Minamoto no Rinshi

Minamoto no Rinshi (源 倫子) was the mother of Fujiwara no Shōshi with Akazome Emon serving as her Lady-in-Waiting during her life.¹²

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Lady-in-Waiting, Nun, Poet
  • Family: Ōe no Masahira (husband)
  • Birth: c.957
  • Death: 1041

Akazome Emon

Akazome Emon (赤染衛門) living from c.957-1041, was the Lady-in-Waiting to Minamoto no Rinshi¹², and potentially her daughter Empress Shōshi.¹

She was married to Ōe no Masahira and later became a nun after his passing at the end of her life.²

One of the foremost female poets during her life at court we can find 93 of her poems in Imperial Anthologies beginning with the Shūi wakashū.

Her personal anthology the Akazomeshū contains over 600 poems.¹²

She has traditionally been creditted with writing a part of the Eiga Monogatari¹² as well as a travel diary called Owari kikō.²

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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Daughter of Michinaga

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Michinaga (father) Fujiwara no Shōshi (sister) Fujiwara no Ishi (sister) Fujiwara no Sonshi (sister) Fujiwara no Kanshi (sister) Fujiwara no Seishi (sister) Fujiwara no Kishi (sister) Fujiwara no Nagaie (brother) Fujiwara no Yoshinobu (brother) Fujiwara no Yorimune (brother) Fujiwara no Norimichi (brother) Fujiwara no Yorimichi (brother)
  • irth: 994AD
  • Death: 1027AD

Fujiwara no Kenshi (藤原 妍子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan, living from 994-1027. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga and married Emperor Sanjō.¹

Daughter of Morozane

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Emperor Shirakawa (husband) Fujiwara no Morozane (father) Fujiwara no Michifusa (brother) Fujiwara no Kanshi (adopted sister) Fujiwara no Moromichi (brother) Fujiwara no Tadanori (brother) Fujiwara no Tsunezane (brother) Fujiwara no Ietada (brother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Kenshi (藤原 賢子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan.

She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Morozane and would go on to marry Emperor Shirakawa.¹

Footnotes

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

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Governor
  • Family: Fujiwara no Michitaka (father) Fujiwara no Korechika (brother) Fujiwara no Teishi (sister)
  • Birth: 974AD
  • Death: 1044AD

Fujiwara no Takaie

Fujiwara no Takaie (藤原 隆家) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan.

Living from 974-1044 he was the son of Fujiwara no Michitaka.²

and acted as Governor of Dazaifu (Kyushu). From here he fought against the pirates of Iki and Tsushima.¹

Louis Frederic erroneously says his father was Fujiwara no Michinaga.

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: sesshō, kampaku
  • Family: Fujiwara no Michinaga (father) Fujiwara no Morozane (son) Fujiwara no Michifusa (son) Fujiwara no Kanshi (daughter) Fujiwara no Genshi (adopted daughter) Fujiwara no Kenshi (sister) Fujiwara no Ishi (sister) Fujiwara no Sonshi (sister) Fujiwara no Kishi (sister) Fujiwara no Seishi (sister) Fujiwara no Shōshi (sister) Fujiwara no Kanshi (sister) Fujiwara no Yoshinobu (brother) Fujiwara no Yorimune (brother) Fujiwara no Norimichi (brother) Fujiwara no Nagaie (brother)
  • Birth: 992AD
  • Death: 1074AD

Fujiwara no Yorimichi

Fujiwara no Yorimichi (藤原 頼通) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan.

Yorimichi lived from 992-1074AD¹ was the son of Fujiwara no Michinaga¹² and father to Fujiwara no Morozane, Fujiwara no Michifusa, Fujiwara no Kanshi and. He adopted as his daughter Fujiwara no Genshi.¹

He held onto the positions of sesshō and kampaku during the reigns of Emperor Go-Ichijo and Go-Suzaku.¹²

It was his father who gave to him the position of kampaku, afterwards Michinaga retiring and directing policies through his son Yorimichi.²

Yorimichi lost control over the imperial succession when none of his daughters gave birth to an heir¹ and so in 1068 he was forced to accept onto the throne Emperor Sanjō and later passes on his title of sesshō to his brother Fujiwara no Norimichi.¹²

His two daughters had been married to Emperor Go-Suzaku and Go-Reizei.¹

The power of the Fujiwara then began to decline as this new Emperor was not a Fujiwara and wished to reassert Imperial Control.

In 1052 Yorimichi decided to return to his villa in Uji which he then converted into the temple Byōdō-in and became a monk.¹

He was also known as uji-dono.²

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: udajin, nairan, dajō daijin, sesshō
  • Family: Fujiwara no Kaneie (father) Minamoto no Rinshi (wife) Fujiwara no Shōshi (daughter) Fujiwara no Kenshi (daughter) Fujiwara no Ishi (daughter) Fujiwara no Sonshi (daughter) Fujiwara no Kanshi (daughter) Fujiwara no Seishi (daughter) Fujiwara no Kishi (daughter) Fujiwara no Nagaie (son) Fujiwara no Yoshinobu (son) Fujiwara no Yorimune (son) Fujiwara no Norimichi (son) Fujiwara no Yorimichi (son) Fujiwara no Michitaka (brother) Fujiwara no Michikane (brother) Fujiwara no Michitsuna (brother) Fujiwara no Senshi (sister) Fujiwara no Suishi (sister) Fujiwara no Chōshi (sister)
  • Birth: 966AD
  • Death: 1028AD

Fujiwara no Michinaga

Fujiwara no Michinaga (藤原 道長) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan. He lived from 966-1028.¹²

Family

Michinaga was the son of Fujiwara no Kaneie and had many children, these being Fujiwara no Shōshi, Fujiwara no Kenshi, Fujiwara no Ishi, Fujiwara no Sonshi, Fujiwara no Kanshi, Fujiwara no Seishi, Fujiwara no Kishi, Fujiwara no Nagaie, Fujiwara no Yoshinobu, Fujiwara no Yorimune, Fujiwara no Norimichi and Fujiwara no Yorimichi.²

His three daughters went on to marry Emperors Ichijō, Sanjō, and Go-Ichijō.¹

Career

Michinaga ruled for thirty years and it was during his lifetime that the Fujiwara Clan reached its height of power. In 995 he became head of the clan and was appointed udajin and nairan. He banished his nephew Fujiwara no Korechika in 996, who was his rival, and so ruled uncontested.² In addition to that he also had Korechika’s son Fujiwara no Michimasa removed from his position of Sakyo no Taifu after his affair with Princess Masako.³

Michinaga saw to it that his daughter Shoshi was named Chūgū in 1000AD.²

He was given the title of sesshō in 1016, and was made dajō daijin in 1018.¹

Though he was never granted the title of kampaku he essentially had all the power over the position. To further reinforce his power he allied with the Seiwa Genji.¹² He also saw to it that his son Yorimichi was given the title of kampaku and saw his other sons placed into minserial roles.¹

Retirement

Due to fading health in 1019 he retired to be a monk and built Hōjō-ji, however he did continue to direct policies to his son Yorimichi.¹² His posthumous name was Hōjō no Kampaku.¹

Literature

Michinaga is known to have had a diary called the Midō kampaku ki¹² and is stated to have a model for the Tale of Genji.¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
3. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.

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Daughter of Michitaka

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Emperor Ichijo (husband) Fujiwara no Michitaka (father) Takashina no Takako (mother) Fujiwara no Korechika (brother) Fujiwara no Takaie (brother)
  • Birth: 976AD
  • Death: 1001AD

Fujiwara no Teishi (藤原 定子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan,¹ living from 976-1001AD. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka² and Takashina no Takako³. During her life she would go on to become junior consort he wife of Emperor Ichijo before later becoming Empress. She was also known as Fujiwara no Sadako.²

Her uncle Michinaga saw to it that his daughter Shoshi was named Chūgū in 1000AD and so Teishi recieved the title of Kōgō. This was the first time an Emperor has two offical Empresses.

Teishi with Shoshi were in a literary rivalry with Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu during there life.²

Daughter of Tadamichi

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Concubine
  • Family: Fujiwara no Tadamichi (father) Emperor Konoe (husband) Kanoe no Motozane (brother) Fujiwara no Motofusa (brother) Kujō no Kanezane (brother) Fujiwara no Kanefusa (brother) Jien (brother) Fujiwara no Masako (sister) Fujiwara no Ikushi (adopted sister) Fujiwara no Seishi (sister)
  • Birth:1131AD
  • Death: 1176AD

Fujiwara no Teishi/Fujiwara no Shimeko (藤原 呈子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan living from 1131-1176AD. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Tadamichi and in her lifetime became the concubine of Emperor Konoe.¹

Daughter of Tamemitsu

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Tamemitsu (father) Fujiwara no Kiminobu (brother) Fujiwara no Tadanobu (brother) Fujiwara no Michinobu (brother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Teishi was a member of the Fujiwara Clan and daughter to Fujiwara no Tamemitsu. She also had brothers by the names of Fujiwara no Kiminobu and Fujiwara no Tadanobu.²

Daughter of Yoritada

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Yoritada (father) Fujiwara no Kintō (brother) Fujiwara no Junshi (sister)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Teishi was a member of the Fujiwara Clan. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Yoritada and sister to the renown poet Fujiwara no Kintō as well as Fujiwara no Junshi.²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
3. 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: Empress
  • Family: Emperor Ichijō (husband) Emperor Go-Ichijō (son) Emperor Go-Suzaku (son) Fujiwara no Michinaga (father) Minamoto no Rinshi (mother) Fujiwara no Kenshi (sister) Fujiwara no Ishi (sister) Fujiwara no Sonshi (sister) Fujiwara no Kanshi (sister) Fujiwara no Seishi (sister) Fujiwara no Kishi (sister) Fujiwara no Nagaie (brother) Fujiwara no Yoshinobu (brother) Fujiwara no Yorimune (brother) Fujiwara no Norimichi (brother) Fujiwara no Yorimichi (brother)
  • Birth: 988AD
  • Death: 1074AD

Fujiwara no Shōshi

Fujiwara no Shōshi (藤原 彰子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan, living from 988-1074AD. She was daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga and Minamoto no Rinshi, later becoming wife of Emperor Ichijō. During her life she gave birth to the future Emperors Go-Ichijō and Go-Suzaku.¹² 

She was also known as Fujiwara no Akiko.¹

She married the Emperor in 999AD,¹ and was given the title of Chūgū in 1000AD when the former Empress Fujiwara no Teishi was made Kōgō.²

As Empress her ladies in waiting included, Murasaki Shikibu, Izumi Shikibu¹² and Akazone Emon.¹

In 1026 she became a Buddhist nun taking taking the name of Jōtō Mon’in (上東 門院)¹² taking her name from the Palace in which she retired to.²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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