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5 unusual facts about Fujiwara clan


Fujiwara clan

Empress Shōken, wife of Emperor Meiji, was a descendant of the Fujiwara clan and, through Gracia Hosokawa, of the Minamoto clan.

In the series of games known as the Touhou Project, there is a character named Fujiwara no Mokou, who was a member of the Fujiwara clan long ago and is implied to be the daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito.

Three late tenth century and early eleventh century women presented their views of life and romance at the Heian court in Kagerō Nikki ("The Gossamer Years") by "the mother of Michitsuna", Makura no Sōshi (The Pillow Book) by Sei Shōnagon, and Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji) by Murasaki Shikibu (herself a Fujiwara).

Minamoto Yoshiari

This was an unusual appointment, in that custom dictated a member of the Fujiwara clan should have held the post of Chief compiler; it is thought that this was an attempt by Emperor Uda to undermine the increasingly-influential Fujiwara.

Shinran

Shinran was born on May 21, 1173 to Lord and Lady Arinori, a branch of the Fujiwara clan, and was given the name Matsuwakamaro.


Empress Shōshi

In the middle of the 9th century Fujiwara no Yoshifusa declared himself regent to Emperor Seiwa—his young grandson—the Fujiwara clan dominated court politics until the end of the 11th century, through strategic marriages of Fujiwara daughters into the imperial family and the use of regencies.

Minamoto no Yoritomo

Yoritomo was the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto (Seiwa Genji) clan, and his official wife, a daughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, who was a member of the illustrious Fujiwara clan.

Ritsuryō

Hereditary high-ranks for public posts led to the monopoly of occupation of the most important posts by a limited number of families, in effect a nobility, amongst which the Fujiwara clan, Minamoto clan, Taira clan and the Tachibana clan.

Takemikazuchi

The Nakatomi clan, essentially the priestly branch of the Fujiwara clan, also placed the veneration of the Takemikazuchi/Kashima deity in the Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara.


see also

Fujiwara no Kamatari

Empress Shōken was a descendant of the Fujiwara clan and through Hosokawa Gracia of the Minamoto clan.

Myōe

Born into the Yuasa family (湯浅), allegedly descended from a branch of the Fujiwara clan, he came to be ordained in both the Shingon school of Buddhism and the Kegon school.