Biographies LXIV: Generals of the Masakado and Sumitomo Rebellions

Fujiwara-no-Toshihito

¶Fujiwara-no-Toshihito was a sixth-generation descendant of Uona, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left. His grandfather Takafusa served as Governor of Echizen. His father Tokinaga was Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs, and Chinjufu-shōgun, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacification Headquarters. Tokinaga married a daughter of Hata-no-Toyokuni, a man of Echizen, and Toshihito was born. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) In Tsuruga in Echizen province there was a man named Arihito (Note: his surname has not been handed down) who was extremely wealthy. Toshihito became his son-in-law and settled there. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari.) Toshihito was calm and courageous and rich in stratagems (Note: following the Kuramadera Engi), and his movements were swift, as if he were flying. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He was versed in the art of war and possessed the capacity of a commander. (Note: following the Kuramadera Engi.) In his youth he went up to the capital and served the house of the regents. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari.) During the Engi era he successively held the posts of Kōzuke-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Kōzuke, Kazusa-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Kazusa, and Governor of Musashi, was appointed Chinjufu-shōgun, and rose to Junior Fourth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

¶The bandits of Mount Takakura in Shimotsuke province, Zōsō, Zōnyo, and others, gathered more than a thousand men and plundered the goods being sent as tribute. At court it was proposed to choose a brave general to subdue them, and as all recommended Toshihito, he was ordered to put them down. Toshihito advanced to the foot of Mount Takakura. Although it was midsummer and the heat was fierce, he had his soldiers build a great many sledges. The soldiers did not understand his purpose. When night came he called one of the soldiers and asked, "Will it snow tonight?" The soldier answered, "No. How could it snow when the sky is so clear?" Toshihito was greatly enraged and cut the soldier down. After a while he called another soldier and put the same question. That soldier, terrified, falsely answered, "It will snow." Toshihito was greatly pleased. Sure enough, heavy snow fell in the middle of the night and stopped at dawn. Toshihito had his soldiers ride the sledges and press the attack. The bandits, weakened by hunger and cold, could not fight again; Toshihito unleashed his troops to strike with fury and utterly defeated them. Many heads were taken and many prisoners seized, and Toshihito's prestige was greatly enhanced. (Note: all of the above follows the Kuramadera Engi. Further, according to the Azuma Kagami, in the fifth year of Bunji (1189), on the way back from Minamoto-no-Yoritomo's campaign against Fujiwara-no-Yasuhira, he passed through the Taya cave in Mutsu; this was the cave in which the rebel chieftains Akuro-ō and Akagashira had built their stronghold when the general Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro and Toshihito and others, each by imperial command, campaigned against the Emishi. The Gikeiki also says that Toshihito put to death the rebel leader Akagashira. From this it would seem that during his tenure at the Pacification Headquarters there was a revolt of captive Emishi and that he put it down. But as it does not appear in the veritable records or other books, it is not recorded in the main text. Again, according to the Konjaku Monogatari, in the reign of Emperor Montoku Silla defied the court's orders, and the court commanded Toshihito to subdue it. Hearing the order, Toshihito was roused to action, assembled troops and prepared ships, and was about to set out, but on reaching Yamazaki he suddenly fell ill, leapt up gazing at the sky, drew his sword and slashed at the empty air several times, and at last fell down and died. The Kojidan gives the reign of Emperor Uda in place of Emperor Montoku, but since neither agrees with Toshihito's career, neither is adopted. Uraki remarks that Tamuramaro and Toshihito were in fact different men; the popular confusion of the two arises from the so-called "Tamura legends." These matters appear in such books as the Tamura Zōshi and the Suzuka Zōshi, and in the Noh plays.)

¶Toshihito's sons included Shōi, Kōtō, Yozen, and Nobumochi. Shōi became Governor of Shimotsuke and was appointed Chinjufu-shōgun, and was called Chūshōgun. Kōtō became a Uchitoneri, Palace Attendant. Yozen became Echigo-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Echigo. Nobumochi was appointed Saigūryō-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of the Ise Priestess, and because of this office was known in the world as Saitō. Nobumochi's son Yoshinobu and grandson Tadayori both became Kaga-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Kaga. Their line flourished in Kaga province and was called the Kaga Saitō. The Togashi, Hayashi, and other families are all their descendants. Daisoku became Echizen-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Echizen, and Hisanori became Governor of Iki. (Note: all of the above follows the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Fujiwara-no-Tadafumi

¶Fujiwara-no-Tadafumi was a great-grandson of Otsugu, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left. His father Edayoshi served four sovereigns, Yōzei, Kōkō, Uda, and Daigo, and through accumulated merit rose to Junior Fourth Rank Upper and the rank of Sangi, Counsellor. During the Engi and Enchō eras Tadafumi successively held the posts of Shuri-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of the Office of Repairs, Sama-no-kami, Director of the Left Bureau of Horses, and Saemon-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Magistrate of the Left Gate Guards; he became Ukon'e-no-shōshō, Lesser Captain of the Right Palace Guards, concurrently Tōgū-no-daishin, Senior Secretary to the Crown Prince, and was appointed Harima-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Harima, and Sanuki-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Sanuki, then transferred to Governor of Settsu and Governor of Tanba, and was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower. During the Jōhei era he became Governor of Yamato and was appointed Shuri-no-daibu, Master of the Office of Repairs, and through accumulated merit advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower. In the second year of Tengyō (939) he was appointed Sangi. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) At the time of the rebellion of Taira-no-Masakado he was appointed Uemon-no-kami, Director of the Right Gate Guards, and received the commission of Seitō Taishōgun, Great General Who Subdues the East. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin. The Kugyō Bunin writes "Sei-i," Subduing the Barbarians, but here the Nihon Kiryaku is followed.) Tadafumi heard of his appointment just as he was eating, threw down his chopsticks, and set out. He was granted the Setto, the Sword of Command, and departed without returning to his own residence. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.) His younger brother Tadanobu, Gyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Justice, Fujiwara-no-Kunimoto, Ukyō-no-suke, Assistant Governor of the Right Capital District, Taira-no-Kiyomoto, Ō-kenmotsu, Senior Inspector of Stores, and Minamoto-no-Tsunemoto and others followed him. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Kojidan. As for the younger brother, the Sonpi Bunmyaku is followed.) But on the road they heard that Masakado had been put to death and turned back. (Note: following the Jikkinshō.) Tadanobu and Taira-no-Kimitsura, Shimōsa-no-gon-no-shōjō, Provisional Junior Secretary of Shimōsa, were specially sent to Shimōsa to search out the remnants, but the rebels fled and hid. (Note: following the Shōmonki.) Soon afterwards he was additionally made Governor of Bizen. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.)

¶When Fujiwara-no-Sumitomo attacked the Dazaifu, Tadafumi was again commissioned Seisei Taishōgun, Great General Who Subdues the West, but because Sumitomo was put to death he did not take the field. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He was additionally made Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin.) In the first year of Tenryaku (947) he was additionally made Kii-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Kii. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) Soon afterwards he died at the age of seventy-five. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin.) He was posthumously granted the rank of Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, with Senior Third Rank. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.)

¶When Tadafumi was serving in the Konoefu, the Palace Guards, he kept to the rules and never grew slack; on every night duty he tethered a horse from the Bureau of Horses beside his bed, so that the sound of the horse chewing its fodder would rouse him from sleep and he would be ready for any unforeseen event. (Note: following the Kojidan and the Jikkinshō.) Once, when the emperor was viewing the horses presented as tribute, two horses bit at each other and no one could restrain them; Tadafumi, then Director of the Bureau of Horses, strode straight forward, took the reins, and pulled them apart, and all who saw it were filled with admiration. The emperor once wished to grant Tadafumi permission to ascend to the Imperial Residence, but Tadafumi firmly declined and stopped it. In his later years he submitted a memorial asking to retire from office, but the court, regretting the loss of his diligence, refused with a courteous edict. (Note: following the Geki Nikki and the Kugyō Bunin.) By nature Tadafumi disliked the heat; he built a villa at Uji and went there every year in high summer to pass the season. He was known in the world as the Uji Minbukyō, the Uji Minister of Popular Affairs. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki, the Konjaku Monogatari, and the Kugyō Bunin.)

¶At first, when Masakado was put to death, all the generals received rewards alike; Tadafumi too submitted a memorial pleading his own merit, and the court referred it to a council of the Kugyō, the high court nobles. The Dainagon, Great Counsellor, Fujiwara-no-Saneyori said, "Before Tadafumi's army arrived, the rebel had already been executed. He has no merit, so there is no need to reward him." The Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, Fujiwara-no-Morosuke said, "He went out to the campaign on imperial command, so one cannot say he had no toil. From of old it has been said that in doubtful cases reward should follow the heavier side. Tadafumi alone must not be excluded." Saneyori retorted, "To grant a reward where there is no merit is what is called an excessive reward," and the court in the end followed his view. (Note: this draws on the Kojidan, the Jikkinshō, and the Genpei Seisuiki.) Tadafumi bore a deep grudge against Saneyori for this. (Note: following the Kojidan and the Jikkinshō.) After Tadafumi's death, Saneyori's daughter Jutsushi, a Nyōgo, Consort, and his son Atsutoshi, Sakon'e-no-shōshō, Lesser Captain of the Left Palace Guards, died young one after another. The world regarded this as Tadafumi's curse and called Tadafumi the Akuryō Minbukyō, the Vengeful-Spirit Minister of Popular Affairs. (Note: following the Teiō Hennenki.)

¶Tadafumi was fond of falconry, and Prince Shigeakira once went out of his way to visit his villa and asked him to give him a hawk. On the way home the Prince tried the hawk several times, and it proved a thoroughly ordinary bird. On the road back he asked for another hawk. Tadafumi then held out a hawk perched on his arm and said, "I had meant to present this one originally, but I feared it might not please you. Please try it." When the Prince spotted a bird on the road and released the hawk, it flew straight into the clouds. It was said in the world of this hawk that if it met a bird within fifty jō it would always strike it, and that if it knew its handler to be mediocre it would fly away, and people praised Tadafumi's sure eye. (Note: following the Gōdanshō and the Konjaku Monogatari.) His son Shigemochi became Bizen-no-kami, Governor of Bizen, of Junior Fifth Rank Upper. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Ono-no-Yoshifuru

¶Ono-no-Yoshifuru was a son of Kuzuo, Dazai-no-daini, Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) By nature he was valiant and martial. (Note: following the Daikai Hishō.) During the Engi and Enchō eras he successively held the posts of Sanuki-no-gon-no-jō, Provisional Junior Secretary of Sanuki, Tōgū-no-gon-no-shōshin, Provisional Junior Secretary to the Crown Prince, Ukyō-no-suke, Assistant Governor of the Right Capital District, Ōkura-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of the Treasury, Chūgū-no-daishin, Senior Secretary to the Empress's Household, and Uemon-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Magistrate of the Right Gate Guards. During the Jōhei era he was granted permission to ascend to the Imperial Residence, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper, was concurrently made Bizen-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Vice-Governor of Bizen, and Chūgū-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant of the Empress's Household, and was appointed Ukon'e-no-shōshō, Lesser Captain of the Right Palace Guards. At the beginning of Tengyō he was granted Senior Fifth Rank Lower and concurrently made Ōmi-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Vice-Governor of Ōmi. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.)

¶When Fujiwara-no-Sumitomo rose in rebellion, Yoshifuru was appointed San'yōdō Tsuibushi, Pursuit Commissioner of the San'yō Circuit (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Fusō Ryakki), and was concurrently made Nankaidō Tsuibushi, Pursuit Commissioner of the Nankai Circuit. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Geki Nikki.) Minamoto-no-Tsunemoto, Dazai-no-gon-no-shōni, Provisional Junior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu, Fujiwara-no-Yoshiyuki, Uemon-no-jō, Third Secretary of the Right Gate Guards, Ōkura-no-Harazane, Uemon-no-sakan, Clerk of the Right Gate Guards, and others came under his command. He built more than two hundred warships and headed straight for Iyo. Earlier, the rebels had been defeated by Fujiwara-no-Kunikaze, Sanuki-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Sanuki, and had fled to Dazaifu and plundered its jurisdiction. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki.) Yoshifuru reported the situation to the court by courier. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He then divided his forces in two; he himself led picked troops by land, while Yoshiyuki and Harazane went by sea, and they joined at Hakata-no-tsu in Chikuzen. The rebels drew up their lines and waited, and several battles were fought. Harazane, stripped to the waist with his hair streaming, seized a short sword, burst into the enemy line with a great shout, and took many heads. The rebels withdrew, but boarded their ships again and counterattacked. The imperial army, pressing its advantage, seized the ships and attacked them with fire, and the rebels were routed. Killed and wounded numbered several hundred, a great many drowned, and more than eight hundred warships were taken. Sumitomo escaped in a single small boat but was soon captured, and the remaining rebels were all pacified. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki.) Yoshifuru, though far from the capital, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) Soon afterwards he withdrew his army. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He was appointed Sachūben, Middle Controller of the Left, and was concurrently made Governor of Bizen and Governor of Yamashiro. He was appointed Dazai-no-daini but did not proceed to his post. At the beginning of Tenryaku he was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and was concurrently made Sanuki-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Sanuki, and Bitchū-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Bitchū. During the Tentoku era he advanced step by step to Senior Fourth Rank Lower, was concurrently made Danjō-no-daihitsu, Senior Assistant Master of the Board of Censors, and Sadaiben, Major Controller of the Left, and was again appointed Dazai-no-daini. In the second year of Ōwa (962) he was granted Junior Third Rank. In the fourth year of Kōhō (967) he retired from office. In the first year of Anna (968) he died at the age of eighty-five. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.)

Ki-no-Yoshihito

¶Ki-no-Yoshihito was the second son of Ki-no-Haseo, Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor. (Note: following the Kishi Keizu and the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku.) During the Engi and Enchō eras he successively held the posts of Kurōdo, Chamberlain, Sakon'e-no-shōgen, Lieutenant of the Left Palace Guards, Uhyōe-no-suke, Assistant Captain of the Right Gate Guards, and Saemon-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Magistrate of the Left Gate Guards. During the Jōhei era he became Governor of Kawachi (Note: following the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku) and advanced step by step to Junior Fourth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Kishi Keizu.) In the sixth year of Jōhei (936) bandits arose in the southern sea, gathered a band of several thousand men, and in more than a thousand ships roamed the sea plundering merchant vessels. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki.) By imperial command the court appointed Yoshihito Governor of Iyo (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku. The Fusō Ryakki gives Iyo-no-daisuke, Senior Vice-Governor of Iyo) and had him pursue and arrest the pirates. The bandits, hearing of Yoshihito's generosity and drawn by his reputation, submitted. Their leaders, Ono-no-Ujihiko, Ki-no-Akimotsu, Tokinari, and more than thirty others, came to surrender leading more than twenty-five hundred men. Yoshihito gave them clothing and food, distributed fields to them, and sent them back to farming, and the coast became peaceful. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Nihon Kiryaku.) At the beginning of Tengyō, when Fujiwara-no-Sumitomo was about to rebel, Yoshihito repeatedly admonished him, but Sumitomo would not listen and in the end rebelled and was put to death. (Note: following the Geki Nikki.) In the sixth year of Tengyō (943) he was transferred to Governor of Tanba. At the beginning of Tenryaku he was appointed Governor of Kawachi and died soon afterwards. (Note: following the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku and the Sakusha Burui.)

Minamoto-no-Tsunemoto

¶Minamoto-no-Tsunemoto was the eldest son of Prince Sadazumi. As the Prince was the sixth son of Emperor Seiwa, Tsunemoto was known in the world as Rokusonnō, the Sixth-Generation Prince. Later he was granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. He excelled in martial strategy, was skilled at archery and horsemanship, and was also adept at waka. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) During the Jōhei era he became Musashi-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Musashi. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Shōmonki.) Foreseeing that Taira-no-Masakado harbored disloyal intentions (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Konjaku Monogatari), he secretly went up to the capital and reported it, but the court doubted him and did not take it up. Soon afterwards Masakado indeed rebelled. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari.) Tsunemoto's foresight was therefore recognized, and he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He followed Fujiwara-no-Tadafumi on the campaign against Masakado (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Kojidan), but on the road he heard that Masakado had been put to death and turned back. (Note: following the Jikkinshō.) Soon afterwards he was appointed Dazai-no-gon-no-shōni, Provisional Junior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Geki Nikki. The Sonpi Bunmyaku gives Daini, Senior Assistant Governor-General, which is mistaken), and became Tsuibu Kyōzokushi, Commissioner for the Pursuit of Evil Bandits. (Note: following the Geki Nikki.)

¶He followed Ono-no-Yoshifuru in the campaign against Fujiwara-no-Sumitomo. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Geki Nikki.) When Yoshifuru withdrew his army, Tsunemoto was specially ordered to search out the remnants. At that time Sumitomo's confidants Saeki-no-Koreyuki and Kuwabara-no-Nariyuki had not yet been put to death and were still gathering the remnants and raiding the western frontier. The imperial army fought Koreyuki and defeated him in Hyūga. Fujiwara-no-Sadakane captured Koreyuki. Soon afterwards Nariyuki raided Amabe district, and Tsunemoto, leading his troops in person, fought several engagements, finally defeated him and took Nariyuki alive, and also captured horses, ships, and weapons and equipment of all kinds. Nariyuki's wounds worsened and he died of illness in prison, so his head was cut off and sent to the capital together with Koreyuki's head. The rebel band was entirely pacified. (Note: following the Geki Nikki.)

¶Tsunemoto successively held the posts of Shikibu-no-jō, Third Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial, Saemon-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Magistrate of the Left Gate Guards, Kura-no-kami, Director of the Imperial Storehouse, Hyōbu-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs, governor of such provinces as Chikuzen, Shinano, Mino, Tajima, Iyo, and Musashi, and Chinjufu-shōgun. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) During the Tenryaku era he became Kōzuke-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Kōzuke (Note: some say Kazusa instead of Kōzuke), and advanced to Senior Fifth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Sakusha Burui and the Satake Keizu. The Sonpi Bunmyaku gives Senior Fourth Rank Upper.) In the first year of Ōwa (961) he died at the age of forty-five. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku. Some accounts in this book give forty-one. The Ashikaga Keizu and the Yamagata Keizu say he died in the second year of Tentoku (958), which is mistaken.)

¶Tsunemoto had eight sons. The eldest was Mitsunaka, who has a separate biography. Next came Mitsumasa (Note: the Nihon Kiryaku and the Fujiwara-no-Michinaga-ki write "Mitsumasa" as 満正), then Mitsusue (Jibu-no-jō, Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Hyōgo-no-suke, Assistant of the Arsenal, Musashi-no-kami, Governor of Musashi), then Mitsuzane (Mutsu-no-jō, Third Secretary of Mutsu, Shimotsuke-no-jō, Third Secretary of Shimotsuke), then Mitsuyoshi (Saemon-no-jō, Third Secretary of the Left Gate Guards, Sagami-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Sagami, Shimotsuke-no-kami, Governor of Shimotsuke), then Mitsunari (Kazusa-no-jō, Third Secretary of Kazusa), then Mitsushige (Dewa-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Dewa), and then Mitsuyori (Shimotsuke-no-kami, Governor of Shimotsuke, Kōzuke-no-jō, Third Secretary of Kōzuke). Tsunemoto's descendants flourished in the eastern provinces and became the most powerful local lords. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Minamoto-no-Mitsumasa

¶Minamoto-no-Mitsumasa was called Yashima-no-Taifu, or alternatively Muraoka-no-Taifu. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He excelled in martial strategy and was spoken of in the same breath as his elder brother Mitsunaka. (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden.) His family had a famous horse named Hisui, "Kingfisher," (Note: following the Hōjōji Sesshō-ki and the Genpei Seisuiki) which he presented to the court. (Note: following the Hōjōji Sesshō-ki.) During the Shōryaku era, as there were many thieves in the capital, the court ordered Mitsumasa, his nephew Yorichika, Taira-no-Koretoki, and others to search for them. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku. As for the nephew, the Sonpi Bunmyaku is followed.) Mitsumasa successively held the posts of Hyōbu-no-jō, Third Secretary of the Ministry of Military Affairs, Jibu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs, and governor of such provinces as Mutsu, Iyo, and Musashi, became a Kebiishi, Police Commissioner, and was appointed Chinjufu-shōgun.

¶His sons were Tadashige, Tadataka, and Tadakuni. Tadashige became Gyōbu-no-gon-no-taifu, Provisional Senior Assistant Minister of Justice, of Junior Fourth Rank Lower. Tadashige's grandson Shigemune became Governor of Sado and was killed in battle fighting Minamoto-no-Yoshiie in Mino. Shigemune's son Shigezane served the Retired Emperor Toba and, together with his younger brother Shigetoki and Minamoto-no-Mitsunobu and others, was called one of the Four Guardian Kings. Shigezane's nephew Shigekuni and his grandnephews Shigetomo and Shigesue and others all fell in battle in the Jōkyū Disturbance. Shigezane's son Shigetō became Shigemune's adopted son and married a daughter of Minamoto-no-Yoshiie. When Shigemune moved to Owari, his great-grandson Yamada Shigetada, who has a separate biography, was born there. Shigetō's younger brother Shigenari became Shikibu-no-jō, Third Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial, and in the Hōgen Disturbance followed Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo and sided with the court. In the Heiji Disturbance he died in Yoshitomo's place. (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari.) Shigenari's younger brother Shigesada captured Minamoto-no-Tametomo and for that service became Governor of Chikugo. Tadataka became Governor of Suruga. (Note: all of the above following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

¶His son Nariyori (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku) became a Kurōdo, Chamberlain. In the Tenki era, when thieves broke into the palace and, with blades drawn, pressed toward the imperial seat, Nariyori seized them, and for that service became a Kebiishi, Police Commissioner. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Hyakurenshō.) Soon afterwards he followed Minamoto-no-Yoriyoshi in the campaign against Abe-no-Yoritoki. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Yoriyoshi submitted a memorial asking for the dismissal of Minamoto-no-Kanenaga, Governor of Dewa, on the ground that he was unfit for his duties, and recommended Nariyori in his place. (Note: following the Mutsu Waki.) Later he became Governor of Izumo. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Taira-no-Sadamori

¶Taira-no-Sadamori was a great-great-grandson of Prince Kazurawara. His father Kunika was Chinjufu-shōgun and Hitachi-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of Hitachi, and for this reason Sadamori was called Jōhei-ta. (Note: following the Heishi Keizu. It is observed that the Genpei Seisuiki writes "Kami-no-Heita" (上平太), which is mistaken.) In the Jōhei era Kunika was killed by his nephew Masakado. (Note: following the Heishi Keizu and the Shōmonki. The Jinnō Shōtōki says that he was attacked by Masakado and took his own life.) Sadamori was then Sama-no-jō, Third Secretary of the Left Bureau of Horses; hearing of his father's death in the capital, he resolved to avenge him (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari), resigned his office, returned to the eastern provinces, and became Hitachi-no-daijō. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari and the Shōmonki.) Judging that he could not match Masakado with his own strength, Sadamori endured it and took no action. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari.)

¶His uncle Yoshikane, Shimōsa-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Shimōsa, had long been at odds with Masakado and so admonished Sadamori, saying, "Many of our kin have been killed by Masakado and their property taken; do you now mean to serve Masakado after all? Join your strength with mine and let us take revenge." Sadamori in the end followed Yoshikane. But after they were defeated in battle with Masakado, Sadamori thought, "If I remain forever within the rebel's sphere of power, I may be charged with the same crime. It would be better to receive an order from the court and openly denounce his crimes and attack him." In the first year of Tengyō (938) he secretly took the mountain roads toward the capital. Masakado heard of it, led light cavalry, and pursued him as far as Shinano. Sadamori fought hard but was utterly defeated and barely escaped with his life. His armor, weapons, and provisions were all taken, and he entered the capital alone on horseback. Soon afterwards the court gave Sadamori an official order and sent him back to Hitachi to interrogate Masakado on his crimes. (Note: following the Shōmonki.)

¶When Masakado heard that Sadamori had arrived, he tried to meet him, but Sadamori hid himself and did not appear. Masakado kept his army in place for several days, but as he could not discover the whereabouts of Sadamori and his men, he disbanded his troops and set out for Shimotsuke with about a thousand men. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari and the Shōmonki.) Sadamori heard of this and, together with Fujiwara-no-Hidesato, Shimotsuke Ōryōshi, Provincial Constable of Shimotsuke, raised more than four thousand troops and attacked suddenly. Masakado fled in defeat and shut himself up at Sashima in Shimōsa. Sadamori and his allies pursued, pressing their advantage, and set fire to his camp. When Masakado came out to meet them, Sadamori and the others fought fiercely and defeated him again; Sadamori himself shot an arrow and struck Masakado down, and the rebel band was entirely pacified. (Note: all of the above draws on the Fusō Ryakki, the Konjaku Monogatari, and the Shōmonki.) For this service he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Konjaku Monogatari. The Nihon Kiryaku gives Junior Fifth Rank Lower, the Shōmonki gives Senior Fifth Rank Upper, and the Jinnō Shōtōki gives Senior Fifth Rank Lower), was appointed Uma-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Right Bureau of Horses (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki, the Konjaku Monogatari, and the Kojidan), and was made Chinjufu-shōgun. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Heishi Keizu.) During the Tenroku and Tenen eras he successively held the posts of Governor of Tanba and Governor of Mutsu (Note: following the Ruijū Fusenshō) and was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower. (Note: following the printed Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Heishi Keizu.)

¶Once, when Sadamori was in the capital, he was on close terms with Prince Atsumi, Shikibu-kyō, Minister of Ceremonial. One time Masakado also visited the Prince and, on taking his leave, had five or six attendants with him. Sadamori met him at the gate, went inside, and said to the Prince, "I regret that I have no troops at hand. I cannot kill Masakado now, but the man who will surely become a scourge to the realm in days to come is that one." Later it turned out exactly as he had said. (Note: following the Kojidan.)

¶Sadamori had sons named Korenobu, Koremasa, Koretoshi, and Korehira. Korenobu was appointed Uemon-no-jō, Third Secretary of the Right Gate Guards, and held in turn the posts of Kōzuke-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Kōzuke, Hitachi-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Hitachi, and Mutsu-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Mutsu. Koremasa served as Hitachi-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Hitachi, and as Governor of Chikuzen and Governor of Higo, among other posts. Koretoshi served as Kōzuke-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Kōzuke, Hitachi-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Hitachi, and Governor of Mutsu. (Note: following the Heishi Keizu.) Korehira was valiant beyond compare and was named together with Taira-no-Munevori, Minamoto-no-Yorinobu, and Fujiwara-no-Yasumasa. (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden and the Jikkinshō.) He successively held the posts of Kōzuke-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Kōzuke, Hitachi-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Hitachi, and governor of such provinces as Ise, Mutsu, Dewa, Izu, Shimotsuke, and Sado. (Note: following the Heishi Keizu.) Korehira lived in Ise (Note: following the Shōyūki), and his descendants settled there in turn. They were called in the world the Ise Heishi, the Taira of Ise. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari and the Genpei Seisuiki.)

Fujiwara-no-Hidesato

¶Fujiwara-no-Hidesato was a descendant of Uona, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left. His grandfather Toyosawa became Governor of Shimotsuke. His father Murao was Shimotsuke-no-gon-no-daijō, Provisional Senior Secretary of Shimotsuke. (Note: following the Teiō Hennenki and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Hidesato was called Tawara-no-Tōta (Note: following the Teiō Hennenki. The Genpei Seisuiki writes "Tawara-no-Tōta" with a different character for Tawara), and was brave and rich in stratagems. (Note: following the Genpei Seisuiki.) At the end of the Engi era he committed an offense and was exiled. Later he became Shimotsuke-no-jō, Third Secretary of Shimotsuke (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku), and as Ōryōshi, Provincial Constable (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Konjaku Monogatari), was granted Sixth Rank. (Note: following the Hyakurenshō.)

¶In the Tengyō era Taira-no-Masakado rebelled and overran the provinces of the Kantō, and his force was very fierce. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Kojidan.) Hidesato accepted Masakado's invitation, went to his camp, and met him. Masakado was greatly pleased at his coming and, being in the midst of combing his hair and having no time to bind it up, hurriedly put on a cap and came out to receive him. Hidesato thought, "He is now plotting a great undertaking, and if his conduct is this frivolous, he will be easy to defeat." (Note: following the Azuma Kagami, entry for the fourth year of Jishō. Further, according to the Genpei Seisuiki, Hidesato accepted Masakado's invitation, came to his gate and asked to see him. Because Hidesato commanded a great force and his fame as a warrior resounded through the eastern provinces, Masakado, hearing of him, was astonished and delighted, received him with his hair still loose, and spoke with him in a friendly way. Hidesato saw in Masakado's rashness that he lacked the stature of a ruler and was greatly disappointed. Then Masakado set out wine and food to entertain him, and in the midst of the meal he spilled food on his hakama and made a gesture of brushing it off with his hand. Hidesato despised him all the more and at last broke with Masakado. Here the account of the main text is followed.) He then joined plans and strength with Taira-no-Sadamori, attacked Masakado, and defeated him. Much of the strategy was Hidesato's. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari, the Shōmonki, and the Genpei Seisuiki.) When Masakado was struck by an arrow and fell from his horse, Hidesato stepped forward and cut off his head. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Kojidan.) For this service he was specially granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku, the Fusō Ryakki, and the Hyakurenshō. The Jinnō Shōtōki gives Senior Fourth Rank Lower, which is probably mistaken), was given a Kōden, a merit field, with permission to pass it down to his descendants in each generation, was appointed Governor of Shimotsuke and of Musashi (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Kojidan), and received the post of Chinjufu-shōgun. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Baishōron.)

¶His son Chitoki became Chinjufu-shōgun. Chiharu (Note: the character "haru" is as in the Nihon Kiryaku. Further, this book writes "haru" as 春) became Sagami-no-suke, Vice-Governor of Sagami. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The Nihon Kiryaku gives Gon-no-suke, Provisional Vice-Governor.) In the Anna era he was implicated, together with Tachibana-no-Shigenobu and the monk Renmo, in the crime of plotting a deposition and enthronement; his son Hisayori was imprisoned and Chiharu was exiled to Oki, but was recalled after some years. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku. The Sonpi Bunmyaku attributes this to Chitoki, which is mistaken.) Chitsune became Chinjufu-shōgun, and for the next three generations all held that office in succession (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and they were called in the world the Five Generations of Generals and counted it an honor. (Note: following the Baishōron and the Yūki Monjo.) His descendants flourished and became powerful local lords of the Kantō. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Fujiwara-no-Tamenori

¶Fujiwara-no-Tamenori was a descendant of Korekimi, Udaijin, Minister of the Right. His father Korechika was Governor of Hitachi and Governor of Sanuki. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku, the Amano Keizu, and the Kudō Nikaidō Keizu.) At the beginning of Tengyō, Tamenori was in Hitachi with his father. When Taira-no-Masakado rebelled, Masakado's forces surrounded the provincial office of Hitachi and the provincial capital fell into uproar. Tamenori led three thousand provincial troops to resist them but could not win and fled. Later he joined forces with Taira-no-Sadamori and Fujiwara-no-Hidesato to strike Masakado and had great merit, and for this Korechika was thereby able to escape dismissal from office. (Note: following the Shōmonki. This also draws on the Fusō Ryakki and the Teiō Hennenki.) Tamenori was appointed Tōtōmi-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Tōtōmi, became Moku-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Carpentry, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and was called Kudō-no-Taifu. His descendants flourished in Suruga, Tōtōmi, Izu, and other lands. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku, the Kudō Nikaidō Keizu, and the Sagara Keizu.)