Person

Emperor Tenmu

c. 631–686 · 7th century

Emperor Tenmu (c. 631–686) was the 40th emperor of Japan, reigning from 673 to 686. A younger brother of Emperor Tenji, he won the throne in the Jinshin War of 672. He strengthened royal power over the aristocracy, ordered the compilation of a law code and national histories, and is often regarded as the first ruler to use the title tennō (emperor).

Emperor Tenmu
Image: Xwdgtpwga · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Yamato

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Emperor Tenmu. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/emperor-tenmu
MLA
“Emperor Tenmu.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/emperor-tenmu. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Emperor Tenmu.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/emperor-tenmu.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Emperor Tenmu’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/emperor-tenmu (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻