Empress Jito
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(From Ogura Hyakunin Isshu) |
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Tomb of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō |
Empress
Jitō (持統天皇
Jitō Tennō) (
645 – December 22, 702
[Japanese dates correspond to the traditional lunisolar calendar used in Japan until 1873. December 22, 702 of the Japanese calendar corresponds to January 13, 703 of the Julian calendar.]) was the 41st
imperial ruler of
Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. She was the daughter of
Emperor Tenji. She took the throne in
687 following the death of her husband,
Emperor Temmu, who was also her uncle, in order to ensure the eventual succession of her grandson,
Emperor Mommu. In
697 she abdicated in Mommu's favor, but she continued to hold power as a
cloistered ruler, which became a persistent trend in Japanese politics.
