Jimmu

Jimmu Tennō, often called Emperor Jimmu, is the legendary first emperor of Japan according to the traditional chronicles Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan). In these texts he is presented as the founder of the Japanese imperial line and the ruler who unified the early Japanese archipelago.

Mythical origins: Jimmu is described as a descendant of Amaterasu, the sun goddess, through Ninigi no Mikoto. According to the narratives, he led a campaign from the southern islands to the Yamato region, overthrowing rival clans and establishing a centralized authority, with the capital later identified at Kashihara in present-day Nara Prefecture.

Historicity and dating: The traditional chronology assigns his accession to 660 BCE and his reign to around 585 BCE, but most scholars regard Jimmu as a legendary figure rather than a historical monarch. There is little to no archaeological evidence to confirm a historical Jimmu, and the dates are considered part of a mythic genealogical framework used to legitimize the imperial line.

Legacy: As the purported founder of the empire, Jimmu occupies a foundational role in Japanese imperial ideology and Shinto tradition. His mausoleum at Kashihara is revered, though its exact identification is a matter of tradition rather than historical certainty. The figure remains a symbol in national culture and has appeared in literature, art, and modern media.