Background
Sawara-no-Oji was a son of Emperor Konin and younger brother of Emperor Kammu.
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Oji-no Sawara
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Sawara-no-Oji became Crown Prince after Emperor Kammu ascended the throne (781). He was deposed for having plotted to assassinate Tanetsugu Fujiwara and was confined to the Otokunidera Temple. He was then ordered exiled to Awaji Island in the Inland Sea. En route to Awaji, the prince refused to eat and drink and died. His remains were buried on Awaji.
Then the next Crown Prince (later Emperor Saga) became ill and an epidemic broke out. People attributed the calamity to the prince's unappeased soul. The Court posthumously granted the prince the title of Emperor Shudo (800) and moved his grave to Yashima in Yamato (Nara Prefecture) and called it a mausoleum. The Ryoanji Temple was also built on Awaji for the repose of his soul. Elaborate Buddhist ceremonies were held on many occasions at various temples for the same purpose but Emperor Kammu was haunted by the prince's ghost until he died.
