• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Mototsune (father) Fujiwara no Tokihira (brother) Fujiwara no Tadahira (brother) Fujiwara no Nakahira (brother) Fujiwara no Kanehira (brother) Fujiwara no Baishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi I (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi II (sister)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Raishi

Fujiwara no Raishi was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of the clan. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Mototsune.¹

Footnotes

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

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Mototsune (father) Fujiwara no Tokihira (brother) Fujiwara no Tadahira (brother) Fujiwara no Nakahira (brother) Fujiwara no Kanehira (brother) Fujiwara no Raishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi I (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi II (sister)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Baishi

Fujiwara no Baishi was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of the clan. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Mototsune.¹

Footnotes

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

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Daughter of Morotada

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Morotada (father) Fujiwara no Naritoki (brother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Hōshi (藤原 芳子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Morotada.¹

Daughter of Tokihira

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Tokihira (father) Fujiwara no Akitada (brother) Fujiwara no Atsutada (brother) Fujiwara no Yasutada (brother)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Hōshi (藤原 褒子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan. She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Tokihira.¹

Footnotes

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

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Tokihira (father) Fujiwara no Akitada (brother) Fujiwara no Atsutada (brother) Fujiwara no Hōshi (sister)
  • Birth: –
  • Death: –

Fujiwara no Yasutada

Fujiwara no Yasutada (藤原 保忠) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan. He was the son of Fujiwara no Tokihira.¹

Footnotes

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

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Emperor Daigo (husband) Emperor Suzaku (son) Emperor Murakami (son) Fujiwara no Mototsune (father) Fujiwara no Tokihira (brother) Fujiwara no Tadahira (brother) Fujiwara no Nakahira (brother) Fujiwara no Kanehira (brother) Fujiwara no Raishi (sister) Fujiwara no Baishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi I (sister)
  • Birth: 885AD
  • Death: 954AD

Fujiwara no Onshi II

Fujiwara no Onshi II (藤原 穏子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan, living from 885-954AD.

She was the daughter of Fujiwara no Mototsune and would go on to marry Emperor Daigo. Together she would give birth to the future Emperors Suzaku and Murakami.¹

Lady Ukon served as one of her ladies-in-waiting.²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. 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: –
  • Family: Emperor Uda (husband) Fujiwara no Mototsune (father) Fujiwara no Tokihira (brother) Fujiwara no Tadahira (brother) Fujiwara no Nakahira (brother) Fujiwara no Kanehira (brother) Fujiwara no Raishi (sister) Fujiwara no Baishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi II (sister)
  • Birth: 872AD
  • Death: 907AD

Fujiwara no Onshi I

Fujiwara no Onshi I (藤原 温子) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan, living from 872-907AD.

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

Lady Ise served as one of her ladies-in-waiting.²³

Footnotes

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

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• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Sadaijin
  • Family: Fujiwara no Mototsune (father) Fujiwara no Tokihira (brother) Fujiwara no Tadahira (brother) Fujiwara no Kanehira (brother) Fujiwara no Raishi (sister) Fujiwara no Baishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi I (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi II (sister)
  • Birth: 875AD
  • Death: 945AD

Fujiwara no Nakahira

Fujiwara no Nakahira (藤原 仲平) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan, living from 875-945AD. He was also known as Biwa no Daijin.

He was the son of Fujiwara no Mototsune and brother of Fujiwara no Tokihira.

Under the reign of Emperor Daigo and Suzaku he held the position of Sadaijin.¹

Footnotes

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

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• Period: Heian Period
• Occupation: Udajin, Sessho, Dajo Daijin, Kampaku
• Family: Fujiwara no Nagara (father) Fujiwara no Yoshifusa (adopted father) Fujiwara no Tokihira (son) Fujiwara no Nakahira (son) Fujiwara no Tadahira (son) Fujiwara no Kanehira (brother) Fujiwara no Raishi (sister) Fujiwara no Baishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi I (daughter) Fujiwara no Onshi II (daughter) Emperor Yōzei (nephew)
• Birth: 836AD
• Death: 891AD

Fujiwara no Mototsune

Fujiwara no Mototsune (藤原 基経) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan, living from 836-891AD.

The son of Fujiwara no Nagara he had many children, these being Fujiwara no Tokihira, Fujiwara no Nakahira, Fujiwara no Tadahira, Fujiwara no Onshi I and Fujiwara no Onshi II,¹² Fujiwara no Kanehira, Fujiwara no Raishi and Fujiwara no Baishi. He would later be adopted by Fujiwara no Yoshifusa.²

Over his lifetime he had many promotions becoming udajin in 872, sessho in 876, dajo daijin in 880 and kampaku in 884¹ (887²). He was the first to recieve the title kampaku. Though the title was surrounded by slight controversy which became known as the Ako Incident.²

Mototsune saw to it that Emperor Yozei was deposed with Emperor Kōkō then placed on the throne. He would then depose Kōkō in 888 to place Emperor Uda on the throne.

His two daughters Onshi I and Onshi II married Emperors Uda and Daigo.

One of his literary works was called the montoku jitsuroku, which he worked on with several others. Motosune was also known as Horikawa Daijin.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.

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Fujiwara no Kanehira

• • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: –
  • Family: Fujiwara no Mototsune (father) Fujiwara no Tokihira (brother) Fujiwara no Tadahira (brother) Fujiwara no Nakahira (brother) Fujiwara no Raishi (sister) Fujiwara no Baishi (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi I (sister) Fujiwara no Onshi II (sister)
  • Birth: 875AD
  • Death: 935AD

Fujiwara no Kanehira (藤原 兼平) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of the clan. He lived from 875-935AD and was the son of Fujiwara no Mototsune.¹

Footnotes

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

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• • See also: Sugawara no Michizane Poems
  • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Udaijin, Governor, Poet
  • Family: Haji no Mimichi (ancestor) Sugawara no Koreyoshi (father) Sugawara no Fumitoki (grandson)
    
  • Birth: 845
  • Death: 903

Sugawara no Michizane

Sugawara no Michizane (菅原 道真/菅原 道眞) was a member of the Sugawara Clan living during the Heian Period who was famous for his knowledge of classical chinese literature amongst other things. Born in 845¹² he died March 26th 903.³

The son of Sugawara no Koreyoshi¹² he was also a distant decendant of Haji no Mimichi⁴ and grandfather of Sugawara no Fumitoki.⁵

He was on the 5 yen bill until its discontinuation in 1929.³

Career

In 866 we see him appointed as Governor of Sanuki Province which he held for 4 years, and in 877 he was appointed as Professor of Chinese literature,¹² a position which he held for ten years.²

During his time as minster he suggested delegations to China stop due to instability there, this was accepted in 894.

In 899 the Emperor Uda gives him the title of udaijin, but unfortunately jealousy from the Fujiwara Clan (Fujiwara no Tokihira¹) would see him banished in 901 after they accuse him of treason against Emperor Daigo. His banishment would see him sent to Dazaifu in Kyushu where he was to govern, dying here in 903 whilst still proclaiming himself innocent.¹² It is said he died from malnutrition.³

Poetry and Literature

His poetry was similar to that of his ancestor Haji no Mimichi, as they both use plum blossoms to express sorrow.

This particular poem can be found in the Shin Wakashū and goes as follows.

Other accounts state whilst eating super he wrote 20 poems on 20 different subjects at the same time.³ He also helped in the compilation of the Sandai Jitsuroku which was the last of the ‘six offical histories.’ He also went on the create a version of these books called the Ruijū kokushi themed topically instead of chronologically.²

Poems of his were included in the Wakan rōeishū.²

Unrestful Ghost

After his death many bad things are said to have happened at court.¹²³

A partial list of his attacks include the following. 903 torrential rains all year. 905 drought. 906 floods. 907 bad floods. 911 floods which engulfed villages. 912 large fire in Heiankyo. 913 death of his rival. 914 more Heiankyo fires. 915 chicken pox outbreak. 918 terrible floods. 922 whooping cough outbreak. 923 death of the crown prince aged 21. 925 death of late crown princes son. 930 lightning strike in the palace walls killing several officials.³

To try and end the string of bad omens he was posthumously givn the highest honors, with some of his deified names being Tenjin Sama, Karai Tenji, Kan Shōjō and Temmangu. He is now seen as a kami of literature.¹² Many shrines to him include a reposed deer which people attributed with the power to cure disease. Students have the habit of rubbing these statues before exams in the hopes of improving their grades.¹

The text known as the Gukansho theorized that the kami made his spirit reappear as an example of the repurcusions of false accusations.³

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. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Yurei Attack: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.
4. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422
5. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

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