TENJI 626 - 671 Emperor of Japan Nakano Oe, became under the name Tenno Tenji, the 38th emperor of Japan. He was the ruler who freed Japan from the rule of the Soga family. During the 6th century the Soga family dominated the emperor and by 645 the head of the Soga clan, Iruka, aspired to usurp the throne for himself. The Imperial prince Nakano Oe conspired with Nakatomi Katamari (later known as Fujiwara) to murder Iruka. As emperor Tenji terminated slavery and codified Japanese law. He then reformed the Japanese government under Chinese influence (see Taika reform).
His chief minister Fujiwara drew up a series of reforms requiring
the great nobles to recognize the supremacy of the Emperor.
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