Are there really such religious acts only a male is allowed to perform?
Japan has seen ten reigns of female tennos. It has seemed to me that also they performed all those religious duties. Any evidence of the contrary?
I do not think even any adoption would be necessary. IF the ancient male line is wanted to be preserved, the succession could be arranged through imperial princess(es) who marry males with that male-line descent. (Japan is not empty of those with that descent, tennos of ancient centuries left lots of demoted branches afaik. And if records of descent were missing in some cases, modern genetical tests, of Y chromosome, comparing with other males who have that attested ancestry, would give affirmations enough.) No doubt at least a few dutiful, and/or ambitious, imperial princesses would agree to such marriages (Think about the reward to them personally). Children and further male-line issue of such marriage would fulfill both criteria.
Which brings the question whether the ancient male line is so important to preserve. I have understood that the basis is in ancient clan culture of Japanese society: a clan is dedicated to one, ancestral, deity. Membership in a clan is basically tied to male line. But since almost beginning, adoptions of others than male-liners have been acceptable. Thus, male line has not continued in many many cases.
The Fujiwara got, in 1600s, a couple of branches through adoption from male line of imperial dynasty. They were not Fujiwara male liners. Still, it was accepted, and no revolt or whatnot occurred even if Ame-no-Koyane cult was served by persons not of that original male line, but biologically of Amaterasu male line.
(And, to require male line when the ancestral deity actually was female...)
Admittedly, I do not know any instance where male liner of another clan of different male-line descent would have got adopted to perform sacred Amaterasu duties. (Tell me if there has been...)
Japanese, a clever people, have certainly understood the risks of hidden adultery to any male line. I would say that they have probably been aware of that pesky fact since time immemorial.
Thus, how can there exist a belief that the male line has been preserved in any case?
To whom is it important that male line is preserved?
Does anyone know enough about which groups, political and others, would require that?
In matter of fact, it would be interesting to get know how extensively had the "tenno" Y chromosome expanded to Japanese population?
Anything like Genghis effect...
Actually, as far as history is concerned, male line descends probably only since the 26th monarch.
--Previous Message--
: The elevation of the other branches back into
: the line of succession could safeguard it
: for generations to come.
: Aiko could still succeed her father (other
: women have done). The religious acts only a
: male Tenno can perform could be done by a
: male representative (Akishino, his son or
: one of the newly reinstated men).
: Aiko would only be succeeded by her own
: offspring if she married within the dynasty.
: Marriage outside of the dynasty would lead
: to loss of her Imperial status like her
: aunt.
:
: The succession of a male line descendant of
: the first emperor would in this way be kept
: in tact, but women would also get the chance
: to reign. Princesses would have to stay
: single or marry within the dynasty but
: still, they could become a reigning empress.
:
: --Previous Message--
: Thanks for the link, but one is bound to ask
: whathappens if the Crown Prince then has a
: son of his own?
:
: I am really quite puzzled by this whole
: thing in that there is a relatively easy
: solution that could satisfy all parties,
: traditionalists and modernists alike.
:
: They could arrange for one of the brothers
: or cousin princes without sons to adopt
: miyakes as their sons. Hopefully, those
: chosen would be about the same age or
: slightly older than the little princess.
: When they grow up a marriage is arranged
: with the most suitable or compatible of
: these adopted sons and the princess. The son
: of this couple, not the princess or the
: miyake, would be made the heir apparent and
: eventually succeed as emperor. The princess
: could be Empress Regent until such time as
: he comes of age.
:
: Any takers?
:
: --Previous Message--
: Yet another idea how to resolve the problem
: revealed today:
:
:
:
: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061005/kyodo/d8kida802.html
:
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