general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Genmei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included: Daijō-daijin, Prince Hozumi. Sadaijin, Isonokami no Maro (石上麻呂). 708–717 Udaijin, Fujiwara no Fuhito (藤原不比等). 708–720 Naidaijin Dainagon Spouse and children Empress Genmei was born to Emperor Tenji and his concubine, Soga no Mei-no-iratsume, who held the rank of Hin (Beauty).She initially was named Princess Abe (阿閇皇女).She had an elder sister by the same mother: Princess Minabe. Princess Abe married Prince Kusakabe, her eldest half-sister's son, and had issues: two daughters among which the eldest would become Empress Gensho and on son who will ascend the throne as Emperor Monmu. Husband: Prince Kusakabe (草壁皇子, d. 10 May 689), son of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō First Daughter: Princess Hidaka (氷高皇女) later Empress Gensho First Son: Prince Karu (珂瑠/軽) later Emperor Monmu Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Kibi (吉備内親王, 686–729) married Prince Nagaya Eras of Genmei's reign The years of Genmei's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō. Keiun (704–708) Wadō (708–715) Reiki (715–717) Ancestry See also Empress of Japan Emperor of Japan List of emperors of Japan Imperial cult Notes References Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). Gukanshō: The Future and the Past. Berkeley: University of California Press. ; OCLC 251325323 Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887 Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691 Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. ; OCLC 59145842 660 births 721 deaths 8th-century women rulers 7th-century Japanese people 8th-century Japanese monarchs 8th-century Japanese women writers Japanese empresses regnant People of Asuka-period Japan People of Nara-period Japan Women of medieval Japan Japanese women poets 7th-century Japanese women 7th-century Japanese poets 8th-century Japanese women 8th-century Japanese poets Japanese princesses Japanese retired emperors Daughters of emperors