Fujiwara Clan
- First Ruler: Fujiwara no Kamatari
- Final Ruler: –
- Dissolution: –
- Parent House: Nakatomi Clan
- For a full list of Japanese Clans see: Clans.
Fujiwara Clan
The Fujiwara Clan (藤原氏) is a descendant of the Nakatomi Clan and came into existence after Nakatomi no Kamatari had his family name changed by Emperor Tenji for the aid and assistance his lieutenant had given him prior to his reign.1
In the 7th Century, this clan began to eclipse the Imbe Clan, leading Imbe no Hironari to desperately try and claim back some fame for his Clan by publishing the Kogo Shūi.2
The 8th century sees the Clan backing Empress Genmei’s claim to the throne as the mother of her son (Emperor Monmu), was a daughter of Fujiwara no Fubito. His daughter Asukabehime, would ensure this Clan gained much higher ranking positions at court after receiving the title of ‘Great Retired Empress Consort’ after her husband Emperor Shōmu abdicated. They also played a pivotal role in engineering the ascension of Emperor Shōmu by surrounding him with advisers, attendants and tutors.3
One of those to receive a high ranking position was Fujiwara no Nakamarō who would eventually help orchestrate the Emperor Junnin to take the throne. However, eventually after a plot to replace Junnin with a new candidate after Nakamarō steals the Privy Seal in 764AD, he is captured with his wife, exiled and killed by Empress Kōken.3
Members of the House
- Fujiwara no Akihira – 989-1066
- Fujiwara no Akimitsu – 944-1021
- Fujiwara no Akirakeiko – 829-900
- Fujiwara no Akisue – 1054-1122
- Fujiwara no Akisuke – 1090-1155
- Fujiwara no Akitada – 898-953
- Fujiwara no Arihira – 891-970
- Fujiwara no Ariie – 1155-1216
- Fujiwara no Asukabehime
- Fujiwara no Atsutada – 906-943
- Fujiwara no Atsumitsu – 1062-1144
- Fujiwara no Atsumoto
- Fujiwara no Atsutoshi
- Fujiwara no Enshi – 944-1021
- Fujiwara no Fubito – 659-720
- Fujiwara no Fusasaki – 681-737
- Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu – 775-826
- Fujiwara no Gōshin
- Fujiwara no Hamanari – 711-790
- Fujiwara no Hidehira – 1096-1187
- Fujiwara Hidesato (From the Folktale My Lord Bag of Rice)
- Fujiwara no Hirotsugu – d.740
- Fujiwara no Ienaga – 1192-1264
- Fujiwara no Ietaka – 1158-1237
- Fujiwara no Iezane – 1180-1283
- Fujiwara no Izuko
- Fujiwara no Kadanomaro
- Fujiwara no Kamatari – 614-669
- Fujiwara no Kanehira – 1228-1294
- Fujiwara no Kaneie – 929-990
- Fujiwara no Kaneko
- Fujiwara no Kanemichi – 925-977
- Fujiwara no Kanesue
- Fujiwara no Katako – b.999
- Fujiwara no Kenshi (Michinaga)
- Fujiwara no Kenshi (Morozane)
- Fujiwara no Kenshi (Norimichi)
- Fujiwara no Kiyohira – 1056-1128
- Fujiwara no Korechika – 973-974-1010
- Fujiwara no Koretada – 924-972
- Fujiwara no Kenshi – 994-1027
- Fujiwara no Kinkata – 1291-1360
- Fujiwara no Kinsue – 956-1029
- Fujiwara no Kintō – 966-1041
- Fujiwara no Kintsugu – 1175-1227
- Fujiwara no Kin’yoshi
- Fujiwara no Kiyohira – 1056-1128
- Fujiwara no Kiyokawa – c.706-c.779
- Fujiwara no Kiyonari
- Fujiwara no Kiyosuke – 1104-1177
- Fujiwara no Korekata – b.1125
- Fujiwara no Korekimi
- Fujiwara no Koremichi – 1093-1165
- Fujiwara no Kurajimaro – 734-775
- Fujiwara no Kusuko – d.810
- Fujiwara no Maro – 695-737
- Fujiwara no Masako – 1121-1181
- Fujiwara no Masatsune – 1170-1221
- Fujiwara no Masuko – 1140-1201
- Fujiwara no Matate
- Fujiwara no Michinaga – 966-1028
- Fujiwara no Michitaka – 954-974
- Fujiwara no Michitsuna
- Fujiwara no Michitsuna no Haha – c.931-c.995
- Fujiwara no Mitsunaga – d.1187
- Fujiwara no Miyako
- Fujiwara no Momokawa – 734-779
- Fujiwara no Moromichi – 1062-1099
- Fujiwara no Morosuke – 908-960
- Fujiwara no Morotada
- Fujiwara no Morozane – 1042-1101
- Fujiwara no Motohira
- Fujiwara no Mototoshi – 1060-1142
- Fujiwara no Mototsune – 836-891
- Fujiwara no Muchimaro – 680-737
- Fujiwara no Nagara
- Fujiwara no Nagate – 714-771
- Fujiwara no Nakahira – 875-945
- Fujiwara no Nakamarō – 706-764
- Fujiwara no Nakanari – 774-810
- Fujiwara no Norikane – d.1165
- Fujiwara no Norimichi – 996-1075
- Fujiwara no Oguromaro – 733-794
- Fujiwara no Onshi I – 872-907
- Fujiwara no Onshi II – 885-954
- Fujiwara no Otomaro
- Fujiwara no Otomuro – 760-790
- Fujiwara no Otsugu – 773-843
- Fujiwara no Sadanaga – 1139-1202
- Fujiwara no Sadayori – 995-1045
- Fujiwara no Sanekata – d.998
- Fujiwara no Saneyori – 900-970
- Fujiwara no Senshi – 967-1006
- Fujiwara no Shōshi – 988-1074
- Fujiwara no Shunzei – 1114-1204
- Fujiwara no Sukemasa – 944-998
- Fujiwara no Tadahira – 880-949
- Fujiwara no Tadamichi – 1097-1164
- Fujiwara no Tadazane – 1078-1162
- Fujiwara no Takaie – 974-1044
- Fujiwara no Takamitsu
- Fujiwara no Tamemitsu – d.944
- Fujiwara no Tanetsugu – 737-785
- Fujiwara no Teika – 1164-1241
- Fujiwara no Teishi
- Fujiwara no Tokihira – 871-909
- Fujiwara no Toshiie
- Fujiwara no Toyonari – 704-765
- Fujiwara no Tsuginawa – 727-796
- Fujiwara no Uchimaro – 756-812
- Fujiwara no Umakai – 694-737
- Fujiwara no Uona – 721-783
- Fujiwara no Yasuhira – d.1189
- Fujiwara no Yorimichi – 992-1074
- Fujiwara no Yoritada – 924-989
- Fujiwara no Yoshifusa – 804-872
- Fujiwara no Yoshitaka – 954-974
- Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu
- Fujiwara no Yukinari – 972-1027
Footnotes
1. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
3. Tsurumi, P. (1981) “Early Female Emperors” Historical Reflections Vol.8 No.1 pp.41-49.
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