Emperor Kōbun (大友天皇, Ōtomo-tennō, 648 – August 21, 672) was the 39th emperor of Japan, according to traditional records. His personal name was Prince Ōtomo (大友皇子, Ōtomo no ōji). He became emperor in 672 after the death of his father, Emperor Tenji. He ruled for only a short time before dying in a civil war.

Prince Ōtomo was born in the year 648. He was the oldest son of Emperor Tenji. During his father's reign, he was given important roles in the government. In 671, Emperor Tenji gave him full control over the government.^[1]

After Emperor Tenji died in 672, Prince Ōtomo became emperor. Later, people called him Emperor Kōbun. But his uncle, Prince Ōama, also wanted to become emperor. This led to a civil war called the Jinshin War.^[2]

The Jinshin War was short. Prince Ōama's army defeated Kōbun's side. On August 21, 672, Kōbun died. Some say he killed himself.^[3][4]

After Kōbun died, Prince Ōama became Emperor Tenmu. For a long time, Kōbun was not officially counted as an emperor. But later, he was added to the official list of emperors and given the name Emperor Kōbun.^[5]

• Emperor Tenji
• Emperor Tenmu
• Jinshin War
• List of emperors of Japan

1. ↑ Titsingh, Isaac (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon (in French). Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. pp. 60–61.
2. ↑ Varley, H. Paul (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 140–144. ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5.
3. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 535. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
4. ↑ Titsingh, Isaac (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon. Royal Asiatic Society. p. 61.
5. ↑ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Ponsonby Memorial Society. p. 60.