Biographies LXVIII: Minamoto-no-Tsunenobu, Minamoto-no-Mototsuna, Fujiwara-no-Tadanobu, Minamoto-no-Toshikata, Fujiwara-no-Kintō, Fujiwara-no-Sadayori, and Fujiwara-no-Yukinari

Minamoto-no-Tsunenobu

¶Minamoto-no-Tsunenobu was the sixth son of Minamoto-no-Michikata, Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He was learned and accomplished in many arts (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Kokon Chomonjū), and excelled at waka; he was spoken of in the same breath as Fujiwara-no-Kintō (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō and the Kokon Chomonjū). In the early years of Chōgen (1028) he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and became Mikawa-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Mikawa. During the Chōreki and Kantoku eras (1037-1046) he successively held the posts of Gyōbu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Justice, Shōnagon, Minor Counsellor, and Sama-no-kami, Director of the Left Stables. During the Eishō era (1046-1053) he advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). At the Enyūin Hakkō, the Eight Lectures held for the Retired Emperor Enyū, Tsunenobu, on his way to the ceremony, passed before the Kitano shrine (the Kitano Tenmangū, which enshrines Sugawara-no-Michizane) and did not get down from his carriage. When someone wondered at this and asked the reason, Tsunenobu answered: "A man of Fourth Rank does not make obeisance to a man of Second Rank; this is a matter fixed by the rules of ceremony. While the Lord Sugawara was alive, his rank did not go beyond Second Rank. Because he died and became a god, what reason is there that he should be treated with any lack of propriety?" (Note: following the Kojidan and the Tōsai Zuihitsu.) During the Tengi and Jiryaku eras (1053-1069) he successively served as Middle Controller of the Left and of the Right and as Kurōdo, Chamberlain, advanced to Udaiben, Major Controller of the Right, was appointed Sangi, Consultant, and concurrently served as Iyo-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Iyo. In the early years of Enkyū (1069) he became Chūgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Consort's Household, and concurrently Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury; he was further granted Senior Third Rank and was transferred to Sadaiben, Major Controller of the Left. When the emperor made a pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi, the assembled courtiers presented waka, and Tsunenobu composed the preface to them. His own poem there evoked the wind blowing in from the open sea and the white waves washing the lower boughs of the pines of Sumiyoshi. Afterwards Tsunenobu said to his son Toshiyori: "Mitsune's poem on Suminoe, included in the Kokinshū, is like being appointed a minister of state. If we compare it to the day of the great banquet given for such an appointment, then my poem would be about at the level of entering by the middle gate and taking a seat among the clerks." Toshiyori said: "How could you possibly be inferior to Mitsune, Father? Judged from today, your poem is like a single Dainagon, Great Counsellor, quietly climbing the south stairs and sitting face to face with the minister." Tsunenobu was pleased (Note: following the Fukuro Zōshi, the Kokon Chomonjū, and the Jikkinshō). Tsunenobu said to others: "Mitsune's poem is like an old man in a brocade cap, playing the biwa and leaning against a table of rosewood, gazing into the distance and chanting verse. The only one that can stand against it is this poem of mine." (Note: following the Jikkinshō. Remark: the Sangoki records that someone, appraising this poem, said, "It is as if, among the green moss beneath the pines, on a spot of clean mountain wind, an old man of eighty in a brocade cap, leaning on a rosewood table and seated on a tiger skin, were playing the wagon, the Japanese zither, and gazing out." It is also told that when the emperor asked Tsunenobu, "Which is superior, your poem or Mitsune's?" Tsunenobu answered, "Mine can stand against Mitsune's, and in truth it surpasses it." Such was his self-confidence. The Fukuro Zōshi also contains this story, but its content differs somewhat from this.) In the first year of Jōhō (1074) he became Kōgōgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Empress's Household, and concurrently Kageyu-no-chōkan, Chief of the Office of Inspection of Outgoing Officials. Before long he was appointed Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). When the Emperor Shirakawa made an excursion to the Nishikawa (the Ōi River), he had three boats prepared, one for poetry, one for waka, and one for music, and chose the finest masters of the day and assigned them to the boats according to what each did best. The three boats were already afloat in midstream, but Tsunenobu had not yet arrived. The emperor was displeased. After a while Tsunenobu came and knelt at the riverbank. "Please bring a boat back," he called, and then boarded the music boat, played the biwa, and presented poems in both Chinese and Japanese. The emperor was delighted. This was because Tsunenobu excelled at all three of poetry, waka, and music, and so did not say in advance which boat he would take (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū and the Jikkinshō). This anecdote closely resembles one told of Kintō, and the world praised and admired both men alike. In the Imperial Palace's storehouse, the Gyofu, there were two biwa named Genjō and Bokuba, which were known in the world as famous instruments. The emperor summoned Tsunenobu and, to try him, had him play Bokuba, and then asked, "Which of these two instruments is superior?" Tsunenobu answered: "In former times, when the Emperor Ichijō had the brothers Minamoto-no-Nobuakira and Nobuyoshi test them, Nobuakira played Genjō and his younger brother Nobuyoshi played Bokuba, and Bokuba proved the better. But when they exchanged instruments and played again, this time Genjō proved the better. This shows that the superiority does not lie in the instruments themselves but only in the skill or clumsiness of the players." With that he played Genjō, and it was exactly as he had said (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). In the early years of Jōryaku (1077) he was granted Senior Second Rank. In the fourth year (1080), the King of Koryŏ sent an envoy seeking the services of the renowned physician Tanba-no-Masatada, and the matter was put before the council of the kugyō, the high court nobles. Tsunenobu arrived late and said: "What have the illnesses of the King of Koryŏ to do with us?" In the end Masatada was not sent (Note: following the Jikkinshō and the Zoku Kojidan. Remark: the matter of the fourth year of Jōryaku follows the Hyakurenshō). In the early years of Eihō (1081) he concurrently served as Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs, and before long was transferred to Gon-dainagon, Provisional Great Counsellor, concurrently serving as Kōgōgū-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household. In the first year of Kahō (1094) he became Dazai-no-gon-no-sotsu, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu, and in the second year (1095) he went to his post at Dazaifu (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). On the way he lodged at the Mushirota post station in Chikuzen, and it happened to be the night of the fifteenth of the eighth month, with a great zelkova tree within the lodging's grounds hiding the moon. Tsunenobu had it cut down, and all night he played the biwa and chanted poetry aloud. Such was his refinement (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). In the first year of Jōtoku (1097) he died at his post at Dazaifu, at the age of eighty-two (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Tsunenobu was by nature intelligent and quick, and was good at making decisions when occasion required. Once a certain man shot a fox before the shrine of a certain deity. Because that shrine venerated foxes as gods, the matter reached the council of the court, and it was proposed to punish the man according to the law. Tsunenobu said: "When the White Dragon took the form of a fish and swam, it was caught in the net of the fisherman Yu Ju" (Note: that is, even a noble being, if it changes its form, may meet with unexpected misfortune). Through this the man was able to escape punishment (Note: following the Zoku Kojidan). When Minamoto-no-Sadamichi was a Warawa Tenjōbito, a boy admitted to the Imperial Court, the council of the court wished to grant him an office. Tsunenobu said: "I have heard that the only boy ever given office as a child was the ox-driver boy of the Uji Kanpaku, Fujiwara-no-Yorimichi." Everyone present laughed, and in the end the proposal came to nothing (Note: following the Kojidan). After the Engi era (901-923) there was no waka worth noting; there were only Kintō and Tsunenobu. Tsunenobu's poetry came very close to the ancient manner, but no one in the world could recognize this. A later person remarked on this, saying, "It is like Qu Yuan in Chu." At this time Fujiwara-no-Michitoshi also took pride in his poetry and was constantly debating with Tsunenobu, Ōe-no-Masafusa, and others. Masafusa's talent was slightly superior to Michitoshi's. Michitoshi, at the command of the Emperor Shirakawa, compiled the Goshūi Shū, and in response Tsunenobu wrote the Nan Goshūi, a critique of it. In general, at the waka gatherings of the court, there was none to which Tsunenobu was not summoned. At times he served as hanja, the judge, and at times he wrote the preface, and he was called "the judge of the realm" (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō). Because he once lived in the village of Katsura, he was called the Katsura Dainagon (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). His diary is called the Sochi-ki (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku). His sons were Mototsuna and Toshiyori (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Toshiyori is treated in the "Biographies of Poets."

Minamoto-no-Mototsuna

¶In the early years of Jōtoku (1097), Minamoto-no-Mototsuna was appointed Kurōdo, Chamberlain, and was then made Sangi, Consultant. During the Kōwa and Chōji eras (1099-1106) he was further granted Senior Third Rank and received the office of Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor. In the fourth year of Eikyū (1116) he concurrently became Dazai-no-gon-no-sotsu, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu, and rose to Senior Second Rank. The following year (1117) he died at his post at Dazaifu (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), at the age of sixty-eight (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Mototsuna excelled at the biwa and was named together with Fujiwara-no-Munetoshi, Masanaga, and others (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). When Mototsuna was about to go to his post at Dazaifu, the Retired Emperor Shirakawa personally issued a command to him, saying: "You are advanced in years and are going far away to your post. As for the secret pieces of the biwa, surely there is someone to whom you ought to hand them on." Mototsuna replied: "My two sons are foolish, and neither is fit for it. My granddaughter is still young, but she is of a very bright nature and beyond the reach of my two sons. Whatever I have mastered, I have passed on to her without holding anything back." After Mototsuna died, the Retired Emperor remembered his words, summoned the granddaughter, gave her a biwa, and had her play. The girl was only thirteen years old, yet she was able to perform every one of the secret pieces. The Retired Emperor was deeply moved and praised her (Note: I have followed the Jikkinshō, and consulted the Taigenshō as well).

Fujiwara-no-Tadanobu

¶Fujiwara-no-Tadanobu was the second son of Fujiwara-no-Tamemitsu, Daijō-daijin, Chancellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). By nature he was brilliant and quick, and he was versed in precedent and ceremonial (Note: following the Gukanshō). During the Kanna and Shōryaku eras (985-995) he held in succession the post of Sakonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, was appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, concurrently served as Provisional Governor of Bitchū, Harima, and other provinces, and was later appointed Sangi, Consultant. During the Chōhō era (999-1004) he was granted Junior Third Rank, became Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, concurrently served as Uemon-no-kami, Director of the Right Gate Guards, and was appointed Kebiishi-no-bettō, Chief of the Imperial Police. In the early years of Kankō (1004), when the emperor made a progress to the shrines of Matsunoo and Hirano, Tadanobu served as the official in charge of the progress. After the imperial carriage had returned to the palace, he was singled out for advancement to Junior Second Rank, and his place in the order of seating was set above Fujiwara-no-Tokimitsu and Fujiwara-no-Kintō; the world regarded this as an honor. Before long he rose to Senior Second Rank and was transferred to Gon-dainagon, Provisional Great Counsellor. During the Chōwa era (1012-1017) he concurrently served as Azechi, Inspector. In the fourth year of Kannin (1020) he became Dainagon, Great Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). During the Manju era (1024-1028), the Tōka no Sechie, the banquet of the Stepping Song, was held. The Udaijin, Minister of the Right, Fujiwara-no-Sanesuke, served as Naiben, Presiding Minister, and took his seat at the Jin-no-za, the Guards' Place, to bow and read out the senmyō, the imperial proclamation. When the emperor rose from his seat and went inside, Minamoto-no-Morofusa, Ukonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards, was to call the keihitsu (the cry to clear the way before the sovereign), but Tadanobu called it from the side, and all who were present were astonished and appalled (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). Fujiwara-no-Yukinari had written this blunder down on his fan, and his son Yukitsune carried the fan into the palace. Minamoto-no-Takakuni, Sakonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Left Palace Guards, took up the fan by mistake, and in the end the whole affair became known among the people. Tadanobu resented this (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū and the Kojidan). Yukinari excused himself, saying: "I had no ulterior purpose; I have simply always inquired into and studied the order of ceremonial. Whenever there was a court assembly, I would write down what had happened after I left. So I wrote it only as a precaution, as a safeguard so that I would not forget. My son happened to take it out by mistake, and I truly knew nothing of it." The people of the time thought that because Yukinari and Tadanobu did not get along, Yukinari had deliberately led his son to do so and was pretending not to know (Note: following the Kojidan). In the eighth year of Chōgen (1035) Tadanobu died, at the age of sixty-nine (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶Tadanobu excelled in literary composition, which was splendid, and was gifted in the arts. His reputation stood level with those of Minamoto-no-Toshikata, Fujiwara-no-Kintō, and Fujiwara-no-Yukinari, and the world called them the "Shinagon," the Four Counsellors (Note: following the Gukanshō). When he died, the people of both court and country grieved for him (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari). Fujiwara-no-Korechika once said in debate: "Kintō and Tadanobu may be called worthy rivals in poetry. If we compare them to sumo, Kintō is skilled at throwing an opponent but cannot throw Tadanobu. In matters of literary composition, this too was acknowledged by Korechika himself." (Note: following the Gōdanshō.) When the Emperor Go-Nijō performed the kagura of the Seiryōdō, Kintō was to serve as the one who beat time. At that time Tadanobu was seated above Kintō according to the order of rank. Kintō supposed that Tadanobu was not skilled in music and would surely decline, and tried offering him the role. But Tadanobu did not decline; he beat the time, and from beginning to end he was in perfect accord with the mode. When it was over, Kintō asked Tadanobu, "When did you learn this?" Tadanobu answered: "This too is one of the court's ceremonies, and one cannot leave it unknown, so I simply learned a little of it." (Note: following the Kojidan and the Jikkinshō.) Tadanobu had many sons, but all died young, so he adopted his younger brother Kinnobu as his son, and soon afterwards Tadanobu himself died (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari). He also adopted Tsunetō, a son of Fujiwara-no-Kanehira, Uemon-no-kami, Director of the Right Gate Guards. Tsunetō successively held the posts of Sangi, Consultant, Sahyōe-no-kami, Director of the Left Guards, Kebiishi-no-bettō, Chief of the Imperial Police, and Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, was granted Senior Second Rank, and rose to Gon-dainagon, Provisional Great Counsellor. In the second year of Jiryaku (1066) he died (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

Minamoto-no-Toshikata

¶Minamoto-no-Toshikata was the third son of Minamoto-no-Takaakira, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left. He served under three reigns, those of Emperors Enyū, Kazan, and Ichijō. He successively held the post of Jijū, Chamberlain, concurrently served as Bingo-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Bingo, and Sakonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Left Palace Guards, was appointed Kurōdo, Chamberlain, and Uchūben, Middle Controller of the Right, and concurrently served as Taikōtaigōgū-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Master of the Household of the Grand Empress Dowager (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Toshikata was on close terms with the Kanpaku, Fujiwara-no-Michitaka, who once said to him in private: "The post of Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, has since ancient times been one for which the choice of man is weighed carefully. Now, who is it that the world praises for ability?" Toshikata replied: "There is no one who surpasses me." Michitaka nodded and promptly singled Toshikata out for appointment as Head Chamberlain. For this reason Toshikata always remembered Michitaka's kindness with gratitude (Note: following the Kojidan). Afterwards he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and concurrently served as Uhyōe-no-kami, Director of the Right Guards. In the first year of Chōtoku (995) he was appointed Sangi, Consultant, and before long concurrently served as Kageyu-no-chōkan, Chief of the Office of Inspection of Outgoing Officials, Ukonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards, Jibukyō, Minister of Civil Affairs, and Harima-no-kami, Governor of Harima, and was further granted Senior Third Rank. During the Kankō era (1004-1012) he was appointed Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, and granted Senior Second Rank. In the first year of Kannin (1017) he was appointed Gon-dainagon, Provisional Great Counsellor, but before long presented a memorial resigning it and became Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs. In the fourth year of Manju (1027) he died, at the age of sixty-nine (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Once, when Toshikata was accompanying the Kanpaku, Fujiwara-no-Yorimichi, on an excursion to Kitayama, there was a hall along the road. When the party was about to go in, Toshikata stopped them and said: "Of late the northern direction has not been closed to us, and there is probably some ill-omened defilement." When they checked, a cart carrying a corpse was in fact standing under the corridor. All were filled with admiration and respect (Note: following the Kojidan and the Jikkinshō). He had two sons, Akimoto and Takakuni (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Takakuni has a separate biography, and Akimoto is treated in the "Biographies of Recluses."

Fujiwara-no-Kintō

¶Fujiwara-no-Kintō was the eldest son of the Kanpaku Fujiwara-no-Yoritada (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the third year of Tengen (980) he underwent his coming-of-age ceremony in the Seiryōden, and the emperor himself bestowed the cap on him (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku. Remark: that the emperor himself bestowed the cap follows the Fusō Ryakki. Remark: the Ryakki places this in the second year, which is probably an error). He was granted Senior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku, the Kugyō Bunin, and the Kasen-den). Before long he became Jijū, Chamberlain. During the Eikan and Kanna eras (983-987) he was appointed Sakonoe-no-gon-no-chūjō, Provisional Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, concurrently served as Provisional Governor of Owari and Iyo, and advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower. In the early years of Eiso (989) he was appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, and concurrently served as Bizen-no-kami, Governor of Bizen. In the third year of Shōryaku (992) he received the post of Sangi, Consultant. During the Chōtoku and Chōhō eras (995-1004) he concurrently served as Director of the Left and of the Right Gate Guards and as Kebiishi-no-bettō, Chief of the Imperial Police, was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, and was granted Senior Third Rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In character he was intelligent and quick, broadly versed in many arts, excelled at composing poetry, was skilled in music, and was most outstanding in waka (Note: I have consulted the Ōkagami, the Jikkinshō, and the Kokon Chomonjū). Together with Minamoto-no-Toshikata and Fujiwara-no-Yukinari he became a Nagon, Counsellor, and had charge of ceremonial; much of the rites and regulations of the court came from Kintō's hand. Those who discussed such matters said, "In respect of the proper conduct and etiquette of ceremonial, none can match Kintō's judgment" (Note: following the Gōdanshō). In the early years of Kankō (1004), Fujiwara-no-Tadanobu's place in the order of rank went above Kintō's. Kintō was dissatisfied with this, pleaded illness and did not attend court, and presented a memorial asking to resign, but it was not granted. The emperor sent Fujiwara-no-Tsunemichi, Uchūben, Middle Controller of the Right, to his residence to grant him Junior Second Rank and to urge him to attend court (Note: following the Zoku Kojidan). Before long he was appointed Gon-dainagon, Provisional Great Counsellor, advanced to Senior Second Rank, and concurrently served as Azechi, Inspector (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). When the Sesshō, Regent, Fujiwara-no-Michinaga, went on an excursion to the Ōi River with the kugyō, he floated three boats, one for poetry, one for waka, and one for music, and chose and assigned the men according to their talents. Michinaga asked Kintō: "You are accomplished in many arts, but which boat will you take?" Kintō asked to board the waka boat. Afterwards Kintō said to others: "If I had been able to compose poetry in Chinese as well as I do waka, I would surely have made my name known throughout the world. I regret that I did not board the poetry boat on that occasion." (Note: following the Ōkagami and the Kojidan. Remark: the Jikkinshō, the Fukuro Zōshi, and the Kokon Chomonjū say he boarded both the poetry and the waka boats. The source here writes the title of the Kokon Chomonjū with a miswritten character; the Kokon Chomonjū is evidently meant.) In the first year of Manju (1024) he lost a beloved daughter, and his grief knew no end; at last he thought of presenting a memorial to resign his office and take the tonsure. But fearing that his sons and grandsons would not consent, he made a pretext of building a hall, pretending to avoid an unlucky direction, entered his villa at Hase in Kitayama, and there shaved his head and became a monk. By nature he had never been given to amorous pursuits, and his wife had already died before him and become a nun, so thereafter he lived alone and always took pleasure in a quiet life (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari). In the second year of Chōkyū (1041) he died, at the age of seventy-six (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki). He was called in the world the Shijō Dainagon (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari). Among his writings are the Hokuzanshō, the Waka Kuhon Rongi, the Shinsen Zuinō, the Zenjūgoban Meisho Waka Shū, as well as the Shinsō Hishō and the Kingyokushū. He also compiled the Wakan Rōei Shū and gave it to his son-in-law Fujiwara-no-Norimichi (Note: from "He also compiled" onward follows the Jikkinshō; the son-in-law's surname and given name follow the Eiga Monogatari). Kintō studied under Takaoka-no-Sukeyuki, and so many of his verses are included in the Rōeishū (Note: following the Gōdanshō). Once, when Kintō was discussing waka with Prince Tomohira, Kintō said, "Tsurayuki is a saint of poetry," and the prince said, "How could he equal Hitomaro?" Kintō was not convinced. Later each of them chose ten of the finest poems and debated them; Hitomaro won eight, one was a draw, and Tsurayuki won only one, by a narrow margin (Note: following the Kojidan and the Fukuro Zōshi). Kintō was inwardly unconvinced, and withdrawing, he himself selected the finest poems of thirty-six poets and arranged them in left and right pairs. This has been handed down to the present day (Note: following the Fukuro Zōshi. Remark: that he arranged them in left and right pairs follows the preface to Fujiwara-no-Tameie's Kōchō Utaawase). He had a son, Sadayori.

Fujiwara-no-Sadayori

¶Fujiwara-no-Sadayori was handsome in appearance and excelled at waka (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari), and was skilled in calligraphy as well. During the Kankō era (1004-1012) he served in turn as Jijū, Chamberlain, and Ukonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Right Palace Guards. In the third year of Chōwa (1014) he became Uchūben, Middle Controller of the Right, and concurrently served as Chūgū-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Master of the Consort's Household (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In this year the emperor was about to make a progress to the Kasuga shrine, and Sadayori was serving as the official in charge. At this time a retainer of Sadayori's quarrelled with a retainer of Prince Atsuakira, and Sadayori in anger ordered his retainer to beat the other man, to the point of leaving him near death. The prince complained of this to the emperor, who was greatly enraged and commanded the Kurōdo Fujiwara-no-Naganobu to issue a senji, an imperial decree, sending the Kebiishi, the imperial police, to arrest Sadayori's retainer. But Minamoto-no-Mitsunari, Nakatsukasa-no-jō, Secretary of the Ministry of Central Affairs, who was then handling affairs of state, Tachibana-no-Tamemichi, a shinshi, a graduate of the examination, and the Sadaijin, Minister of the Left, Michinaga, memorialized: "To arrest the officials of the various offices and the shinshi is not a matter to be done lightly. Properly the imperial command should be transmitted through us, yet Naganobu issued the decree directly. We believe that Naganobu's offense should be considered first." For this reason the emperor for the time being withheld the decree. Afterwards Sadayori's retainer was arrested, and Sadayori was removed from his post as official in charge. In the fifth year of Chōwa (1016), the Daijōe, the great thanksgiving festival, was held, and Sadayori was to have served as the official in charge. But the Sesshō, Regent, Fujiwara-no-Yorimichi, had long known that Sadayori was of an idle and careless nature, and used Fujiwara-no-Sukenari, Ushōben, Junior Controller of the Right, in his place. He said to others: "As for Sadayori's talent, if one says clever, he is certainly clever. But his laziness is also extreme. I have heard that a learned and elegant man of talent is one who is versed in both letters and music without exception. Yet there are also those known in the world as idlers. Sadayori must be of that kind, must he not?" ("Shiramono" means one whose name is known in the world.) (Note: following the Shōyūki.) Sadayori once mocked Minamoto-no-Akisada by falsely using the words of the Kanpaku Yorimichi. Hearing of it, Yorimichi rebuked Sadayori to his face, saying: "How could a regent or chancellor mock anyone?" For this Sadayori was barred from attending court for nearly half a year. I think that Akisada was on Yorimichi's side and Sadayori was on Fujiwara-no-Norimichi's, so they held such feelings toward one another (Note: following the Gōdanshō). In the first year of Kannin (1017) he was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower and appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Sadayori once drank sake with the Tenjōbito, the courtiers permitted in the emperor's presence, at the chokuro, the private chamber, of the Naishi-no-kami, Principal Handmaid, and the two of them, he and Fujiwara-no-Kanefusa, fell to teasing one another. Kanefusa grew angry and humiliated him, and Fujiwara-no-Sukenari urged Sadayori to leave. When Kanefusa tried to snatch Sadayori's cap, Sadayori fled and escaped. Kanefusa pursued him to his house, threw rubble through the gate, shouted abuse at the top of his voice, and then went home. The world blamed Sadayori for failing to maintain proper dignity despite being Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Shōyūki). In the fourth year of Kannin (1020) he was appointed Sangi, Consultant, and concurrently served as Udaiben, Major Controller of the Right. In the second year of Jian (1022) he was granted Junior Third Rank. During the Chōgen era (1028-1037) he was appointed Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor. In the third year of Chōkyū (1042), he received an imperial command to write the plaque of a palace hall, and in celebration of this he was specially granted Senior Second Rank, and before long concurrently served as Hyōbukyō, Minister of Military Affairs. In the second year of Kantoku (1045) he was released from office because of illness and shaved his head. The following year (1046) he died, at the age of fifty-one (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Once, when the Emperor Ichijō made a progress to the Ōi River, Sadayori accompanied it together with his father Kintō. When the emperor commanded the courtiers to present waka, Kintō secretly hoped in his heart that Sadayori would compose an excellent poem. Presently the kōji, the reader who announces the poems, called out Sadayori's name. Sadayori's poem began with lines saying that the Ōi River looked as though it were crossed with no water in it. Kintō was disappointed and his face changed. But when the closing lines were read, saying that the autumn leaves on the bank were falling as though they were rain, Kintō was delighted and said, "This may well be called an excellent poem" (Note: following the Saigyō Danshō).

Fujiwara-no-Yukinari

¶Fujiwara-no-Yukinari was the eldest son of Fujiwara-no-Yoshitaka, Ukonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Right Palace Guards, and was raised as a son by his grandfather Koretada. During the Kanna era (985-987) he became Jijū, Chamberlain, and was appointed Sahyōe-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Captain of the Left Guards. During the Eiso and Shōryaku eras (989-995) he concurrently served as Bingo-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Bingo, and was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower. In the first year of Chōtoku (995) he was singled out for appointment as Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Once, when Yukinari was quarrelling with Fujiwara-no-Sanekata in the Tenjō no Ma, the courtiers' hall of the palace, Sanekata could not contain his anger, took Yukinari's cap and threw it into the garden. Yukinari did not oppose him in the least; he had a Tonomozukasa, a servant of the Palace Grounds Office, take the cap and put it back on, and merely said quietly, "How did it come to this?" The emperor happened to see this through the bamboo blind and thought, "If his capacity is such as this, it is enough to entrust him with affairs of government" (Note: following the Kojidan and the Jikkinshō). When Minamoto-no-Toshikata, the Kurōdo-no-tō, was about to be moved to Sangi, the emperor asked, "Who would be good to succeed you?" Toshikata recommended Yukinari. The emperor said, "His rank is still low, and it is hard to promote him suddenly." Toshikata said: "Yukinari's talent is beyond the ordinary, and is quite sufficient for the office that handles the presentation of proposals. How can his shallow rank be allowed to hinder his employment? Moreover, one who stands above others should make it his task to discern men. If he discerns them, the worthy will advance still further in virtue, and petty men will come to hold themselves in check. Otherwise it is impossible that there be no errors in government. I beg Your Majesty to consider this." The emperor thought his words right, and the next day appointed Yukinari Head Chamberlain (Note: following the Ōkagami). Before this, Yukinari had long been in unfavorable circumstances, was gloomy and joyless, and thought of shaving his head and withdrawing from the world. Toshikata had always thought highly of Yukinari's talent, and consoled and counselled him: "Whether one is in want or in high station is a matter of Heaven's decree. You must not bend your resolve. Is there some treasure handed down in your house?" Yukinari said, "I have a sword, an heirloom treasure passed down through the generations." Toshikata said, "Sell it quickly and use it as funds, and pray for advancement. I too will do all I can to recommend you." (Note: following the Kojidan.) Later, when Yukinari was appointed Nagon, Counsellor, and his place in the order of seating came above Toshikata's, Yukinari felt deep gratitude for his former kindness and, it is said, yielded his place to Toshikata every time they took their seats (Note: following the Kojidan and the Ōkagami). Before long he successively served as Minbu-gon-no-taifu, Provisional Senior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs, and as Middle Controller and Major Controller of the Left and of the Right, and concurrently served as Yamato-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Yamato. In the third year of Chōhō (1001) he was appointed Sangi, Consultant, concurrently served as Jijū, Chamberlain, and was granted Junior Third Rank. During the Kankō era (1004-1012) he concurrently served as Kōtaigōgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Household of the Empress Dowager, became Minbukyō, Minister of Popular Affairs, and was appointed Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor. In the early years of Chōwa (1012) he reached Senior Second Rank. During the Kannin era (1017-1021) he concurrently served as Dazai-no-gon-no-sotsu, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu, and was transferred to Gon-dainagon, Provisional Great Counsellor. In the third year of Manju (1026) he concurrently served as Azechi, Inspector. The following year (1027) he died, at the age of fifty-six (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶Yukinari was by nature upright and sincere (Note: following the Kojidan) and possessed many talents and accomplishments (Note: following the Gukanshō), but he excelled above all in the art of calligraphy and was the foremost of his age (Note: following the Jikkinshō and the Gōdanshō). He was named in the world together with Prince Kaneakira and Fujiwara-no-Sukemasa (Note: following the Gōdanshō). Under Emperor Ichijō he received an imperial command to write the plaques of the forbidden gates of the palace precincts. The emperor praised the work and specially advanced his rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). At that time, by imperial command, the plaque of the Bifukumon, written by the monk Kūkai, was to be repaired; Yukinari prepared a portrait of Kūkai, had Ōe-no-Mochitoki compose a text, made offerings and announced the matter to him, and only then laid a hand to the work. It is handed down in the world that "in former times, when Ono-no-Michikaze criticized and disparaged the characters of the plaque written by Kūkai, his hand at once trembled and he could no longer write. Yukinari probably feared such a curse." Such was his circumspection (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). In general, whenever Yukinari wrote a plaque, he always wrote his rank, office, and full name on the back of it. Sukemasa did not do so. Even when later people doubted and found it difficult to tell the writing of the two apart, it is said they could tell them apart by this (Note: following the Tsurezuregusa). The Emperor Go-Ichijō once, in jest, had his attendants each present a fan before him, and judged their merits by the skill and ingenuity shown in them. This was called the Tenjō Ōgiawase, the courtiers' fan competition. It was held when Yukinari was not yet well known. The people vied with one another in decorating their fans with gold, silver, and jewels, boasting of their beauty. Yukinari merely lacquered the handle of his fan, used yellow paper, and wrote on it a few lines from yuefu poems, mixing regular and cursive script half and half, and the force of his brush was exceptionally fine. The emperor took it in his hand and admired it without end, and kept it as a treasure (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). Yukinari was at first suddenly appointed to a shikiji, an official post at court, and made a Benkan, Controller, and for this reason there were many errors in his handling of ceremonial. But as he gradually became practised, he came to excel even among his peers. The people of the time said, "This is the result of diligence in study" (Note: following the Kojidan). When the Four Counsellors once gathered to play kemari, the ball flew out of bounds and fell outside. Kintō said in jest: "If there is anyone among us who is not the son of a minister or a general, he ought to go and fetch the ball." This was an oblique reference to Yukinari. Yukinari said, offended: "Ah, if a man can keep long life, what difficulty would there be in becoming a minister or a general? But because my father unfortunately left the world early, I suffer such contempt from you." Kintō fell silent and was ashamed that he had spoken (Note: following the Jikkinshō). During the Chōhō era (999-1004) he donated the old residence of his maternal grandfather Minamoto-no-Yasumitsu and founded the Sesonji temple (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Hyakurenshō. Remark: the maternal grandfather follows the Sonpi Bunmyaku. Remark: the Ōkagami holds that the Sesonji was originally the former residence of Koretada). In later ages the calligraphic style transmitted from Yukinari was called the "Sesonji-ke-yō," the Sesonji school style (Note: following the Sekiso Ōrai). His diary is called the Gonki, and he also wrote the Tōgū Nenjū Gyōji in two volumes (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku). His sons were Sanetsune, Yoshitsune, and Yukitsune (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari and the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Yukitsune was adopted by Fujiwara-no-Nagaie, was elegant and refined in bearing, and excelled at waka (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari). During the Kantoku era (1044-1046) he was appointed Sangi, Consultant. During the Eishō era (1046-1053) he concurrently served as Hyōbukyō, Minister of Military Affairs, and rose to Junior Second Rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He was skilled in calligraphy and well inherited his father's style. His descendants were known in the world for generations for their calligraphy (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).