The "Horserider Thesis" and the Origins of Japan

ThirdTerm · Nov 6, 2016

[video=youtube;wHYm4RuDv2g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHYm4RuDv2g[/video]

The horse-rider theory (kiba minzoku setsu) was proposed by Egami Namio, a professor of Asian history at Tokyo University. It generally holds that the unified state was founded by a group of horse-riding warriors, who entered or invaded the Japanese islands, conquered the native rulers, and established themselves as Japan’s ruling class. Egami examined the Kofun Tombs and noted that tombs of the Late Tomb (5th – 6th centuries) period contained items different from the previous centuries: weapons, armor, horse trappings and ceramic figurines of warriors and other persons which Egami said were “realistic, warlike, baronial, horse-riding and North Asian” looking. Egami also thought the “Chin king” identified in Chinese sources was of horse rider origin connected with Puyo or Koguryo, and that Emperor Sujin was linked to or descended from the Chin king line.

Many variations of this horse-rider theory have developed since Egami’s time. The theories differ on the origin and ethnic identity of those invading warriors from the Asian continent, on the time of their arrival in Japan, the route they took and the way they came to dominate Japanese society.

In one variation – an ethnologist Oka Masao examined the cultural traits of the Kofun period peoples and identified four different cultures, the last of which he believed was the “imperial race” that dominated Japan during the Kofun period had originated in eastern Manchuria as a mixed herding and farming people and that in the 2nd and 3rd century it had moved through the Korean peninsula and into Japan. He believed that they were culturally and ethnically closely related to the ancient Puyo and Koguryo states on the Korean peninsula.

https://heritageofjapan.wordpress.com/following-the-trail-of-tumuli/rebellion-in-kyushu-and-the-rise-of-royal-estates/in-the-news-ancient-horse-trappings-dug-up-at-burial-mound/when-did-horses-arrive-in-japan/horse-riding-warriors-they-came-they-saw-and-they-conquered-or-did-they/
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Ojintennoryo (Emperor Ojin's tomb)

Emperor Ojin, who founded the Yamato dynasty, is also known as Homutawake. Emperor Ojin is believed to be a Korean prince named Homuta who was on a mission to conquer Japan, according to various Korean sources, and the suffix '-wake' denotes a prince in Japanese. The Japanese royal family prohibits any historical or genetic research on royal tombs and we will not have a definite answer for their genetic ancestry for many years to come. There were several known succession crises for the imperial clan prior to the Heian era, in which royal heirs were mysteriously discovered, probably adopted from noble families. For instance, Emperor Keitai who is believed to be the fifth generation grandson of Emperor Ojin may not be related to Emperor Ojin at all. Emperor Buretsu died without a son and Emperor Keitai is thought to be hailed from the powerful Okinaga clan from the Omi region near Kyoyo, based on ancient Japanese sources.

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The "Horserider Thesis" and the Origins of Japan

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The "Horserider Thesis" and the Origins of Japan

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