Fujiwara no Yoshifusa

Fujiwara no Yoshifusa (804 – 872) was a member of the Northern House of the Fujiwara clan (Hokke), who was very involved in the imperial court, legal and juridical affairs, holder of many governmental offices, and set the groundwork for Fujiwara clan predominance during the Late Heian period. His father was Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu (775 – 826). Yoshifusa was popularly called Some-dono or Shirakawa-dono.

Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu was close to Emperor Kanmu. Kanmu’s son, Emperor Saga continued relying upon Fuyutsugu, then Yoshifusa. In 814, Yoshifusa was allowed to take a daughter of Emperor Saga, Minamoto no Kiyohime, for his wife.

Yoshifusa had only one child, a daughter, Fujiwara no Akirakeiko (Meishi), popularly known as Somedono no Kisaki, (829–899).

He adopted Fujiwara no Mototsune, who was the son of Fujiwara no Nagara, Yoshifusa’s older brother.

Yoshifusa’s sister Fujiwara no Junshi was the wife of Imperial Prince (Crown Prince) Masara (Emperor Ninmyō) and gave birth to Michiyasu (Emperor Montoku).

Yoshifusa had many high government appointments and rapidly advanced up the court ranks. Yoshifusa was assigned as Kurodo (Officer of the Imperial Court Affairs Office) in January 826 and promoted to Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Lower Court Rank) in January, 828. Among the many high positions he held included Shosanmi (Senior Third Court Rank), Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain), Sangi (Councilor), Gon Chūnagon (provisional vice-councilor of state), and Mutsu Dewa Azechi (Provincial Government Inspector of Mutsu and Dewa. This are just a few highlights, fora detailed listing would be laborious to read.

While Yoshifusa’s early rise up the court ranks was impressive, his power increased exponentially, as well as that of the Hokke Fujiwara, as a result of the Jōwa Incident (Jōwa no Hen).

For many years there had been a peaceful succession of emperors following Emperor Kanmu’s succession plan. If the emperor’s heir would be too young to assume the throne, a brother would be chosen, and the young heir would then succeed his uncle when he would become of age.

After Saga retired, he was succeeded by Junna (his brother), and after Junna retired, he was succeeded by Ninmyō (his nephew), and Junna’s son, Tsunesada (825 – 884) was named Imperial Prince to succeed Ninmyō.

Emperor Ninmyō and Fujiwara no Junshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu and sister of Yoshifusa, had a son, Michiyasu (827 – 858). Because Michiyasu and Tsunesada were only two years apart, it would have appeared that Michiyasu’s chances of becoming emperor seemed remote; however, the Jōwa Incident changed everything.

In 842 after the deaths of Junna and Saga, supporters of Tsunesada took him away from the imperial palace. They were apprehended and Emperor Ninmyō punished them all, including Tsunesada, who was removed as Imperial Prince. Michiyasu was named Imperial Prince.

After the Jōwa Incident, Yoshifusa was given the now open position of Dainagon (chief councilor of state). In 848, Yoshifusa was promoted to Udaijin (Minister of the Right).

After Ninmyō retired in 850, Imperial Prince Michiyasu was enthroned as Emperor Montoku. Montoku married Yoshifusa’s daughter, Fujiwara no Akirakeiko. In 850, they had a son, Korehito. In an unprecedented event, Korehito was installed as Imperial Prince before his first birthday.

Emperor Montoku died at a young age and Imperial Prince Korehito was enthroned as Emperor Seiwa, while still a young boy. Since Seiwa had spent his childhood at Yoshifusa’s residence, he always confided in Yoshifusa and gave an edict to him to serve as Sessho (regent).

Yoshifusa adopted Fujiwara no Mototsune, the third son of his brother, Fujiwara no Nagara. He also arranged the marriage between Nagara’s daughter, Fujiwara no Takaiko, and Emperor Montoku, laying the groundwork of his family’s power for future generations.

(Takaiko was well-known for her love affair with Arihara no Narihira (famous waka poet and perhaps the main character in Tales of Ise) and was several years older than Montoku.

Yoshifusa was in an excellent position to control the new emperor, which is exactly what Kanmu hoped to avoid. Thus, Yoshifusa laid the groundwork for the great power and prosperity of the Hokke Fujiwara.

Yoshifusa was promoted to Shonii (Senior Second Court Rank) in 851 and the following year, edited a national history, the Shoku Nihon Koki. In 856, he was promoted to Daijō-daijin. At the same time, he was granted Juichii (Junior First Court Rank).

In 866, there was a conspiracy to destroy the main gate (Ōtenmon) of the Imperial Palace, the Ōtenmon Conspiracy (Ōtenmon no Hen) or Ōtenmon Incident. A witness accused Dainagon Tomo no Yoshio along with his son of starting the fire. Dainagon Tomo no Yoshio was sent into exile and many in the Otomo (aka Tomo) and Ki clans were either executed or ousted from the court.  It worked well for Yoshifusa, for it eliminated many rivals.

After the Ōtenmon Conspiracy, he was again appointed Sessho.

Yoshifusa focused on the development of the legal system and completed establishment of the Jogan Kyakushiki Code (Regulations and Procedures of the Jogan Era.

In 871, he was granted the rank of Jusangu, a title reserved for the nobility and members of the Imperial family. He died in 872. After his death, he was made Shoichii (Senior First Court Rank).

Yoshifusa’s marriage was a prelude to his potential power. He wed Minamoto no Kiyohime, Emperor Saga’s daughter. This marriage was the first time a Princess became the wife of a husband who was a subject. Under the law, Imperial Princesses were only allowed to marry Princes up to the third generation, i.e., the Emperor’s grandchildren. To have the marriage, she was demoted from nobility to a commoner, hence the name Minamoto.

Being the first Sessho not of imperial rank, Yoshifusa had reached the pinnacle of his career. He had all the power to him and his family, and the families of his descendants served as Sekkan-ke (the families which produced regents) in succession. His adopted son, Fujiwara no Mototsune, would become the most powerful man in Japan, ruling as regent to the emperor. The Late Heian Era would be notable for rule by the Fujiwara regents.