Biographies LXXIII: Fujiwara-no-Tadazane, Tadamichi, Motozane, Motofusa, and Minamoto-no-Masazane and Masasada

Fujiwara-no-Tadazane

¶Fujiwara-no-Tadazane was the eldest son of the Kampaku, Chancellor, Fujiwara-no-Morimichi (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku). His grandfather Morozane raised him as his own son (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku, the Taiki, and the Kinkyō). During the Kanji era he rose through the ranks to Senior Third Rank, was appointed Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, and concurrently served as Sakonoe-no-taishō, Major Captain of the Left Palace Guards. In the first year of Jōtoku (1097) he became Gon-dainagon, Provisional Great Counsellor. In the first year of Kōwa (1099) he received an imperial command to examine the documents of the Council of State in advance of the emperor. The following year (1100) he was appointed Udaijin, Minister of the Right, and concurrently served as Tōgū-no-fu, Tutor to the Crown Prince. During the Chōji era he became Kampaku (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

¶When Emperor Toba ascended the throne, Fujiwara-no-Kinzane, relying on the favor due to him as the emperor's maternal kinsman, sought the post of Sesshō, Regent, and petitioned the Retired Emperor. The Retired Emperor's heart was moved, but Minamoto-no-Toshiakira, the In-no-bettō, Director of the Retired Emperor's Office, acted with quick wit and put a stop to it, and so Tadazane came to no harm (Note: following the Gukanshō). Tadazane was then appointed Regent in turn; the circumstances are recorded in the biography of Toshiakira (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Gukanshō). In the third year of Ten'ei (1112) he resigned as Minister of the Right, soon rose to Junior First Rank, and was appointed Daijō-daijin, Grand Minister of State. In the early years of Eikyū (1113) he became Kampaku (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Chūyūki).

¶Tadazane had long been granted permission to use an ox-drawn carriage, yet for a long time he did not ride in one. Later, when he rode in it for the first time, he withdrew from court and said to others, "When Mido-dono, Michinaga, was permitted a carriage, he was nearly at the end of his years. Uji-dono, Yorimichi, and Ōdono, Morozane, were likewise granted theirs at forty-one. I received this edict early, but I deeply feared becoming proud and arrogant, and so I deliberately refrained from riding. Now I too have reached forty-one. I have merely followed precedent." (Note: following the Chūyūki).

¶Once the Retired Emperor commanded Tadazane to send his daughter Taishi into the emperor's inner palace, but Tadazane firmly declined. The Retired Emperor was angered, and instead took Fujiwara-no-Kinzane's daughter Shōshi as his adopted daughter and had her enter the palace. When the emperor was young his conduct was frivolous and unsettled, and on one occasion he even shot at a person with a small bow, so Tadazane was troubled by it. As the emperor grew older his conduct improved somewhat, and Tadazane regretted not having sent Taishi into the palace. In the first year of Hōan (1120) the Retired Emperor made a progress to Kumano. The emperor commanded Tadazane to bring Taishi into the palace, and preparations for the wedding were already complete. But the Retired Emperor heard of this, was greatly angered, rebuked Tadazane, and suspended his right of Nairan, advance review of documents (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). Tadazane withdrew to Uji, closed his gate and did not go out, and composed a poem lamenting his own circumstances (Note: following the Imakagami); but he prayed to the gods of his ancestors and was restored to the office of Nairan (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū).

¶The Retired Emperor had Tadazane's eldest son Tadamichi serve as Kampaku in his place. Tadamichi did not refuse and took up the post, but still petitioned that his father's offense be pardoned (Note: following the Gukanshō). The following year (1121) Tadazane was restored to Nairan, and soon submitted a memorial resigning. The Retired Emperor then made Tadamichi Kampaku and held Tadazane down severely.

¶In the fourth year of Daiji (1129) the Retired Emperor died. Tadazane had always been in accord with the wishes of the Retired Emperor Toba, and had once addressed him, saying, "Your servant incurred the emperor's anger and was long forbidden to attend court. But since Tadamichi has been entrusted with the government, his honor and favor have indeed become great. I beg that on the day of the New Year's audience next year you permit me to attend court and sit above Tadamichi." When the day came and he entered the palace, the order of seating among the court nobles had not yet been fixed; Tadazane, claiming that an illness of the leg prevented him from standing for long, performed the obeisance alone and withdrew. The Kampaku and the others helped him up. The people of the time regarded this as an honor (Note: following the Gukanshō).

¶In the first year of Chōshō (1132) he again received an edict granting him Nairan (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). There was no one who did not find this strange (Note: following the Rekidai Kōki), but before long the Retired Emperor at last had Taishi enter the palace (Note: following the Imakagami and the Gukanshō). In the sixth year of Hōen (1140) Tadazane was made Junsangū, honorary equal of the three empresses, was granted a fief of three thousand households, and was permitted the use of a hand-drawn carriage. All this followed the precedent of the Chūjin-kō, Yoshifusa. Tadazane submitted a memorial declining it (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). As he grew old, walking became extremely difficult for him, and each time he went to court he rode in a palanquin or sat on a round cushion and had others pull him along (Note: following the Imakagami). He shaved his head, changed his name to Enri, and lived at Uji (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the world he was called Fuke-dono (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

¶Tadazane loved his second son Yorinaga beyond measure and, judging his talent worthy of great trust, handed over to Yorinaga all the secret records of the laws, regulations, and ordinances, and of the memorials to the throne concerning conferments of rank and appointments to office, saying, "These are an inheritance handed down from our ancestors, and by rights should be passed to Tadamichi. But he is already in the position of Regent and ought not to concern himself with detailed practical matters. Moreover you have two sons. It will surely be you who carries on our house."

¶During the Kyūan era Yorinaga's adopted daughter Tashi became Nyōgo, Consort, and Tadamichi's adopted daughter Teishi also entered the palace, and the two contended to be raised to the rank of empress. Yorinaga told Tadazane and asked him to press strongly on Tashi's behalf. Tadazane repeatedly petitioned the Retired Emperor but without success. Tadazane and Yorinaga concluded that Tadamichi was obstructing them and were greatly angered. They did not cease their petitions, and in the end Tashi was installed as empress. From this time Tadazane turned against Tadamichi and ordered him to hand the office of Nairan over to Yorinaga. Tadamichi was silent and gave no answer. Tadazane asked the Retired Emperor to admonish Tadamichi. Tadamichi submitted a written memorial stating that this was contrary to reason. The Retired Emperor showed that memorial to Tadazane.

¶Tadazane was furious. He summoned Minamoto-no-Tameyoshi, Saemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards, had troops stationed at Mikuramachi to guard the Tōsanjō mansion, and said to Yorinaga, "The Regent is unfilial. I have long stored up my anger. Even so, I bore it and said nothing, and several times sought the office of Nairan for you. But he would not comply, and his words were already insolent. Now I have made up my mind. I sever the bond between father and son. The regency is an office conferred by the Son of Heaven, and I cannot take it from him. But the headship of the clan is something I hand down, and by its nature it is not conferred by imperial edict. What scruple is there in taking it from him and giving it to you?" He then sent Minamoto-no-Nakayuki, Yorikata, and Nakakata to Tadamichi's mansion to seize the Shuki Daiban, the vermilion vessels and the banquet tables. The Shuki Daiban were the treasures of the Fujiwara house, handed down through the generations to the head of the clan. Yorinaga remonstrated and declined, but was not heeded. When Yorikata said to Tadazane, "I cannot get the key to the storehouse," Tadazane said, changing color, "Why do you not break the lock?" Yorikata obtained one key beside the storehouse and at last brought out the Shuki Daiban. Tadazane was overjoyed, considered it a gift from Heaven, and handed everything over to Yorinaga, making him head of the clan.

¶He further submitted a memorial to the Retired Emperor accusing Tadamichi of crimes. Before long he seized Tadamichi's residence and estates and presented them to the Retired Emperor. In the sixth year of Kyūan (1150) Tadazane went into mourning for his mother, but he did not let Tadamichi take part in the funeral rites, saying, "Whenever there is a misfortune in a household, one avoids the inauspicious days of the eldest legitimate son. Since Tadamichi is already no son of mine, there is no need to avoid his inauspicious days. It is Yorinaga's inauspicious days that should be avoided." He then sent Yorikata to Tadamichi's mansion and had him take the two diaries written by Morozane and Morimichi. And he petitioned the Retired Emperor and had Yorinaga made Nairan (Note: following the Taiki).

¶Yorinaga's arrogance and willfulness grew worse by the day, and the Retired Emperor came to dislike him considerably. When Emperor Konoe died and the question of the imperial succession was discussed, the Retired Emperor consulted Tadamichi alone and never again summoned Tadazane or Yorinaga (Note: following the Gukanshō). When Emperor Go-Shirakawa ascended the throne and made his son Prince Morihito Crown Prince, Tadazane petitioned that Yorinaga be made his tutor, but the Retired Emperor would not hear it (Note: following the Taiki).

¶In the first year of Hōgen (1156) the Retired Emperor died. The Retired Emperor Sutoku raised troops, and Yorinaga became the mastermind of his cause. Before long the forces were defeated, and Yorinaga was struck by a stray arrow. Tadazane was greatly alarmed; he sent Yorinaga's sons Kanenaga, Morinaga, and Takanaga fleeing to Nara and had them lodge at the Zenjō-in. He then had the bridge at Uji cut down, and had the monks Jinpan and Senkaku, Minamoto-no-Yorikane, and others recruit temple monks and district people to resist the imperial army. He plotted to kill Eshin, Tadamichi's son and Bettō, Administrator, of the Kōfuku-ji, but Eshin fled to the capital. Yorinaga, wounded and ill, was close to death. Tachibana-no-Toshinari hurried to tell Tadazane and begged him to see his son once, but Tadazane brushed away his tears and said, "It cannot be that one who is head of the clan should lose his life to arrows or blades. I cannot bear to see this unfortunate son. Go back and tell my child: do as you see fit, and never let me hear of you again." When Toshinari returned and reported, Yorinaga was already dead. Tadazane wept in grief and said, "I had always hoped that he would become Sesshō or Kampaku and a model for the hundred officials. I never imagined it would come to this."

¶In the deliberations at court it was held that Tadazane should be punished with exile, but Tadamichi pleaded earnestly and obtained his pardon. When Tadazane heard of this he sighed and said, "I never thought the Kampaku would care for me so much. I regret that I held him at a distance for so many years." He therefore presented a written oath to the emperor, making clear that he harbored no ill intent. Tadamichi sent a man to bring Tadazane back, but Tadazane claimed illness and did not come out. Tadamichi sent his son Motozane in turn to convey the court's wishes. Tadazane then left Nara and moved to the Chisoku-in (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari).

¶In the second year of Ōhō (1162) he died, at the age of eighty-five (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin, the Rekidai Kōki, and the Sonpi Bunmyaku). His writings include the "Kenshō" in ten volumes (Note: following the Ninnaji Shoseki Mokuroku). His diary is called the "Chisoku-in Kampaku-ki" (Note: according to the present work). Tadazane was full and handsome in appearance, and his voice was clear and cheerful. He loved music and played the koto skillfully, and handed down its secret teachings to Morinaga (Note: following the Imakagami). The secret tradition of "Manshūraku" was said to have come down from Tadazane and was especially prized in the world (Note: following the Taigenshō). His sons were Tadamichi and Yorinaga (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Yorinaga has a separate biography.

Fujiwara-no-Tadamichi

¶Fujiwara-no-Tadamichi rose in rank during the Kajō and Ten'ei eras to Senior First Rank and Gon-chūnagon. In the third year of Eikyū (1115) he was transferred to Gon-dainagon and became Naidaijin, Minister of the Interior. In the second year of Gen'ei (1119) he concurrently served as Sakonoe-no-taishō. In the second year of Hōan (1121) he undertook the advance review of the documents of the Council of State, and before long became Kampaku (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

¶Once the Retired Emperor Shirakawa, having censured Tadazane over the matter of Taishi, wished to replace his chief minister and secretly looked for a man for the post, but none could equal Tadamichi. He therefore summoned him and told him, "As the common saying goes, 'a father is a father, a son is a son.' What has a father's offense to do with the son? You shall take charge of the government." Tadamichi said, "When a father has incurred guilt and been set aside, for a son to take his place without so much as asking for his pardon cannot be called filial. Moreover my house has served in this office for generations, though unworthy of it. Hence the passing of the office has its own fitting ceremony. I beg you to pardon Tadazane first, and afterwards to permit me to take up the post. Then nothing will be lacking in the proprieties within our household." The Retired Emperor was moved and granted his request (Note: following the Gukanshō).

¶In the third year (1122) he rose to Junior First Rank and was appointed Sadaijin, Minister of the Left (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku). He moved his residence close to the imperial palace, and whenever he attended court he always arrived before the other court nobles. Each time the emperor summoned Tadamichi to consult him on affairs of government, Tadamichi cited precedents item by item, and their authorities were clear, so the Retired Emperor held him in particular esteem (Note: following the Gukanshō). When Emperor Sutoku ascended the throne he received an edict appointing him Regent, and all the ceremonies followed the precedent of the Chūjin-kō, Yoshifusa (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the third year of Daiji (1128) he was appointed Daijō-daijin. The following year (1129) he again became Kampaku. When Emperor Konoe ascended the throne he once more became Regent (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

¶In the first year of Ten'yō (1144) he was granted the province of Yamato by imperial command. When Tadamichi sent men to survey the province, the monks of the Kōfuku-ji were strongly opposed and refused. The following year (1145) he was further granted the province of Iwami. Since Tadamichi already administered the two provinces of Bizen and Iga, he now held three provinces together. In the fourth year (1148) Yorinaga's eldest son Kanenaga was transferred to Ukonoe-no-gon-no-shōshō, Provisional Lesser Captain of the Right Palace Guards. Earlier, Tadamichi had adopted Kanenaga as his son, and in that year he had been appointed Jijū, Chamberlain, and granted Senior Fifth Rank Lower. Soon afterwards Tadazane petitioned for his transfer, and the Retired Emperor said, "I already granted the petition before; it is strange that it should be delayed." Tadazane then sent Tadamichi a letter of reproach, but Tadamichi was inwardly displeased. When Kanenaga was transferred to lesser captain, Yorinaga sent a letter offering thanks for it. In his reply Tadamichi wrote, "It is a happy matter. But if you are displeased that it was delayed, what is there to thank me for?" He then said to his mother Moroko, "From now on I shall not concern myself with Kanenaga's conferment of rank or promotion." Yorinaga conveyed his thanks once more through Mikushige, the lady-in-waiting of Kōkamon-in, but Tadamichi would not listen. Hearing of this, Tadazane resented Tadamichi (Note: following the Taiki).

¶In the fifth year (1149) he was appointed Daijō-daijin. Reappointment to the post of Daijō-daijin began with this. In the sixth year (1150) he resigned it. He then also gave up the regency and became Kampaku (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶Tadazane loved Yorinaga and hated Tadamichi. Yorinaga inwardly desired the office of Nairan, and Tadazane told Tadamichi, "You ought to hand the office of Nairan on to Yorinaga. In time Yorinaga will surely return it to your descendants." Tadamichi did not comply. Tadazane petitioned the Retired Emperor, "I beg you to summon Tadamichi and admonish him, so that he reveals his true intentions." The Retired Emperor told Tadamichi of this. Tadamichi submitted, "Yorinaga is violent and dangerous by nature, and if he were to assist a young sovereign, the whole realm would suffer the calamity. Yet if Tadazane heard this he would surely be angry and blame me. If I try to obey my father, I will be disloyal to my sovereign. Loyalty and filial piety are hard to keep whole together, and so I have held back from answering directly. I would say only that an office such as that of Nairan should rather be treated as a public matter, taken up by the court, and is not something I should hand on privately." The Retired Emperor told this to Tadazane. As expected, Tadazane was greatly angered (Note: following the Gukanshō), ordered soldiers to seize the Shuki Daiban, handed all of it to Yorinaga, and made him head of the clan. He then finally severed his bond with Tadamichi and took away his residence and estates. Tadamichi paid it no mind and went on attending court as usual (Note: summarized with reference to the Taiki and the Gukanshō). Yorinaga slandered him, saying, "Having lost the headship of the clan, he still conducts himself in this way."

¶Tadamichi wished to have his heir Motozane put on the coming-of-age cap, and ordered the provinces to prepare the expenses for it, hoping thereby to recover the headship of the clan, but the matter in the end came to nothing. Before long Motozane came of age, and his second son Motofusa held the hakamagi ceremony, the first donning of trousers; but none of the court nobles attended, and only Fujiwara-no-Muneyoshi, Tadamoto, and Tsunesada took part in the affair, and there was no conferment of rank or edict permitting access to the emperor's presence. Even so, the Retired Emperor Sutoku and Kōkamon-in paid a special visit to his residence (Note: following the Taiki).

¶The emperor detested Yorinaga's arrogant and willful conduct and came to trust Tadamichi most. In the first year of Nimpei (1151), at the New Year's Day banquet, Yorinaga served as Naiben, the minister presiding within the palace, but the emperor did not attend (Note: following the Taiki and the Gukanshō). On the following day, when the emperor went to the Retired Emperor, Tadamichi accompanied him, but the Retired Emperor spoke no word to Tadamichi (Note: following the Taiki). It was thought that the emperor's hatred of Yorinaga was all Tadamichi's doing (Note: following the Taiki and the Gukanshō). Before long, when Yorinaga became Nairan, the Retired Emperor sent Fujiwara-no-Kinnori to tell Tadamichi, "That I made Yorinaga Nairan was in truth my own decision and not on Tadazane's word. Moreover, as for your having taught the emperor to be unfilial, I deeply detest it."

¶In the third year (1153) the emperor suffered an eye ailment and wished to abdicate in favor of Morihito, the eldest son of Imperial Prince Masahito. Tadamichi, acting on the emperor's wishes, reported this to the Retired Emperor, but the Retired Emperor would not hear it. One day the Retired Emperor said to Tadazane, "Tadamichi wishes to set up a young sovereign and wield power as he pleases, and he is urging the emperor to abdicate. Moreover, fearing that I will not agree, he has had the emperor claim illness. Such is his intent, and from now on the realm will gradually fall into disorder." Tadazane withdrew and told Yorinaga, "Tadamichi's folly is extreme. If the prince's son is enthroned, the prince will surely seize all power. What room would he have to take part?" When Tadamichi petitioned repeatedly, the Retired Emperor said, "The matter touches on great consequences. I will consult Tadazane," and Tadamichi then ceased his petitions (Note: following the Taiki).

¶Yorinaga's arrogance grew worse by the day, to the point that he insulted the Retired Emperor's attendants. The Retired Emperor gradually turned away from him and at length came to believe Tadamichi's words (Note: following the Gukanshō).

¶In the second year of Kyūju (1155) the emperor died, leaving no heir. The people of the time had their hopes on Imperial Prince Shigehito, but Bifukumon-in disliked him and wished to set up Imperial Prince Masahito (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari). The Retired Emperor said, "Masahito is the elder, but he is frivolous and unsettled by nature and unfit to carry on the imperial line." He therefore wished to choose whom to set up, and summoned Tadamichi to consult him. Tadamichi said, "The throne is of supreme weight. How could I presume to speak of it?" The Retired Emperor pressed him strongly, but Tadamichi did not answer. When the Retired Emperor said, "I will hear your words as though they were an oracle from the Great Shrine," Tadamichi at last said, "Since you say so much, I too cannot but offer my humble view. The Fourth Prince is now an imperial prince, and is already twenty-nine years old. I think it would be well to set him up." The Retired Emperor said, "So be it." Thus the succession was settled; the Fourth Prince was none other than Imperial Prince Masahito, who became Emperor Go-Shirakawa (Note: following the Gukanshō). Tadamichi remained Kampaku as before (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶Before this, Yorinaga had held power and monopolized government while Tadamichi merely held office and rank. Now Tadamichi submitted, "Since Your Majesty personally governs the realm and will restore and set in order its discipline, the authority of government should not be divided. If my ability is not worth employing, I beg that I be dismissed from the post of Kampaku and that it be given to Yorinaga. Otherwise, the offices of Nairan and head of the clan by rights belong to me." The emperor approved. Before long war broke out, and Yorinaga died in battle (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari; the statement that the emperor approved follows a variant text). Tadamichi became head of the clan again (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Hōgen Monogatari).

¶Tadazane should have been punished with exile for his involvement with Yorinaga, but Tadamichi, through Fujiwara-no-Michinori, submitted, "If Tadazane were to be exiled, with what face could I stand at court?" For this the emperor pardoned Tadazane (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari).

¶When Emperor Nijō ascended the throne, Tadamichi resigned as Kampaku, and his son Motozane succeeded him. Tadamichi was devoted to Buddhism, was most learned in the doctrines of Tendai, and also studied the teachings of Shingon. He built a villa beside the Hōshō-ji, and so was called in the world the Hōshō-ji Kampaku. He also went back and forth to his villa at Katsura, and spent his later years at leisure, finding joy in poetry. In the second year of Ōhō (1162) he shaved his head and changed his name to Enkan. In the second year of Chōkan (1164) he died, at the age of sixty-eight (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). His diary is called the "Hōshō-ji Kampaku-ki" (Note: according to the present work).

¶Tadamichi was generous and mild in character and never let joy or anger show on his face. He greatly loved composing poetry and writing prose, and his collections of poetry and prose were treasured in the world. From youth he had a taste for waka, and his manner in it was noble and archaic. His finest works were said to fall hardly short of Hitomaro's. Once he selected three volumes of poems and presented them to Emperor Shirakawa. He also compiled Japanese and Chinese poems together and sent them to Fujiwara-no-Mototoshi.

¶Calligraphy was where he excelled most, and he often took up his brush for the name-plaques of palace gates and the partition walls of temples (Note: following the Imakagami). Once, when he was in Tadazane's service, Tadazane had a folding screen brought out for him to write on as a test, but everything prepared was a small brush. Tadamichi deliberately took up the smallest of them and wrote six large characters. Tadazane marveled at it (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū). On one occasion he was asked for the plaque of a certain temple's gate and took up his brush and wrote it. But when he heard that the temple had been founded by Fujiwara-no-Motohira, he was ashamed to have written for him, and sent a man to Mutsu to take it back by force (Note: following the Imakagami). In his later years his calligraphy grew ever more refined, formed a school of its own, and was called in the world the Hōshō-ji style. In his youth he had written the plaque of the Saishō-ji, but every time he passed through its gate he is said to have blushed in shame at its clumsiness (Note: following the Seianshō).

¶Tadamichi served four sovereigns as Kampaku and was thoroughly versed in the precedents of the court. Fujiwara-no-Tametaka, Sadaiben, Major Controller of the Left, once said to others, "Tadamichi reached the summit of his position early, and, fearing that what is full must wane, held his hand back above all. For that reason the people of the world never saw his true capacity. If Tadazane had remained Kampaku, with Tadamichi and Minamoto-no-Arihito as ministers of the left and right, men of talent would have stood side by side and each been able to give his utmost. It is a pity." (Note: following the Imakagami). His sons were Motozane, Motofusa, Kanezane, and Kanefusa. Kanezane has a separate biography. Kanefusa rose to Daijō-daijin and Junior First Rank, and was called Zenrin-ji (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Fujiwara-no-Motozane

¶Fujiwara-no-Motozane rose through office and rank, and during the Hōgen era advanced to Senior Second Rank, was appointed Udaijin, and concurrently served as Tutor to the Crown Prince. When Emperor Nijō ascended the throne, he became Kampaku and head of the clan. He was then sixteen years old (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). The swiftness of his advancement had no equal, past or present (Note: following the Imakagami). In the early years of Eiryaku (1160) he was transferred to Sadaijin. In the first year of Eiman (1165) he became Regent. The following year (1166) he died, at the age of twenty-four. The court suspended government for three days, and he was posthumously granted the rank of Daijō-daijin and Senior First Rank. In the world he was called Rokujō (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku), also Nakanoin (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Gukanshō), and also Umetsu-dono (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). In person he was fair-skinned and full-figured, and closely resembled his father (Note: following the Imakagami). His sons were Motomichi and Tadayoshi. Motomichi has a separate biography. Tadayoshi became Dainagon and Senior Second Rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and was called the Narutaki Dainagon (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Fujiwara-no-Motofusa

¶Fujiwara-no-Motofusa served as Sakonoe-no-gon-no-shōshō, Provisional Lesser Captain of the Left Palace Guards, and as Gon-dainagon of Senior Second Rank. During the Eiryaku era he became Naidaijin and concurrently Sakonoe-no-taishō. In the second year of Chōkan (1164) he was transferred to Sadaijin. In the first year of Nin'an (1166), his elder brother Motozane having died, he became Regent and head of the clan (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶Motozane's wife Seishi was a daughter of Taira-no-Kiyomori. When Motozane died, his son Motomichi was still a child, and all the estates of the regent's house were due to come to Motofusa. Fujiwara-no-Kunitsuna, Sangi, Counsellor, said to Kiyomori, "It is not right that all of His Excellency's estates should become the property of the present Regent. In former times only the Hōshō-ji lord, Tadamichi, held everything together, and in every other case there have been precedents of division. All the more so with the child of the late Regent: though not Seishi's own son, he is nominally her child, so what harm could there be in letting him hold a share?" Kiyomori was greatly pleased, and so most of Motozane's estates, residences, old implements, and documents became the possession of Motomichi and his mother. Though Motofusa became Regent, his holdings amounted to only a few places, such as the Kōfuku-ji, the Hōjō-ji, the Byōdō-in, the Kangaku-in, Shikada, and Katakami (Note: following the Gukanshō).

¶Before long he was appointed Daijō-daijin. In the second year of Jōan (1172) he became Kampaku (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Motofusa was on poor terms with Kiyomori, and in the third year of Jishō (1179) he was removed from the office of Kampaku and demoted to Dazai-no-gon-no-sotsu, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu. Motofusa shaved his head and changed his name to Zenkan (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku; the change of name follows the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Hearing of this, Kiyomori said, "Since one who ought to be exiled has already taken the form of a monk, his place of exile should by law be changed." He was therefore sent into exile at Yubako in Bizen province (Note: following the Genpei Seisuiki). The following year (1180) he was recalled (Note: following the Gyokukai and the Sankaiki; the Gukanshō and the Heike Monogatari place it in the first year of Yōwa).

¶During the Yōwa era, when the emperor fled westward from the capital, Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka entered Kyoto and, relying on his merit, behaved willfully and sought a marriage connection with Motofusa. Motofusa, overawed by his power, agreed. Before long Yoshinaka confined the Retired Emperor in the Gojō mansion and stripped court officials of their posts, and his outrages grew worse by the day. Motofusa summoned Yoshinaka and admonished him calmly, saying, "Have you ever heard of the dignity of the imperial court? The sacred line of the emperors is protected by the gods of heaven and earth. For a hundred generations it has continued in unbroken clarity to this day. Those who have slighted and insulted it and gone against the Way have invariably perished. Look at Taira-no-Kiyomori now. He held the power of the court for more than twenty years, threatened the Retired Emperor and forced his removal, and humiliated the emperor's throne; his crimes were beyond measure. Heaven took his life, his whole clan fled and scattered, and they have taken refuge on the western sea, with their destruction close at hand. If you too promptly bring the emperor's carriage back, repent of your errors, and change your conduct, you may yet escape disaster." Yoshinaka nodded at this. He then moved the Retired Emperor to the Nishinotōin mansion and restored the court officials to their posts (Note: following the Genpei Seisuiki).

¶In the second year of Kangi (1230) he died, at the age of eighty-seven. He was called Matsudono, and also Nakayama, or Bodai-in (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). When the Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa had a painter produce a picture of the annual court observances, he showed it to Motofusa. Motofusa wrote the errors on slips of paper, pasted them on, and submitted it to the Retired Emperor, who praised him for it and ordered that his handwritten comments be deposited in the Rengeō-in (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū).

¶His sons were Ienobu, Takatada, Moroie, and Tadafusa. Ienobu became Chūnagon of Junior Second Rank. Takatada became Sadaijin of Junior First Rank and was called Daikaku-ji. Tadafusa became Dainagon of Senior Second Rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku; the title Daikaku-ji follows the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Moroie became Gon-chūnagon at the age of eight, and at twelve became Naidaijin, Regent, and head of the clan (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the early years of Jōei (1232) he went to the Tennō-ji and shaved his head (Note: following the Hyakurenshō), and changed his name to Daishin. In the first year of Ryakunin (1238) he died, at the age of sixty-nine. He was called Tennō-ji (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). His son Sanetsugu became Dainagon of Senior Second Rank. Sanetsugu was Ukonoe-no-shōshō, Lesser Captain of the Right Palace Guards (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Minamoto-no-Masazane

¶Minamoto-no-Masazane was the eldest son of Minamoto-no-Akifusa, Minister of the Right. In his youth he served in turn in the offices of the Seikan. When Emperor Shirakawa ascended the throne he was appointed Sangi and rose to Junior Second Rank. In the second year of Eihō (1082) he was appointed Gon-chūnagon. In the third year of Ōtoku (1086) he was transferred to Gon-dainagon. During the Kōwa and Chōji eras he was appointed Naidaijin and concurrently served as Sakonoe-no-taishō and Tutor to the Crown Prince. When Emperor Toba ascended the throne he was granted Junior First Rank and moved to Udaijin. In the third year of Hōan (1122) he was appointed Daijō-daijin (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). By special edict he was placed in a seat above the Kampaku (Note: following the Shokugenshō). He was the first of the Minamoto clan to hold this rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the first year of Tenji (1124) he resigned his office, shaved his head, and took the name Renkaku. In the second year of Daiji (1127) he died, at the age of sixty-nine (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Ichidai Yōki; the name Renkaku follows the Bunmyaku). He was called Koga (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). His diary is the "Koga Shōkoku-ki" (Note: following the Imakagami).

¶Masazane was plain and frank in speech by nature, and Emperor Shirakawa too was always wary of him. His father Akifusa likewise changed his manner whenever Masazane came to attend him, and Masazane was held in particular esteem by the people of his time. Once, when a certain Sōjō, high-ranking monk, submitted a matter of government, the emperor consulted Masazane about it. Masazane answered, "I am a man of no talent and do not concern myself with detailed business; I always have others act for me. As to what you ask, I cannot say." The emperor showed signs of embarrassment.

¶His son Masasada excelled at dancing. In the early years of Emperor Horikawa's reign there was an Iwashimizu Rinji-no-matsuri, extraordinary festival, and an imperial command was given that those among the sons and younger brothers of the court nobles who were skilled at dancing should be chosen. The emperor's intention was to have Masasada perform the foremost dance, but, in deference to the Kampaku Tadazane, he assigned it to Fujiwara-no-Muneyoshi. Masazane was ashamed at this, had Masasada decline the role, and himself closed his gate and did not attend court. The emperor therefore raised Masasada in rank to console him. When Masazane went to court to give thanks for the favor, a great banquet was about to be held at Tadazane's house, and Masazane was to be invited as Shōja, the principal guest. Masazane accepted, but when the day came, although Tadazane sent a messenger to invite him, he did not go, giving as his excuse a day of abstinence.

¶Once, when Masazane suffered from okori, fever with chills, Emperor Shirakawa had the monk Gyōson pray for him and cured it. Masazane repaid him with a spirited horse. The emperor jokingly sent a man to say to Masazane, "Gyōson's achievement was really due to my support. You reward Gyōson alone; why do you give nothing in return to me?" Masazane then presented a small bow made by Ryūrai, the Musashi Daitoku, but with no bowstring and no quiver, wrapped only in Michinoku paper. The emperor laughed heartily (Note: following the Imakagami).

¶On another occasion, when he and Tadazane were granted wine in the emperor's presence, at the third cup the emperor ordered the wine taken away. As Tadazane was about to withdraw, Masazane signaled with his eyes and said, "I am no sarugaku player. How could one be granted wine and then hurried away so soon?" The emperor laughed and had more poured, and Tadazane came to be especially wary of Masazane.

¶Masazane was also accomplished in court dance and music. The emperor had the musician Ōno-no-Tadakata learn the dance of Konju and summoned him to test it, but it did not please him, and he told Masazane of this. Masazane answered, "He has no real aptitude to begin with, and so he will not reach the level of mastery." The emperor thought to have Masazane himself dance as a test and hinted at his wish. Masazane had his dancing implements brought from his house, but lay down in the night-duty quarters. Though the emperor sent several times to urge him, he did not rise, and only when the day had grown dark did he finally get up and dance. The emperor was greatly impressed.

¶Earlier, Tadakata's younger brother Suketada had been killed by someone, and the emperor, pitying this, lamented, "The secret pieces of the Kagura, as well as Konju and Saisōrō, will now be lost." Masazane said, "Kagura is passed down by Your Majesty himself, and Saisōrō is transmitted by the musicians of the Tennō-ji. Only Konju has fortunately come down to me. I beg that Your Majesty not be troubled." (Note: following the Kojidan).

¶His son was Akimichi (presumed). Akimichi became Gon-dainagon of Senior Second Rank but died before his father. Akimichi's eldest son Masamichi became the heir adopted by his uncle Masasada. His second son was the monk Myōun (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku), who became Zasu, head abbot, of the Enryaku-ji. In the rebellion of Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka he was killed by rebel troops (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Tendai Zasuki; the Heike Monogatari makes the second son the eldest).

Minamoto-no-Masasada

¶Minamoto-no-Masasada, at the age of only nine, took part when a children's dance was held at the Toba palace. Masasada danced the Konju, and his figure was so beautiful and graceful that those who saw him said he was like a heavenly youth. Emperor Horikawa took off his own robe and bestowed it on him (Note: summarized with reference to the Chūyūki and the Imakagami).

¶In the courts of Emperors Horikawa and Toba he served in turn as Jijū, Ukonoe-no-gon-no-chūjō, Provisional Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards, and Sangi and Gon-chūnagon, reaching Junior Third Rank. In the second year of Hōen (1136) he became Gon-dainagon. In the sixth year (1140) he concurrently became Sakonoe-no-taishō (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶Masasada was close in attendance on the Retired Emperor Toba, and when Fujiwara-no-Yorinaga, Naidaijin, was about to resign as Sakonoe-no-taishō, he wished to have Masasada succeed him. At that time Fujiwara-no-Saneyoshi, Ukonoe-no-taishō, Major Captain of the Right Palace Guards, and Fujiwara-no-Saneyuki, Gon-dainagon, ranked above Masasada in seniority, and both wished to obtain the post. Emperor Sutoku's inclination was toward Saneyoshi. Hearing this, the Retired Emperor went to the palace in the night and worked on Masasada's behalf, and so Masasada was able to receive the post over the heads of those above him (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū and the Imakagami; the part concerning Saneyuki follows the Imakagami). The Retired Emperor further ordered that the posts of Bettō of the Junna-in and the Shōgaku-in, the two institutions, should belong to Masasada's house for all time (Note: following the Shokugenshō).

¶In the fifth year of Kyūan (1149) he was appointed Naidaijin. At this time Saneyuki was appointed Udaijin (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). When a certain person went to Saneyuki's house to offer congratulations, carriages and horses were thronging noisily and people overflowed beyond the gate. When announced, Saneyuki came out to greet him in fine dress, his joy overflowing his face. But when he went to Masasada's house, gate and garden alike were hushed and still, and no special preparations had been made. Masasada came out in haste and said, "One who has been appointed minister has ceremonies such as the great banquet, and it is quite troublesome. Why should you congratulate me on it?" From this people understood which of the two had the greater capacity (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Before long he was transferred to Udaijin (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin).

¶In the first year of Kyūju (1154) he shaved his head. His Buddhist name was Rennyo (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku; the Taiki gives Hōnyo). At that time Yorinaga was Sadaijin, and he said to Fujiwara-no-Mitsuyori, Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, "I hear that the Minister of the Right means to take the tonsure. No one is better versed than he in the precedents of the court. If he leaves the world now, with no illness, what will the state rely on? You should report to the Retired Emperor and have it stopped." Mitsuyori hesitated and did not exert himself, so it was already too late, and the people of the time lamented and regretted it (Note: following the Taiki).

¶Masasada was thoroughly versed in the ceremonies of the court and transmitted well the doctrines handed down in his house. Yorinaga, who had always prided himself on his learning, nonetheless sometimes put questions to Masasada. Even after he entered religion, the emperor sent men to consult Masasada. Such was the esteem in which he was held in the world (Note: following the Zoku Kyōkunshō).

¶By temperament he loved jesting and spent whole days in laughter and conversation. When he once went to Ise as imperial envoy, he did not speak at all for several days, which puzzled his attendants. But when he left the Inner Shrine he began to talk and laugh as usual, and people praised his sincerity and reverence (Note: following the Taiki).

¶In the second year of Ōhō (1162) he died, at the age of sixty-nine (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He was called in the world the Nakanoin Udaijin (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku. According to the Kojidan, Masasada always used to say of himself, "I have six accomplishments: Matsugimi, sugoroku, suegi, dance, shō, and shokusha." Matsugimi is probably the Matsuwakamaru kagura piece, and suegi refers to target shooting with the small bow). Having no son, he adopted his elder brother Akimichi's son Masamichi as his heir (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).