Background
Tennō Kimme was born in 509. He was the third son of Emperor Keitai.
欽明天皇
Tennō Kimme was born in 509. He was the third son of Emperor Keitai.
When his father died in 531, a struggle developed between Emperor Ankan and Emperor Senka, who were supported by Otomo no Kanamura, and Emperor Kimmei, who was supported by Soga no Iname, and for a time it is not certain who was actually ruler. Emperors Ankan and Senka, however, died in rapid succession, and Emperor Kimmei ascended the throne.
When King Syong- myong’s state was invaded by the armies of Silla, Emperor Kimmei sent troops to his assistance, but the king was killed in battle.
In 562 the Japanese tributary state on the Korean peninsula known as Inina or Mimana was wiped out by the forces of Silla, and Emperor Kimmei accordingly expressed on his deathbed the hope that his successor would once more establish Japanese power on the Korean peninsula.
During Emperor Kimmei’s reign Buddhism was first introduced to Japan through the efforts of King Syongmyong of the Korean state of Paekche (both 538 and 552 are given as the date of this event).