Fujiwara no Kamatari
藤原鎌足
Fujiwara no Kamatari with his sons Jo'e [ja] and Fujiwara no Fuhito, who is wearing court robes. (Nara National Museum)
Born	Nakatomi no Kamatari 614
Died	(669-11-14)November 14, 669
Known for	Founder of the Fujiwara clan, launched the Taika Reform of 645 with Naka no Ōe (later Emperor Tenji)
Notable work	Poems in the Man'yōshū and Kakyō Hyōshiki
Spouse	Kagami no Ōkimi
Children	Jo'e [ja], Fujiwara no Fuhito, Hikami no Ōtoji, Ōhara no Ōtoji, Mimi no Toji
Parent	Nakatomi no Mikeko,

Fujiwara no Kamatari (藤原鎌足, 614 – November 14, 669), also known as Nakatomi no Kamatari (中臣鎌足), was a Japanese politician and aristocrat who, together with Prince Naka no Ōe (later Emperor Tenji), carried out the Taika Reform. He was the founder of the Fujiwara clan, the most powerful aristocratic family in Japan during the Nara and Heian periods.^[1] He, along with the Mononobe clan, was a supporter of Shinto and fought the introduction of Buddhism to Japan. The Soga clan, defenders of Buddhism in the Asuka period, defeated Kamatari and the Mononobe clan, and Buddhism became the dominant religion of the Imperial Court. Kamatari was appointed Inner Minister,^[2] and, along with Prince Naka no Ōe, later Emperor Tenji (626–672), launched the Taika Reform of 645, which centralized and strengthened the central government. Just before his death, he received the surname Fujiwara and the rank Taishōkan from Emperor Tenji, thus establishing the Fujiwara clan.^[3]^[4]

Biography

Kamatari was born to the Nakatomi clan, an aristocratic kin group^[5] claiming descent from their ancestral god Ame-no-Koyane.^[6] He was the son of Nakatomi no Mikeko, and named Nakatomi no Kamatari (中臣鎌足) at birth.^[3] His early life and exploits are described in the 8th century clan history Tōshi Kaden (藤氏家伝).^[7]

He was a friend and supporter of the Prince Naka no Ōe, later Emperor Tenji. Kamatari was the head of the Jingi no Haku, or Shinto ritualists; as such, he was one of the chief opponents of the increasing power and prevalence of Buddhism in the court, and in the nation. As a result, in 645, Prince Naka no Ōe and Kamatari made a coup d'état in the court. They slew Soga no Iruka who had a strong influence over Empress Kōgyoku; thereafter, Iruka's father, Soga no Emishi, committed suicide.

Empress Kōgyoku was forced to abdicate in favor of her younger brother, who became Emperor Kōtoku; Kōtoku then appointed Kamatari naidaijin (Inner Minister).

Kamatari was a leader in the development of what became known as the Taika Reforms, a major set of reforms based on Chinese models and aimed at strengthening Imperial power.^[3] He acted as one of the principal editors responsible for the development of the Japanese legal code known as Sandai-kyaku-shiki, sometimes referred to as the Rules and Regulations of the Three Generations.^[8]

During his life Kamatari continued to support Prince Naka no Ōe, who became Emperor Tenji in 661. Tenji granted him the highest rank Taishōkan (or Daishokukan) (大織冠) and a new clan name, Fujiwara (藤原), as honors.^[3]

Legacy

An illustration of Fujiwara no Kamatari by Kikuchi Yōsai

Kamatari's son was Fujiwara no Fuhito. Kamatari's nephew, Nakatomi no Omimaro became head of Ise Shrine, and passed down the Nakatomi name.

In the 13th century, the main line of the Fujiwara family split into five houses: Konoe, Takatsukasa, Kujō, Nijō and Ichijō. These five families in turn provided regents for the Emperors, and were thus known as the Five Regent Houses. The Tachibana clan (samurai) also claimed descent from the Fujiwara. Emperor Montoku of the Taira clan was descended through his mother to the Fujiwara.

Until the marriage of the Crown Prince Hirohito (posthumously Emperor Shōwa) to Princess Kuni Nagako (posthumously Empress Kōjun) in January 1924, the principal consorts of emperors and crown princes had always been recruited from one of the Sekke Fujiwara. Imperial princesses were often married to Fujiwara lords - throughout a millennium at least. As recently as Emperor Shōwa's third daughter, the late former Princess Takanomiya (Kazoku), and Prince Mikasa's elder daughter, the former Princess Yasuko, married into Takatsukasa and Konoe families, respectively. Empress Shōken was a descendant of the Fujiwara clan and through Hosokawa Gracia of the Minamoto clan. Likewise a daughter of the last Tokugawa Shōgun married a second cousin of Emperor Shōwa.

Among Kamatari's descendants are Fumimaro Konoe^{[citation needed]} the 34th/38th/39th Prime Minister of Japan and Konoe's grandson Morihiro Hosokawa^{[citation needed]} the 79th Prime Minister of Japan (who is also a descendant of the Hosokawa clan via the Ashikaga clan of the Minamoto clan).

Historic sites

Abuyama Kofun

Abuyama Kofun, a megalithic tomb in Takatsuki and Ibaraki, Osaka has been identified as Fujiwara no Kamatari's tomb. The tomb and a mummy buried inside a coffin were first discovered in 1934. 50 years later, radiographic images and samples taken at the time were examined uncovering a mummy wrapped in gold thread.^[9] The kanmuri headwear found in the tomb indicates that the person buried was a noble of the highest rank Taishokkan.^[10] It was concluded that it is highly likely that the tomb was dedicated to Kamatari. According to the analysis, the mummified person had a strong bone structure and an athletic body, with the so-called pitcher's elbow. The cause of death was complications from injuries to the vertebral column and lumbar vertebrae sustained from a fall from horseback or a high ground. The injury is thought to have left the lower body paralyzed and caused secondary complications such as pneumonia or urinary tract infection.^[9] The cause of death matches with that of Kamatari's, whom is recorded to have died from a fall from horseback.^[10]

Higashinara site

In 2014, the Ibaraki City Education Committee announced that ancient sen bricks discovered at Higashinara site in Ibaraki, Osaka match with the bricks found in Abuyama Kofun. The site is believed to have been the location of Mishima Betsugyō, a villa where Kamatari stayed before the Isshi Incident which triggered the Taika Reform (645).^[11]

Family

Father: Nakatomi no Mikeko (中臣御食子)
Mother: Ōtomo no Chisen-no-iratsume (大伴智仙娘), daughter of Otomo no Kuiko (大伴囓子). Also known as "Ōtomo-bunin" (大伴夫人).
- Main wife: Kagami no Ōkimi (鏡王女, ?-683)
- Wife: Kurumamochi no Yoshiko-no-iratsume (車持与志古娘), daughter of Kurumamochi no Kuniko (車持国子).
  - 1st son: Jo'e [ja] (定恵, 643–666), buddhist monk who traveled to China.
  - 2nd son: Fujiwara no Fuhito (藤原不比等, 659–720)
- Children with unknown mother:
  - Daughter: Fujiwara no Hikami-no-iratsume (藤原氷上娘, ?–682), Bunin of Emperor Tenmu, mother of Princess Tajima.
  - Daughter: Fujiwara no Ioe-no-iratsume (藤原五百重娘), Bunin of Emperor Tenmu, wife of Fujiwara no Fuhito and mother of Prince Niitabe and Fujiwara no Maro.
  - Daughter: Fujiwara no Mimimotoji (藤原耳面刀自), Bunin of Emperor Kōbun, mother of Princess Ichishi-hime (壱志姫王).
  - Daughter: Fujiwara no Tome/Tone-no-iratsume (藤原斗売娘), wife of Nakatomi no Omimaro (中臣意美麻呂), mother of Nakatomi no Azumahito (中臣東人).

Popular culture

Portrayed by Noh Seung-jin in the 2012–2013 KBS1 TV series Dream of the Emperor.
Portrayed by Junichi Okada in 2005 NHK special drama Taika Kaishin.

References

Sources

External links

Fujiwara family tree

Kamatari^[1]
614–669

Fuhito^[2]
659–720

NANKE branch

HOKKE branch

SHIKIKE branch

KYŌKE branch

Muchimaro^[2]
680–737

Fusasaki^[2]
681–737

Umakai^[2]
694–737

Maro^[2]
695–737

Toyonari^[3]
704–766

Nakamaro^[3]
706–764

Otomaro^[4]

Nagate^[5]
714–771

Matate^[4]
715–766

Uona^[6]
721–783

Kaedemaro^[7]
723–776

Yoshitsugu^[8]
716–777

Tamaro^[9]
722–783

Momokawa^[10]
732–779

Hamanari^[11]
724–790

Tsuginawa^[12]
727–796

Korekimi^[13]
727–789

Uchimaro^[14]
756–812

Sonohito^[12]
756–819

Otsugu^[12]
774–843

Fuyutsugu^[15]
775–826

Nagara^[1]
802–826

Yoshifusa^[1]
804–872

Yoshiyo^[16]
823–900

Mototsune^[17]
836–891

Tokihira^[18]^[12]
871–909

Tadahira^[12]
880–949

Saneyori^[12]
900–970

Morosuke^[12]
909–960

Yoritada^[19]
924–989

Koretada^[12]
924–972

Yoritada^[12]^[20]
925–977

Kaneie^[12]^[19]
929–990

Michitaka^[21]^[22]
953–995

Michikane^[22]
961–995

Michinaga^[23]
966–1028

Yorimichi^[24]^[25]
992–1074

Norimichi^[26]
996–1075

Morozane^[27]
1042–1101

Moromichi^[28]
1062–1099

Tadazane^[29]
1075–1162

Tadamichi^[30]
1097–1164

Yorinaga^[31]
1120–1156

Konoe
Family

Matsudono
Family

Kujō
Family

Konoe Motozane^[32]
1143–1166

Matsudono Motofusa^[33]
1144?–1231

Kujō Kanezane^[30]
1149–1207

Konoe Motomichi^[16]^[34]
1160–1233

Matsudono Moroie^[33]
1172–1238

Kujō Yoshitsune^[35]
1169–1206

Konoe Iezane^[34]
1179–1242

Kujō Michiie^[35]
1193–1252

Takatsukasa
Family

Nijō
Family

Ichijō
Family

Konoe Kanetsune^[36]
1210–1259

Takatsukasa Kanehira^[37]
1228–1294

Kujō Norizane^[38]
1211–1235

Nijō Yoshizane^[39]
1216–1271

Ichijō Sanetsune^[40]
1223–1284

Notes

In the 13th century, the main line of the Fujiwara family split into "Five regent houses": the Kujō, Nijō and Ichijō (descendants of Kanezane); and also the Konoe and Takatsukasa (descendants of Motozane). To view the complete family tree, visit Fujiwara family tree.

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^ ^a ^b Nobuyoshi, Yamamoto (2003). 摂関政治史論考 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). ISBN 978-4-642-02394-8.
^ Haruo, Sasayama (2003). "藤原兼通の政権獲得過程". 日本律令制の展開 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). ISBN 978-4-642-02393-1.
^ Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
^ ^a ^b Papinot, Edmond (1910). Historical and geographical dictionary of Japan. Tokyo: Librarie Sansaisha.
^ Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). Gukanshō: The Future and the Past. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0; OCLC 251325323
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^ Araki, Hiroshi (2009). "中世の皇統迭立と文学形成 1院政期から中世への視界坂上の宝剣と壺切―談話録に見る皇統・儀礼の古代と中世―". 皇統迭立と文学形成 (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4-7576-0513-8.
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^ "The World Turned Upside Down" translated by Kathe Roth, p. 27
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^ ^a ^b "藤原北家．九条". 尊卑分脈 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 1904. p. 77.
^ "藤原北家．近衛". 尊卑分脈 (in Japanese). Yoshikawa Kōbunkan (吉川弘文館). 1904. p. 65.
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