Emperor Shōmu
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Emperor Shōmu was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 749, during the Nara period.
Portrait of Emperor Shōmu, 13th century
Tōdai-ji
Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Emperor Shōmu
Empress Kōmyō
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Empress Kōmyō, born Fujiwara Asukabehime, was the consort of Japanese Emperor Shōmu during the Nara Period.
Emperor Shōmu
…Sahoyama no minami no misasagi. The tomb site can be visited today in Horenji-cho, Tenri City near Nara City. The Imperial tomb of Shōmu's consort, Empress Kōmyō, is located nearby. The Shōsō-in (正倉院) is the treasure house of Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. It houses about 9.000 artifacts connected to Emperor…
Empress Kōmyō drawn by Kanzan Shimomura (1897)
Empress Kōmyō depicted by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai
An example of Empress Kōmyō's calligraphy and her autograph signature — Gakki-ron (c. 756).