Fujiwara no Kamatari

7th-century Japanese statesman and politician; founder of the Fujiwara clan
Fujiwara no Kamatari
藤原 鎌足
Fujiwara no Kamatari with his sons Jo'e [ja] and Fujiwara no Fuhito, who is wearing court robes. (Nara National Museum)
Born
Nakatomi no Kamatari

614
Died(669-11-14)November 14, 669
Known forFounder of the Fujiwara clan, launched the Taika Reform of 645 with Naka no Ōe (later Emperor Tenji)
Notable workPoems in the Man'yōshū and Kakyō Hyōshiki
SpouseKagami no Ōkimi
ChildrenJo'e [ja], Fujiwara no Fuhito, Hikami no Ōtoji, Ōhara no Ōtoji, Mimi no Toji
ParentNakatomi no Mikeko,

Fujiwara no Kamatari (藤原 鎌足, 614 – November 14, 669), also known as Nakatomi no Kamatari (中臣 鎌足), was a Japanese politician and aristocrat who, together with Prince Naka no Ōe (later Emperor Tenji), carried out the Taika Reform. He was the founder of the Fujiwara clan, the most powerful aristocratic family in Japan during the Nara and Heian periods.[1] He, along with the Mononobe clan, was a supporter of Shinto and fought the introduction of Buddhism to Japan. The Soga clan, defenders of Buddhism in the Asuka period, defeated Kamatari and the Mononobe clan, and Buddhism became the dominant religion of the Imperial Court. Kamatari was appointed Inner Minister,[2] and, along with Prince Naka no Ōe, later Emperor Tenji (626–672), launched the Taika Reform of 645, which centralized and strengthened the central government. Just before his death, he received the surname Fujiwara and the rank Taishōkan from Emperor Tenji, thus establishing the Fujiwara clan.[3][4]

Biography

Kamatari was born to the Nakatomi clan, an aristocratic kin group[5] claiming descent from their ancestral god Ame-no-Koyane.[6] He was the son of Nakatomi no Mikeko, and named Nakatomi no Kamatari (中臣 鎌足) at birth.[3] His early life and exploits are described in the 8th century clan history Tōshi Kaden (藤氏家伝).[7]

He was a friend and supporter of the Prince Naka no Ōe, later Emperor Tenji. Kamatari was the head of the Jingi no Haku, or Shinto ritualists; as such, he was one of the chief opponents of the increasing power and prevalence of Buddhism in the court, and in the nation. As a result, in 645, Prince Naka no Ōe and Kamatari made a coup d'état in the court. They slew Soga no Iruka who had a strong influence over Empress Kōgyoku; thereafter, Iruka's father, Soga no Emishi, committed suicide.

Empress Kōgyoku was forced to abdicate in favor of her younger brother, who became Emperor Kōtoku; Kōtoku then appointed Kamatari naidaijin (Inner Minister).

Kamatari was a leader in the development of what became known as the Taika Reforms, a major set of reforms based on Chinese models and aimed at strengthening Imperial power.[3] He acted as one of the principal editors responsible for the development of the Japanese legal code known as Sandai-kyaku-shiki, sometimes referred to as the Rules and Regulations of the Three Generations.[8]

During his life Kamatari continued to support Prince Naka no Ōe, who became Emperor Tenji in 661. Tenji granted him the highest rank Taishōkan (or Daishokukan) (大織冠) and a new clan name, Fujiwara (藤原), as honors.[3]

Legacy

An illustration of Fujiwara no Kamatari by Kikuchi Yōsai

Kamatari's son was Fujiwara no Fuhito. Kamatari's nephew, Nakatomi no Omimaro became head of Ise Shrine, and passed down the Nakatomi name.

In the 13th century, the main line of the Fujiwara family split into five houses: Konoe, Takatsukasa, Kujō, Nijō and Ichijō. These five families in turn provided regents for the Emperors, and were thus known as the Five Regent Houses. The Tachibana clan (samurai) also claimed descent from the Fujiwara. Emperor Montoku of the Taira clan was descended through his mother to the Fujiwara.

Until the marriage of the Crown Prince Hirohito (posthumously Emperor Shōwa) to Princess Kuni Nagako (posthumously Empress Kōjun) in January 1924, the principal consorts of emperors and crown princes had always been recruited from one of the Sekke Fujiwara. Imperial princesses were often married to Fujiwara lords - throughout a millennium at least. As recently as Emperor Shōwa's third daughter, the late former Princess Takanomiya (Kazoku), and Prince Mikasa's elder daughter, the former Princess Yasuko, married into Takatsukasa and Konoe families, respectively. Empress Shōken was a descendant of the Fujiwara clan and through Hosokawa Gracia of the Minamoto clan. Likewise a daughter of the last Tokugawa Shōgun married a second cousin of Emperor Shōwa.

Among Kamatari's descendants are Fumimaro Konoe[citation needed] the 34th/38th/39th Prime Minister of Japan and Konoe's grandson Morihiro Hosokawa[citation needed] the 79th Prime Minister of Japan (who is also a descendant of the Hosokawa clan via the Ashikaga clan of the Minamoto clan).

Historic sites

Abuyama Kofun

Abuyama Kofun, a megalithic tomb in Takatsuki and Ibaraki, Osaka has been identified as Fujiwara no Kamatari's tomb. The tomb and a mummy buried inside a coffin were first discovered in 1934. 50 years later, radiographic images and samples taken at the time were examined uncovering a mummy wrapped in gold thread.[9] The kanmuri headwear found in the tomb indicates that the person buried was a noble of the highest rank Taishokkan.[10] It was concluded that it is highly likely that the tomb was dedicated to Kamatari. According to the analysis, the mummified person had a strong bone structure and an athletic body, with the so-called pitcher's elbow. The cause of death was complications from injuries to the vertebral column and lumbar vertebrae sustained from a fall from horseback or a high ground. The injury is thought to have left the lower body paralyzed and caused secondary complications such as pneumonia or urinary tract infection.[9] The cause of death matches with that of Kamatari's, whom is recorded to have died from a fall from horseback.[10]

Higashinara site

In 2014, the Ibaraki City Education Committee announced that ancient sen bricks discovered at Higashinara site in Ibaraki, Osaka match with the bricks found in Abuyama Kofun. The site is believed to have been the location of Mishima Betsugyō, a villa where Kamatari stayed before the Isshi Incident which triggered the Taika Reform (645).[11]

Family

  • Father: Nakatomi no Mikeko (中臣御食子)
  • Mother: Ōtomo no Chisen-no-iratsume (大伴智仙娘), daughter of Otomo no Kuiko (大伴囓子). Also known as "Ōtomo-bunin" (大伴夫人).
    • Main wife: Kagami no Ōkimi (鏡王女, ?-683)
    • Wife: Kurumamochi no Yoshiko-no-iratsume (車持与志古娘), daughter of Kurumamochi no Kuniko (車持国子).
      • 1st son: Jo'e [ja] (定恵, 643–666), buddhist monk who traveled to China.
      • 2nd son: Fujiwara no Fuhito (藤原不比等, 659–720)
    • Children with unknown mother:
      • Daughter: Fujiwara no Hikami-no-iratsume (藤原氷上娘, ?–682), Bunin of Emperor Tenmu, mother of Princess Tajima.
      • Daughter: Fujiwara no Ioe-no-iratsume (藤原五百重娘), Bunin of Emperor Tenmu, wife of Fujiwara no Fuhito and mother of Prince Niitabe and Fujiwara no Maro.
      • Daughter: Fujiwara no Mimimotoji (藤原耳面刀自), Bunin of Emperor Kōbun, mother of Princess Ichishi-hime (壱志姫王).
      • Daughter: Fujiwara no Tome/Tone-no-iratsume (藤原斗売娘), wife of Nakatomi no Omimaro (中臣意美麻呂), mother of Nakatomi no Azumahito (中臣東人).

Popular culture

See also

References

  1. ^ World Encyclopedia. Vol. 24, Fujiwara. Japan: Heibonsha. 2007. ISBN 9784582034004.
  2. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Tadahira" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 203, p. 203, at Google Books; Brinkley, Frank et al. (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era, p. 203., p. 203, at Google Books
  3. ^ a b c d "Fujiwara no Kamatari". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  4. ^ "藤原 鎌足" [Fujiwara no Kamatari]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  5. ^ Papinot, Edmond (2003). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon, "Nakatomi," Nobiliare du Japon. Kelly & Walsh. p. 39. OCLC 465662682.
  6. ^ Ōga, Tetsuo (2001). Encyclopedia Nipponica. Shōgakkan. ISBN 4-09-526125-0. OCLC 1072527152.
  7. ^ Bauer, Mikael (2020). The History of the Fujiwara House. Kent, UK: Renaissance Books. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-1912961184.
  8. ^ Brinkley, Fujiwara no Kamatari, p. 177, at Google Books
  9. ^ a b "中臣鎌足（藤原鎌足）" [Nakatomi no Kamatari (Fujiwara no Kamatari)] (PDF). Yamaguchi Prefectural Archives. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  10. ^ a b "藤原鎌足の墓説さらに強まる 阿武山古墳に最高級の冠帽" [The theory of the tomb of Fujiwara no Kamatari further strengthens　Highest grade crown cap in Abuyama Kofun]. The Asahi Shimbun. 2013-12-14.
  11. ^ "鎌足の隠居伝説を補強か 大阪の遺跡でゆかりの「れんが」" [Reinforcing the legend of Kamatari's retreat? "Bricks" associated with the Osaka ruins]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2022-05-26.

Sources

  • Bauer, Mikael. The History of the Fujiwara House. Kent, UK: Renaissance Books, 2020. ISBN 1912961180.
  • Brinkley, Frank and Dairoku Kikuchi. (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era. New York: Encyclopædia Britannica. OCLC 413099
  • Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
  • 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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fujiwara no Kamatari.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Fujiwara family tree
Kamatari[1]
614–669
Fuhito[2]
659–720
NANKE branchHOKKE branchSHIKIKE branchKYŌKE branch
Muchimaro[2]
680–737		Fusasaki[2]
681–737		Umakai[2]
694–737		Maro[2]
695–737
Toyonari[3]
704–766		Nakamaro[3]
706–764		Otomaro[4]Nagate[5]
714–771		Matate[4]
715–766		Uona[6]
721–783		Kaedemaro[7]
723–776		Yoshitsugu[8]
716–777		Tamaro[9]
722–783		Momokawa[10]
732–779		Hamanari[11]
724–790
Tsuginawa[12]
727–796		Korekimi[13]
727–789		Uchimaro[14]
756–812		Sonohito[12]
756–819		Otsugu[12]
774–843
Fuyutsugu[15]
775–826
Nagara[1]
802–826		Yoshifusa[1]
804–872		Yoshiyo[16]
823–900
Mototsune[17]
836–891
Tokihira[18][12]
871–909		Tadahira[12]
880–949
Saneyori[12]
900–970		Morosuke[12]
909–960
Yoritada[19]
924–989		Koretada[12]
924–972		Yoritada[12][20]
925–977		Kaneie[12][19]
929–990
Michitaka[21][22]
953–995		Michikane[22]
961–995		Michinaga[23]
966–1028
Yorimichi[24][25]
992–1074		Norimichi[26]
996–1075
Morozane[27]
1042–1101
Moromichi[28]
1062–1099
Tadazane[29]
1075–1162
Tadamichi[30]
1097–1164		Yorinaga[31]
1120–1156
Konoe
Family		Matsudono
Family		Kujō
Family
Konoe Motozane[32]
1143–1166		Matsudono Motofusa[33]
1144?–1231		Kujō Kanezane[30]
1149–1207
Konoe Motomichi[16][34]
1160–1233		Matsudono Moroie[33]
1172–1238		Kujō Yoshitsune[35]
1169–1206
Konoe Iezane[34]
1179–1242		Kujō Michiie[35]
1193–1252
Takatsukasa
Family		Nijō
Family		Ichijō
Family
Konoe Kanetsune[36]
1210–1259		Takatsukasa Kanehira[37]
1228–1294		Kujō Norizane[38]
1211–1235		Nijō Yoshizane[39]
1216–1271		Ichijō Sanetsune[40]
1223–1284
Notes
  1. ^ a b c Brinkley, Frank and Dairoku Kikuchi. (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era. New York: Encyclopædia Britannica. OCLC 413099
  2. ^ a b c d e Kanai, Madoka; Nitta, Hideharu; Yamagiwa, Joseph Koshimi (1966). A topical history of Japan. Sub-Committee on Far Eastern Language Instruction of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. p. 6.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Delmer M. (1988). The Cambridge History of Japan: Volume 1. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521223522.
  4. ^ a b 平城宮兵部省跡. 奈良文化財研究所. 2005. p. 168.
  5. ^ Yoshikawa, Toshiko (2006). 仲麻呂政権と藤原永手・八束（真楯）・千尋（御楯）. Hanawa Shobō (塙書房). ISBN 978-4-8273-1201-0.
  6. ^ Tyler, Royall (1993). The Book of the Great Practice: The Life of the Mt. Fuji Ascetic Kakugyō Tōbutsu Kū (PDF). Asian Folklore Studies. p. 324.
  7. ^ Yoneda, Yūsuke (2002). 藤原摂関家の誕生. 吉川弘文館. p. 139.
  8. ^ Nakagawa, Osamu (1991). "藤原良継の変" [The Rise of Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu]. 奈良朝政治史の研究 [Political History of the Nara Period] (in Japanese). Takashina Shoten (高科書店).
  9. ^ Kimoto, Yoshinobu (1998). 藤原式家官人の考察. 高科書店. p. 47. ISBN 978-4-87294-923-0.
  10. ^ Takemitsu, Makoto (2013). 日本史の影の主役藤原氏の正体: 鎌足から続く1400年の歴史. PHP研究所. p. 103. ISBN 978-4569761046.
  11. ^ http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~sg2h-ymst/hamanari.html
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). In Japan Encyclopedia at Google Books; Brinkley, Frank et al. (1915).
  13. ^ Kimoto, Yoshinobu (2004). "『牛屋大臣』藤原是公について" [On "Ushiya-Daijin" Fujiwara no Korekimi]. 奈良時代の藤原氏と諸氏族 [The Fujiwara Clan and Other Clans of the Nara Period] (in Japanese). Ohfu.
  14. ^ Kurihara, Hiromu. 藤原内麿家族について [The Family of Fujiwara no Uchimaro]. Japanese History (日本歴史) (in Japanese) (511).
  15. ^ Kurihara, Hiromu (2008). "藤原冬嗣家族について" [Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu's Family]. 平安前期の家族と親族 [Family and Relatives During the Early Heian Period] (in Japanese). Azekura Shobo (校倉書房). ISBN 978-4-7517-3940-2.
  16. ^ a b 公卿補任 [Kugyō Bunin] (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 1982.
  17. ^ Kitayama, Shigeo (1973). 日本の歴史4 平安京 [History of Japan IV: Heian-kyō] (in Japanese). Chūkō Bunko (中公文庫). p. 242.
  18. ^ 日本古代氏族人名辞典（普及版） [Dictionary of Names from Ancient Japanese Clans (Trade Version)] (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 2010. ISBN 978-4-642-01458-8.
  19. ^ a b Nobuyoshi, Yamamoto (2003). 摂関政治史論考 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). ISBN 978-4-642-02394-8.
  20. ^ Haruo, Sasayama (2003). "藤原兼通の政権獲得過程". 日本律令制の展開 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). ISBN 978-4-642-02393-1.
  21. ^ Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
  22. ^ a b Papinot, Edmond (1910). Historical and geographical dictionary of Japan. Tokyo: Librarie Sansaisha.
  23. ^ Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). Gukanshō: The Future and the Past. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0; OCLC 251325323
  24. ^ Varley, Paul (2000). Japanese Culture. Fourth Edition. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.
  25. ^ Uejima, Susumu (2010). "日本中世社会の形成と王権". 中世庄園制の形成過程―〈立庄〉再考 (in Japanese). The University of Nagoya Press. ISBN 978-4-8158-0635-4.
  26. ^ Owada, Tetsuo (2003). 日本史諸家系図人名辞典 (in Japanese). Kodansha. ISBN 978-4062115780.
  27. ^ "卷之一百四十二 列傳第六十九". 大日本史 (in Japanese). 1715.
  28. ^ Kimoto, Yoshinobu (2000). "後二条師通記と藤原師通". 平安朝官人と記録の研究―日記逸文にあらわれたる平安公卿の世界 (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4273031565.
  29. ^ Araki, Hiroshi (2009). "中世の皇統迭立と文学形成 1院政期から中世への視界 坂上の宝剣と壺切―談話録に見る皇統・儀礼の古代と中世―". 皇統迭立と文学形成 (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4-7576-0513-8.
  30. ^ a b Sansom, George (1958). A history of Japan to 1334. Stanford University Press. ISBN 0804705232.
  31. ^ "The World Turned Upside Down" translated by Kathe Roth, p. 27
  32. ^ Yamada, Akiko (2010). 中世前期女性院宮の研究 (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4784214969.
  33. ^ a b Natanabe, Naohiko (1994). 古代史論叢 (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4797106558.
  34. ^ a b "藤原北家．近衛". 尊卑分脈 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 1904. p. 57.
  35. ^ a b "藤原北家．九条". 尊卑分脈 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 1904. p. 77.
  36. ^ "藤原北家．近衛". 尊卑分脈 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 1904. p. 65.
  37. ^ Jinson [in Japanese]. 大乗院日記目録.
  38. ^ "藤原北家．九条". 尊卑分脈 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 1904. p. 80.
  39. ^ ネケト. 二条家（摂家） (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2004-08-15. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  40. ^ ネケト. 一条家（摂家） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-08-18.
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