Yamato Takeru

Yamato Takeru

Prince Yamatotakeru (日本武尊, Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto?), originally Prince Ōsu (小碓命, Ōsu-no-mikoto?) was a Japanese legendary prince of the Yamato dynasty, son of Emperor Keiko, who is traditionally counted as the 12th Emperor of Japan.

The story of his life and death are told principally in the Japanese chronicles Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki (720), but also mentionned in Kogo shūi (807) and some chorographies like the Hitachi-no-kuni fudoki (常陸国風土記?) (721). One of his sons later became Emperor Chūai, the 14th Emperor of Japan.

His historical existence is uncertain but based on the chronicles his life can be calculated. He was born in about 72 and died in 133. Details are different between the two books and the version in Kojiki is assumed to be loyal to the older form of this legend.

Read more about Yamato Takeru:  Legendary Narrative, Arthurian Theory, In Popular Culture