Empress Tōchi (Toči) | |
---|---|
Empress consort of Japan | |
Born |
c. 648/653 Nara, Japan |
Died | 3 May 678 Asuka Kiyomihara Palace, Asuka, Nara, Japan |
(the 7th Day of the 4th Month of the 7th Year of Temmu's reign) (aged 25–30)
Burial | Ako, Japan |
Spouse | Emperor Kōbun |
Issue | Prince Kadono |
Father | Emperor Temmu |
Mother | Princess Nukata |
Princess Tōchi (十市皇女?, c. 648/653 – 3 May 678 (the 7th Day of the 4th Month of the 7th Year of Temmu's reign)) was a Japanese Imperial princess during the Asuka period of Japanese history as the Empress-consort of Emperor Kōbun. Her name Tōchi is derived from the Tōchi district, a neighbourhood located a few miles north of Asuka. Princess Tōchi was daughter of Emperor Temmu and Princess Nukata. She married Prince Ōtomo, who became Emperor Kōbun. They lived in the capital of Ōtsu in the Ōmi Province (currently Ōtsu, Shiga). He succeeded after his father, Emperor Tenji, died. She subsequently was Empress-consort until Emperor Kōbun was killed by her father in the Jinshin War.
After the war, she returned to Asuka and lived with her mother and her son in the Asuka Kiyomihara palace. In 675 she visited the Ise Grand Shrine with Princess Abe.
In 678, she was appointed a Saiō by divination and was supposed to leave her residence to stay in Saikū (斎宮) in the 7th day of the 4th month, when she suddenly died in the residence. Upon her death, Prince Takechi composed three verses of lamentation in her honour (from his verses collected in Man'yōshū).