Okimi

The title "大王" (Ōkimi or Daiō), which is an honorific title for the head (kKing) of the Yamato Kingship, was established around the 5th century. Thereafter, this title was used in Japan until 680s when the compilation of the Asuka Kiyomihara Code started. There are several theories upon whether the title holder in the early period is a king of the unified kingship or not. Ōkimi in Japanese reading is created by adding the prefix "ō/oho", which indicates greatness and particular nobleness, to the title "kimi" (lord), which indicates a master or nobleman. However, another theory thates that "Ōkimi" is only an honorific form of "kimi", that is the title of Japan, but title Daiō originated from China, which is based on donated king title, that is, the title of kango (Chinese word).[1] There are many instances of using "大王", which is understood as a courtesy title of Emperor or royal family.

There is the theory that Emperor Ingyō, who is identified with Sai/Sei (濟), one of the Five kings of Wa, is supposed to be the 王 (King) which is appeared in the inscription 王賜□□□敬□ on Ōshimei iron sword (ja) unearthed from the Inaridai 1st Kofun (ja), Chiba prefecture. Then, Sai (Ingyō) may not be 大王 (great king), but king. As to King Wakatakeru (Emperor Yūryaku), who is identified with King Bu (武), there is the inscription 獲加多支鹵大王 on the iron sword, unearthed from the Inariyama Kofun, Saitama prefecture, besides, there is the inscription 治天下獲□□□鹵大王 on the iron sword, unearthed from the Eta Funayama Kofun, Kumamoto prefecture. From these inscriptions, it is supposed that Yūryaku might use the title "Chi Tenka Daiō" (治天下大王) inside Japan. It also suggests the title "Chi Tenka Daiō" was born in those days (late 5th century).

In Nihon Shoki, compiled in the Nara period, there is the scripts "大王、風姿…" (Daiō, fūshi...) in the Enthronement record 1 of Ohosazaki no Sumeramikoto (Emperor Nintoku), but it is not certain that this Daiō had been used from the days of Emperor Nintoku, far distant before the compilation of Nihon Shoki. However, the expression of Daiō first appears in the Ōjin record, and after that, it appears in the Ingyō record, Yūryaku record, Kenzō record and Keitai record etc.

There is the inscription 「癸未年八月日十 大王年 男弟王 在意紫沙加宮時 斯麻 念長寿 遣開中費直穢人今州利二人等取白上同二百旱 作此鏡」 (according to Toshio Fukuyama) [2] on the Jinbutsu-gazō Kyō (Portrait of person Mirror), owned by Suda Hachiman Shrine (ja), Wakayama prefecture, in which the words 大王 and 男弟王 appear. From this inscription, in the year Mizunoto Hitsuji (癸未, Kibi) [3] when the mirror was made, the title Daiō is supposed to have been used. But there are various interpretations of what year this Mizunoto Hitsuji year was. In several theories, it is: 383, 443, 503, or 623 AD. Among these years, 443 (Emperor Ingyō) or 503 (Emperor Buretsu) are considered dominant. If it is 443, the expression Daiō was used in around the age of Ingyō, in the middle 5th century. But the characters in the inscription are difficult to interpret. In addition, the content of the inscription itself has various interpretations. The exact years when the expression Daiō started to be used is unclear.

In the Man'yōshū, the expression 大王 is the most common, and 57 examples appear. Other expressions 王, 皇, 大王, and 大皇 also appear. However, all these words are read "Ōkimi", "Ohokimi". and there are no examples that single character 王 is read "Kimi". The word 大君 is rarely used. There are only several examples such as the line やすみしし我が大君… (Yasumishi shi waga ōkimi...) by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro.

• Suishō
• Emperor of Japan
• Kofun period
• Asuka period
• Five kings of Wa