Who Is Emperor Chuai (Chuai Tenno)?
The fourteenth emperor, who doubted a god's word
Tarashinakatsuhiko-no-Sumeramikoto
Emperor Chuai is the figure the Kojiki names as the fourteenth emperor of Japan; his name was Tarashinakatsuhiko. He was a son of Yamato Takeru and the husband of Empress Jingu.
At the Kashihi Palace in Tsukushi, while preparing to attack the Kumaso, the emperor played the koto and Takeshiuchi no Sukune sought a god's message. A god came down upon the empress and declared, "To the west is a land of gold, silver, and treasures. I will grant you that land." But the emperor doubted it — "Even from a high place I see only sea" — and pushed the koto away. Angering the god, he was urged to play again and reluctantly began, but soon the music stopped; when a light was brought, the emperor was already dead.
His death sets off the story of the empress crossing the sea in obedience to the god's command.
