Japanese noble, statesman and calligrapher
Fujiwara no Sukemasa
藤原佐理 |
|---|
 |
| Born | 944 |
|---|
| Died | August 19, 998 |
|---|
| Family | Fujiwara Hokke |
|---|
| Father | Fujiwara no Atsutoshi (藤原敦敏) |
|---|
Fujiwara no Sukemasa (藤原 佐理, 944 – August 19, 998) was a Japanese noble, statesman, and renowned calligrapher of the middle Heian period. Grandson and adopted son of the daijō-daijin Fujiwara no Saneyori and son of major general of the imperial guard Fujiwara no Atsutoshi (藤原敦敏), he is honored as one of the Sanseki, a group of outstanding calligraphers.
Life
In 961, Sukemasa was conferred the lower junior fifth rank (従五位下) and appointed as a chamberlain. He passed through two minor military positions until, in 967, his adoptive father Fujiwara no Saneyori was appointed as regent to the newly ascended Emperor Reizei. Sukemasa was promoted that year to upper junior fifth rank (従五位上), and again in 968 to lower senior fifth rank (正五位下).
In 969, Emperor En'yū ascended to the throne, and Sukemasa rose gradually as a benkan (弁官) in the Daijō-kan. In 978 he was promoted to sangi, joining the ranks of the kugyō, and in 984 gained the junior third rank (従三位).
In the following courts of Emperor Kazan and Emperor Ichijō, Sukemasa was repeatedly passed over for promotion in favor of Kazan's relative Fujiwara no Yoshichika and then Ichijō's relatives Fujiwara no Michitaka, Fujiwara no Michikane, and Fujiwara no Michinaga. In 991, he resigned his post as sangi and moved to Kyushu as vice-minister of the Dazaifu. In 992, he was promoted to the senior third rank (正三位).
Sukemasa died on August 19, 998, at the age of 55.
Personality and anecdotes
Sukemasa was recognized for his excellent calligraphy early on and was particularly esteemed as the leading practitioner of cursive script. His work adorned the folding screens used at the daijō-e (大嘗会) feasts following the coronations of Emperors En'yū, Kazan, and Ichijō. He is counted among the Sanseki group of great calligraphers, along with Ono no Michikaze and Fujiwara no Yukinari, and his flowing and lively handwriting is known in Japanese as saseki (佐跡). Several examples of original notes he wrote remain, including the National Treasures of Japan Shikaishi (詩懐紙) and Rirakujō (離洛帖).
However, Sukemasa loved sake, and disgraced himself on numerous occasions. He was extremely neglectful of his duties and lacking in common sense, and the Ōkagami calls him a "slovenly man" (如泥人).[1] That said, some of his documents as a sangi remain, and he did seem to have some views on ancient practices and customs, in which his family was well versed.
The Ōkagami contains two anecdotes about Sukemasa. In one, as Sukemasa returns to Kyōto from his assignment to Kyushu, he receives an oracle from Ōyamazumi Shrine in a dream and then writes down the shrine's motto on its gate. In the other, the regent Fujiwara no Michitaka commands Sukemasa to write a poem on a sliding screen for his new palace, but Sukemasa arrives late and ruins Michitaka's mood.[1]
