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Emperor Shomu (Shomu-tenno, 701 – May 2, 756) was the 45th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara.
Emperor Shōmu (聖武天皇 Shōmu-tennō, 701 – June 4, 756) was the 45th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 749.<br/><br/> Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name is not clearly known, but he was known as Oshi-hiraki Toyosakura-hiko-no-mikoto. Shōmu was the son of Emperor Mommu and Fujiwara no Miyako, a daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito.<br/><br/> Shōmu was still a child at the time of his father's death; thus, Empresses Gemmei and Gensho occupied the throne before he acceded.<br/><br/> Shōmu is known as the first emperor whose consort was not born into the imperial household. His consort Kōmyō was a non-royal Fujiwara commoner. A ritsuryo office was created for the queen-consort, the Kogogushiki; and this bureaucratic innovation continued into the Heian period.