PersonPolitics

Soga no Umako

Soga no Umako (蘇我馬子; 551? – June 19, 626) was the son of Soga no Iname and a member of the powerful Soga clan of Japan. Conflicting evidence has suggested that Soga no Umako was actually an emperor during the Asuka period.

Born~Died 551 ~ Jun 19, 6260 views in 30 daysLast edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:33 PM

日本語 · 蘇我馬子 한국어 · 소가노 우마코

Details

Born ~ Died: 551 ~ Jun 19, 626
Born: 551?
Died: (626-06-19)June 19, 626
Resting place: Shimanoshō, Asuka, Nara Prefecture, Japan (traditionally), 34°28′0.7″N 135°49′34.1″E
Monuments: Ishibutai Kofun (traditionally)
Other name: Shima no Ōomi (嶋大臣)
Years active: late 6th century – early 7th century
Known for: Political reforms of Asuka period, associate of Prince Shōtoku, promoter of Buddhism
Spouse: Daughter of Mononobe no Ogushi
Children: Kahiiko no Iratsume, Soga no Emishi, Soga no Kuramaro, Tojiko no Iratsume, Hode no Iratsume
Parent: Soga no Iname

Soga no Umako (蘇我馬子; 551? – June 19, 626¹) was the son of Soga no Iname and a member of the powerful Soga clan of Japan. Conflicting evidence has suggested that Soga no Umako was actually an emperor during the Asuka period.²

Umako conducted political reforms with Prince Shōtoku during the rules of Emperor Bidatsu and Empress Suiko³ and established the Soga clan's stronghold in the government by having his daughters married to members of the imperial family.

In the late 6th century, Soga no Umako went to great lengths to promote Buddhism in Japan, and was instrumental in its acceptance. At that time, the Soga clan employed immigrants from China and Korea, and worked to obtain advanced technology and other knowledge. In 587, Umako defeated Mononobe no Moriya in the Battle of Shigisan, securing Soga dominance. On January 15, 593, relics of Buddha Shakyamuni were deposited inside the foundation stone under the pillar of a pagoda at Asuka-dera (Hōkō-ji at the time), a temple whose construction Umako ordered, according to the Suiko section of the Nihon Shoki.⁴⁵

Ishibutai Kofun is believed to be the tomb of Soga no Umako.⁶

Genealogy

Soga no Umako's wife was a daughter of Mononobe no Ogushi and a sister of Mononobe no Moriya; they had five children.

Soga no Emishi
Soga no Kuramaro
Kahakami no Iratsume, made consort of Emperor Sushun in 587, married to Yamato no Aya no Atahe in 592.
Tojiko no Iratsume, consort of Shotoku Taishi
Hode no Iratsume, consort of Emperor Jomei

Notes

June 19, 626 corresponds to the twentieth day of the fifth month of 626 (Heibo) of the traditional lunisolar calendar used in Japan until 1873 ↩
Lee, Kenneth Doo Young (2012-02-01). The Prince and the Monk: Shōtoku Worship in Shinran's Buddhism. State University of New York Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-7914-8046-5. ↩
Mulhern, Chieko Irie (1991). Heroic with grace: legendary women of Japan. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe. p. 40. ISBN 0-87332-552-4. ↩
Aston, W. G. (2008). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times. New York: Cosimo, Inc. ISBN 978-1-60520-146-7. ↩
Deal, William E.; Ruppert, Brian (2015-06-15). A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism. John Wiley & Sons. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-4051-6701-7. ↩
"Ishibutai kofun". Asukanet.gr.jp. Retrieved 2012-06-10. ↩

Ishibutai Kofun is believed to be the tomb of Soga no Umako.⁶

Genealogy

Soga no Umako's wife was a daughter of Mononobe no Ogushi and a sister of Mononobe no Moriya; they had five children.

Soga no Emishi

This page is based on “Soga no Umako” from English Wikipedia, (r1319545388) CC BY-SA 4.0 used under the license. The original authors are listed in its page history.

Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:33 PM · r70535 · Text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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June 19, 626 corresponds to the twentieth day of the fifth month of 626 (Heibo) of the traditional lunisolar calendar used in Japan until 1873 ↩
Lee, Kenneth Doo Young (2012-02-01). The Prince and the Monk: Shōtoku Worship in Shinran's Buddhism. State University of New York Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-7914-8046-5. ↩
Mulhern, Chieko Irie (1991). Heroic with grace: legendary women of Japan. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe. p. 40. ISBN 0-87332-552-4. ↩
Aston, W. G. (2008). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times. New York: Cosimo, Inc. ISBN 978-1-60520-146-7. ↩
Deal, William E.; Ruppert, Brian (2015-06-15). A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism. John Wiley & Sons. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-4051-6701-7. ↩
"Ishibutai kofun". Asukanet.gr.jp. Retrieved 2012-06-10. ↩

June 19, 626 corresponds to the twentieth day of the fifth month of 626 (Heibo) of the traditional lunisolar calendar used in Japan until 1873 ↩
Lee, Kenneth Doo Young (2012-02-01). The Prince and the Monk: Shōtoku Worship in Shinran's Buddhism. State University of New York Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-7914-8046-5. ↩
Mulhern, Chieko Irie (1991). Heroic with grace: legendary women of Japan. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe. p. 40. ISBN 0-87332-552-4. ↩
Aston, W. G. (2008). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times. New York: Cosimo, Inc. ISBN 978-1-60520-146-7. ↩
Deal, William E.; Ruppert, Brian (2015-06-15). A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism. John Wiley & Sons. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-4051-6701-7. ↩
"Ishibutai kofun". Asukanet.gr.jp. Retrieved 2012-06-10. ↩

Soga no Umako

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Soga no Umako

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