Prince Otsu
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Prince Ōtsu (大津皇子) (663 - October28, 686) was a Japanese poet and the son of Emperor Temmu by Princess Ōta whose father was Emperor Tenji. He was therefore the younger full-blood brother of Princess Oku. His consort was Princess Yamabe, daughter of Emperor Tenji, thus his cousin. His life is known from Nihon-shoki. Also poetry anthologies, including Kaifūsō and Man'yōshū tell us his personality.
As poets, Ōtsu is the best known for his exchange of letters with Lady Ishikawa[citation needed].
Prince Ōtsu was a popular and able figure who was a likely successor of his father to the imperial throne, but was forced to commit suicide after false charges of rebellion were laid against him by Empress Jito in order to promote her own son, Prince Kusakabe, to the position of Crown Prince.
Poem sent by Prince Ōtsu to Lady Ishikawa
Gentle foothills, and
in the dew drops of the mountains
soaked, I waited for you--
grew wet from standing there
in the dew drops of the mountains.
Farewell poem
ももづたふ磐余の池に鳴く鴨を今日のみ見てや雲隠りなむ
Momozutau / iware no ike ni / naku kamo wo / kyo nomi mite ya / Kumokakuri nan.
Today, taking my last sight of the mallards
Crying on the pond of Iware,
Must I vanish into the clouds!
[edit] Influence
Japanese poet and scholar Shinogu Orikuchi featured his character in his novel Sisha no sho (Book of the Dead) as a restless soul of noble who was sentenced by death because of political intrigues.
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