Japan: 'Empress Jingū and Takenouchi no Sukune Fishing at Chikuzen'. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892). From the series: 'Mirror of Famous Generals of Japan' (大日本名将鑑): 1876-1882

Empress Jingu was consort to Emperor Chuai (notionally 192 – 200 CE), she also served as Regent from the time of her husband's death in 209 until her son Emperor Ōjin acceded to the throne in 269. No firm dates can be assigned to this historical figure's life or reign.

Jingū is regarded by historians as a 'legendary' figure because of the paucity of information about her. Legend has it that she led an army in an invasion of Korea and returned to Japan victorious after three years. However, this theory is widely rejected even in Japan as there is no evidence of Japanese rule in any part of Korea at this early period.

Here the Empress is fishing with her assistant, Takenouchi no Sukune, who always appears in depictions of Jingû. This scene takes place after the death of Jingû's husband, the emperor Chuai, who died as he planned to invade the Korean peninsula. Jingû and Sukune fish for offerings to the gods, and the trout she pulls out of the river in this print is a symbol of good luck, indicating to the empress that she should take over her husband's planned invasion.

Legend has it that while Jingû led the invasion, she was able to keep her unborn son contained within her womb for three years to protect him from the dangers of war; when the invasion ended, she finally gave birth to Emperor Ojin. Today, Jingû is venerated as the Shinto goddess of safe child delivery.

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WOMEN IN HISTORY