• • Period: Kamakura Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Abutsu-ni (wife)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Tameie

Fujiwara no Tameie (藤原 為家) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan.

Around c.1250 he took as his second wife Abutsu-ni.¹

Footnotes

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

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• • Period: Kamakura Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Abutsu-ni (mother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Reizei Tamesuke

Reizei Tamesuke (冷泉 為相) was a member of the Reizei Family, a descendant of the Fujiwara Clan.

During his lifetime his mother had a dispute in regards to property. She went to Kamakura to arrange for a transfer of possesion to her son Reizei Tamesuke, though she died before a judgement was given.¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Poet, Caligrapher
  • Family: Fujiwara no Tadanori (father)
  • Birth: 1109AD
  • Death: 1177AD

Fujiwara no Norinaga

Fujiwara no Norinaga (藤原 教長) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch, living from 1109-1077AD.

He was the son of Fujiwara no Tadanori and during his lifetime was both a poet and caligrapher. In 1177AD he wrote a commentary on the Kokin Wakashū.¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Inpumon’in no Tayū (daughter)
  • Birth: –
  • Death:  –

Fujiwara no Nobunari

Fujiwara no Nobunari (藤原 信成) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan. He is known to have been the father of Inpumon’in no Tayū.¹

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.

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• • Period: Heian Period / Kamakura Period
  • Occupation: Waka Poet
  • Family: Fujiwara no Nobunari (father)
  • Birth: c.1130
  • Death:  c.1200

Inpumon’in no Tayū

Inpumon’in no Tayū (殷富門院大輔) was a Japanese poet and daughter to Fujiwara no Nobunari who lived from c.1130-c.1200.

During her lifetime she served Princess Ryoshi.

She was held in high regard by Teika and is seen to have participated in many poetry contests, and was a member of the Karin’en Poetic Circle.

We can find 63 of her poems in the Imperial Anthologies as well as in a private collection.¹

One of her poems (No.90) can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and goes as follows:

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
見せばやな 雄島のあまの 袖だにも ぬれにぞぬれし 色はかはらず	Misebayana Ojima no ama no sode dani mo nure ni zo nureshi iro wa kawarazu	How I would like to show you - the fishermen's sleeves of Ojima are drenched, but even so have not lost their colour, as minehave, bathed in endless tears.

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Waka Poet
  • Family:
  • Birth: 1090AD
  • Death:  c.1179AD

Priest Dōin

Priest Dōin (道因), also known as Fujiwara no Atsuyori, was a japanese poet who lived from 1090-c.1179AD. He was known for being mean.

In addition to being a poet he also reached the fifth court rank and gained the position of Lieutenant of the Imperial Stables of the Left. He entered into religion in 1172AD.

He is seen included in many tales, and was always said to have been devoted to poetry. The Mumyosho (Annonymous Fragments) recalls how even when he fell into old age he frequently visited the Sumiyoshi Shrine to pray to be a good poet every month.

During his life he took part in many poetry competitions as well as leading his own.

41 of his poems can be found in the Imperial Anthologies and he is known to have had a private collection which has not survived.

Following his death it is said Fujiwara no Shunzei chose 18 of his poems to be included in the Senzaishū. Following this Priest Dōin then came to him in a dream to show him how happy this made him. And so Shunzei decided to add another 2 of his poems.¹

One of his poems (No.82) can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and goes as follows:

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
思ひわび さても命は あるものを 憂きに堪へぬは なみだなりけり	Omoiwabi sate mo inochi wa aru mono-o uki no taenu wa namida nari keri	I somehow live on, enduring this harsh love, yet my tears - unable to bear their pain - cannot help but flow.

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Poet
  • Family: Fujiwara no Korechika (father)
  • Birth: 992AD
  • Death: 1054AD

Fujiwara no Michimasa

Fujiwara no Michimasa (藤原 道雅) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch, living from 992-1054AD.

He was the son of Fujiwara no Korechika and acted as Master of west Kyoto (Sakyo no Taifu) during his lifetime. He was later removed from the position by Fujiwara no Michinaga after an affair with Princess Masako.

By 1016 he turned to live a reclusive life.

We can find seven of his poems in the Imperial Anthologies and one of his poems (No.63) can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and goes as follows:¹

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
今はただ 思ひ絶えなむ とばかりを 人づてならで いふよしもがな	Ima wa tada omoitaenan to bakari o hitozute narade iu yoshi mogana	Rather than hearing it from others, somehow I want to find a way to tell you myself, just one thing - 'Now I must give you up!'

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Waka Poet, Commander of the Imperial Guard
    
  • Family: Fujiwara no Tamemitsu (father) Fujiwara no Kaneie (adopted by) Fujiwara no Tadanobu (brother) Fujiwara no Kiminobu (brother) Fujiwara no Teishi (sister)
  • Birth: 972AD
  • Death: 994AD

Fujiwara no Michinobu

Fujiwara no Michinobu (藤原 道信) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, most specifically the Hokke Branch living from 972-994AD.

He was the son of Fujiwara no Tamemitsu, but was adopted by his uncle Kaneie in his lifetime.

During his life he was Commander of the Imperial Guard but died young at the age of 22.

49 of his poems can be found in the Imperial Anthologies and he was included as one of the Thirty Six Poetic Geniuses of the Late Classical Period.¹

One of his poems (No.52) can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and goes as follows:

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
明けぬれば 暮るるものとは 知りながら なをうらめしき あさぼらけかな	Akenureba kururu mono to wa shirinagara nao urameshiki asaborake kana	Though the sun has risen, I know I can see you again when it sets at dusk. Yet even so, how I hate this cold light of dawn.

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.

Thirty Six Poetic Geniuses of the Late Classical Period
Fujiwara no Sadayori * Fujiwara no Masatsune * Fujiwara no Michinobu * Fujiwara no Michitsuna no Haha * Fujiwara no Mototoshi * Fujiwara no Yoshitaka * Kujō Yoshitsune * Priest Nōin

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Lady Ukon (daughter? sister?)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Suenawa

Fujiwara no Suenawa was a member of the Fujiwara Clan.

He was either the father or older brother of Lady Ukon.

In the no longer extant Katano no Shosho it says that he was a gallant in his lifetime.¹

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Poet / Lady-in-waiting
  • Family: Fujiwara no Suenawa (father? brother?)
  • Birth: fl.10th century
  • Death: –

Lady Ukon

Lady Ukon (右近) was the daughter or younger sister of Fujiwara no Suenawa who flourished during the 10th century.

During her life she was a poet and lady-in-waiting to Fujiwara no Onshi II.

The Tales of Yamato relate to us that she had many love affairs with members of the Fujiwara Clan as well as others.

In regards to her poems, we can find nine in the Imperial Anthologies.¹

One of her poems (No.38) can be found in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and goes as follows:

Japanese text2	Romanized Japanese1	English translation1
忘らるる 身をば思はず 誓ひてし 人の命の 惜しくもあるかな	Wasuraruru mi o ba omowazu chikaiteshi hito no inochi no oshiku mo aru kana	Though you have forgotten me, I do not worry about myself, but how I fear for you, as you swore before the gods of your undying love.

Footnotes

1. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
2. Suzuki, H. et al. (1997) ”Genshoku: Ogura Hyakunin Isshu”. Tokyo: Bun’eidō.

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