Career

Number firm dates can be assigned to this emperor"s life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 488–498. Ninken is considered to have ruled the country during the late-5th century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study.

In his youth, he was known as Prince Oyoke.

The two young princes were said to be grandsons of Emperor Richū. Each of these brothers would ascend the throne as adopted heirs of Seinei, although it is unclear whether they had been "found" in Seinei"s lifetime or only after that.

This unconventional sequence was in accordance with an agreement made by the two brothers. When Emperor Kenzo died without heirs, Prince Oyoke succeeded him as Emperor Ninken.

Ninken"s contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō.

Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven." Alternatively, Ninken might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great King of Yamato."

Ninken married to Emperor Yūryaku"s daughter Kasuga no Ōiratsume no Himemiko, a second cousin of him. The actual site of Ninken"s grave is not known. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Ninken"s mausoleum.

lieutenant is formally named Hanyū no Sakamoto no misasagi.