14a Emperor Tenji In those years, traffic to and from overseas was quite frequent. Therefore Emperor Tenji must have known the rising power of Tang Dynasty China which unfied the Chinese continent. Similarly, he must have known how weak was the military power of Paekche, hardly a match against China. In spite of that, he dared to try to save Paekche. This was first due to a sense of moral obligation which did no t allow him to merely watch an ally, a pitiable kingdom, be destroyed. The second reason was strategic, that it would be better to prevent at that line any further invasion by a major military power. The defeat at Paekch'on-gang made the Emperor consider the possibility of Tang forces invading Japan. He therefore set up an extensive defensive system within Japan. In Tsushima, Iki and Tsukushi (Kyuushuu) Islands, he placed border guards. In Kanata of Thushima Island, and Yashima of Sanuki Province (Kagawa Prefecture), and Takayasu of Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture), he had castles built. In northern Kyuushuu, a water-castle, Ohno Castle and Kii Castle were built. Another castle was built in Nagato Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture). Signal fires were set up in case emergency. With preparations completed, he moved the capital to Ohtsu, in Oumi Province (Shiga Prefecture). All this was to be ready for the invasion by Tang Dynasty China. If we were to judge on the basis of what actually happened, the war against Tang Dynasty China was extraordinarily reckless, and a failure, The campain appears to have been a passive retreat from the beginning to the end. But at that time, the court had a grand plan. A few years before the war with Tang Dynasty China, the Japanese navy, led by Abe no Hirafu, went to the northern part of the Sea of Japan. Having pacified the areas of Akita, Noshiro (both in Akita Prefecture), and Tsugaru (Aomori Prefecture), the navy proceeded to Watarishima (Hokkaidou) and defeated the menacing alien group which lived at Mishihase (Siberian coast) and harrassed the people there. As the result of this accomplishment, the northern Hokkaidou people willingly became the subjects of the court. This campaign shows the court's great expectations, and the confidence bestowed upon the navy. Further, we must remember that aid to Paekche was given after the fall of the Paekche Kingdom. The purpose was to revive the Kingdom by Japanese military power. It was 660 when the King and the Crown Prince of Paekche were arrested, and the Kingdom fell. Subsequently the minister Kwisil Poksin and the followers planned to "revive the vanished Kingdom" and asked for Japan's assistance. That was why the Emperor sent back the Paekche Prince Phungchyang, and tried to reinstitute him th rebuild the kingdom. The Emperor's decree states: "to render help in emergencies, and to restore that which has been interrupted." He had Abe no Hirafu, who demonstrated valour by going up the Sea of Japan, direct the naval campaign with several hundred battleship. But Prince Phungchyang and Kwisil Poksin, the central figures, proved to be unreliable, resulting in the death of Kwisil Poksin. The Japanese armed forces were place at a disadvantage at the battle of Paeh'chongyang, and had to retreat. Tang Dynasty China was superior both in military power and policies. The surrounding countries were subjugated and pacified as soon as they were conquered, as described by the phrase "northern and southern barbarianse were unified into one, which had never occurred since antiquity." The government place a northern outpost to control Manchuria, Mongolis and Siberia. In the south, the outpost contolled Vietnam, and to the west, the province of Gausu, Kokonor (Province of Chingshai), Tibet, and Central Asis. To the east the outpost was lacated in Pyongyang which governed the Korean Peninsula. Thus the authority of China spread over an enormous area, and its power was unprecedented. Yet the great Tang never invaded Japan. This can be attributed to the brave fight put up the battle of Paekch'on-gang and the meticulous defence system set up immediately after the war. Cultural advancement during the reign Emperor Tenji was phenomanal. A magnetic vehicle where a figurine constantly points south was imported, the technology of mining and metallurgy advanced, and a clock system was invented. When the Emperor was still Crown Prince, he constructed a water clock. It was the 10th year of his reign, on the 25th day of the 4th month (now celebrated as "Time Memorial Day"; the date has been transferred to June 10th in accordance with the solar calendar). A clock was placed on a atsge in the palace, to tell the time to the people by a bell at set intervals. Emperor Tenji passed away at the age of forty-six. The Crown Prince, Prince Ohtomo took ofer. However, trouble developed between him and Prince Oh-ama. Prince Oh-ama was the younger brother of Emperor Tenji, who was formerly designnated as successor to Emperor Tenji but declined the position later. As the result of this strife Prince Ohtomo died at the age of twenty-five, and Prince Oh-ama become Emperor. This unfortunate occurrence is called the Jinshin Insurgence. It developed because promogenture, prevalent in China, was not firmly established in Japan. The custom of succession then was more from elder brother to younger brother, which at times induced disagreement between the younger brother and the son (his nephew). In addition, Emperor Tenji's rule was eventful; internally there was the Taika Reform, and externally there was war against China. Political factions must have existed, either supporting or disagreeing with the Emperor. It was unfortunate that the most important minister, Nakatomi no Kamatari, had died two years before Emperor Tenji passed away. The Emperor paid a visit when he was ill, and asked: "Is there something you wish ?" Kamatari answered: "There is nothing, except please make my funeral simple." The Emperor conferred upon him the Rank of Great Minister, along with the highest rank of the Great Woven Cap and the lat name Fujiwara. His descendants kept this name for many years. At the time of death, Nakatomi no Kamatari was fifty-six years old. If he were alive, the subsequent strife might have been handled differently; in the sense, his death was regrettable.

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