soga due to the change of Otomi, who took the trouble to wage war with the great powers in order to regain the territory of Baekje, which is a foreign country. I think there was such a reason.
The hidden truth of "Taika Reform" that I read when writing this article-Is Mr. Soga really a rebellious vassal? When I look at the book that says,
- Taika Reform Ritsuryo Nation It wasn't actually Battle of Baekgang Was a turning point
- Yin Wood Snake Then Soga no Iruka It wasn't just a villain, it was one of the battles for successors.
That was mostly written. If this is the case, I feel that I have no choice but to switch to a Ritsuryo nation, so I think this theory is there.