Isshi incident

The assassination of Iruka took place on July 10, 645 (traditional Japanese date: 12th day of the 6th month of 645), during a court ceremony at which memorials from the Three Kingdoms of Korea were being read to Empress Kōgyoku by Ishikawa no Maro.

However, when it became clear that the four men were too frightened to carry out the orders, Naka no Ōe rushed Iruka himself and cut open his head and shoulder.

[2] Prince Naka no Ōe pleaded his case before Empress Kōgyoku, and when she retired to consider the matter, the four guards finally rushed Iruka and completed the killing.

The conflagration destroyed the manuscript copy of the Tennōki and many other Imperial treasures which had been taken for safe-keeping by the Soga,[3] but Fune no Fubitoesaka quickly grabbed the burning Kokki from the flames.

Deaths—especially a violent killing in close physical proximity to the Empress—were considered to have been amongst the worst possible acts of pollution—an event so stunning that it would have warranted days of seclusion in an uncertain process[clarification needed] attempting to redress what would have been construed as a kind of profanity.