Fujiwara no Kamatari
Fujiwara no Kamatari (614 – 669), also known as Nakatomi no Kamatari, was a courtier and politician during the Asuka Period (538 – 710), who was the first to have the name Fujiwara.
Kamatari was born into the Nakatomi clan, then one of the most powerful clans, who were hereditarily in charge of Shinto rites and festivals. He was the head of the Jingi no Haku or Shinto ritualists. During the Asuka Period, the introduction of Buddhism to Japan was controversial. Three powerful clans took sides in their quest for dominance. The Soga promoted Buddhism, while the Mononobe and the Nakatomi opposed it.
The Soga clan was able to install Emperor Yomei, the son of a Soga mother, who was not opposed to Buddhism. Yomei died after a reign of only two years (585 – 587). In 587 the Soga under Soga no Umako defeated the Mononobe clan in the Battle of Shigisen. Umako then installed Emperor Sushun who reigned for five years until he was assassinated under orders from Umako. Afterwards, Umako was able to install Empress Suiko and Prince Shōtoku as her regent, both being the children of Soga mothers.
Umako was succeeded by his son, Soga no Emishi and then by his grandson, Soga no Iruka. They assumed greater powers and became tyrannical.
From early childhood, Kamatari enjoyed Chinese history books and even memorized the ancient Chinese strategy book called Rikuto. He studied Confucianism at the school of Minabuchi no Shoan, who had studied in China.
In searching for allies against the Soga, Kamatari found luck in a school playground where he met Prince Naka no Ōe, who would one day become Emperor Tenji. The boys developed a friendship and were both interested in ending Soga power. They often plotted while pretending to be studying in a wisteria orchard at the school.
In 641, Princess Takara was enthroned as Empress Kogyoku after her husband, Emperor Jomei, died. The Soga became even more excessive. Soga no Emishi forced citizens, including the relatives of Prince Shotoku, to build a Soga Mausoleum. After an illness, Emishi retired and appointed his first son, Iruka, to fill his position and appointed his second son as minister, all without Imperial authority. Soga no Iruka did not waste any time or efforts to establish his power. Preferring Prince Furuhito no Ōe to be in line to be emperor as opposed to Prince Yamashiro no Oe, who was next in line, Iruka sent armed forces to kill Yamashiro. Yamashiro initially escaped but later committed suicide along with his whole family, thus ending Prince Shotoku’s line.
Kamatari recruited confederates to end the Soga abuses, including a prominent Soga, Soganokura-Yamada no Ishikawamaro.
In 645, messengers from Three Kingdoms of Korea (Silla, Baekje and Goguryeo) came to Japan to deliver some gifts in a ceremony. Knowing that Iruka would attend, Kamatari along with Naka no Ōe laid a trap. One of the confederates convinced Iruka to take off his sword for the ceremony. As it was about to start Kamatari ordered the gates to be closed. Iruka was assassinated right before Empress Kogyoku. The empress fled the palace and Prince Furuhito ran about blaming the Koreans. (He soon entered a monastery.) Forces were gathered to prepare for battle and those of Kamatari and Prince Naka no Oe’s forces surrounded Soga no Emishi’s home. The following day, Emishi set fire to his residence, committed suicide, and with this act, Soga tyranny ended.
Empress Kogyoku abdicated in favor of Prince Karu who became Emperor Kotoku and Prince Naka no Ōe became crown prince. For his efforts, Kamatari was appointed as Uchi no Omi (an important governmental post presiding over important state affairs while assisting the Emperor).
Kamatari, along with Prince Naka no Ōe, later Emperor Tenji (626 – 672), launched the Confucian inspired Taika Reform of 645, which centralized and strengthened the central government, declaring all land belonged to the Emperor and great landowning nobles continued to live on the land at the Emperor’s pleasure. He also acted as one of the principal editors of the Japanese legal code (Sandai-kyaku-shiki, the Rules and Regulations of the Three Generations).
Emperor Tenji visited Kamatari on his death bed and bestowed upon him the name, “Fujiwara,” which means “wisteria.” Kamatari’s first son was given the name and from then on, his ancestors would be known as Fujiwara, becoming the most prominent family of the Heian Era.
Legacy
Kamatari’s son was Fujiwara no Fuhito. During the reign of Emperor Monmu, the government declared that only the descendants of Fuhito could bear the Fujiwara surname and could be appointed to certain high offices. Fuhito’s progeny started the main branches of the Fujiwara clan.
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 Sekke Fujiwara (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 (Emperor Shōwa) to Princess Kuni Nagako (Empress Kōjun) in January 1924, the principal consorts of emperors and crown princes had always come from one of the Sekke Fujiwara.
Among Kamatari’s descendants were the future Prime Ministers of Japan, Fumimaro Konoe (1891 – 1945) and Konoe’s grandson Morihiro Hosokawa (born 1938).