The phrase "When the Emperor was Divine" primarily refers to a historical fiction novel by Julie Otsuka, published in 2002. This novel tells the story of a Japanese American family sent to an internment camp during World War II, capturing their experiences and the impact of the wartime internment policy in the United States. The title metaphorically references the Japanese emperor's divine status as perceived during that era, which influenced American views toward Japanese Americans.
Regarding the historical aspect of emperors being considered divine, this was a common concept in several cultures. For example:
- In ancient Rome, emperors were deified—officially declared divine—usually after their death, a practice originating with Augustus and formalized by the Senate. While alive, emperors were honored with divine attributes, though they were not literally seen as gods but rather as possessing extraordinary power and status.
- In Japan, the emperor was traditionally believed to be descended from the kami (deities) and inspired by them, giving him a special spiritual status, though not necessarily as a supernatural supreme being. This belief in emperor divinity was especially prominent before and during World War II but was renounced in the 1946 Humanity Declaration after the war.
So, "when the emperor was divine" can refer to the time historically or culturally when certain emperors were regarded with divine or semi-divine status by their people, notably in ancient Rome and pre-World War II Japan, as well as to the title of a novel exploring the human consequences of wartime ideologies tied to such beliefs.
