Fujiwara no Mototsune
Encyclopedia
, also known as Horikawa Daijin, was a statesman, courtier and politician during the Nara period
.
Mototsune continued the trend begun by Yoshifusa
of monopolizing the position of regent
to the Japanese emperor
. He was third son of Fujiwara no Nagayoshi, brother of Yoshifusa
, and Fujiwara no Otoharu (藤原 乙春), daughter of Fujiwara no Tsugutada. He was adopted by Yoshifusa
who had no sons, and Mototsune followed in Yoshifusa's footsteps.
After the emperor had reached his maturity, however, Mototsune invented the position of kampaku regent for himself. This innovation allowed the Fujiwara clan to tighten its grip on power right throughout an emperor's reign.
Mototsune is referred to as Shōsen Kō (昭宣公) (posthumous name as Daijō Daijin).
He was married to Princess Sōshi (操子女王), daughter of Imperial Prince Saneyasu (son of Emperor Nimmyo).
Their children were
He was also married to a daughter of Imperial Prince Tadara (son of Emperor Saga).
They had a son.
The other children were
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
.
Mototsune continued the trend begun by Yoshifusa
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa
, also known as Somedono no Daijin or Shirakawa-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.When Yoshifusa's grandson was enthroned as Emperor Seiwa, Yoshifusa was assumed the role of regent for the young monarch...
of monopolizing the position of regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
to the Japanese emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
. He was third son of Fujiwara no Nagayoshi, brother of Yoshifusa
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa
, also known as Somedono no Daijin or Shirakawa-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.When Yoshifusa's grandson was enthroned as Emperor Seiwa, Yoshifusa was assumed the role of regent for the young monarch...
, and Fujiwara no Otoharu (藤原 乙春), daughter of Fujiwara no Tsugutada. He was adopted by Yoshifusa
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa
, also known as Somedono no Daijin or Shirakawa-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.When Yoshifusa's grandson was enthroned as Emperor Seiwa, Yoshifusa was assumed the role of regent for the young monarch...
who had no sons, and Mototsune followed in Yoshifusa's footsteps.
After the emperor had reached his maturity, however, Mototsune invented the position of kampaku regent for himself. This innovation allowed the Fujiwara clan to tighten its grip on power right throughout an emperor's reign.
Mototsune is referred to as Shōsen Kō (昭宣公) (posthumous name as Daijō Daijin).
Career
- 864 (JōganJoganwas a after Ten'an and before Gangyō. This period spanned the years from April 859 through April 877. The two reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 7, 859 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
6): Mototsune was named SangiSangi (Japan)was an associate counselor in the Imperial court of Japan from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century.This was a position in the daijō-kan, or early feudal Japanese government... - 866 (Jōgan 8): 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...
- 870 (Jōgan 12, 1st month): He became 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....
- 872 (Jōgan 14): He was named UdaijinUdaijinUdaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Udaijin in the context of a central...
- 876 (Jōgan 18): He was named SesshōSessho and KampakuIn 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,...
- 880 (Gangyō 4): He was named Daijō Daijin
- 884 (GangyōGangyowas a after Jōgan and before Ninna. This period spanned the years from April 877 through February 885. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:* January 18, 877 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...
8): Mototsune was the first to receive the title Kampaku. - 890 (Kanpyō 2, 14th day of the 12th month): retire from Kampaku
- February 25, 891 (Kampyō 3, 13th day of the 1st month): Mototsune died at the age of 56.
Genealogy
This member of the Fujiwara clan was the son of Fujiwara no Nagayoshi, who was one of the brothers of Fujiwara no Yoshifusa. Mototsune was adopted as son and heir of Yoshifusa. In other words, Yoshifusa was Mototsune's uncle, and father through adoption.He was married to Princess Sōshi (操子女王), daughter of Imperial Prince Saneyasu (son of Emperor Nimmyo).
Their children were
- TokihiraFujiwara no Tokihirawas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career:Tokihira was a minister under Emperor Daigo.* 891 : Tokihira was given a rank which was the equivalent of sangi....
(時平) (871-909) - SadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Sadaijin in the context of a central... - NakahiraFujiwara no Nakahira, also known as Biwa no daijin, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.-Career at court:He was a minister during the reigns of Emperor Daigo and Emperor Suzaku.* 932 : Nakahira was made udaijin.* 945 : Sadaijin Nakahira died; and he was posthumously honored by the...
(仲平) (875-945) - Sadaijin - TadahiraFujiwara no Tadahirawas a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.He is also known as Teishin-Kō or Ko-ichijō Dono or Ko-ichijō daijō-daijin.-Career:...
(忠平) (880-949) - Daijō Daijin, Sesshō and KampakuSessho and KampakuIn 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,... - Yoriko (頼子) (?-936), consort of Emperor SeiwaEmperor Seiwawas the 56th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Seiwa's reign spanned the years from 858 through 876.-Traditional narrative:...
- Kazuko (佳珠子) (?-?), consort of Emperor Seiwa
- Onshi (温子) (872-907), consort of Emperor UdaEmperor Udawas the 59th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Uda's reign spanned the years from 887 through 897.-Name and legacy:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or Chōjiin-tei....
- Onshi (穏子) (885-954), consort of Emperor DaigoEmperor Daigowas the 60th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Daigo's reign spanned the years from 897 through 930. He is named after his place of burial.-Traditional narrative:...
, and mother of Emperor SuzakuEmperor Suzakuwas the 61st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Suzaku's reign spanned the years from 930 through 946.-Traditional narrative:...
and Emperor MurakamiEmperor Murakamiwas the 62nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Murakami's reign spanned the years from 946 to his death in 967.-Traditional narrative:...
He was also married to a daughter of Imperial Prince Tadara (son of Emperor Saga).
They had a son.
- Kanehira (兼平) (875-935) - Kunai-Kyō (宮内卿)
The other children were
- Kamiko (佳美子) (?-898), consort of Emperor KōkōEmperor Kokowas the 58th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Kōkō reigned from 884 to 887.- Traditional narrative :Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was or Komatsu-tei. He would later be identified sometimes as "the Emperor of...
- Yoshihira (良平)
- Shigeko (滋子), married to Minamoto no Yoshiari (son of Emperor Montoku)
- daughter, married to Imperial Prince Sadamoto (son of Emperor Seiwa), and mother of Minamoto no Kanetada (源兼忠)
See also
- Fujiwara Regents
- Nihon Montoku Tennō JitsurokuNihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku, abbreviated as Montoku Jitsuroku, is an officially commissioned Japanese history text. Completed in 879, it is the fifth text in the Six National Histories series...
, one of the Six National HistoriesRikkokushiis a general term for Japan's six national histories chronicling the mythology and history of Japan from the earliest times to AD 887. The six histories were written at the imperial court during the eighth and ninth centuries, under order of the Emperors...
of Japan; edited by Fujiwara no Mototsune.