Biographies XLV: Saeki-no-Imaemishi, Kudara-no-Kyōfuku, Ki-no-Katsunaga, and Tomo-no-Yoshio

Saeki-no-Imaemishi

¶Saeki-no-Imaemishi was a descendant of Ōtomo-no-Muroya, Ōmuraji, Grand Muraji (Note: the passage down to "Ōmuraji" follows the Shinsen Shōjiroku). His father, named Hitotari, held Junior Fifth Rank Lower and was Uyuge-no-kami, Director of the Right Gate Guards. Imaemishi was bold and capable. When Emperor Shōmu founded the Tōdaiji, he had Imaemishi oversee the work; his directions were exact, and the laborers could not slacken. The emperor thought well of him, and he was gradually raised to higher posts. At the beginning of Tenpyō Shōhō (749) he became Yamato-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Yamato, and was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. Soon afterwards his court rank was advanced by three grades. In the middle years of Tenpyō Hōji (757-765) he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower, appointed Settsu-no-daibu, Master of Settsu, and concurrently made Zō-Tōdaiji-chōkan, Director of Construction of the Tōdaiji; he was transferred to Eijō-no-gen, Inspector of Castle Works, concurrently became Governor of Hizen, and rose to Dazai-no-daini, Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu. At the beginning of Jingo Keiun (767) he took sole charge of building the fortress of Itō Castle, and became Director of Construction of the Saidaiji. He was transferred to Sa-daiben, Senior Controller of the Left, concurrently became Governor of Inaba, and advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper. During the Hōki era (770-781) he concurrently became Governor of Harima and advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower. In the sixth year of Hōki (775) he was made Ambassador to Tang. In the fourth month of the following year (776) he received the Sword of Authority, the setō, and went to Hizen, but the wind and waves were unfavorable and he waited there for several months. Soon autumn came with contrary winds, and as he could not set sail he returned to Ōtsu at Hakata and petitioned that he be allowed to wait until the next year. This was granted. In the eleventh month he entered the capital and returned the Sword of Authority. In the eighth year of Hōki (777) he set out for Tang once more. On reaching the Rajōmon he fell ill, but forced himself to continue on his way. When he reached Settsu his illness grew grave, and by imperial command the Vice-Ambassador Ono-no-Iwane was made to carry the Sword of Authority and go ahead, acting in the Ambassador's place. In the end Imaemishi did not go to Tang. A few years later he again became Dazai-no-daini, and in the first year of Tenō (781) he advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Upper. When Fujiwara-no-Hamanari, Dazai-no-sotsu, Governor-General of Dazaifu, incurred guilt, Imaemishi, by imperial command, acted for him in the affairs of the Dazaifu. At the beginning of Enryaku (782) he again became Sa-daiben, concurrently Governor of Yamato, advanced to Junior Third Rank, and concurrently became Kōgōgū-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household. When the capital was to be moved, he received an edict and, together with Fujiwara-no-Tanetsugu and others, surveyed the land at Nagaoka in Otokuni district of Yamashiro province, and became Zō-Nagaoka-gū-shi, Commissioner for Construction of the Nagaoka Palace (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). Imaemishi was loyal and careful in his public duties and deeply devoted to the Buddhist faith. When he had supervised the building of the Tōdaiji, he had kept the purifying fast as a constant habit, and so the emperor called him "Tōdai Koji," the Lay Devotee of the Tōdaiji. It is told that when he served as Commissioner of Palace Construction in hazardous work, he supervised day and night, and yet every day he first recited the Diamond Sutra before attending to his task (Note: following the Kōsōden Yōmonshō). In the third year of Enryaku (784) he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and soon advanced to Senior Third Rank, became Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs, and was appointed Dazai-no-sotsu (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). Of the taxes and stipends he received at his post, he devoted two tenths to the copying of sutras, praying for the peace of the state, and gave all the rest to the poor. His household had no property (Note: following the Kōsōden Yōmonshō). In the eighth year of Enryaku (789) he submitted a memorial and resigned his office. Half of the revenues and fief households of his Counsellor's rank were set aside and granted to him. It is said that from this time it became the rule to grant half the stipend to those who retired from office. In the ninth year of Enryaku (790) he died, at the age of seventy-two (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Kudara-no-Kyōfuku

¶Kudara-no-Kyōfuku was a great-great-grandson of King Gijisu of Kudara (Paekche). In the reign of Emperor Jomei, King Gijisu sent his son Hōshō to serve Japan. Later King Gijisu fought against Tang; the king was defeated and taken prisoner by Tang. His subject Fukushin, Saihei, Chief Minister, raised troops and restored the country, and welcomed Hōshō and set him on the throne as king. When Hōshō took the throne, he put Fukushin to death on a slander. The Tang army attacked again, and Hōshō asked the court for reinforcements. The court sent troops to hold off the Tang army, but without success. Hōshō boarded a ship and fled to Koryŏ (Koguryŏ), while Zenkō remained in Japan and did not depart. In the reign of Empress Jitō he was granted the title Kudara-no-Konikishi, King of Kudara. When he died, he was posthumously granted the rank of Shōkōsan. Zenkō's eldest son, Shōjō, died first, and in the reign of Emperor Temmu was posthumously granted Shōshi. The second son, Rōgu, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower in the reign of Empress Genshō and became Settsu-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Settsu. Kyōfuku was the youngest son. By nature he was intelligent and eloquent and had a talent for government, so Emperor Shōmu treated him with special favor; but he was unrestrained and unsteady in conduct, and was greatly given to wine and women. When he heard that someone was poor, he would give away his property to the point of ruining himself, and if he had none, he would borrow in order to give. For that reason he repeatedly held provincial posts, yet his household had no surplus wealth. In the Tenpyō era (729-749) he became Governor of Mutsu for a second time and was granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper. Before this, no gold had been produced anywhere in Japan, and it was always imported from abroad. When the great Rushana Buddha of the Tōdaiji was completed, there was a shortage of gold for the gilding, and the emperor was constantly troubled by it. Just then gold was produced in Oda district of Mutsu province, and since Kyōfuku was then the provincial governor, he sent it up by express post-horse. The emperor was overjoyed, changed the era name to Tenpyō Kampō (749), and granted Kyōfuku Junior Third Rank as a special favor. Afterwards he presented a further nine hundred ryō of gold. During the Tenpyō Shōhō era (749-757) he became Kunai-kyō, Minister of the Palace Household, concurrently held the governorships of Kawachi and Hitachi, became Commissioner to inspect the troops of the Saikaidō circuit, and was transferred to U-daiben, Senior Controller of the Right. In the Tenpyō Hōji era (757-765) he served in turn as Governor of Izumo and of Iyo, became Nankaidō Setsudoshi, Military Commissioner of the Nankaidō circuit, was changed to Governor of Sanuki, and entered the capital to become Gegei-no-taishō, Commander of the Outer Guards. In the eighth year of Tenpyō Hōji (764), acting on the command of the Retired Empress, he led troops together with Prince Yamamura and others and surrounded the Chūgūin, forcing the emperor to leave the palace. In the first year of Tenpyō Jingo (765) he became Gyōbukyō, Minister of Justice. When Empress Shōtoku made a progress to Kii, he served as Commander of the Rear Cavalry. In the second year of Tenpyō Jingo (766) he died, at the age of sixty-nine (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Kuninaka-no-Kimimaro

¶Kuninaka-no-Kimimaro's ancestors were people of Kudara. His grandfather, Tokusotsu Kokkotsufu, came to Japan and was naturalized in the reign of Emperor Tenji, when Kudara fell into the turmoil of its destruction. Because Kimimaro lived in Kuninaka village in Katsuge district of Yamato province, he took Kuninaka as his clan name. When Emperor Shōmu once had the bronze statue of the Rushana Buddha cast, its scale was so great that the casting craftsmen did not know how to begin. Kimimaro had a gift for skillful devising, and in the end he completed it. At the beginning of Jingo Keiun (767), when the empress made a progress to the Tōdaiji and worshiped the image, she rewarded Kimimaro's achievement by granting him Junior Fourth Rank Lower, making him Assistant Director of Construction of the Tōdaiji, and concurrently appointing him Tajima-no-in'gai-no-suke, Supernumerary Assistant Governor of Tajima. In the fifth year of Hōki (774) he died (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Takakura-no-Fukushin

¶Takakura-no-Fukushin was a man of Koma district in Musashi province. His original surname was Sena, and his ancestors came from Koryŏ (Koguryŏ). His grandfather, Fukutoku, took refuge and was naturalized in Japan when the Tang general Li Ji captured Pyongyang, and settled in Musashi province. From childhood Fukushin was strong of arm, and while still below the age of the capping ceremony he followed his uncle Gyōbun to the capital; once, wrestling in the streets of Isonokami, he found no one who could match him, and his name became known through this. Emperor Shōmu heard of it and summoned him, and had him serve in the Naijusho, the Office of Palace Pages. Greatly fond of his talent, the emperor at first made him Uejino-daisakan, Senior Clerk of the Right Gate Guards, soon granted him Outer Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and raised him step by step until he was appointed Tōgū-no-suke, Assistant Master of the Crown Prince's Household. He was granted the title Sena-no-Konikishi, and was advanced again to Senior Fifth Rank Upper. At the beginning of Tenpyō Shōhō (749) he was transferred to Chūe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Inner Palace Guards, concurrently became Shibi-no-shōhitsu, Junior Assistant of the Shibi-chūdai, and was advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper, and he was again granted a new surname, Koma-no-Ason. In the disturbance of Tachibana-no-Naramaro, by imperial command he arrested Ono-no-Azumahito, Tōhon-no-Chūsetsu, and others. He was advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower, transferred to Shinbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of the Shinbu, and soon became Governor of Tajima. In the first year of Tenpyō Jingo (765) he was granted Junior Third Rank, and soon afterwards became Zōgū-kyō, Minister of Palace Construction. In the first year of Jingo Keiun (767) he concurrently became Hōōgū-daibu, Master of the Household of the Dharma King. At the beginning of Hōki (770) he concurrently became Governor of Musashi. In the building of the Yamamomo Palace, Fukushin directed the work. When the palace was completed, his services were rewarded, and his son Iwamaro was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. Soon afterwards he concurrently became Governor of Ōmi. In the tenth year of Hōki (779) he submitted a memorial: "From the time of my ancestors we have submitted to the civilizing influence of this country, and although we have received the honor of a new surname, the old name Koma has not yet been changed. I beg that Koma be changed to Takakura." This was granted. In the first year of Tenō (781) he was transferred to Danjō-no-in, Chief of the Board of Censors. In the fourth year of Enryaku (785) he asked to resign. By gracious edict this was granted; he was given a staff and a coverlet, and was sent home to his house with his rank retained but without office. In the eighth year of Enryaku (789) he died, at the age of eighty-one (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Ki-no-Katsunaga

¶Ki-no-Katsunaga was first named Kajinaga. He was an eleventh-generation descendant of Tsuno-no-Sukune. His father, named Funamori (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), was a Jutō-toneri, Sword-bearing Attendant, in the reign of the Deposed Emperor (Emperor Junnin). At the time of the rebellion of Fujiwara-no-Nakamaro, he shot dead Nakamaro's commander Yatabe-no-Oyu; his merit was reviewed, and he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and the Fifth Order of Merit (Note: the grant of the order of merit follows the Kugyō Bunin). In the second year of Tenpyō Jingo (766) he was granted eight chō of merit-rice land, which he passed on to his son, and his descendants held office generation after generation. During the Enryaku era (782-806) he reached Senior Third Rank and the office of Dainagon, Major Counsellor (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). When he died, the emperor mourned him and suspended the conduct of government for three days (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He was posthumously granted Udaijin, Minister of the Right, and Senior Second Rank (Note: following the Nihongi, the Kugyō Bunin, and the Shoku Nihon Kōki).

¶Katsunaga was his eldest son (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the fourth year of Enryaku (785) he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. The following year (786) he became Ōmi-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Ōmi. At that time the emperor intended to campaign against the Emishi, and sent Katsunaga to the Tōsandō to inspect the soldiers and weapons (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). In the eleventh year of Enryaku (792) he became Hyōbu-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs, soon was shifted to Taifu, Senior Assistant Minister, was transferred to Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, became U-chūben, Middle Controller of the Right, concurrently held the posts of Uemon-no-kami, Director of the Right Gate Guards, Uhyōe-no-kami, Director of the Right Division of Military Guards, and Governor of Mimasaka, and became Director of Construction of the Tōdaiji (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the fifteenth year of Enryaku (796) he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor. In the twentieth year (801) the emperor made a progress to his residence at Yamashina (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). In the twenty-second year (803) he advanced to Junior Third Rank. In the first year of Daidō (806) he was transferred to Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, but soon died, at the age of fifty-three. Katsunaga was generous and elegant by nature, fond of entertaining guests, and never tired of attending to them. As for the costs of banquets, he paid no heed to what came in or went out. He excelled in archery and horsemanship, and his bearing was a model for the age. He was only too fond of playthings such as dogs and horses, and often drew censure from the world (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). His sons were Okimichi and Natora (Note: following the Keizu).

¶Okimichi reached Junior Fourth Rank Lower and the post of Uhyōe-no-kami in the Tenchō era (824-834); he carried on his father's family calling and was excellent at archery. In the Daidō era (806-810) there was a man named Tomo-no-Wamutamaro who likewise transmitted that art, and warriors of later generations all used his methods. Natora reached Senior Fourth Rank Lower and the office of Gyōbukyō, Minister of Justice, in the reign of Emperor Ninmyō (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). His son Aritsune was upright and dignified in character. In the Jōgan era (859-877) he reached Junior Fourth Rank Lower and the office of Uta-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Court Music (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). Katsunaga's younger brother was Tagami.

Ki-no-Funamori

¶Ki-no-Tagami. Tagami was versed in the martial arts and also possessed literary talent, and was especially skilled in the administration of affairs. At the beginning of Daidō (806) he became Governor of Sagami, and the common people felt affection for him. In the third year of Daidō (808) he completed his term and entered the capital. At the time of the incident of the Retired Emperor Heizei, he followed the Retired Emperor and was granted Junior Fourth Rank (Note: the original text does not state whether Upper or Lower). When the incident was put down, he was demoted to Sado-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Sado, but he received an amnesty and was permitted to return to the capital. At the beginning of Tenchō (824) he died. He had a son, Fukae (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki).

Ki-no-Tagami

¶Ki-no-Fukae. In his youth he studied at the Daigakuryō, the Imperial University, and was broadly versed in the histories. From Monjōshō, Student of Literature, he became Daigaku-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of the University, and then served in turn as Shuzei-no-suke, Assistant of the Bureau of Revenue, and Shikibu-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of Ceremonial. At the end of Kōnin (810-824) he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. Between the Tenchō and Jōwa eras (824-848) he was gradually promoted to Sakonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Left Palace Guards, concurrently became Governor of Bitchū, became Hyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs, and went out to the provinces as Governor of Iyo, advancing to Junior Fourth Rank Upper. By nature he was tolerant and gentle, unmoved by circumstances, and at each post he governed well; the common people were at ease under him, and at that time he was praised as a capable official. He died while still in office, at the age of fifty-one (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki).

Ki-no-Fukae

¶Tomo-no-Yoshio was a man of the Left Capital and a son of the Sangi Kunimichi. He was born full of talent and keenly intelligent by nature; his eyes were deep-set and his whiskers long, his body was small and his temperament fierce, and those who looked at him thought him a child not to be slighted. Before the capping ceremony he had occasion to serve at the Kyōshoden, and Emperor Ninmyō recognized his ability and favored him, so that his appointments grew weightier day by day. In the Jōwa era (834-848) he was appointed Dainaiki, Senior Secretary (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku), became Kurōdo, Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), was transferred to Shikibu-no-taijō, Senior Secretary of Ceremonial, and was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. He was made Sanuki-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Sanuki, but before he went to his post he was suddenly transferred to U-shōben, Junior Controller of the Right (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). At that time the monk Zengai of the Hōryūji accused the Shōnagon, Junior Counsellor, Tomi-no-Naona, of a crime, and Yoshio, together with Prince Masami, Sa-daiben, Senior Controller of the Left, and others, debated and determined the charges; but the discussions repeatedly fell into confusion and for a long time reached no decision, and in the end he falsely reported to the throne that "Prince Masami and the others had allowed Zengai's unreasonable accusation." Accordingly the Myōbō-hakase, Professor of Law, Sanuki-no-Nagamune, and others were ordered to adjudicate the matter. Prince Masami and all who had taken part in the debate on the spot were dismissed from office (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Sandai Jitsuroku). Yoshio was soon appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, and was transferred to U-chūben, Middle Controller of the Right. At the beginning of Kashō (848) he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower by exceptional promotion, appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and transferred to U-daiben, Senior Controller of the Right. He concurrently became Governor of Shimotsuke, was appointed Kebiishi-no-betto, Chief of the Imperial Police, and concurrently became Shikibu-no-taifu. In the third year of Kashō (850) he advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku and the Kugyō Bunin; the posts of Kurōdo-no-tō and Kebiishi-no-betto follow the Kugyō Bunin). In the seventh month a great flood came and the Yamazaki Bridge was swept away. The emperor considered, "River bridges are easily broken, because the water wears them away. If a suitable place can be found, the damage will naturally cease," and he commanded Yoshio and others by edict to go to Yamazaki, examine the advantages and drawbacks, and seek a suitable site; in the end the place for the river bridge was settled (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku). In this year he became Chūgū-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). In the first year of Ninju (851) he concurrently became Governor of Mimasaka (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku). In the second year of Ninju (852) he withdrew from office to mourn his mother. Soon, by edict, he was restored to office (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku) and became Senior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku). During the Saikō era (854-857) he concurrently became Governor of Sanuki and advanced to Junior Third Rank (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku). Receiving an edict, he compiled the national history (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku). In the first year of Jōgan (859) he concurrently became Iyo-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Iyo, advanced to Senior Third Rank, and concurrently became Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs. In the second year of Jōgan (860) he was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor. In the sixth year of Jōgan (864) he was transferred to Dainagon, Major Counsellor (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).

¶Yoshio was cruel and harsh by nature and eloquent; in office he was skilled in the handling of affairs and quick in judgment. He had thoroughly studied the institutions of the court. He responded to changes in the business of government, and there was nothing he could not answer when questioned. But he was skilled at pleasing others and ingratiating himself, and was favored by the sovereign; in the eight years since he became Naiki, he passed in succession through important posts, and at last reached the rank of kugyō, high court noble, his position and reputation gradually rising. He was narrow-minded by nature, liked to pick out the faults of others, and people hated him (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). Before this, Yoshio had been on bad terms with the Minister of the Left, Minamoto-no-Makoto, and had repeatedly schemed to bring Makoto down and take his place. In the spring of the eighth year of Jōgan (866), together with his son Nakatsune and others, he set fire to the Ōtenmon Gate and spread the false report that it was Makoto's doing. The Minister of the Right, Fujiwara-no-Yoshimi, believed it and was about to have Makoto charged with the crime. The Regent Fujiwara-no-Yoshifusa heard of it and was greatly alarmed; without even taking time to put his court dress in order, he hurried to the palace and argued that Makoto was innocent (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku; the Jinnō Shōtōki was also consulted). When Yoshio carried out the arson, Ōyake-no-Takatori, a man of the Left Capital, was passing the Ōtenmon at night, and saw people clinging to the pillars of the gate and climbing down. They were Yoshio, Nakatsune, and their retainer Ki-no-Toyoki. Soon the fire broke out, and Takatori thought it must be Yoshio's doing. Just at that time a quarrel arose between Takatori's son and the son of one of Yoshio's attendants, and Takatori's son was beaten by the attendant and nearly killed. This matter came to the notice of the court and was investigated, and Takatori finally testified that Yoshio had set fire to the Ōtenmon (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku; the Uji Shūi Monogatari was also consulted. The Jitsuroku says that it was Ikue-no-Tsuneyama, together with his accomplice Tomo-no-Kiyonawa, both of them Yoshio's attendants, who tortured and killed Takatori's daughter. Since the account given by the Shūi is quite detailed, it is followed here). Accordingly the Sangi Minabuchi-no-Toshina and Fujiwara-no-Yoshitada were ordered to investigate. Nakatsune was detained in the Saemon-fu, the Left Gate Guards, and the charges were determined. Yoshio and Nakatsune, together with their accomplices Ki-no-Toyoki, Tomo-no-Akizane, and Tomo-no-Kiyonawa, five in all, were held liable to the death penalty. By edict their sentences were reduced by one degree: Yoshio was exiled to Izu, Nakatsune to Oki, Toyoki to Awa, Akizane to Iki, and Kiyonawa to Sado, and their property and residences were confiscated. Eight persons were exiled for complicity: Ki-no-Natsui, Governor of Higo, to Tosa; Tomo-no-Otoko, Governor of Shimotsuke, to Noto; Tomo-no-Natsukage, Kazusa-no-gon-no-shōjō, Provisional Junior Secretary of Kazusa, to Echigo; Tomo-no-Fuyumitsu to Hitachi; Ki-no-Harumichi to Kazusa; Tomo-no-Takayoshi to Shimōsa; Ki-no-Takeki to Hyūga; and Tomo-no-Harunori to Satsuma. Nakatsune's sons Motohiko, aged eight, and Suehiko, aged five, accompanied their father to his place of exile. The court took pity on their youth and recalled them on the way (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). In the tenth year of Jōgan (868) Yoshio died in exile, at the age of sixty (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Tomo-shi Keizu). It is told in the world that when Yoshio was of humble station he served a district magistrate, and while he was in Sado he dreamed that he straddled the two temples of the Saidaiji and the Tōdaiji. On waking he told his wife of it, and she said in jest, "Won't you be torn apart, straddling them like that?" Displeased, Yoshio went to the magistrate's house. The magistrate was skilled at reading faces, and when he saw Yoshio coming he received him with the greatest courtesy. Yoshio found this strange. The magistrate said, "You have had a beneficial dream. Later you will surely become a very great man." But he privately told a person who was not a man of this world, "Even if he rises to high office, he will certainly not meet a complete end." And it came about just as he said (Note: following the Gōdanshō and the Kojidan).