Japanese Ancient Custom of Marriage of the Tennou

      In Japan, however, until the reign of Taisho Tennou, a Tennou could be married with several women who were daughters of chiefs of influential clans or families. Though from a modern point of view, such polygamy would be reproached immoral and uncivilized, of course, the system of matrimony could be considered to have been nexus of kin uniting the Tennou family and provincial clans at least in the process of national integration. In any way, owing to the polygamy of the Tennou, any ambitious persons who aimed to monopolize the status of a father in law of the Tennou and of a grandfather of the future Tennou could not always achieve his aspiration.

history politics Japan