Fujiwara no Korechika
Encyclopedia
, the second son of Michitaka
, was a kugyo
(Japan
ese noble
) of the Heian period
. His mother was Takashina no Takako, also known as Kō-no-Naishi (高内侍). His sister Teishi (Sadako) was married to Emperor Ichijō
, and Korechika aspired to become the regent (Sessho
) for his young brother-in-law after his father's death. Korechika's (ultimately fruitless) ambitions pitted him against his powerful uncle, Fujiwara no Michinaga
, and the resulting power struggle continued until Empress Teishi's unexpected death. This left Michinaga's daughter, Shoshi
, as Ichijō's sole empress, solidifying Michinaga's power at court.
In Chōtoku 2 (長徳２年) (996), Korechika and his younger brother Takaie were exiled to Dazaifu. Korechika was charged with shooting an arrow at Retired Emperor Kazan, and performing an esoteric Shingon ceremony known as Taigen no Hō (大元帥法), which was reserved solely for the emperor. He was pardoned a year later, and subsequently became Jun-Daijin (associate minister; 准大臣).
Korechika is sometimes referred to as Gidō-sanshi (儀同三司) or Sochi no Naidaijin (帥内大臣).
Minamoto no Shigemitsu (源重光の娘).
They had three children.
Fujiwara no Michitaka
, the first son of Kaneie, was a Kugyō of the Heian period. He served as regent for the Emperor Ichijō, and later as Kampaku...
, was a kugyo
Kugyo
is the collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. The kugyō was broadly divided into two groups: the , comprising the Chancellor of the Realm, the Minister of the Left, and the Minister of the Right; and the , comprising the...
(Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
) of the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
. His mother was Takashina no Takako, also known as Kō-no-Naishi (高内侍). His sister Teishi (Sadako) was married to Emperor Ichijō
Emperor Ichijo
was the 66th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011.-Traditional narrative:Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Kanehito-shinnō....
, and Korechika aspired to become the regent (Sessho
Sessho and Kampaku
In Japan, was a title given to a regent who was named to assist either a child emperor before his coming of age, or an empress. The was theoretically a sort of chief advisor for the emperor, but was the title of both first secretary and regent who assists an adult emperor. During the Heian era,...
) for his young brother-in-law after his father's death. Korechika's (ultimately fruitless) ambitions pitted him against his powerful uncle, Fujiwara no Michinaga
Fujiwara no Michinaga
represents the highpoint of the Fujiwara regents' control over the government of Japan.-Early life:He was the fourth or fifth son of Fujiwara no Kaneie by his wife Tokihime, daughter of Fujiwara no Nakamasa...
, and the resulting power struggle continued until Empress Teishi's unexpected death. This left Michinaga's daughter, Shoshi
Empress Shōshi
or Empress Shōshi , , also known as , the eldest daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga, was Empress of Japan from c. 1000 to c. 1011...
, as Ichijō's sole empress, solidifying Michinaga's power at court.
In Chōtoku 2 (長徳２年) (996), Korechika and his younger brother Takaie were exiled to Dazaifu. Korechika was charged with shooting an arrow at Retired Emperor Kazan, and performing an esoteric Shingon ceremony known as Taigen no Hō (大元帥法), which was reserved solely for the emperor. He was pardoned a year later, and subsequently became Jun-Daijin (associate minister; 准大臣).
Korechika is sometimes referred to as Gidō-sanshi (儀同三司) or Sochi no Naidaijin (帥内大臣).
Career
- ShōryakuShoryakuwas a after Eiso and before Chōtoku. This period spanned the years from November 990 through February 995. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 990 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
2 (991): Named Sangi (参議) - Shōryaku 3 (992): Named Gon-no-ChūnagonChunagonwas a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705...
(権中納言) - Shōryaku 3 (992): Named Gon-no-DainagonDainagonwas a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
(権大納言) - Shōryaku 5, on the 28th day of the 8th month (994): Named Naidaijin (内大臣)
- ChōtokuChotokuwas a after Eiso and before Chōhō. This period spanned the years from February 995 through January 999. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* 995 : The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events...
2, on the 24th day of the 4th month (996): Exiled to Dazaifu. - Chōtoku 3 , on the 5th day of the 4th month (997): Pardoned and permitted to return to Heian-kyō
- KankōKankowas a after Chōhō and before Chōwa. This period spanned the years from July 1004 through December 1012. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of Era:* 1004 : The era namewas changed to mark an event or series of events...
5, on the 16th day of the 1st month (1008): Named Jun-Daijin (准大臣) - Kankō 7, in the 28th day of the 1st month (February 14, 1010): Died at the age of 37.
Marriages and children
He was married to a daughter of Gon-no-DainagonDainagon
was a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
Minamoto no Shigemitsu (源重光の娘).
They had three children.
- Michimasa (道雅) (Ara-sammi, 荒三位) (992-1054) - Sakyo-no-Daibu (左京大夫)
- daughter, married to Fujiwara no Yorimune (son of Fujiwara no MichinagaFujiwara no Michinagarepresents the highpoint of the Fujiwara regents' control over the government of Japan.-Early life:He was the fourth or fifth son of Fujiwara no Kaneie by his wife Tokihime, daughter of Fujiwara no Nakamasa...
) - Chikako (周子), Lady-in-waiting for Empress Shōshi, consort of Emperor IchijōEmperor Ichijowas the 66th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011.-Traditional narrative:Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Kanehito-shinnō....
, and married to Fujiwara no Yoshiyori