Biographies · Vol. 127
Biographies LIV: Shigeno-no-Sadanushi, Ono-no-Minemori, Fujiwara-no-Mimori, and Other Officials of the Early Heian Court
Machine-assisted draft translation, checked for readability. For the classical Chinese text and the modern Japanese translation, see this volume in Japanese.
Shigeno-no-Sadanushi
¶Shigeno-no-Sadanushi was a son of Ieyake, Owari-no-kami, Governor of Owari. At the beginning of Daidō he passed the examination to become a Monjōshō, student of letters. During the Kōnin years he became Dainaiki, Senior Secretary, and was granted Outer Junior Fifth Rank Lower; he was moved to be Zusho-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Books, and served as Tōgū Gakushi, Scholar to the Crown Prince. During the Tenchō years he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper, and by imperial command, together with a number of other scholars, he sorted and compiled writings ancient and modern, one thousand volumes in all, which were named the Hifuryaku (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku. His grant of Junior Fifth Rank Upper follows the Ruijū Kokushi and the Kugyō Bunin). He also compiled the Keikokushū in twenty volumes and presented it to the throne (Note: following the preface of the Keikokushū). After Emperor Ninmyō ascended the throne he served as Kura-no-kami, Director of the Treasury, and Kunai-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of the Imperial Household. During the Jōwa years he held in turn the posts of Hyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs, and Danjō-no-daihitsu, Senior Assistant Censor, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper, became Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury, concurrently Sanuki-no-kami, Governor of Sanuki, was moved to be Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and became chief of the Kageyushi, Office of Examiners of Records (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). Soon afterwards he submitted a memorial of fourteen articles suited to the times, but most of its text has not been handed down. In the early years of Kashō he concurrently held the governorship of Owari. At that time many of the officials of the Dazaifu were unworthy, and the decline of its administration worsened day by day. Sadanushi submitted a memorial that said: "The Dazaifu is a great province at the western extremity and the center of all the western lands. To the east it takes Nagato as its gate, and to the west it is the bulwark against Silla. Moreover, the nine provinces and two islands have districts and counties that are vast and far apart, and from ancient times to the present they have been regarded as an important place of defense. In doing things one should first follow precedent, and in governing one should consult the words of the men of old. When I examine the old records, I find that Tang, Koma (Goguryeo), Silla, Kudara (Baekje), Mimana (Gaya), and the rest all relied on this land before they could come to court. Some came to present tribute, and some came with the intention of submitting to our rule; it may truly be called a crossroads where the foreign states gather, a gate joining the inside and the outside of the realm. For that reason men of virtue were made Sochi and Ni, Governor-General and Vice Governor-General, and men of talent were made Kanten, officers of the inspectorate. When no suitable person was available, appointments were made from the Benkan, Council of Controllers, or the Ministry of Ceremonial, but in recent years this practice has ceased altogether. I have lately heard it said: 'Among those officials there are some who shut their eyes and seal their lips and keep away from the world, and others who have forgotten shame, covet wealth, and give themselves to extortion. The officers of the Dazaifu and the provincial governors alike grieve over this. If matters are not reformed, they may come to a point beyond remedy.' When I heard this, my heart was troubled and I could not be at ease. I have no proof that these rumors are necessarily true, but as a subject, how could I fail to worry in advance? I have also heard it said: 'Ono-no-Ason Tsunekara, Shōni, Junior Vice Governor-General, and Ki-no-Ason Imamori, Chikuzen-no-kami, Governor of Chikuzen, hold opinions but lack the strength to correct the wrongdoing.' Whether this is true or false is uncertain, and I have only heard it by report. I cannot but exhaust my sincerity, and so I venture, in awe, to state it." His words were earnest and frank, but they were passed over in silence and not taken up (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku). Soon afterwards he was moved to be Kunai-kyō, Minister of the Imperial Household (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Montoku Jitsuroku). After Emperor Montoku ascended the throne he was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower and concurrently held the governorship of Sagami. In the second year of Ninju (852) a malignant swelling appeared at the corner of his mouth; medicine was sent down by the emperor, and envoys bearing inquiries came and went along the road without cease. But soon afterwards he died, at the age of sixty-eight. To his descendants he left the instruction: "Be sure the funeral is simple. After my death, let only memorial offerings be made." Sadanushi stood six shaku two sun tall (Note: about 188 centimeters), and his stature as a man was very great. He was broad in capacity and by nature compassionate, and he constantly feared that words might wound others. While in the offices in charge of personnel matters, he advanced the shinshi, candidates who had passed the examination, and employed them according to their abilities. On the day he died, there was none, whether they had known him or not, who did not shed tears and mourn him (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku). A temple modeled on the Ci'en temple of Tang was built, and for that reason it was named Jionji (Note: following the Hyakurenshō).
Ono-no-Minemori
¶Ono-no-Minemori was a great-great-grandson of Ono-no-Imoko, Daitokukan, holder of the Great Virtue cap rank (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku). His father Nagami was Seii Fukushōgun, Deputy Commander of the Expedition against the Emishi. At the end of Enryaku, Minemori became Gon-no-shōgeki, Provisional Junior Secretary. During the Daidō years he was appointed Kinai Kansatsushi Hangan, Assistant Judge to the Inspector of the Home Provinces (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower by exceptional promotion (Note: following the Ruijū Kokushi and the Kugyō Bunin), and was moved to be Ushōben, Junior Controller of the Right, and Shikibu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial. During the Kōnin years he became Kura-no-kami, Director of the Treasury, held in turn the governorships of Mutsu and Awa among other posts, then became Jibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower, and concurrently served as Kōgōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household. In the thirteenth year of Kōnin (822) he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and concurrently Dazai-no-daini, Senior Vice Governor-General of the Dazaifu (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the following year, because the people were in distress, he ordered the nine provinces under his jurisdiction to establish the system of kueiden, public fields. He therefore recorded the facts in detail and submitted a memorial setting out the particulars of the measure, which said: "That floods reach to the heavens and great droughts scorch the earth is in the nature of things, and no sage can escape them. Only in the ages of Yao and Tang was there a reserve for ten years, and so we do not hear of corpses of the starved lying by the roadside or cast into ditches. That was because the reserves were great. Now, for several years the harvests have failed and pestilence has been added to them, and the provinces under my jurisdiction have suffered most severely. Relief has been given many times, but the storehouses have gradually emptied, and though lenient measures have been repeated, the livelihood of the people is still insufficient. Many houses stand in rows without the smoke of a cooking fire, and in every dwelling there are signs of ruin and plunder. Therefore, although one would wish to lighten the taxes and reduce the labor service, there is already no means to meet the expenses; the public costs remain unchanged, and the people continue to be burdened with the payment of tribute. If no change is made, it will be difficult to set things upright again. The Book of Changes says, 'Understand its changes, and do not weary the people.' Liuzi says, 'A wise ruler strives to set his laws in order and fixes his institutions appropriately according to the times. If it benefits the people, he need not necessarily keep to the old laws; if it harms the work, he need not follow the former ways. The Xia and the Yin declined and perished because they did not change their laws, and the three dynasties rose and each became king because they did not simply follow the preceding age.' From this it may be seen that laws should change with the times and are not limited to a single age. Now those who administer the law are lost in the old statutes, and the Confucian scholars are bound by the old rites. If one tries to govern the people of a hundred generations by the laws of a single age, it is like trying to endure both cold and heat with a single garment, or to cure every illness with a single medicine. I therefore propose here to reform the existing system, and I submit a new plan. The substance of the matter is as follows. The cho and yō, the tribute in goods and in labor, are to be remitted, and provisions are to be supplied as well. This is advantageous to the people but heavy for the court. In ancient times, it is said, if one cultivated for nine years there would surely be a reserve for three years, and reckoned over thirty years there would be a reserve for ten years. Then even in years of bad harvest or flood, the people would not go hungry and pale. Under the system now proposed, the sum accumulated over thirty years in the nine provinces comes to more than thirty-two million. If this is combined with the shōzei, the regular provincial rice tax, it will become a lasting reserve, no less than in former times. The day when the granaries are full will not be far off, and the day when the age knows propriety and restraint will be near; so I humbly beg." The emperor had the merits of the proposal discussed. The Kugyō, the high court nobles, deliberated: "There is indeed something in Minemori's words that should be adopted. However, there is still hesitation about suddenly changing a system that has been practiced since ancient times. Let it be tried, limited to four years, and carried out as requested" (Note: following the Seiji Yōryaku). During the Tenchō years he rose to Junior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: following the Ruijū Kokushi, the Nihon Kiryaku, and the Kugyō Bunin), became chief of the Kageyushi, Office of Examiners of Records, and concurrently Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the seventh year of Tenchō (830) he died, at the age of fifty-three (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin). Together with Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, Yoshimine-no-Yasuyo and Nakatsukasa-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Central Affairs, Asano-no-Kadotori and others, Minemori compiled the Dairishiki (Note: following the preface of the Dairishiki). Together with Shikibu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, Sugawara-no-Kiyokimi, and Daigaku-no-suke, Assistant Director of the University, Isayama-no-Fumitsugu, and others, he also compiled the Ryōun Shinshū in one volume and presented it to the throne (Note: following the preface of the Ryōunshū). Earlier, travelers going to the Dazaifu had slept by the roadside and often fell ill and lost their lives. When Minemori became Daini he built the Zokumyōin, a hospice, to provide lodging for travelers. But he reasoned that without official backing it could not be maintained for long and would in time fall into ruin, and so he drew up a gebumi, a written petition, setting out its original purpose, which read: "The people of the nine provinces and two islands under the Dazaifu come and go without cease, whether on public or private business. Those with light business make short stays, but those with weighty business sometimes do not return until after the year has turned. They lodge beneath the storehouses of the Dazaifu, or take rooms in the houses of the people. If they fall ill and lose the use of hand and foot, the government offices are not places for nursing the sick, and the innkeepers, too, shun death and drive them out. So they lie by the roadside, exposed to wind and snow, and those who lose their lives never cease. Even when one recovers for a time, those who die of hunger and cold number eight or nine out of every ten. Seeing this wretched state, I was moved to deep compassion and resolved to relieve them: I built one Zokumyōin, with seven buildings roofed in cypress bark, one kettle, and one hundred and fourteen chō of reclaimed fields, to be used for the relief of the sick and the hungry. My will was there but my strength fell short, and I hope only that it may be of use in one case in ten thousand. But the land is remote and supervision is hard to carry out. If it is entrusted to private hands, I fear it will fall further into ruin. If the strength of the government cannot be borrowed, this aim will come to nothing. What I humbly request is that one Hangan, judge, or Sakan, secretary, of the Dazaifu, together with the Kōji, lecturer, of the Kannonji temple, be made to manage this undertaking. At each change of office let them be made to hand it over only after inspecting the whole of the undertaking on the spot. If they neglect repairs and let it fall into disrepair, or use funds improperly, I ask that they be punished according to the laws of the state." This petition had not yet been submitted when Minemori died. Afterwards his bereaved family made a fresh petition. The emperor issued an edict to the office concerned: "Let it be as requested. In the handing over of the geyujō, the certificates of release from office, at each change of the managing officials, everything is to follow the precedent for provincial governors" (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Ruijū Sandaikyaku). His son Takamura has a separate biography.
Fujiwara-no-Mimori
¶Fujiwara-no-Mimori was a grandson of Kosemaro, Sangi, Counsellor, and a son of Masara, Awa-no-kami, Governor of Awa. At first he became Shuzō-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Storehouses. During the Daidō years he held in turn the posts of Mimasaka Gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Mimasaka, and Kura-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Treasury, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and was appointed Ukonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Right Imperial Guards (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin). In the early years of Kōnin he held in turn the posts of Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Rekidai Kōki), and Kura-no-kami, Director of the Treasury, concurrently served as Tōgū-no-suke, Assistant Master of the Crown Prince's Household, rose to Junior Fourth Rank Lower, was appointed Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, and concurrently Sahyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards. In the seventh year of Kōnin (816) he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and concurrently Tōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Crown Prince's Household. In the twelfth year of Kōnin (821) he was granted Junior Third Rank and appointed Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, again serving concurrently as Tōgū-no-daibu (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin). Mimori received special favor because of old kindnesses dating from before Emperor Saga's accession. When Emperor Saga abdicated and moved to the Saga-in, Mimori asked to be relieved of his military post so that he might serve at the Retired Emperor's residence. The words of his request were earnest, and since he himself unbuckled his sword in the imperial hall, those who saw it were moved. Emperor Junna, knowing that his resolve could not be taken from him, permitted him to remain Provisional Middle Counsellor and to serve the Dajō Tennō, Retired Emperor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). During the Tenchō years he concurrently held the posts of Kunai-kyō, Minister of the Imperial Household, and Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice, was transferred to Dainagon, Major Counsellor, and concurrently served as Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs, and Danjō-in, Chief of the Board of Censors (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin; his appointment as Kunai-kyō follows the Kugyō Bunin). After Emperor Ninmyō ascended the throne, he rose to Junior Second Rank and concurrently served as Kōtaishi-fu, Tutor to the Crown Prince. In the fifth year of Jōwa (838) he was appointed Udaijin, Minister of the Right. In the seventh year of Jōwa (840) he died. He was fifty-six (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). He was called the Minister of Later Yamashina (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Fun'ya-no-Akitsu, Sangi, Counsellor, and others were sent to his residence to proclaim an edict, and he was posthumously granted Junior First Rank. Abe-no-Yasuhito, Sangi, Counsellor, and others supervised the funeral. By nature Mimori was gentle and modest and clear in judging affairs. In his youth he entered the university and studied the Five Classics. He liked to invite poets, and would exchange cups with them and sit close beside them. Whenever on his way to court each morning he met students, he would always dismount and pass by, and by this he gained a high reputation (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). During the Kōnin years, together with Fujiwara-no-Fuyutsugu, Minister of the Right, and Fujiwara-no-Kadonomaro, and with Akishino-no-Yasuhito and Tachibana-no-Tsunenushi, Sangi, Counsellors, he compiled the Kyakushiki, the supplementary regulations and procedures, in obedience to an imperial command. After these four men had died one after another, Mimori alone continued the study, settled the contents, and in the seventh year of Tenchō (830) the work was completed and he presented it with a memorial (Note: following the Ruijū Kokushi). His sons were Arimune, Nakamune, and Arisada (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Arimune became Jijū, Chamberlain, of Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and Nakamune became Sangi, Counsellor, of Senior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).
Fujiwara-no-Arisada
¶Fujiwara-no-Arisada attended Emperor Ninmyō closely from his boyhood, and because his younger sister was a Nyōgo, Consort, he enjoyed special favor. During the Jōwa years he was appointed Tanba-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Tanba, but did not take up the post; because of scruples connected with matters of the palace, he left the capital as Hitachi Gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Hitachi, and afterwards was appointed Ukonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Right Imperial Guards. During the Jōgan years he held in turn the governorship of Bitchū and other posts, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower, and became Ōmi Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Ōmi. In the fifteenth year of Jōgan (873) he died. Arisada did not flaunt his power or high station, and even toward those who did not suit his own mind, he never shunned the other person (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).
Abe-no-Yasuhito
¶Abe-no-Yasuhito was a man of the Left Capital. He was a grandson of Azumahito, Jibu-kyō, Minister of Civil Affairs. His father Hiromaro was Sangi, Counsellor, and Dazai-no-daini, Senior Vice Governor-General of the Dazaifu. Yasuhito stood six shaku three sun tall (Note: about 191 centimeters); his appearance was stately and fine, and his character was composed and dignified. During the Kōnin years he became Yamashiro-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of Yamashiro (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku), was granted permission to enter the imperial hall (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), and held in turn the posts of Shōjō, Junior Secretary, of the Nakatsukasa-shō, Ministry of Central Affairs, and of the Minbu-shō, Ministry of Civil Affairs. During the Tenchō years he was appointed Ōmi Gon-no-daijō, Provisional Senior Secretary of Ōmi, became deeply close to the Governor, Fujiwara-no-Otoo, and was entrusted by him with the conduct of administration. Yasuhito's governance was vigorous and thorough, and his name reached the court. Before his term was completed he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and appointed Shinano-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Shinano. When he had performed his duties for three years, the province was well governed. In the year his term ended, he was rewarded for this with promotion of one rank (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). He was made Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). During the Jōwa years he held in turn the posts of Hyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs, and Gyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Justice, and served the Dajō Tennō, Retired Emperor (Retired Emperor Saga), at Saga. The Retired Emperor trusted and employed Yasuhito especially, made him Bettō, Steward, of his residence, and so entrusted to Yasuhito's decision all matters, great and small. Previously the affairs of the residence had been in arrears, but within a few months of Yasuhito's taking office he put them in order and settled them, and the Retired Emperor praised him deeply. Soon afterwards he was moved to be Jibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs. The Retired Emperor once, in a relaxed moment, was appraising the abilities of the provincial officials and said: "In skill at governing Shinano, no one equals Yasuhito," and so bestowed on him an ivory shaku, a jeweled belt, a gold fish-shaped tally bag, and a complete set of imperial robes. Men of discernment congratulated one another, saying, "This means the way to the rank of Saishō, Counsellor, has been opened" (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). Afterwards he rose step by step to Junior Fourth Rank Lower, was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and concurrently Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Sandai Jitsuroku). The Retired Emperor said to Yasuhito, "You ought to take up an important post early. Why do you remain so long in the affairs of the residence?" (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). In the seventh year of Jōwa (840) he concurrently became Sadaiben, Senior Controller of the Left (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Sandai Jitsuroku), but when he resigned as Bettō, the affairs of the residence thereafter fell into arrears. The emperor therefore commanded anew that he hold both the Bettō post and the duties of the Benkan, and Yasuhito attended his office from early morning. Even after leaving his public duties, he always went to Saga. The court pitied the toil of his journeys back and forth and transferred him to be Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). When Emperor Montoku was still Crown Prince, Yasuhito became Tōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Crown Prince's Household, and concurrently served as Shimotsuke-no-kami, Governor of Shimotsuke, and Danjō-no-daihitsu, Senior Assistant Censor (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Sandai Jitsuroku). He became chief of the Kōdenshi, the inspectors of fields, for Kawachi and Izumi (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki), and concurrently Udaiben, Senior Controller of the Right (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Kugyō Bunin). He was granted Junior Third Rank, appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, and concurrently served as Minbu-kyō, Minister of Civil Affairs, continuing as Tōgū-no-daibu as before (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Sandai Jitsuroku). After Emperor Montoku ascended the throne he was granted Senior Third Rank. During the Saikō years he concurrently held the post of Azechi, Inspector, of Mutsu and Dewa (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku), and was appointed Gon-dainagon, Provisional Major Counsellor (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki and the Sandai Jitsuroku). Yasuhito made modesty his aim and treated public duties as carefully as his own household affairs; he told his sons and younger kinsmen: "Most of the cho and yō, the tribute in goods and labor, from the provinces enter the houses of the powerful, and little of it is delivered to the court. The fief households I have been granted are more than enough for my person" (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). He therefore submitted a memorial asking to reduce the fief households due him as Major Counsellor and to be given those due a Middle Counsellor. The emperor praised his modest attitude and granted the request as a special favor. Soon afterwards he became full Dainagon, Major Counsellor, and concurrently Ukonoe-no-taishō, Commander of the Right Imperial Guards (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku). Before long he resigned the post of commander and submitted a further memorial, and this too was granted. In the first year of Jōgan (859) he died. He was then sixty-seven years old. Yasuhito was well versed in the essentials of government and was also familiar with the institutions of the court. In presenting memorials and in discussions, he was never at a loss in reply. On days of leave he instructed and admonished his descendants. He had eight sons, of whom Sadayuki, Muneyuki, Kiyoyuki, and Tomoyuki were especially well known. Sadayuki has a separate biography (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).
Abe-no-Okiyuki
¶Abe-no-Okiyuki was recommended as a Shūsai, outstanding scholar, and passed the examination of taisaku, the policy essay. During the Jōgan years he was given the posts of Dainaiki, Senior Secretary, and Kageyu-no-suke, Vice-Director of the Office of Examiners of Records, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and was sent to the Dazaifu as an envoy to investigate a case of secret denunciation. During the Gangyō years he held the post of Minbu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs, and rose step by step to Kōzuke-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Kōzuke. Once, when Emperor Seiwa met with the death of the Grand Empress Dowager, the period for wearing mourning dress was not settled, and the scholars were made to debate it; Okiyuki took part in this as well (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).
Fujiwara-no-Yoshino
¶Fujiwara-no-Yoshino was a grandson of Kurajimaro, Dazai-no-sotsu, Governor-General of the Dazaifu, and a son of Tsunatsugu, Sangi, Counsellor. By nature he was generous and had the capacity to accept many kinds of people. From his youth he applied himself to study and constantly kept books in his hands, and he was not ashamed to ask instruction of his inferiors. When he saw someone superior to himself, he strove to catch up with him. During the Kōnin years he held in turn the posts of Shuzō-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Storehouses, Mino-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of Mino, and Tōgū-no-shōshin, Junior Secretary of the Crown Prince's Household, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and was appointed Suruga-no-kami, Governor of Suruga. The province was well governed, and he was known for his vigorous skill in administration. After Emperor Junna ascended the throne, he returned to the capital as Nakatsukasa-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Central Affairs, and was transferred to be Sakonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Left Imperial Guards. During the Tenchō years he rose to Junior Fifth Rank Upper (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki), was appointed Sashōben, Junior Controller of the Left (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), concurrently served as Iyo-no-kami, Governor of Iyo, became Kinai Junsatsushi, Inspector of the Home Provinces (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki), and was made Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He rose to Junior Fourth Rank Lower, concurrently served as Kōgōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household, and Uhyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards, was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and concurrently served as Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, and Tōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Crown Prince's Household. He was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower and concurrently became Ukonoe-no-taishō, Commander of the Right Imperial Guards. Rising step by step, he became Junior Third Rank Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor. After Emperor Ninmyō ascended the throne, he was granted Senior Third Rank. He resigned his post of palace guard and served the Dajō Tennō, Retired Emperor (Retired Emperor Junna), at the Junna-in. In the early years of Jōwa he became Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor. After the Retired Emperor died, he ceased entirely to attend at court and repeatedly asked to resign, but this was not granted. The court repeatedly sent envoys in an attempt to force him back to the conduct of affairs. Soon afterwards he asked to resign his post on the ground that his parent was aged, so that he might devote himself to filial care, but this too was not granted. Yoshino was by nature deeply filial, and in his attentions to his parent morning and evening, even in a sudden emergency he never failed in propriety. Once, when his father heard that there was fresh meat and sent someone to ask for it, the cook, on the ground that Yoshino was away, stubbornly refused to hand it over. When Yoshino returned home and heard of this, he was greatly grieved and regretful, and weeping he rebuked the cook, and for the rest of his life he never put meat in his mouth. In instructing and admonishing his sons and younger kinsmen, he was warm and generous. Even when they made mistakes, he never showed anger openly. Yet where an argument had to be carried through, he would never give way. Whenever he moved his dwelling he always planted trees, and so the people of the time praised it as akin to the elegance of Wang Huizhi, who was said to have planted bamboo. In the ninth year of Jōwa (842), implicated in the affair of Tomo-no-Kowamine, he was demoted to Dazai-no-in-no-sotsu, Supernumerary Governor-General of the Dazaifu. Soon afterwards this was changed to exile in Yamashiro province, and he was not permitted to enter the capital. In the thirteenth year of Jōwa (846) he died. He was sixty-one (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). His son was Yoshichika (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).
Fujiwara-no-Yoshichika
¶Fujiwara-no-Yoshichika was of fine bearing, and his conduct and manner were pleasing to see. He was not gifted in scholarship but was recommended for his skill in practical administration. In the second year of Tenan (858) he first entered official service, becoming Gyōbu-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of Justice, and Shikibu-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of Ceremonial. In the early years of Jōgan he became Ise Gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Ise, but on the way to his post he was recalled and appointed Ushōben, Junior Controller of the Right. In the fourth year of Jōgan (862) he resigned to observe mourning for his mother, but by imperial edict he was ordered to attend to his duties during the mourning period in his former post, and he became Jijū, Chamberlain of the second class, and was appointed Echizen Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Echizen. In the twelfth year of Jōgan (870) he was appointed Uchūben, Middle Controller of the Right. In the fourteenth year (872), because Shōnagon, Minor Counsellor, Prince Masamine and others were unable to take up their duties through illness and mourning, Yoshichika was ordered by imperial command to act in the duties of Shōnagon. In the following year he became Tosa Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Tosa, and was moved to be Sachūben, Middle Controller of the Left. In the seventeenth year (875) he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and moved to be Jingi-haku, Head of the Department of Divinities. He died while still in office. He was seventy-five. Once, when Yoshichika was drunk and riding in the same ox carriage as another man, he said in jest, "I have the strength to keep this ox from walking," and pressing his hand against the floor of the carriage, he held his breath and sat perfectly still; the ox planted its four feet and would not go forward. His strength of arm was exceptional beyond the ordinary, to this degree (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).
Asano-no-Kadotori
¶Asano-no-Kadotori was a man of Yamato province. He was a son of Oshinumi-no-Muraji Takatori, of Senior Sixth Rank Upper. He became the adopted son of his uncle, Asano-no-Sukune Michinaga. During the Enryaku years he asked to have his kabane restored to Muraji. By imperial edict Takatori's kabane was retroactively raised to Sukune. Takatori studied at the university from his youth and was widely versed in histories and Chinese books, and was also thoroughly skilled in the Han pronunciation of characters. At first he took the examination for Onjō, student of pronunciation, and was appointed Sagami-no-hakase, Professor of Sagami; later he passed the examination and became a Monjōshō, student of letters, and soon afterwards he became Jun-rokuji, Assistant Recorder, to the embassy to Tang. He held in turn the posts of Shikibu-no-shōroku, Junior Recorder of the Ministry of Ceremonial (Note: the character for "Junior" is missing here in the original text, and has been supplied on the basis of the Kugyō Bunin), Sadaishi, Senior Secretary of the Left, and Sakonoe-no-shōgen, Lieutenant of the Left Imperial Guards (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). During the Kōnin years he was made Kurōdo, Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). By reason of having served as Jikō, lecturer, in a prince's residence, he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and became Saemon-no-suke, Assistant Commander of the Left Gate Guards. Soon afterwards he resigned his office for mourning, but before the mourning was over he was called to service and became Ōmi-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Ōmi. After some years he was moved to be Ukonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Right Imperial Guards, transferred to be Kura-no-kami, Director of the Treasury, rose to Senior Fifth Rank Lower, and held in turn the posts of Taifu, Senior Assistant Minister, of the Ministries of Military Affairs, Central Affairs, and Civil Affairs (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). He was made Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin) and moved to be Sachūben, Middle Controller of the Left. During the Tenchō years he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper and appointed Dazai-no-daini, Senior Vice Governor-General of the Dazaifu, but he submitted a memorial declining it. It was not granted (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). When he went to his post, the emperor appeared at the Shishinden and held a farewell banquet, summoned men of letters to compose poems, and the Gagaku-ryō, Bureau of Court Music, played music; the emperor bestowed an imperial poem of his own composition and imperial robes (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). In the tenth year of Tenchō (833) he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor. During the Jōwa years he concurrently served as Sadaiben, Senior Controller of the Left, and succeeded Fujiwara-no-Yoshichika as Minbu-kyō, Minister of Civil Affairs, but he submitted a memorial that said: "Signs of decline have already appeared in me, and I am one who ought to return his office to the court. Nevertheless, that I have now been appointed Minister of Civil Affairs is a boundless favor, yet one beyond my station, and I am overcome with awe. Fujiwara-no-Ason Yoshichika, Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, of Junior Third Rank, is said, in yielding this prominent post to a fool such as myself, to have remarked, 'Kadotori is versed in the circumstances of ancient and modern times'; these words are wholly mistaken. They are unsuited to my capacity, and as I reflect on myself I am filled with shame. What I humbly beg is that this gracious appointment be withdrawn and that I be relieved of my anxiety and burden." But it was not granted. After some years he concurrently became Ecchū-no-kami, Governor of Ecchū, was granted Junior Third Rank, and at the same time nineteen of his sons and daughters were granted the kabane of Ason. In the tenth year of Jōwa (843) he died. He was seventy. Kadotori was talented in many ways, modest by nature, accurate in his judgment when handling affairs, and had a reputation for outstanding practical ability (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki).
Fujiwara-no-Yoshitada
¶Fujiwara-no-Yoshitada, whose azana, courtesy name, was Chōdai, was a grandson of Uchimaro, Udaijin, Minister of the Right, and a son of Ōtsu, Bizen-no-kami, Governor of Bizen. His manner was refined and graceful, and his bearing was modest. The monk Enichi of the Kōfukuji was skilled at reading faces, and on seeing Yoshitada he said, "This man will surely rise to the rank of Kugyō, high court noble, and will attain the utmost glory and favor," and, withdrawing, he said to others, "Ah, only his lifespan is to be regretted." In the fourth year of Jōwa (837) he became Udoneri, a palace attendant. At that time his colleagues were all young men of powerful families, who behaved extravagantly and willfully and had no restraint. Yoshitada alone always kept to the rules, and those who saw it felt secretly ashamed and each corrected himself. People said to one another, "When Chōdai is there it is hard on us, and when he is gone we find we miss him." On a memorial from the Nakatsukasa-shō, Ministry of Central Affairs, he was ordered to serve in the Crown Prince's household, was recognized and cherished for his talent by the Crown Prince, and was promoted to Kurōdo, Chamberlain. At the end of Kashō he was moved to be Sama-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of the Left Horse Bureau (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). In the Ninju and Saikō periods he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, became Jijū, Chamberlain, concurrently served as Harima-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Harima, and was appointed Tōgū-no-suke, Assistant Master of the Crown Prince's Household (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku). When his father Ōtsu fell ill at his post, Yoshitada heard of it and tried to hurry to him at once, but the emperor did not permit it. When news of the death arrived, he vomited blood and lost consciousness, and only after some time did he revive. He therefore resigned his office, but the emperor, in consideration of his feelings of mourning, ordered him to attend to his duties despite them and restored him to his former post (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku). Soon afterwards he concurrently became Sahyōe Gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Commander of the Left Gate Guards, and was moved to be Uchūben, Middle Controller of the Right (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Sandai Jitsuroku). During the Tenan years he rose step by step to be appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and concurrently served as Ōmi Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Ōmi. In the early years of Jōgan he was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower and was transferred to be Sadaiben, Senior Controller of the Left. He once built one dōjō, a place of practice, in Kadono district, Yamashiro province, and named it the Shin'nyo-in. His mother, of the Ki clan, became a nun and lived there. Yoshitada set aside a portion of his own stipend to meet the costs of her support. At about this time Lady Ki took to her sickbed and did not readily recover. Yoshitada attended and cared for her and did not leave her side. He did not loosen the sash of his robe, and nursed her without sleeping. When his mother died he resigned his office, and his grief exceeded all bounds, so that he was nearly wasted away. Some months later he returned to his former post. At that time Minabuchi-no-Toshina, Udaiben, Senior Controller of the Right, and Ōe-no-Otondo, Sachūben, Middle Controller of the Left, were both lower than Yoshitada in the order of rank and office. Yoshitada said privately to someone: "Of these two, one is a great scholar and a pillar of learning, and the other is a man who upholds the government of the court. Although I am younger than these two, my position is higher than theirs, and every time I go in and out I am always ashamed. Fujiwara-no-Mototsune, Sakonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Left Imperial Guards, is young but distinguished in character, his talent and reputation are extremely high, and by the opinion of the day he is held to be a man of extraordinary capacity. The late emperor also esteemed his fine character and favored him most closely. Now he and I both hold Fourth Rank; how could I rest at ease? Moreover, it has been the custom of worthy men since ancient times that when a Shōshō, Junior Captain, who holds Fourth Rank appears, a Chūjō, Middle Captain, resigns his post. I have not the fine conduct of the men of old, but I privately cherish the wish to follow them. I have long been blocking the path of a worthy man, and I ought to withdraw from it promptly." He therefore pleaded severe illness, earnestly asked to be excused, and resolutely refused to conduct affairs. After some time Toshina became Sadaiben, Senior Controller of the Left, Otondo became Udaiben, Senior Controller of the Right, Mototsune became Chūjō, Middle Captain, and Yoshitada was moved to be Uemon-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards. In the ninth year of Jōgan (867) he became Taikōtaigōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Household of the Grand Empress Dowager. In the following year he died. He was fifty-five. Yoshitada was by nature broad in capacity and did not care for display. His filial devotion and reverence were innate, and his loyal and sincere character was known early. He served his lord with all his heart and never divulged a secret, and so he received the special trust of Emperor Montoku, and his favor and treatment grew ever greater. All matters inside and outside the palace were entrusted to his decision. Though he bore the duties of Bettō, steward, of the various bureaus and residences, there was never an instance of fault. His stepmother, of the Abe clan, was fierce and jealous by temperament, and the other children were all rebuked by her, but Yoshitada served her obediently and was alone deeply loved by her. On every anniversary of Emperor Montoku's death he lectured on the Lotus Sutra, and he never let this lapse throughout his life. The people of the time praised his loyalty and filial piety (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku).