Fujiwara no Yoshifusa (藤原 良房, 804 – October 7, 872), also known as Somedono no Daijin or Shirakawa-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.[1]

Fujiwara no Yoshifusa by Kikuchi Yōsai

When Yoshifusa's grandson was enthroned as Emperor Seiwa, Yoshifusa assumed the role of regent (sesshō) for the young monarch.[1] He was the first sesshō in Japanese history who was not himself of imperial rank; and he was the first of a series of regents from the Fujiwara clan.[1]

Career

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He was a minister during the reigns of Emperor Ninmyō, Emperor Montoku and Emperor Seiwa.[1]

Yoshifusa conceived the programme of boy-sovereigns with Fujiwara regents; and his adopted son, Mototsune, carried out the plans.[6]

Genealogy

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This member of the Fujiwara clan was the son of Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu.[1] Yoshifusa's brothers were Fujiwara no Nagayoshi,[7] Fujiwara no Yoshisuke[8] and Fujiwara no Yoshikado.[9]

Marriages and children

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He was married to Minamoto no Kiyohime (源 潔姫), daughter of Emperor Saga.

They had only one daughter.

He adopted his brother Nagara's third son.

Yoshifusa is referred to as Chūjin Kō (忠仁公) (posthumous title was Daijō Daijin).

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Fujiwara no Nakahira" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 212, p. 212, at Google Books; Brinkley, Frank et al. (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era, p. 203., p. 203, at Google Books
  2. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 135., p. 135, at Google Books; see "Fousiwara-no Yosi fousa", pre-Hepburn romanization
  3. ^ Titsingh, p. 114., p. 114, at Google Books; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). The Future and the Past, p. 285; n.b., Yoshifusa was the first minister to be promoted to Daijō-daijin. That high office was previously filled by Imperial Princes only.
  4. ^ Brown, p. 286.
  5. ^ Titsingh, p. 120., p. 120, at Google Books.
  6. ^ Brinkley, p. 237., p. 237, at Google Books
  7. ^ Brinkley, p. 203., p. 203, at Google Books
  8. ^ Titsingh, p. 114., p. 114, at Google Books
  9. ^ Florenz, Karl. (1906) Geschichte der japanischen Litteratur, Vols. 1-2, p. 208., p. 208, at Google Books

References

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  • Brinkley, Frank and Dairoku Kikuchi. (1915). A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era. New York: Encyclopædia Britannica. OCLC 413099
  • 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
  • (in Japanese) Hioki, S. (1990). Nihon Keifu Sōran. Tokyo: Kōdansya.
  • (in Japanese) Kasai, M. (1991). Kugyō Bunin Nenpyō. Tokyo: Yamakawa Shuppan-sha
  • (in Japanese) Kodama, K. (1978). Nihon-shi Shō-jiten, Tennō. Tokyo: Kondō Shuppan-sha.
  • Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
  • (in Japanese) Owada, T. et al. (2003). Nihonshi Shoka Keizu Jimmei Jiten. Tokyo: Kōdansya.
  • Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691