Emperor Seinei清寧天皇

Emperor Shiraka no Takehiro Kunioshi Wakayamato Neko (白髮武廣國押稚日本根子天皇) was the third son of Emperor Ōhatsuse Wakatake. His mother was called Katsuragi no Karahime. The emperor was born with white hair, and when he grew up he loved the people. Emperor Ōhatsuse held him to be marvelous above his other sons.

In the twenty-second year he was set up as crown prince. In the twenty-third year, in the eighth month, Emperor Ōhatsuse died.

Kibi no Wakahime said in secret to her young son, Prince Hoshikawa. "If you would rise to the seat of all under heaven, first take the office of the great treasury."

Her eldest son, Prince Iwaki, heard his mother's words to her young son and said. "The crown prince is my younger brother, but how can he be deceived? It must not be done."

Prince Hoshikawa did not listen. He followed his mother's wish at once and took the office of the great treasury. He barred the outer gate and made ready against trouble. He used his power as he pleased and spent the goods of the offices freely.

Then Ōtomo no Muroya no Ōmuraji said to Yamato no Aya no Tsuka no Atai. "The last command of Emperor Ōhatsuse has now come upon us. We must follow that command and uphold the crown prince."

So he sent out soldiers and surrounded the great treasury. They shut it in from outside, set fire to it, and burned them to death.

At this time Kibi no Wakahime, and Ekimi, the half brother of Prince Iwaki by another father, and Ki no Okasaki no Kume followed Prince Hoshikawa and were burned to death with him.

Only Mino no Agatanushi One of Kawachi shook with fear. He escaped the fire, fled out, and took hold of the legs of Kusakabe no Kishi Ayahiko. Then he had him beg Ōtomo no Muroya no Ōmuraji for his life. "It is true that your servant One, the agatanushi, served Prince Hoshikawa. But he has never turned his back on the crown prince.

I beg you to send down your great kindness and save this life."

Ayahiko set all of it out before Ōtomo no Ōmuraji, and One was not put among those who were punished.

One then had Ayahiko speak to the ōmuraji. "Ōtomo no Ōmuraji, our lord has sent down great mercy. A life that was to be cut short is drawn out and made long, and I am able to look on the light of the sun." Then he sent ten chō of paddy land at Ōido in the village of Kume in Naniwa to the ōmuraji. He also gave land to Ayahiko to repay his kindness.

In that month the Kibi no Kamitsumichi no Omi heard that a rising had broken out at court. They wished to save Prince Hoshikawa, who was born of their own daughter, so they led forty ships and their soldiers and came floating over the sea. When they heard that he had been burned to death, they turned back from the sea.

The emperor at once sent a messenger to rebuke the Kamitsumichi no Omi, and he took away the Yamabe that they had held.

In winter, the tenth month, the first day being a gisa day, on the imsin day, Ōtomo no Muroya no Ōmuraji led the omi and the muraji and offered the seal to the crown prince.

In the first year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a musul day, on the imja day, he commanded the offices in charge to set up an altar at Mikakuri in Iware, and he ascended the throne of the emperor. Then the palace was fixed there.

Katsuragi no Karahime was honored as grand imperial lady. Ōtomo no Muroya no Ōmuraji was made ōmuraji, and Heguri no Matori no Ōomi was made great minister, and both were as before. The omi, the muraji and the tomo no miyatsuko each kept to their own rank and office.

In winter, the tenth month, the first day being a gyesa day, on the sinchuk day, Emperor Ōhatsuse was buried in the tomb of Takawashihara in Tajihi. At this time a Hayato cried out in grief beside the tomb by night and by day. Food was given to him, but he did not eat, and after seven days he died. The offices in charge made a grave north of the tomb and buried him with the proper rites.

In this year the year sign was gyeongsin.

In the second year, in spring, the second month, the emperor grieved that he had no child. So he sent Ōtomo no Muroya no Ōmuraji to the several lands and appointed the Shirakabe no Toneri, the Shirakabe no Kashiwade and the Shirakabe no Yugei. He wished to leave a trace behind and let those who came after see it.

In winter, the eleventh month, for the work of preparing the offerings of the great tasting (大甞), Iyo no Kumebe no Odate was sent out. He was the kuni no tsukasa of Harima and the distant ancestor of the Yamabe no Muraji.

At the new room of Hosome, the Oshinumibe no Miyatsuko and head of the granary of Shijimi in the Akashi district, he saw Oke and Woke, the sons of Prince Ichinobe no Oshiha. He feared them and honored them and took them in his arms. He thought to serve them as his lords, so he cared for them with great reverence and supplied them out of his own goods. Then he built a palace of brushwood and set them there for the time being, and he rode the post horses in haste to report it.

The emperor was startled and amazed, and in true tenderness of heart he said. "How good it is, how glad I am. Heaven has sent down its wide love and given two children."

In that month Odate was made to bear the tally and lead the toneri of the right and the left, and to go to Akashi and meet them with honor. The words in full are in the chronicle (紀) of Emperor Woke.

In the third year, in spring, the first month, on the byeongjin day that was the first of the month, Odate and his men brought Oke and Woke with honor and came to the land of Settsu. The omi and the muraji were sent bearing the tally, and they met them with a royal carriage with a blue canopy and brought them into the palace.

In summer, the fourth month, the first day being an eulyu day, on the sinmyo day, Prince Oke was made crown prince and Prince Woke was made imperial prince.

In autumn, the seventh month, Princess Iitoyo first lay with a husband at the Tsunosashi palace. She said to those about her. "I have known the way of a woman once. What more can there be that is different? I do not wish to lie with a man again."

In the ninth month, the first day being an imja day, on the gyechuk day, the omi and the muraji were sent out to go about and look into the customs of the people.

In winter, the tenth month, the first day being an imo day, on the eulyu day, he issued a decree. "Dogs and horses, vessels and playthings may not be offered up."

In the eleventh month, the first day being a sinhae day, on the mujin day, he feasted the omi and the muraji in the great courtyard and gave them floss and silk. Each was allowed to take as much as he wished and could carry away.

In that month the outer lands (蕃) beyond the sea all sent envoys and brought tribute.

In the fourth year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a gyeongsul day, on the byeongjin day, he feasted the envoys of the outer lands beyond the sea in the court hall and gave them gifts, each according to his rank.

In summer, in the intercalary fifth month, there was a great feeding of the people for five days.

In autumn, the eighth month, the first day being a jeongmi day, on the gyechuk day, the emperor himself looked over the prisoners and wrote down their cases. On this day the Emishi and the Hayato both came in and submitted.

In the ninth month, on the byeongja day that was the first of the month, the emperor went to the hall of archery. He gave a command that all the officials and the envoys from beyond the sea should shoot, and he gave them gifts, each according to his rank.

In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a gapsul day, on the gichuk day, the emperor died in the palace. How old he was at that time is not known.

In winter, the eleventh month, the first day being a gyeongo day, on the muin day, he was buried in the tomb of Sakatohara in Kawachi.