Emperor Jimmu
Jimmu or Jinmu (Jap.神 武天皇, Jimmu - tennō; born February 13, 711 BC ( Kogo (庚午) / 1 /1), † April 9th 585 BC ( Jimmu 76/3/11 ); actually Kamuyamato Iwarebiko no Mikoto ) was, according to history books the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki February 18, 660 BC ( 1st day of the 1st month in the year of the Metal rooster ) to 585 BC, the mythical first Tennō of Japan.
The name literally means " divine power." The Japanese imperial house established his claim to the throne with his descent from Jimmu - tennō.
Descent
According to legend, Jimmu is the great great great grandson of Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess of Shinto, of which he is said to have also received the three imperial regalia (sword, mirror and jewel ).
According to Japanese mythology, Amaterasu is said to have had a son called Ame no Oshihomimi no Mikoto and through him a grandson named Ninigi -no- Mikoto. The sun goddess chose her grandson of the ruler of the Japanese Islands, where he married Princess konohanasakuyahime, the younger of the two daughters of the highest mountain of God Ōyamatsumi.
The youngest of the three sons of Ninigi -no- Mikoto and konohanasakuyahime was Hikohohodemi no Mikoto, also called Yamasachi - hiko. He married Princess Toyotama, the dragons daughter of Owatatsumi, the Japanese sea god and brother of Amaterasu.
Hikohohodemi no Mikoto and Toyotama in turn had an only son, Hikonagisa Takeugaya Fukiaezu no Mikoto. The boy was abandoned by his parents after his birth and reared by Princess Tamayori, his mother's younger sister. Hikonagisa Takeugaya Fukiaezu no Mikoto and his aunt Tamayori eventually married and had many children, one of which was Jimmu.
Mythological Foundations
Despite the descriptions of the historic environment, which place him in the 7th century BC, Jimmu - tennō is a mythical figure in the opinion of modern historians. There seems to be a merging of several princes of Japanese antiquity.
1889 was built in Kashihara ( Nara Prefecture ) to Jimmus honor a shrine Kashihara jingū.
Anniversaries
Traditionally, the New Year's Day of the Japanese lunar calendar was celebrated as the anniversary of the reign of Jimmu start - tennō. 1872, the Meiji government declared 11 February 660 BC in the Gregorian calendar to the founding of Japan. This mythical date was in 1872 as a holiday celebrated Kigensetsu ( "Day of Regierungsära " ) until it was abolished by the occupying powers in 1948. 1966 of these as holiday Kenkoku Kinen no Hi ( " National Foundation Day ") was reintroduced.