14 天智天皇
孝徳天皇は、御在位十年にしておかくれになり、次には前の皇極天皇が、再び皇位に
おつきになりました。之を斉明天皇と申し上げます。中大兄皇子から云えば、孝徳天皇
は御叔父であり、斉明天皇は御母であります。中大兄皇子は、この二代を通じて、皇太
子として、政治の実務をおとりになりました。御年を云えば、蘇我氏を誅戮せられまし
た時に二十歳、斉明天皇御即位の時三十歳、そのおかくれの時三十六歳、その後猶数年
を経て、四十三歳の時に漸く御即位になりました。之を天智天皇と申し上げます。そし
て御即位後、三年でおかくれになりました。御年四十六歳でありました。即ち天皇の御
位においでの間は短かったのですが、皇太子として政治の実務をおとりになったのは、
非常に長い間でした。
そこでその前後を通じて、天智天皇の御政治をかえりみますと、国内では、蘇我氏を
亡ぼして大化改新を断行された事、外国に対しては、百済を救おうとして唐と戦われた
事、この二つが、最も重大です。前の方はすでに述べましたから、後の方をこれから少
しお話ししましょう。
朝鮮半島の南部には、西に百済が国を建て、東に新羅が国を建てていましたから、百
済は、北方の高句麗、又は西方の支那大陸の勢力と、東方の新羅と、双方の挟み討ちに
なる事が多く、そうなれば日本を頼る外は無い形勢でした。神功皇后が兵をひきいて海
を渡られたのも、その百済の苦境を救わんが為でありましたが、同様の情勢は、二百数
十年の後まで続いて、しかも一層切実な問題となってきました。前に百済を脅かしたも
のは、高句麗でした。今や百済に迫るものは、高句麗の勢力に百倍し千倍する唐国です
。唐は隋に代わって支那本土を統一し、昔の漢についで勢力隆々たる大国となり、その
武力に物を云わせて朝鮮半島を征服しようとしました。唐の兵は、太宗（たいそう）の
世には、専ら高句麗を攻めていたのが、次の高宗（こうそう）になると、蘇定方（そて
いほう）を大将軍とし、十数万の大軍を発して、百済へ攻め込ませると共に、新羅に命
じて、背後から百済に侵入させた。それが唐では高宗の顕慶五年、我が国では斉明天皇
の六年、西暦六六〇年の事です。百済は一たまりも無く敗れて、王も、太子も、王族も
、重臣も、皆生け捕られて、唐の都へ送られました。そして唐は、百済の土地人民を再
編成し、五人の都督を置いて、三十七州、二百五十県、戸数二十四万、人口六百二十万
を統括させました。百済人の中に気骨ある者は、鬼室福信（きしつふくしん）を中心と
して集まり、日本に来ていた王子豊璋（ほうしょう）をかえして貰い、之を国王として
百済の国を再興し、日本の援助によって唐の勢力を退けたいと希望し、之をお願いして
きました。朝廷は、すぐにこの願いを聞き届けられ、詔を発して、「百済より救援の軍
隊を乞う事は、歴史の上に先例のあるところであり、危うきを扶けて滅びたる国を再興
する事は、道徳上、しなければならぬところである」と仰せられ、その年のくれに、斉
明天皇は難波の宮（大阪）にお出かけになって軍器の準備を始められ、一方駿河の国（
静岡県）に命じて船を造らせられ、翌年の春には、海路九州へ行幸になり、朝倉の宮（
福岡県）におわしまして、出征軍を指揮せられましたが、秋の初めに御病気でおかくれ
になりましたので、それにより皇太子が指揮をおとりになり、百済の王子豊璋に高い位
を授けて送りかえし、五千の兵を百七十艘の船に分乗せしめて之を護衛させられました
。翌年の正月、百済へ送られた援助物資は、矢十万筋、糸五百斤、綿一千斤、布一千端
、韋一千張、稲種三千石等でした。然し不幸にして百済の主従の間に不信があって、肝
腎の鬼室福信が殺された為に動揺が起こり、天智天皇の二年（唐の高宗の龍朔三年）白
村江（はくそんこう）の海戦に、我が軍敗れて、半島より引き上げる事となり、百済は
完全に亡びました。そして唐に服属する事を嫌う者は、我が国をたよって来、我が国で
は、あたたかく之を受け入れました。天智天皇の四年に、百済の国から四百余人を近江
の国に受け入れ、翌年はまた二千余人を東国に落ち着かせられ、八年には男女七百余人
を近江の国に収容された事などが、日本書紀に見えています。
当時海外の交通は随分盛んであって、唐が支那大陸を統一した勢いの隆々たる事、そ
れにくらべて百済の武力の貧弱であって、到底太刀打ち出来そうも無い事、それを天智
天皇が御承知にならぬ筈はありません。それを御承知の上で、敢えて百済を救おうとせ
られましたのは、一つは気の毒な小国の討ち亡ぼされるのを、黙って見ているわけには
ゆかぬと云う義侠心からであり、今一つは大国の侵略を、あの一戦で阻止して置く事が
、我が国の自衛上、良いと判断されたからでしょう。
不幸にして白村江の戦いに敗れた為に、事によると唐の大軍はこちらまで攻め寄せる
かも知れないとお考えになって、国内に防備の態勢を整えさせられました。即ち対馬･壱
岐･筑紫には、国境防備の防人を置き、対馬の金田、讃岐（香川県）の屋島、大和の高安
に城を築き、北九州では水城を造らせると共に大野城と基肄城（きいじょう）とを築き
、長門（山口県）にも城を設け、山の頂きには烽火をあげて、急を告げさせる事とし、
用意怠りの無いように手配せられ、そして都も、近江の大津へ遷されました。これ等は
すべて、唐の侵入に備える為であったのです。
結果だけを見れば、唐との戦いは無謀であり、失敗であり、そして消極的な退守に終
わったように思われるが、当時朝廷の御計画は、実に雄大でありました。即ち唐との戦
いの始まる数年前に、我が海軍は、阿倍比羅夫にひきいられて、日本海を北上し、秋田･
能代･津軽を平定して渡島（北海道）に進み、その地の人々を苦しめる粛慎（みしはせ、
沿海州）の異民族を征伐したので、北地の人々喜んで朝廷にお仕えしました。この遠征
は、朝廷の抱負の大きさと、海軍の自信とを示すものでしょう。そして百済の救援は、
百済が亡びた後に、日本の実力を以て之を再興しようとされたものである事を注意しな
ければなりません。百済の王と太子とが、王族重臣と共に生け捕られて、国が亡びたの
が西暦六六〇年、そこで遺臣鬼室福信等が、「既に亡びたる国を興す」計画を建てて、
日本の援助を求めたので、我が国に来ていた百済の王子豊璋を送りかえし、之を立てて
国を再興させようとされたので、その時の詔にも「危きを扶けて、絶えたるを継ぐ」と
仰せられたのです。よって先に日本海を北上して武威を輝かした阿倍比羅夫等をして、
数百艘の兵船をひきいて出征させられたのですが、肝腎の豊璋と福信とが不信で、福信
は遂に殺され、白村江の戦いは、我が軍利なくして退き、止むを得ず、退守の態勢を取
られたのでした。
その頃の唐は、武力と政策と、二つながらすぐれていた為に、四方の国々は、征服せ
られると同時に之に服し、「胡越（こえつ）一家、古より未だ有らざるなり」と云う有
様、北は安北都護符（あんほくとごふ）を置いて、満州･蒙古よりシベリアを押さえ、南
は安南都護符（あんなんとごふ）を置いてベトナム地方を制し、西は安西都護符（あん
せいとごふ）を置いて、甘粛（かんしゅく）・青海（せいかい）・チベットより中央ア
ジアに伸び、そして東は安都護符（あんとうとごふ）を平壌に置いて、朝鮮半島を治め
させたのでした。その威令の及ぶところ、頗る広く、漢人の勢力は、この時において、
前古未曽有であったと云います。しかもその強力なる唐にしても、決して我が国に攻め
入ろうとしなかったのは、白村江の戦い、やぶれたりといえども日本軍、勇戦奮闘して
屈しなかったのと、戦後直ちに周密なる国防計画を立てられた為でありましょう。
天智天皇の御代に、文化の開発せられた事はいちじるしく、指南車も輸入せられ、採
鉱冶金の術も進んだが、時計もまたこの時に始まったのです。即ち天皇は、まだ皇太子
でおいでの時分に、御自身で漏剋（ろうこく）をお作りになり、天智天皇の十年四月二
十五日（時の記念日、六月十日はこの日を太陽暦に換算したもの）、之を台上に置いて
、時刻が来れば鐘を打って人に知らせる装置をされました。
天智天皇は、御年四十六歳にしておかくれになり、次には皇太子大友皇子が政務をお
とりになりましたが、天智天皇の御弟で、以前皇太弟として皇位継承者に指名せられ、
後に之を御辞退になった大海人皇子との間に争いが起こり、大友皇子は二十五歳でなく
なり、大海人皇子が即位せられました。この不幸に争いを壬申の乱と云います。何故こ
のような不幸な争いが起こったかと云えば、それは古い時代には、我が国でも、支那で
も、嫡子相続の原則、つまり長男が親のあとを嗣ぐと云う原則が立っていないで、兄か
ら弟へ譲る風が多かった為に、継承者として弟と嫡子との争いが、ときどき起こったの
です。それに天智天皇の政治、内には大化改新、外には唐との戦い、どちらも大変な事
で、之に感心する者もあれば、之を嫌う者もあって、重臣の中にも二派あったでしょう
。
不幸に事には、重臣のなかでも殊に重要な人物、中臣鎌足が、天智天皇より二年前に
亡くなってしまいました。鎌足が病気になりました時には、天皇したしくお見舞いにな
り、「何か希望は無いか」とお尋ねになりましたが、鎌足は、「何もござりません、た
だ葬式は簡略にお願い申し上げます」とお答え申し上げました。天皇は大織冠と、大臣
の位とを授け、藤原と云う姓を賜りました。その子孫、長く藤原を称するようになった
のは、この為です。亡くなりました時、年は五十六歳でした。この人さえ生きていれば
、また処置もあったでしょうが、残念な事でした。
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14 Emperor Tenji
Emperor Koutoku (r. 645-654) passed away after ten years of rekgn. Next,
Empress Saimei (r. 655-661), formerly Empress Kougyoku (r. 642-645) ascended
the imperial throne. for Prince Naka no Oh-e, Emperor Koutoku was uncle, and
Empress Saimei, his mother. The Prince remaind as Crown Prince throughout three
two reign, and undertook the matters of governance. He was twenty when he
removed the Soga Clan; he turned thirty at Empress Saimei's ascension; when the
Empress passed away, he was thirty-six. He ascended the throne several years
after that, when he was forty-three, and became Emperor Tenji (r. 668-671). His
reign ended in three years; he passed away at forty-six. Although his reign
was short, he led the activities of the court as Crown Prince for an extremely
long time.
There are two major accomplishments of the Prince. One was an internal matter,
removing the Soga Clan and instituting the Taika Reform. The other was
external: he fought against Tang Dynasty China in an attempt to save Paekche.
The former has already been discussed, so let us go on to the latter.
In the southen part of the Korean Peninsula, Paekche was located on the west
side, and Silla on the east. Parkche was surrounded by Koguryo to the north,
China to the wast, and Silla in the east. As a result Paekche was often invaded
by these powers, and its only ally was Japan. Empress Jinguu crossed the Sea
of Japan to save Paekche in one such emergency. This precarious situation
persisted for more than two huntred years, and grew worse. Previously, it was
Koguryo that threattened Paekche. Now, the enemy was Tang China, a military
power a thousand times more fierce than Koruryo ever was. The Tang Dynasty
unified the Chinese continent in place of Sui, and became a flourishing nation.
It tried to conquer the Korean Peninsula with its mighty military force.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong, Tang Dynasty China attaked only the
Kingdom of Koguryo. But the succeeding Emperor Gaozong appointed Su Dingfang as
general, and had him attack Paekche with an army of several hundred thousand.
Simultaneously, Silla was ordered by Tang Dynasty China to attack Paekche from
behind. This was the 5th year of Emperor Gaozong's reign (660) in China, and the
6th year of the reign of Empress Saimei in Japan.
Paekche fell without resistance. Its King, crown Prince, royal family, and
ministers were all arrested and sent to the capital of China. Tang reorganized
the land and the population of Paekche, and installed five governors who ruled
Paekche's 37 province, 250 prefecture, 240,000 households, and population of
6.2 million.
The patriots of Paekche gathered under the leadership of Kwisil Poksin, and
planned to revive the nation. First they wanted to retrieve Prince Phungchyang
who was in Japan, to institute him as King. Then by obtaining Japan's
assistance, they hoped to repel the Chinese. The request was sent to Japan.
The court promptly accepted the request. The imperrial decree said:
"The Land of Paekche, in its extremity, has come to us and placed itself in
our hands . . . We learn that in ancient times there have been cases of troops
being asked for and assistance requested: to render help in emergencies, and to
resore that which has been interrupted, is a mainfestation of ordinary
principles of right."
At the end of that year, Empress Saimei moved to Naniwa Palace (Ohsaka), and
started preparation for the forthcoming war. She ordered the Province of Suruga
(Shizuoka Prefectue) to construct the ships. Next spring, she went to Kyuushuu
by ship, and from Asakura Palace (Fukuoka Prefecture) supervised the campaign.
However, she passed away in early autumn due to illness.
The Crown Prince Naka no Oh-e took over the leadership. He returned Prince
Phungchyang to Paekche after conferring a high rank upon him. To guard the
returning Prince's ship, Prince Naka no Oh-e sent five thousand men, divided among
170 ships. In the first month of the subsequent year, relief materials were
sent to Parkche from Japan: 100,000 arrows, 500-kin (300 kilograms) of thread,
1000-kin (600 kilograms) of cotton, 1000 pieces of cloth, 1000 pieces of
tanne leather, 3000-koku (15,000 bushels) of rice seeds, etc.
Unfortunately distrust existed in the hierarchy of Paekche people, and the main leader
Kwisil Poksin was murdered. Due to this disturbance, in the second year of the
reign of Enperor Tenji (663), Japan lost the naval battle of Paekch'on-gang and
evacuated from the Peninsula. Paekche thus fell and vanished. Those who did not
wish to be subjugated by Tang Dynasty China emigrated to Japan, and they were
received warmly. According to Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki), in the 4th
year of the reign of Emperor Tenji (665) more than 400 Paekche immigrants were
placed in Oumi Province (Shiga Prefecture); in the next year more than 2000
settled in the Eastern Provinces; and in the 8th year (669) over 700 men and
women came to Oumi Pronince (Shiga Prefecture).
14a Emperor Tenji
In those years, traffic to and from overseas was quite frequent. Therefore Emperor
Tenji must have known the rising power of Tang Dynasty China which unfied the
Chinese continent. Similarly, he must have known how weak was the military power
of Paekche, hardly a match against China. In spite of that, he dared to try
to save Paekche. This was first due to a sense of moral obligation which did no
t allow him to merely watch an ally, a pitiable kingdom, be destroyed. The
second reason was strategic, that it would be better to prevent at that line
any further invasion by a major military power.
The defeat at Paekch'on-gang made the Emperor consider the possibility of
Tang forces invading Japan. He therefore set up an extensive defensive system
within Japan. In Tsushima, Iki and Tsukushi (Kyuushuu) Islands, he placed
border guards. In Kanata of Thushima Island, and Yashima of Sanuki Province
(Kagawa Prefecture), and Takayasu of Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture), he had
castles built. In northern Kyuushuu, a water-castle, Ohno Castle and Kii Castle
were built. Another castle was built in Nagato Province (Yamaguchi
Prefecture). Signal fires were set up in case emergency. With preparations
completed, he moved the capital to Ohtsu, in Oumi Province (Shiga Prefecture).
All this was to be ready for the invasion by Tang Dynasty China.
If we were to judge on the basis of what actually happened, the war against
Tang Dynasty China was extraordinarily reckless, and a failure, The campain
appears to have been a passive retreat from the beginning to the end. But at
that time, the court had a grand plan. A few years before the war with Tang
Dynasty China, the Japanese navy, led by Abe no Hirafu, went to the northern
part of the Sea of Japan. Having pacified the areas of Akita, Noshiro (both in
Akita Prefecture), and Tsugaru (Aomori Prefecture), the navy proceeded to
Watarishima (Hokkaidou) and defeated the menacing alien group which lived at
Mishihase (Siberian coast) and harrassed the people there. As the result of
this accomplishment, the northern Hokkaidou people willingly became the
subjects of the court.
This campaign shows the court's great expectations, and the confidence
bestowed upon the navy.
Further, we must remember that aid to Paekche was given after the fall of the
Paekche Kingdom. The purpose was to revive the Kingdom by Japanese military
power. It was 660 when the King and the Crown Prince of Paekche were arrested, and
the Kingdom fell. Subsequently the minister Kwisil Poksin and the followers
planned to "revive the vanished Kingdom" and asked for Japan's assistance.
That was why the Emperor sent back the Paekche Prince Phungchyang, and tried to
reinstitute him th rebuild the kingdom.
The Emperor's decree states: "to render help in emergencies, and to restore
that which has been interrupted." He had Abe no Hirafu, who demonstrated
valour by going up the Sea of Japan, direct the naval campaign with several
hundred battleship. But Prince Phungchyang and Kwisil Poksin, the central
figures, proved to be unreliable, resulting in the death of Kwisil Poksin. The
Japanese armed forces were place at a disadvantage at the battle of
Paeh'chongyang, and had to retreat.
Tang Dynasty China was superior both in military power and policies. The
surrounding countries were subjugated and pacified as soon as they were
conquered, as described by the phrase "northern and southern barbarianse were
unified into one, which had never occurred since antiquity." The government
place a northern outpost to control Manchuria, Mongolis and Siberia. In the
south, the outpost contolled Vietnam, and to the west, the province of Gausu,
Kokonor (Province of Chingshai), Tibet, and Central Asis. To the east the
outpost was lacated in Pyongyang which governed the Korean Peninsula. Thus the
authority of China spread over an enormous area, and its power was
unprecedented. Yet the great Tang never invaded Japan. This can be attributed
to the brave fight put up the battle of Paekch'on-gang and the meticulous
defence system set up immediately after the war.
Cultural advancement during the reign Emperor Tenji was phenomanal. A magnetic
vehicle where a figurine constantly points south was imported, the technology
of mining and metallurgy advanced, and a clock system was invented. When the
Emperor was still Crown Prince, he constructed a water clock. It was the 10th
year of his reign, on the 25th day of the 4th month (now celebrated as "Time
Memorial Day"; the date has been transferred to June 10th in accordance with
the solar calendar). A clock was placed on a atsge in the palace, to tell the
time to the people by a bell at set intervals.
Emperor Tenji passed away at the age of forty-six. The Crown Prince, Prince
Ohtomo took ofer. However, trouble developed between him and Prince Oh-ama.
Prince Oh-ama was the younger brother of Emperor Tenji, who was formerly
designnated as successor to Emperor Tenji but declined the position later. As
the result of this strife Prince Ohtomo died at the age of twenty-five, and
Prince Oh-ama become Emperor.
This unfortunate occurrence is called the Jinshin Insurgence. It developed
because promogenture, prevalent in China, was not firmly established in Japan.
The custom of succession then was more from elder brother to younger brother,
which at times induced disagreement between the younger brother and the son (his
nephew). In addition, Emperor Tenji's rule was eventful; internally there was
the Taika Reform, and externally there was war against China. Political
factions must have existed, either supporting or disagreeing with the Emperor.
It was unfortunate that the most important minister, Nakatomi no Kamatari, had
died two years before Emperor Tenji passed away. The Emperor paid a visit when
he was ill, and asked: "Is there something you wish ?" Kamatari answered:
"There is nothing, except please make my funeral simple." The Emperor conferred
upon him the Rank of Great Minister, along with the highest rank of the Great
Woven Cap and the lat name Fujiwara. His descendants kept this name for many
years. At the time of death, Nakatomi no Kamatari was fifty-six years old. If
he were alive, the subsequent strife might have been handled differently; in
the sense, his death was regrettable.
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少年日本史 (平泉澄)
The story of Japan （Hiraizumi Kiyoshi)
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