Biographies L: Kibi-no-Makibi and the Sugawara Scholars

Kibi-no-Makibi

¶Kibi-no-Makibi (Note: in one manuscript of the Shoku Nihongi, the entries for the first year of Jingo-keiun, the first year of Hōki, and the tenth year of Enryaku write Makibi as "Ma-Kibi." The same form appears in the Ruijū Kokushi (section on offerings), in the official order of the eleventh year of Kōnin recorded in the Ruijū Sandaikyaku, in the Kugyō Bunin, and in the memorial of Fujiwara-no-Hirotsugu in the origin tale of the Matsura shrine, but there is now no way to investigate the reason for it) bore the original surname Shimotsumichi-no-Ason. His ancestors descended from Kibihiko-no-Mikoto and had lived generation after generation in the province of Kibi. His ancestor nine generations back, Mitomowake (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), had as his eldest son Inahayawake, who held the Kawashima district, and his descendants took Shimotsumichi-no-Omi as their surname. In the reign of Emperor Temmu they were granted the surname Ason (Note: following the Nihongi). Makibi's father, Kunikatsu, was Uemon-no-shōjō, Junior Lieutenant of the Right Gate Guards (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

¶Makibi was granted Junior Eighth Rank Lower and in the second year of Reiki (716) became a student sent to Tang China. He was twenty-four years old at that time. In Tang he studied the classics and histories deeply and became versed in many branches of learning. At that time the only students from Japan whose names were known in Tang were Makibi and Abe-no-Nakamaro. He returned home in the seventh year of Tenpyō (735) and presented the following: the Tang Rites in one hundred and thirty volumes; the Dayan Calendar Classic in one volume; the Dayan Calendar Tables in twelve volumes; one iron measuring rule for gauging shadows; one set of bronze pitch pipes; the Essential Records of Music in ten volumes; one lacquered horn bow wound with thread; one lacquered horn bow for drinking water on horseback; four sections of surface lacquer; two horn bows; twenty armor-piercing arrows; and ten flat-shooting arrows. He was granted Senior Sixth Rank Lower and appointed Daigaku-no-suke, Assistant Director of the University. Soon he became Chūgū-no-suke, Assistant Master of the Empress's Household, and by degrees rose to Junior Fifth Rank Upper and was transferred to Uemon-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards. When Emperor Kōken was still Crown Prince, he became her tutor and lectured to her on the Book of Rites and the Book of Han, and he received very generous favor. From tutor to the Crown Prince he rose to Daibu, Master of the Household, while still holding the post of tutor. Soon he was granted the present surname of "Kibi" in its altered form, and was transferred to Ukyō-no-daibu, Master of the Right Capital Office. In the early years of Tenpyō-shōhō he advanced to Junior Fourth Rank Upper, but because of some incident he was demoted to Chikuzen-no-kami, Governor of Chikuzen, and soon transferred to Hizen-no-kami, Governor of Hizen. In the fourth year of Tenpyō-shōhō (752) he went to Tang as Deputy Envoy (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). The Emperor Xuanzong conferred on Makibi the rank of Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (Note: following the Nihon Kōsō Den Yōmonshō). On the voyage home he met a violent storm, the fleet was scattered, and Makibi drifted ashore on Yaku Island (Yaku-no-shima, now Yakushima). In the sixth year of Tenpyō-shōhō (754) he reached Murono-saki in Kii province. Entering the capital, he advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower and rose to Dazai-no-daini, Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu. He proposed the construction of the castle of Ito in Chikuzen province and, by imperial order, was entrusted exclusively with the work. In the early years of Tenpyō-hōji, because civil disorder had broken out in Tang, an imperial order commanded Prince Funa and Makibi to take defensive measures. Makibi offered this counsel: "Tilling the fields while preparing for war is something the men of old taught. Let fifty days be given to drill and ten days to military service." The court's deliberation followed it. He also sent Kasugabe-no-Mitsuseki of the Jutō Toneri, Sword-Bearing Attendants, and Haji-no-Sekinari of the Chūei Toneri, Attendants of the Middle Guards, and others to learn the methods of the Eight Formations and Nine Terrains. Soon he became Saikaidō Setsudoshi, Military Commissioner of the Western Sea Circuit. In the eighth year of Tenpyō-hōji (764) he was summoned and made Chief of the Tōdaiji, but because of illness he did not conduct affairs. At the rebellion of Emi-no-Nakamaro (Fujiwara-no-Nakamaro), he was called in to take part in military counsels, was granted Junior Third Rank (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi), and was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, while also serving as Chūei-no-taishō, General of the Middle Guards (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Makibi foresaw that the rebels would certainly flee, and sent troops to cut off their line of retreat; his dispositions were so precisely judged that the rebellion was put down within ten days. In the first year of Tenpyō-jingo (765) he was granted the Second Class of Merit and advanced to Senior Third Rank. The following year he became Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, and soon was transferred to Dainagon, Grand Counsellor; and because of old favor dating from the time when the sovereign was Crown Prince, he was raised to Udaijin, Minister of the Right, and granted Junior Second Rank. In the early years of Jingo-keiun he was given two thousand koku of grain from Ōmi province. Makibi presented to the island of Tsushima three chō and one tan of reclaimed paddy, five chō and two tan of dry fields, and twenty thousand bundles of mixed grains, for the island's reserves. By imperial order twenty thousand ton of cotton was granted to the Dazaifu so that goods for trade with Silla might be purchased. The Sovereign visited Makibi's residence in a state progress, and he advanced to Senior Second Rank, and soon afterwards was granted one hundred thousand bundles of rice. In the fourth year of Jingo-keiun (770), when the Sovereign's illness grew grave, an imperial order commanded Makibi to take charge of the affairs of the Chūeifu, the Middle Guards, and the Left and Right Emonfu, Gate Guards (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). The Sovereign died, but her successor had not yet been decided. Makibi and the others wished to set up Funya-no-Kiyomi, but Kiyomi firmly declined. They then wished to set up his younger brother Ōichi, but Fujiwara-no-Nagate (Note: the original text has "Nagamori"), Sadaijin, Minister of the Left, and Fujiwara-no-Yoshitsugu, Naidaijin, Minister of the Interior, together with Fujiwara-no-Momokawa, Udaiben, Senior Controller of the Right, settled their plan and placed the Emperor Kōnin on the throne (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Mizukagami). Makibi lamented, saying, "Unexpectedly, the harm of having lived so long has come to this at last" (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). He then submitted a memorial that said: "I have secretly heard it said that 'he who undertakes affairs beyond his strength ruins himself, and he who holds the highest office when his mind cannot reach it will surely err in judgment.' When I examine myself, I find these words amply borne out. In the eighth year of Tenpyō-hōji, last past, I had reached the age of seventy, and in the first month I was about to submit a memorial asking to retire. But just then an official order came appointing me Chief of the Tōdaiji Construction Office, and for this reason I came up to the capital, and afterwards, because of illness, returned home. Suddenly warfare broke out; I was summoned and took part in military affairs, my small merit was recorded, and I rose in succession to exalted offices, and since I was not permitted to decline, several years have already passed. Now old age and illness cling to my body, and even with treatment it is hard for me to recover. The chief posts of the court are heavy with labor and cannot be left empty even for a moment. How could I, carrying a sick and aged body, long dishonor the rank of minister, holding several offices at once and continuing to take part in the myriad affairs of state? When I look at myself, I am ashamed beyond measure; I am abashed before Heaven and Earth and have nowhere to place myself. Humbly I beg that I be permitted to withdraw from office, and that the path of the worthy be opened. Above, let me receive the virtue of the sage court in caring for the aged; below, let me fulfill the heart that knows the limits of a humble and foolish man." To this an edict replied: "Yesterday, on seeing the memorial you presented, we learned that you ask to retire from office. The mourning for the late Sovereign is not yet over; why do you seek so soon to leave your post? Grief and astonishment mingled, and we could not at once find words to reply. All night we thought of your labors and sat awake until dawn. If we do not grant your request, it would seem to run counter to the virtue of modesty; yet if we were to fulfill it, we think only of how much more we should lose a wise helper. Therefore you are relieved of your duties in the Chūeifu, but you shall retain the rank of minister as before. When you sit in attendance, do not let the right-hand seat of the court stand empty." Makibi afterwards submitted memorials again and again, pleading earnestly, and after a long time at last obtained permission. He died in the sixth year of Hōki (775), at the age of eighty-three. The court sent envoys to offer condolences (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi).

¶When Makibi was Dainagon, he reported to the throne that two pillars should be set up to the west of the Naka-no-Mibu Gate. On one he had it written, "Whoever has been unjustly oppressed by an official shall come to this pillar and lodge his complaint," and on the other, "Whoever among the people suffers under a false charge shall come to this pillar and lodge his complaint." He ordered the Danjōdai, the Board of Censors, to receive petitions at both. Originally the procedures of the Sekiten (the rite honoring Confucius) at the Daigaku-ryō, the University Bureau, had not been fully established; Makibi examined the ritual codes and set them in order again, the vessels were for the first time complete, and the appearance of the ceremony became splendid. When the Narabigura, the twin storehouses of the Ministry of the Treasury, were destroyed by fire, he built them anew at his own expense. He also revised and corrected twenty-four articles of the codes, and in the Enryaku era they came into use by imperial order (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). He wrote the Shikyō Ruijū in thirty-eight articles (Note: following the Shūgaishō). His son was Izumi.

Kibi-no-Izumi

¶Kibi-no-Izumi became Konoe-no-shōgen, Lieutenant of the Inner Palace Guards. During the Jingo-keiun and Hōki eras he successively held, concurrently, the posts of Daigaku Ingai-no-suke, Supernumerary Assistant Director of the University, and Saemon-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards, and became Daigaku-no-kami, Director of the University. In the early years of Enryaku (782) he was transferred to Iyo-no-kami, Governor of Iyo, but he did not get on with his colleagues and was repeatedly accused. When the court sent envoys to investigate the matter, Izumi was dissatisfied, and the words he spoke were disrespectful. An edict was therefore issued: "Izumi, Governor of Iyo province, has no record of governance to be heard of, and the facts of his offenses are clear. Under the laws of the state the usual penalty should be imposed. Yet his father, the late Minister of the Right (Kibi-no-Makibi), once studied in Tang and returned to this court, spread the winds of moral instruction, rose to the rank of minister, and assisted in the government of the court. If so, that father's virtue is still not easily forgotten. Though this is the fault of the son, how could we withhold compassion? We therefore pardon Izumi's offense and bid him reflect on good conduct hereafter. However, he is dismissed from his present post, and let his past errors serve as his chastisement." He was thus demoted to Sado-no-kami, Governor of Sado (Note: following the Shoku Nihongi). When Emperor Heizei ascended the throne (806), he was recalled. During the Daidō years he successively served as Nankaidō Kansatsushi, Inspector of the Southern Sea Circuit, concurrently Ukyō-no-daibu, Master of the Right Capital Office; he was made equivalent to Sangi, Counsellor, served as Sa-u-daiben, Senior Controller of the Left and Right, and as Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice, and was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower. In the first year of Kōnin (810) he was appointed Sangi, and successively held, concurrently, the posts of Ise-no-kami, Governor of Ise, Musashi-no-kami, Governor of Musashi, and Saemon-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards. In the fifth year of Kōnin (814), he died at the age of seventy (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

Sugawara-no-Kiyokimi

¶Sugawara-no-Kiyokimi was a son of Furuhito, Tōtōmi-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Tōtōmi. From his youth he was broadly versed in the classics and histories. During the Enryaku era he attended the Crown Prince by imperial order. At around twenty years of age he took the examination and was appointed Monjōshō, Student of Letters, and because his studies were excellent he was recommended as Shūsai, Distinguished Talent (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). He became Mino-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of Mino (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He passed the examination of policy essays and was appointed Daigaku-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of the University, and soon became Kentō Hangan, Judge of the mission to Tang, concurrently Ōmi-no-gon-no-jō, Provisional Secretary of Ōmi. On reaching Tang, he had an audience with the Emperor Dezong together with the Ambassador. After returning home he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and transferred to Daigaku-no-suke, Assistant Director of the University. In the early years of Daidō (806) he was transferred to Owari-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Owari, and his administration used no punishments, following the governance of Liu Kuan of the Later Han. In the early years of Kōnin (810), at the end of his term, he entered the capital and was appointed Sakyō-no-suke, Assistant Master of the Left Capital Office; he successively served as Daigaku-no-kami, Director of the University, Tonomo-no-kami, Director of the Palace Household, and Sa-u-shōben, Junior Controller of the Left and Right, and was transferred to Shikibu-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, concurrently Awa-no-kami, Governor of Awa. In the ninth year of Kōnin (818) the following edict was issued: "The ceremonies of the realm and the clothing of men and women shall all follow the Tang system. The rank certificates of those of Fifth Rank and above shall be changed to follow the Chinese form. On all palaces, residences, halls, gates, and pavilions new name boards shall be hung. And for the dances of the many officials, Kiyokimi shall have charge of everything." He was concurrently made Monjō Hakase, Professor of Letters, lectured on the Wen Xuan, and also took part in the work of compilation. He was transferred to Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial. He was appointed Sachūben, Middle Controller of the Left, but it was not wholly to his satisfaction, and he asked to be transferred to Ukyō-no-daibu. The Emperor, in a relaxed manner, asked about the office and rank of the Kyōshiki-no-daibu, and Kiyokimi replied, "It is an office corresponding to Senior Fifth Rank, but on the very same day it was changed to an office corresponding to Junior Fourth Rank." Some years later he was appointed Danjō-no-daihitsu, Senior Assistant of the Board of Censors. During the Tenchō years (824-834) he left the capital to become Harima-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Harima, but soon the Kugyō memorialized that "Kiyokimi is an elder of the state and should not be kept far away," and he was recalled, again held concurrently the post of Monjō Hakase, and was transferred again to Danjō-no-daihitsu. He was concurrently made Shinano-no-kami, Governor of Shinano, and transferred to Sakyō-no-daibu, Master of the Left Capital Office, but remained Monjō Hakase as before. In the early years of Jōwa (834) he was concurrently made Settsu-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Settsu, and further concurrently Tajima-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Tajima, and lectured on the Book of the Later Han. In the sixth year of Jōwa (839) he was granted Junior Third Rank, but old age and illness weakened his body and walking became very difficult. By imperial order he was therefore permitted to go by ox-carriage or on horseback as far as the pear tree in the South Courtyard. Afterwards, pleading illness, he gradually ceased attending court. Kiyokimi was by nature deeply benevolent, cherished living creatures, had profound faith in the Buddhist Law, and never neglected the making of Buddha images and the copying of sutras, which he took as his duty. He constantly took medicines, and the color of his face did not decline. He died in the ninth year of Jōwa (842), at the age of seventy-three (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). Kiyokimi had once taken part in the compilation of the two collections Ryōunshū and Bunka Shūreishū (Note: following the prefaces of both works), and he had a family collection of his own in six volumes (Note: following the Kanke Gosō). His sons were Yoshinushi and Koreyoshi.

Sugawara-no-Yoshinushi

¶Sugawara-no-Yoshinushi was intelligent and eloquent from childhood, and his appearance was fair. At the age of twenty-three he took the examination for Student of Letters and passed. In the early years of Jōwa (834) he was appointed Danjō-no-shōchū, Junior Secretary of the Board of Censors, became Judge of the embassy to Tang, and was concurrently Harima-no-gon-no-daijō, Provisional Senior Secretary of Harima. On the day he returned and reported, he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower for his services. Soon he successively served as Hyōbu-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs, Ise-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Ise, and Echizen-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Echizen, and became Kageyu-no-suke, Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Inspectors of Provincial Governors. In the second year of Ninju (852), he died at the age of fifty (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku).

Sugawara-no-Koreyoshi

¶Sugawara-no-Koreyoshi took up the family calling of his father and forefathers from his early years. At the end of Kōnin (around 823) he attended in the palace hall, being at that time eleven years old (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). In the early years of Jōwa (834) he was appointed Monjō Tokugyōshō, Student of Letters of Distinguished Achievement, and granted Junior Sixth Rank Lower. In the sixth year of Jōwa (839) he took the examination of policy essays, his grade was judged Middle Upper, and his rank was advanced by three steps (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). The following year he became Daigaku-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of the University, was transferred to Assistant, and soon was appointed Dainaiki, Senior Secretary of the Palace (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), and granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. He was transferred to Monjō Hakase, Professor of Letters, concurrently Tōgū Gakushi, Tutor to the Crown Prince (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin). When Emperor Montoku ascended the throne, he was granted Senior Fifth Rank Lower and made concurrently Kaga-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Kaga. In the third year of Ninju (853) he became Daigaku-no-kami, Director of the University. He petitioned: "Students of Letters who have not yet entered office should not be added to the precedents of merit evaluation, even after they have passed, without examination of the registers," and this was granted. During the Saikō years he was granted additional Junior Fourth Rank Lower and became Sakyō-no-daibu, Master of the Left Capital Office. During the Ten'an years he was concurrently Mimasaka-no-kami, Governor of Mimasaka, Ise-no-kami, Governor of Ise, and other posts. In the second year of Jōgan (860) he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper. In the fifth year of Jōgan (863) he became Danjō-no-daihitsu, Senior Assistant of the Board of Censors, and was transferred to Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice. In the twelfth year of Jōgan (870) he was concurrently Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, and Iyo-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Iyo. In the fourteenth year of Jōgan (872) he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor. The following year (873) he advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower. Afterwards he was concurrently Kageyu-chōkan, Chief of the Bureau of Inspectors of Provincial Governors, and Ōmi-no-kami, Governor of Ōmi. In the third year of Gangyō (879) he was granted Junior Third Rank. The following year (880) he died (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). He was sixty-nine years old (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He took part in the compilation of the Montoku Jitsuroku, and he also wrote the Tōgū Setsuin in twenty volumes, the Gimbō Yuritsu in ten volumes (Note: the Ninna-ji book catalogue writes "yu" as "kan"), the Shūin Risshi in ten volumes, and the Kaibun Ruijū in seventy volumes, and he had a family collection of his own in ten volumes (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). His son was Michizane, who has a separate biography.