Empress Kōmyō
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Empress Kōmyō, born Fujiwara Asukabehime, was the consort of Japanese Emperor Shōmu during the Nara Period.
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).
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.
Empress Kōmyō
…Empress Kōmyō (光明皇后) (701 – 23 July 760), born Fujiwara Asukabehime (藤原 安宿媛), was the consort of Japanese Emperor Shōmu (701–756) during the Nara Period. A member of the Fujiwara clan, her father was Fujiwara no Fuhito and her mother was Agata Inukai no Michiyo (県犬養三千代…
Portrait of Emperor Shōmu, 13th century
Tōdai-ji
Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Emperor Shōmu