Biographies XLVI: The Funya, Hikami and Taira Houses

Funya-no-Kiyomi

¶Funya-no-Kiyomi was a son of Prince Naga. At first, as an imperial prince of the lesser ranks, he bore the name Chinu (Note: one text writes the first character of Chinu differently). At the beginning of Yōrō he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi) and became Left Ōtoneri-no-kami, Director of the Left Palace Attendants (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the Tenpyō years he became Moku-no-kami, Director of the Carpentry Office, and concurrently Zōgū-kyō, Minister of Palace Construction, and allotted house plots to the common people of the new capital. When the emperor made a progress to the garden north of the city and gave a banquet to his ministers, he rewarded the labor of the building works with sixty rolls of eastern silk and three hundred bundles of floss. By successive promotions Kiyomi reached Senior Fourth Rank Upper and then received Junior Third Rank. In the fourth year of Shōhō (752) he was granted the surname Funya-no-Mahito. Soon afterwards he became Settsu-no-daibu, Governor of Settsu. In the early years of Hōji he was appointed Sangi, Consultant, and concurrently served as Jibu-kyō, Minister of Civil Administration, and also as Governor of Izumo. When an edict called for frank counsel, Kiyomi, together with the Shōsōzu, Junior Supervisor of Monks, Jikun, submitted a memorial saying: "In the temples of the realm the rite of repentance is held every year in the first month, but it falls somewhat short of the sage will of the court and brings no merit. For it is the proper duty of monks and nuns to practice austerities and protect the country, yet today some, without ever entering a temple, are entered in the accounts for seven days of official offerings, and others, greedy to draw from both sides, enter empty names at two places. They defile the name of the Three Treasures and bring no benefit to the donors. We humbly beg that this system of official cloth be abolished, so that those covetous monks may be left with no hope of gain." In the fourth year (760) he was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor. In the fifth year (761) he was advanced to Senior Third Rank and changed his name to the present one (Kiyomi). Soon afterwards he was moved to Goshi-taifu, Chief Censor. In honor of an aged minister he was permitted to carry a staff in the palace, and he also served concurrently as Jingi-haku, Head of the Department of Rites. In the eighth year (764) he was advanced to Junior Second Rank.

¶Formerly Urushime, the daughter of Ki-no-Ogi, had married into Uchimura in Hidaka District of Kii province (Note: the original text writes the district name with a variant character) and borne Miuri and Komame. When they grew up, Ogi had Miuri fed and housed at the Ki temple, but in the Kanoe-Tora year (690) when the household registers were drawn up she was entered in the registers of slaves. Her kinsman Masuhito and others brought a petition, but for many years it was not taken up. By imperial order Kiyomi was charged with investigating the case. He set out the circumstances in a memorial: Masumaro and eleven others were granted the surname Ki-no-Asomi, and Mamatame and fifty-nine others the surname Uchihara-no-Atai, and Masumaro was entered in the registers of the capital as head of household. But Tamotsu and others of Kii province suspected that this ran counter to the intent of the court. The Empress Kōken herself issued an edict to Kiyomi and to Emi-no-Asakari and sent messengers to the Ki temple to proclaim it: "Masuhito and the other seventy-six are all to be restored to the status of free commoners." (Note: judging from the passages before and after in this text, Masuhito is probably the same person as Masumaro).

¶In this year Kiyomi asked leave to retire from office. An edict answered him: "We have heard that you, having reached the age of hanging up one's carriage, have asked according to the rites to retire. Reflecting on this, We find sorrow and distress coming and going in Our heart in turns. On the one hand We rejoice that you have completed your service and withdrawn, and keep well to the good way; on the other We grieve that your strength has failed and you wish to return to your country home. The men of old said, 'He who knows where to stop is not endangered; he who knows contentment is not disgraced.' You are precisely such a man. Your earnest request is hard to refuse, and We shall do as you wish. We therefore bestow upon you an armrest and staff and a hundred thousand of the new coins, so as to make clear your excellent example and to encourage a frivolous age." Kiyomi had now retired, but by imperial order he was granted half his stipend, which soon was changed to the full stipend. In the Keiun years he was given six thousand bundles of floss from the Dazaifu (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

¶When the Empress Kōken died, the Crown Prince had not yet been determined. Kibi-no-Makibi and others wished to set Kiyomi on the throne, but Kiyomi firmly refused and so escaped it (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). In this year he died. By his testament his funeral was kept simple and no drums and pipes were used. His sons kept to this, and the people of the time praised them for it. By imperial order envoys were sent to condole and burial gifts were bestowed (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). His son was named Ōhara (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin); in the reign of Emperor Kanmu he was granted the surname Mitsuo-no-Asomi (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), rose to Junior Fourth Rank Lower, and received the Third Class of Merit (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin). He also had sons Watamaro and Akitsu (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

Funya-no-Watamaro

¶Funya-no-Watamaro was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower in the Enryaku years and, after serving as Right Ōtoneri-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Right Palace Attendants, and as Konoe-no-shōgen and Shōshō, Lieutenant and Junior Captain of the Palace Guards, was made concurrently Acting Governor of Dewa. He was then reassigned as Governor of Harima and appointed Jijū, Chamberlain, and Nakatsukasa-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Central Affairs. In the Daidō years he successively held the posts of Wakasa Hyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Gate Guards and Governor of Wakasa (Note: the original text writes the title in an abbreviated form), Right Kyō-no-daibu, Governor of the Right Capital, and Left Ōtoneri-no-kami, still holding the governorship of Harima. His surname was changed by grant to Miyama-no-Asomi; he was transferred to Left Hyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards, was made concurrently Daizen-no-daibu, Master of the Palace Table, and was again granted a surname, that of Funya-no-Asomi (Note: this text writes Funya-no-Mahito, which is an error, and it is now corrected according to the Sandai Jitsuroku). He was appointed Hyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs. In the first year of Kōnin (810) he again became Governor of Harima (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶At the time of the incident of the Retired Emperor Heizei he had been in attendance on the Retired Emperor, but he was summoned back to the capital by Emperor Saga and held in custody by the Left Metsuke Office. The Dainagon, Great Counsellor, Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro led troops to meet the Retired Emperor, and since Watamaro was practiced in the arts of war and well versed in conditions on the frontier, Tamuramaro asked that he be permitted to join the campaign as a staff officer. As a result Watamaro was granted Senior Fourth Rank Upper, appointed Sangi, and with Tamuramaro held the Mino road (Note: following the Nihon Kōki, the Ruijū Kokushi, and the Nihon Kiryaku). When the disturbance was put down he was given the additional post of Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury, and served concurrently as Mutsu-Dewa Azechi, Inspector of Mutsu and Dewa. As Seii Shōgun, Barbarian-Subduing General, he attacked the Emishi with success and was advanced to Junior Third Rank. The edict said: "The barbarian brigands of Mutsu have for generations long troubled the borders, killing and plundering the common people. We sent Funya-no-Asomi Watamaro, of Senior Fourth Rank Upper, and others to subdue them. Now, weighing their merit, We advance their ranks." (Note: following the Nihon Kōki and the Nihon Kiryaku). He served concurrently as Saemon-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin; the Nihon Kōki writes this as Uemon-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards), once more became Seitō Shōgun, Eastern-Subduing General (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku), and was granted the Fourth Class of Merit. He served successively as Governor of Bizen and Right Kyō-no-daibu, was raised to Ukonoe-no-taishō, Great General of the Right Palace Guards, and served concurrently as Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He was appointed Chūnagon and died in the fourteenth year (823), at the age of fifty-nine (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin). His son was Makio.

Funya-no-Makio

¶Funya-no-Makio was brave and strong from childhood and skilled at riding and archery. When Emperor Montoku was Crown Prince he became a Tachihaki-no-toneri, sword-bearing attendant. During the Ninju and Tennan years he served in a succession of posts inside and outside the palace. In the Jōgan years he was appointed Left Konoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Left Palace Guards. In the Genkei years he was advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper. Appointed Governor of Sagami, he did not take up the post, but asked to be relieved of the governorship and begged that one of his sons be appointed to a provincial post in his place. By imperial order his son Fusatsune was made Ōmi-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of Ōmi. In his service as palace guard Makio had no equal in his time. He served in direct attendance on the guarding of the palace and did not leave his place day or night. Once, in jest, he leapt onto the forehead of the ox drawing a carriage and then sprang up to stand at the back of the carriage. When he was a Shōshō, a fox ran across the roof of the Crown Prince's palace, and Makio climbed to the roof, drove it into a corner and cut it down. Such was the agility of his movements. In the third year of Nin'an he died, at the age of seventy-eight (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).

Funya-no-Akitsu

¶Funya-no-Akitsu became Ukonoe-no-shōgen, Lieutenant of the Right Palace Guards (Note: the original text writes the title with an erroneous character), in the Kōnin years and was appointed Kurōdo, Chamberlain. By successive promotions he served as Umanosuke, Assistant Director of the Right Bureau of Horses, Sakonoe-no-shōgen, Lieutenant of the Left Palace Guards (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), Governor of Kai, and Assistant Governor of Musashi. In the Tenchō years he was appointed Sahyōe-no-gon-no-suke, Acting Assistant Commander of the Left Gate Guards, and moved to be Sakonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). Serving concurrently as Governor of Inaba, he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain. In the sixth year (829) he was appointed Sangi (Note: the Kugyō Bunin gives the seventh year). Soon afterwards he served concurrently as Right Daiben, Senior Controller of the Right, and became Governor of Musashi; he was transferred to Left Daiben and served concurrently as Tōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Crown Prince's Household (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). At the beginning of Jōwa he was appointed Kebiishi Bettō, Chief of the Police Commission. The office of Kebiishi Bettō began with him (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He submitted a memorial asking to be relieved of such posts as Daiben and Chūjō, and as a result gave up the post of Daiben and served concurrently as Ukonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards, and Uemon-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards. Akitsu had a great reputation for overseeing wrongdoing and was also versed in the martial arts, and the men of his day recognized in him the capacity of a general. But he had a fault in his drinking: after a few cups he would invariably grow sad and weep, and for this he drew considerable reproach. He was moved to serve concurrently as Governor of Tango and reached Senior Fourth Rank Lower. In the ninth year (842), being counted among the faction of Tomo-no-Kowamine, he was confined in the Reizei-in and demoted to Acting Governor of Izumo. In the tenth year (843) he died at his place of banishment, at the age of fifty-seven (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). Kiyomi's younger brother was Ōichi.

Funya-no-Ōichi

¶Funya-no-Ōichi (Note: this text sometimes writes Ōichi with different characters) was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower in the Tenpyō years and became Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice. He was moved to Takumi-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Artisans. In the Shōhō years he was advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper and, like Kiyomi, was granted a surname. Soon afterwards he became Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury. In these years many of the collateral branches of the imperial family fell into guilt, and Ōichi, uneasy within himself, shaved his head and became a monk in order to secure his safety. In the Hōji years he returned to service and was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower. He served successively as Danjō-no-in, Director of the Board of Censors, and Gyōbu-kyō (Note: the original text writes the title with an erroneous character), and was moved to Minbu-kyō, Minister of Popular Affairs. In the first year of Jingo (765) he was advanced to Junior Third Rank. In the second year (766) he became Izumo Azechi, Inspector of Izumo, was appointed Sangi, and served concurrently as Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs. In the Keiun years he was given four thousand bundles of floss from the Dazaifu (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). When the Empress Kōken died, Kibi-no-Makibi and others plotted to set Ōichi on the throne, but when the deliberation was settled, Fujiwara-no-Momokawa and others had hastily raised Emperor Kōnin to the throne, so Ōichi could not be set up (Note: quoting the Biography of Momokawa in the Nihon Kiryaku).

¶In the first year of Hōki (770) he was advanced to Senior Third Rank and became Chūnagon. In the second year (771) he was appointed Dainagon, served concurrently as Danjō-no-in, was advanced to Junior Second Rank, and was moved to serve concurrently as Jibu-kyō, Minister of Civil Administration. In the third year (772) he submitted a memorial saying: "Though I am a man of foolish nature, I have been fortunate to meet an age of sage brilliance, to wear the purple robe and the golden belt, and to be entrusted with a weighty office. I fear that I covet honor and betray favor, and I have compounded my faults. I humbly reflect that Your Majesty's virtue is full of benevolence, that You have renewed the mandate of an old realm, that Your kindness as a bulwark of the imperial house will extend a thousand years, and that the glory of its ending will come but once. Now I am already old and feeble, my remaining years are few, and my illness has at last grown grave, so that I know not when my end will come. I humbly beg that I may yield the way to men of ability, that this aged body may be given to the hills and gardens, that, knowing contentment, I may pass my remaining years, and that, returning to my first intent, I may await the last day. Then above there will be the virtue of bringing things to completion, and below there will be no reproach of eating a stipend in idleness. To pity the aged and think kindly of the sick is a good way for a state. I humbly beg that Your Majesty's grace may comfort this old and feeble body with earnest care. Unable to bear the nearness of the road ahead, I respectfully come to the court hall and present this memorial." A gracious edict refused his request. He again served concurrently as Nakatsukasa-kyō. Repeatedly he asked to retire. An edict said: "You have reached the age of hanging up one's carriage, and have announced your age and asked to withdraw. To know contentment and to know where to stop accords with the righteousness of the ancients. We would wish to keep you, but fear that this would run counter to the way of honoring aged ministers. So long as your strength is sound, attend court at each season." He was therefore granted an imperial staff. In the eleventh year (780) he died, at the age of seventy-seven (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Prince Fune

¶Prince Fune was a son of Prince Toneri, who was posthumously honored as the Emperor Sudō Jinkyō. In the fourth year of Jinki (727) he was at once granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower. At the end of Tenpyō he was advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper and became Danjō-no-in, Director of the Board of Censors. In the early years of Hōji, when the Crown Prince was deposed, an edict commanded that a successor be discussed from among the imperial kin. Prince Fune was not set up, on the ground that his "bedchamber curtains were not kept in order" (that is, that his personal conduct was improper) (Note: the text of the edict is recorded in this book as it stands, but it seems that Fujiwara-no-Nakamaro, enjoying the favor of the Empress Kōken, caused the matter to arise out of his likes and dislikes. For example, charging Prince Ikeda with a "lack of filial conduct" is of the same kind, and the truth or falsehood of it is hard to know; the reader should judge for himself).

¶When the Deposed Emperor (Emperor Junnin) took the throne, Fune was advanced to Junior Third Rank. In this year the envoys sent to Parhae returned and reported disorder in Tang. Fune, then Dazai-no-sotsu, Governor-General of the Dazaifu, received an edict and, together with the Daini, Vice Governor-General, Kibi-no-Makibi, deliberated on the defense of the coast and submitted a memorial of expedient measures: "In the view of the officials of the Dazaifu, there are four causes for unease. According to the rules for guard duty, at strategic points such as Hakata, Ōtsu, Iki and Tsushima, more than one hundred ships ought to be kept in readiness against the unforeseen, but at present there are no ships to use and the essential preparation is lacking. This is the first. The Dazaifu is surrounded by sea on three sides and is a key place bordering on foreign lands. Yet since the sakimori, frontier guards, from the eastern provinces were abolished, the defense of the borders has decayed day by day, and should some emergency arise, how could we respond to it, and how display our might? This is the second. The frontier guards within the jurisdiction should suspend their work of building castles for a time, study the martial arts, and train in battle formations. But the Daini, Kibi-no-Ason Makibi, argues, 'The men of old approved of combining tillage and military service; fifty days should be given to drill and ten days to building the castle.' This ought to be done, but there are officials of the Dazaifu who do not agree. This is the third. In the eighth month of the fourth year of Tenpyō (732) an edict ordered that 'the soldiers of Tsukushi are to be wholly exempted from the cloth tax and the labor tax, and commoners are to be exempted from the cloth tax but liable for the labor tax.' At that time the people were at ease and the soldiers strong, and this sufficed to guard the frontier. But now the whole jurisdiction is worn out and the common people are in want, and unless they are favored with exemption from taxes they cannot support themselves. This is the fourth." By imperial order it was decided to follow this advice, but only the dispatch of frontier guards from the eastern provinces was not permitted.

¶The following year he was raised to Imperial Prince and granted the Third Rank of princes. He was sent as envoy to the Kashii shrine to announce the plan to attack Silla. Soon afterwards he became Shinbu-kyō, Minister of Faith, and was advanced to the Second Rank of princes. When the emperor (Junnin) was deposed, Fune was charged with having conspired with Emi-no-Nakamaro, was demoted to the rank of a lesser prince, and was exiled to Oki. His son Prince Ashida and his grandsons Prince Osada, Prince Tsumori, Prince Toyura and Prince Miyako were implicated with him, and were granted the surname Mitsuo-no-Mahito and banished to Tango. In the second year of Hōki (771) he was restored to the register of the imperial family (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). His elder brother's son was Prince Wake.

Prince Wake

¶Prince Wake was a son of Prince Mihara and was at first a lesser prince. In the Shōhō years he was granted the surname Oka-no-Mahito and became Inaba-no-jō, Third Official of Inaba. In the Hōji years, upon the posthumous honoring of Prince Toneri, he was restored to the register of the imperial family and granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower. He served successively as Takumi-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Artisans, Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice (Note: the original text writes the title with an erroneous character), and Governor of Iyo. In the eighth year (764), when Emi-no-Nakamaro rose in revolt, Wake reported the disturbance to the court. When the rebels were put down he was granted Junior Third Rank, appointed Sangi, and served concurrently as Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs. Acting on an edict of the Retired Empress, he led troops together with Prince Yamamura and others, surrounded the Chūgū-in, and removed the emperor (Junnin). Soon afterwards he served concurrently as Governor of Tanba, was granted the Second Class of Merit, and received fifty chō of merit-rice land.

¶At that time the imperial succession had not yet been settled, and the prince secretly harbored a desire for the throne. A woman named Ki-no-Masume had won favor through the arts of a shrine maiden, and the prince made her close with generous bribes. He also kept company with the Sangi Awata-no-Michimaro, the Hyōbu-no-taifu Ōtsu-no-Ōura, the Shikibu-in-gai-no-shōyū Ishikawa-no-Nagatoshi and others, and often held drinking parties at his residence. In the seventh month of the first year of Jingo (765), when Michimaro came to Wake's residence for a secret conversation, his sword touched the gate screen and broke. The prince gave him a sword to replace it, but people found this strange, and the plot gradually leaked out. Wake, fearing that disaster would fall upon him, fled into hiding that very night. By imperial order a search was made, and he was seized within the Isagawa shrine. He was to be exiled to Izu, but upon reaching Sagara District in Yamashiro province he was strangled and buried at Komano. Ki-no-Masume was strangled in Matsui village in Tsuzuki District. Wake's sons, Prince Ōtomo, Prince Nagaoka, Prince Nagusa, Prince Yamashina and Prince Uneme, were spared the death penalty but struck from the register of the imperial family. Michimaro was demoted to Hida-in-gai-no-suke, Extra Assistant Governor of Hida, and Kamitsumichi-no-Hidaichi, who bore a grudge against Michimaro, was appointed its Governor. On arriving at his post Hidaichi at last confined Michimaro and killed him. Ōtsu-no-Ōura was demoted to Governor of Hyūga, and Ishikawa-no-Nagatoshi was demoted to Oki-in-gai-no-suke, Extra Assistant Governor of Oki, and afterwards hanged himself. In the second year of Hōki (771), the sons and daughters of Wake were all restored to the register of the imperial family. Prince Ōtomo was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower in the first year of Ten'ō (781). In the Enryaku years he became Dai-kenmotsu, Senior Inspector of Stores, and Chief of the Bureau of Horses (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Hikami-no-Shioyaki

¶Hikami-no-Shioyaki was a son of Prince Niitabe, of the First Rank of princes. At first he was a lesser prince. In the Tenpyō years he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower, advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower, and became Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs. Implicated in an incident, he was sent down to the prison of Heijō and exiled to Mishima in Izu. After four years he was recalled, and the following year his rank was restored. In the first year of Hōji (757), when the court ministers were summoned to deliberate on a Crown Prince, all said, "Prince Shioyaki should be set up." But the emperor said, "The late emperor reproached him for discourtesy, so he should not be set up," and hastily installed Prince Ōi as Crown Prince. Soon afterwards Prince Shioyaki was advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Upper and became Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury. Tachibana-no-Naramaro secretly plotted to choose one from among the deposed Crown Prince Prince Funado, Prince Kibumi, Prince Asukabe, and Prince Shioyaki, and set him on the throne as emperor, but the matter came to light, and some were beaten to death with staves and others condemned to distant exile. The edict said: "Prince Shioyaki stood among these four princes, but he took no part in the plot and was not denounced, so he is not implicated. Prince Funado ought by rights to be sentenced to distant exile, but his father Prince Niitabe was pure in heart and served the court well, and We cannot bear to cut off his line, so his guilt is pardoned. From now on let him serve the court in clear rectitude." In the second year (758) Shioyaki was advanced to Junior Third Rank and granted the surname Hikami-no-Mahito. The following year, when an edict called on all to present their views, Shioyaki submitted a memorial: "As I see it, those of the third generation of princes and below who are granted the spring and autumn stipends receive them as favor shown to the imperial kin. Yet now, in counting days of attendance, they are treated no differently from ministers. I beg that they be favored according to the provisions of the code and that the days of attendance not be checked." The memorial was granted. By successive promotions he served as Reibu-kyō and Shinbu-kyō, two of the ministries. In the sixth year (762) he was appointed Sangi, served concurrently as Governor of Mimasaka, and was raised to Chūnagon. In the eighth year (764) he served concurrently as Monbu-kyō. When Emi-no-Nakamaro rose in revolt, he set Shioyaki up as emperor, but when Nakamaro was put to death Shioyaki too was beheaded (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). His two sons were Shikeshimaro and Kawatsugu.

Hikami-no-Shikeshimaro

¶Hikami-no-Shikeshimaro: Shioyaki had taken Princess Fuwa as his wife and had by her Shikeshimaro and Kawatsugu. After Shioyaki met defeat and death, these two sons escaped punishment because their mother was of exalted rank. In the third year of Keiun (769), Tajihi-no-Otome falsely accused Agata-no-Inukai-no-Aneme of having plotted with the Princess to set Shikeshimaro on the throne. As a result the Princess was struck from the register of the imperial family and driven out beyond the capital. Shikeshimaro was exiled to Tosa (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Hikami-no-Kawatsugu

¶Hikami-no-Kawatsugu was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. In the first month of the first year of Enryaku (782) he became Governor of Inaba. His shijin, retainer, Yamato-no-Otohito, secretly bore arms and burst into the palace; he was seized by the officials in charge and questioned, and testified: "On the night of the tenth of this month Kawatsugu plans to enter by the north gate and raise an uprising. At that time he sent me as a messenger to tell his confederate Prince Uji the day and hour of assembly." By imperial order Kawatsugu was summoned. When he heard that a messenger had come, he secretly slipped out by the back gate and fled. The Three Barriers were at once closed, a great search was made over several days, and he was seized in Katsuragi-no-kami District of Yamato province. The edict said: "Hikami-no-Kawatsugu has secretly plotted rebellion, and the affair has already come to light. By the law he should be put to the extreme penalty, and his mother (Princess Fuwa) is liable for the crime of treason, and his near kin too should be punished heavily. But the earth on the imperial tomb is not yet dry, and We cannot bear to pass sentence of death. Kawatsugu is spared death and sentenced to distant exile. Princess Fuwa and Kawatsugu's sisters are to be banished to Awaji. Kawatsugu is to be exiled to Mishima in Izu, and his wife Fujiwara-no-Noritoyo is likewise to be exiled. Her father Fujiwara-no-Hamanari is to be stripped of two offices. His confederates, Prince Mikata of Junior Fourth Rank Lower and Yamanoue-no-Funanushi of Senior Fifth Rank Lower, are both to be demoted. The Left Daiben Ōtomo-no-Yakamochi and the Right Eji-no-kami Sakanoue-no-Karitamaro are to be dismissed from office. Ise-no-Okina of Senior Fourth Rank Lower, Ōhara-no-Mike of Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and Fujiwara-no-Tsuguhiko are to be removed beyond the capital." In all thirty-five persons were implicated. Kawatsugu's relatives by marriage and his friends were likewise driven out beyond the capital. Soon afterwards Prince Mikata, his wife Princess Yuge, and Yamanoue-no-Funanushi were charged with having cursed the emperor, but by imperial edict their death sentences were commuted and they were condemned to distant exile (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Prince Yamamura

¶Prince Yamamura was a descendant of Prince Kume (Note: the Kugyō Bunin makes him a son of Prince Kume, which is an error). At the end of Tenpyō he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. In the Hōji years he became Governor of Kii and was moved to Shōnagon, Junior Counsellor. At the time of Emi-no-Nakamaro's revolt he rendered meritorious service, was granted Junior Third Rank, and became Left Hyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards. When the emperor (Junnin) was deposed, he led troops, surrounded the Chūgū-in, and proclaimed the edict of the Retired Empress. At the beginning of Jingo he was granted the Second Class of Merit, served concurrently as Governor of Yamato, received fifty chō of merit-rice land, was appointed Sangi, and was given the additional post of Jibu-kyō. In the first year of Keiun (767) he died, at the age of forty-six.

¶In the Enryaku years Ōmi province reported: "Those whose princely surname has been removed and who have become commoners number in all five households and one hundred and one persons. The heads of household Tsukimura, Inoue, Ōoka, Ōuo and Ikatsukami and the others are all grandsons of Prince Yamamura. Prince Yamamura was entered in the registers of this place in the fifth year of Yōrō (721), and his descendants through the generations have now reached the seventh and eighth generation and have divided into several households. By the provisions of the code, those of the sixth generation and below, excepting the senior line, ought to be assessed taxes and labor service. We request that the household of the senior line be transferred to the capital registers, and that the others be given a surname and assessed taxes and labor service." The office concerned was therefore ordered to examine the registers of the imperial kin, but the name of Prince Yamamura could not be found. Accordingly, following the precedent for ordinary commoners, they were not granted the surname Mahito (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

Taira-no-Takamune

¶Taira-no-Takamune was the eldest son of Prince Kazurawara. He stood six shaku tall and had a fine beard. From childhood he was intelligent and fond of reading books. At first he was a lesser prince. In the Kōnin years he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and became Jijū, Chamberlain. At the beginning of Tenchō he served successively as Daigaku-no-kami, Head of the University, Nakatsukasa-no-taifu, and Hyōbu-no-taifu. In the second year (825) he was granted the surname Taira-no-Asomi. He served as Ōkura-kyō and Gyōbu-kyō. In the Jōwa years, by successive promotions, he became Junior Third Rank. In the first year of Ninju (851) he was appointed Sangi. In the third year (853) he left office to mourn his father, and his grief was such as to exceed the proper rites. After a little over a month the mourning was cut short by order, and he was restored to his post. In the Saikō years he became Tōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Crown Prince's Household. In the second year of Tennan (858) he became Gon-chūnagon, Acting Middle Counsellor, and was advanced to Senior Third Rank. At the beginning of Jōgan he served concurrently as Mutsu-Dewa Azechi, Inspector of Mutsu and Dewa. The Chinjufu, Garrison Headquarters, submitted a report: "The officials of the frontier are far from their home villages and have no provisions to rely on apart from the kugesho, official office fields. Even when there are arrears, they are simply left as they are. We beg that, following the precedent of the Dazaifu, even when there are arrears they be supplied from the regular rice revenue, and that this be made a permanent rule." This was granted. A few years later he was transferred to Dainagon. He asked to resign on grounds of age, but a gracious edict refused him. In the ninth year (867) he died, at the age of sixty-four.

¶Takamune was by nature plain and unadorned, did not care for ostentation, and always strove to be magnanimous. In his later years he believed devoutly in Buddhism and constantly recited the sutras. Once he gave up his villa in Kadono District of Yamashiro province to be made into a place of practice. By imperial edict the tablet "Byōdō-ji" was granted to it. From the time he was appointed Dainagon he devoted much of the rents and levies from his fief households to Buddhist services. His sons were Suenaga and Korenori (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).

Taira-no-Suenaga

¶Taira-no-Suenaga, in the Jōgan years, as Shikibu-no-jō, Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial, received the guest envoys from Parhae. In the Genkei years he became Hyōbu-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs (Note: the original text writes the title with an erroneous character), and served concurrently as Acting Assistant Governor of Ise. He was moved to Left Konoe-no-gon-no-shōshō, Acting Junior Captain of the Left Palace Guards, and served concurrently as Governor of Mutsu. He was given four soldiers of the palace guards as personal escorts. In the second year of Ninna (886) he became Right Chūben, Middle Controller of the Right (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). Soon he was transferred to Left Chūben and was sent as an envoy to inquire into the sufferings of the people of Yamashiro. He reported: "According to the written reports of the district magistrates, 'The various in, the various palaces, and the princes and ministerial houses contest for the households and fields of the common people, or seize the property of vagrants; without the permission of the provincial governors or notice to the district magistrates, they burst into our jurisdictions and, one after another, press upon and plunder us. They monopolize power and do not distinguish right from wrong. The fields and gardens are laid waste because of this, and property is lost because of this.' I beg that a ruling be made to put a stop to it. On examining the precedents, I find that all lawsuits ought to begin at the lowest office. If anyone sues out of due order, the law fixes the penalty. Now the foolish common people do not understand this principle: the plaintiff, ingratiating himself with the palace of one party, borrows its prestige, and the defendant, drawing close to the house of another, relies on its power, while the provincial and district officials have no strength to forbid it. I beg that henceforth, of those who contest over goods or fields and houses, those who borrow the power of a prince or minister without going through the provincial and district officials be sentenced, without distinction of status and regardless of whether they are entitled to commutation by rank, to one hundred blows of the staff, and that all things contested be confiscated to the government. As for the various in, palaces, and princely or ministerial houses that allow such things, I beg that their bettō, directors, and their keishi, stewards, be charged with the crime of disobeying the edict. In this way the destitute people will be revived, and the powerful houses will do no harm." By imperial order his request was granted (Note: following the Ruijū Sandai Kyaku). He rose to Junior Fourth Rank Lower and Right Daiben. In the ninth year of Kanpyō (897) he died (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku).

Taira-no-Korenori

¶Taira-no-Korenori had literary talent and was skilled at poetry (Note: following the Zatsugen Hōwa). By command of Emperor Uda he compiled the poems from the Kōnin years onward (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki). In the second year of Engi (902) he was appointed Sangi (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Together with Fujiwara-no-Tokihira he compiled the Engi Kyaku (Note: following the preface to this work). After accumulating merit he reached Junior Third Rank and Chūnagon and served concurrently as Ukonoe-no-taishō, Great General of the Right Palace Guards. In the ninth year (909) he died, at the age of fifty-five. His son was Tokimochi, of Junior Third Rank, Dainagon (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

Prince Toyosaki

¶Prince Toyosaki was a fourth-generation descendant of Prince Toneri, who was posthumously honored as the Emperor Sudō Jinkyō, and his father was Prince Sakai, Moku-no-kami, Director of the Carpentry Office. From youth Toyosaki was known for his broad learning. In the Tenchō years he was appointed Daigaku-no-suke, Assistant Head of the University, and moved to Ujibe-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of the Bureau of Clans. He left office to mourn his father but was soon restored to his post. He served as Shoryō-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Imperial Tombs, and Dazai-no-daigen, Senior Inspector of the Dazaifu, and was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. Between Jōwa and Saikō he served successively as Governor of Bitchū, Mikawa, Aki and Iyo, among others, and was appointed Sakyō-no-gon-no-daibu, Acting Governor of the Left Capital. In the Tennan years he left office to mourn his mother, and when the mourning ended he was appointed Minbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs. At the beginning of Jōgan he was promoted successively to Junior Fourth Rank Lower and moved to Governor of Iyo. In the fourth year (862), when an edict commanded all of Sangi rank and above to discuss the merits and faults of the government of the day, the Minister of the Right, Fujiwara-no-Yoshimi, because Toyosaki was experienced, specially ordered him to present his opinion. Formerly the princes from the second to the fourth generation had been given winter and summer clothing, and their number was not limited. As the years and months went by the imperial kin multiplied and grew without end. Toyosaki submitted a memorial: "The system of providing clothing to the princes does not fix their numbers, and so needlessly consumes the resources of the state without limit. I beg that the number registered at present be made the fixed quota, that vacancies be filled as they arise, and that none be allowed to exceed it without cause." It was decided to follow this. Toyosaki was by nature curt and haughty, fond of criticizing men, exaggerated in speech, and unrestrained and unconfined in conduct. For this reason he was held in contempt by many. In the sixth year (864) he was advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper. The following year he died, at the age of sixty-one (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).