Kibi no Makibi

• Period: Asuka Period, Nara Period
• Occupation: Scholar, udajin
• Family: –
• Birth: 695AD
• Death:775AD

Kibi no Makibi

Kibi no Makibi (吉備 朝臣 真備) was a scholar, born into a powerful family in the Kibi Region, who lived from 695-775AD.

In his lifetime he was well versed in confucian classics, as well as the topics of, astronomy, military science and law.

In 717 he was sent to China alongside Abe no Nakamaro and Priest Genbō. His trip to China is depicted in the Kibi Daijin nittō ekotoba.

He finally returned in 735AD with Gembō and now the two of them found themselves influential in government under Tachibana no Moroe.

Makibi found himself demoted after Fujiwara no Nakamaro rose to power.

In 764 he helped to surpress a revolt that was led by Fujiwara no Nakamaro and was later promoted to udajin in 766. He retired in 771AD after the death of Empress Shōtoku.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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