Princess Hashihito no Anahobe

Hashihito no Anahobe
Statue of Empress Taiza and her son, Prince Shōtoku
Empress consort of Japan
Tenure	1 January 585 – 21 May 587
Born	Hashihito no Anahobe 560 Japan
Died	621 (age 61) Japan
Burial	Eifuku-ji Temple, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture
Spouse	Emperor Yōmei (m. 564) Prince Tame
Issue	Prince Shōtoku Prince Kume Prince Eguri Prince Mamuta Princess Satomi
House	Imperial House of Japan
Father	Emperor Kinmei
Mother	Soga no Oane

Princess Hashihito no Anahobe (穴穂部間人皇女, Anahobe no Hashihito no Himemiko, 560 – 7 February 622), also known as Empress Taiza (間人皇后), was a member of the Japanese imperial family in the Asuka period. She was the empress consort through her marriage to Emperor Yōmei.

It is said that Prince Shōtoku, Princess Anahobe's eldest son, built the Chūgū-ji temple for his mother. The temple is located in Ikaruga, Yamato Province, Nara Prefecture, Japan.

Chūgū-ji temple

Genealogy

Princess Hashihito no Anahobe was born into the ruling clan of Japan. She was the daughter of Emperor Kinmei and his consort, Soga no Oane. The princess has five full brothers: two elder brother and three younger brothers. One of her younger brother will later become Emperor Sushun.

In 574, Princess Hashihito no Anahobe married her eldest half-brother, Imperial Prince Ōe, born by another consort of the emperor. Their mothers were full sisters, making them cousins. The marriage produce four sons among which none of them ascended the throne. On 3 October 585, prince Ōe became emperor and Princess Hashihito no Anahobe was named Empress Consort (Chūgū) in January of the same year. Sadly, her husband died three years later after his ascension.

The widowed Empress married her stepson, Prince Tame, born by her husband's concubine, who also was her full sister.the couple had only one daughter.

• First Husband: Emperor Yōmei (用明天皇, 517 – 21 May 587), her half-brother and cousin
  • Son: Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子, Shōtoku Taishi, 7 February 574 – 8 April 622)
  • Son: Prince Kume (来目皇子, d.603)
  • Son: Prince Eguri (殖栗皇子)
  • Son: Prince Mamuta (茨田皇子, 579-643)
• Second Husband: Prince Tame (田目皇子), her nephew and stepson
  • Daughter: Princess Satōmi (佐富女王), Wife of Prince Hatsuse no Okimi (son of Prince Shōtoku)

There is a famous anecdote in "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan) that when Princess Hashihito no Anahobe was the empress of the Emperor Yōmei, she gave birth to the Prince Umayado (Prince Shotoku) at Umaya no toguchi (a door of a stable).