Biographies CXLIII: Men of Letters, Part IV

Ōe-no-Otondo

¶Ōe-no-Otondo was a man of Sakyō, the Left Capital. His father, Motonushi, served as Bitchū-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Bitchū (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin. ○ According to the Kōin Shōunroku, Otondo was a son of Imperial Prince Abo, and its note says, "The claim that the ancestral surname was originally Haji is entirely without foundation." Again, according to the Bunin, Otondo's mother was of the Nakatomi clan and had originally been a lady-in-waiting to Imperial Prince Abo. Probably the Nakatomi woman was favored by the Prince and conceived, and afterwards married Motonushi. But there is no other clear evidence, and it cannot now be established). Otondo received his learning from Sugawara-no-Koreyoshi (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki), and was widely learned and skilled in composition (Note: the Sandai Jitsuroku and the Ruijū Kokushi were consulted). At the end of the Tenchō era (824–834) he was appointed Monjōshō, Student of Letters. In the Jōwa era (834–848) he was recommended as Shūsai, Scholar of Distinction, and appointed Bitchū-no-sakan, Secretary of Bitchū. A few years later he was implicated in an incident and banished to Owari. After living there for three years he was recalled and returned to the capital. Soon he was appointed Shōnaiki, Junior Secretary of the Palace, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), and was transferred to Dainaiki, Senior Secretary of the Palace (Note: following the Shoku Nihon Kōki). In the third year of Kashō (850) he concurrently became Tōgū Gakushi, Tutor to the Crown Prince. Between the Ninju and Saikō eras (851–857) he became a Jijū of the second rank, Chamberlain, and successively held the posts of Minbu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs, and Sashōben, Junior Controller of the Left (Note: following the Montoku Jitsuroku and the Kugyō Bunin; for his post as Jijū the Jitsuroku is followed). After Emperor Seiwa came to the throne he advanced to Senior Fifth Rank Lower, was transferred to Shikibu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, and soon became Sachūben, Middle Controller of the Left. In the Jōgan era (859–877) he was repeatedly promoted, becoming Udaiben, Senior Controller of the Right, and was ranked as equivalent to a Sangi, Counsellor. In the eighth year (866) he advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower. Otondo's ancestors had borne the surname Haji-no-sukune; in the reign of Emperor Kanmu, because they were kin of the emperor's maternal grandmother, they were granted the surname Ōe-no-ason (大枝). Otondo reflected: "If a branch is larger than the trunk, then even if it does not break it will surely shatter. The surname Ōe was not originally meant to say that the branches are long and firm, nor does it mean that descendants will never die out. Yet to alter at once a surname granted by a former emperor sits uneasily with me." He therefore petitioned to change the surname from Ōe (大枝) to Ōe (大江). The characters differ but the reading is the same. The request was granted. Soon he was transferred to Sadaiben, Senior Controller of the Left, concurrently became Kageyu-chōkan, Chief of the Board of Audit, advanced to Junior Second Rank, concurrently became Saemon-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards, and was appointed Kebiishi-no-bettō, Chief of the Imperial Police (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku and the Kugyō Bunin). In the seventeenth year (875), when the emperor read the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), Otondo served as his Jidoku, lecturer in attendance. In the first year of Gangyō (877), by imperial command, there was a debate over whether, when a retired emperor sent a letter to the reigning emperor, the imperial personal name (the gyoki) should be written. Otondo submitted the following memorial: "Respectfully examining the Classic of Rites, it says: 'Before his lord a subject gives his name, and before his father a son gives his name. Therefore, when the Duke of Zhou made announcement to King Wen, he always used the name of King Wu.' It also says: 'On seeing one who resembles his father, a man's eyes widen; on hearing his name, his heart is shaken. For a father is, to his son, as Heaven. Therefore the distance in ritual between them is as wide as that between Heaven and Earth. How could a father use his own name for the sake of his son? Although the rites of the Son of Heaven differ from those of commoners, between father and son there should be no distinction. In ancient times, when there was a man in the household of Taigong (the father of Emperor Gaozu of Han) who used the language of a subject, Gaozu of Han approved and praised him. This was because Taigong had not yet ascended to a position of honor.' Nevertheless, Gaozu of Han was judged in later ages to have been at fault in this matter. Furthermore, examining the letter-forms of various houses, when parents send letters to their children they all write only 'from Father' or 'from Mother,' and do not annotate the name. If that is so, then I do not know on what authority one should decide whether the imperial personal name is to be written. I have respectfully received the imperial command: 'If, when we now issue an edict, we write only "imperial letter" and do not annotate the personal name, then those who see it will not know who wrote it.' But if this is discussed in the light of ordinary human feeling, it is not so. Respectfully examining Zhi Yu's Jueyi Yao (Essentials for Resolving Doubts), it says: 'In ancient times, one did not avoid a name when facing a text, yet now it is still avoided. Names of similar sound were not avoided, yet now they too are avoided. Where a name has two characters, one does not avoid just one of them. The mother of Confucius was named Zhengzai; when saying "Zheng" one did not say "zai," and when saying "zai" one did not say "Zheng." Now too it should be that one of the characters is not avoided.' If we follow the precedent of Confucius, it will be fitting simply to annotate one character of the imperial personal name, adapting to the form as occasion requires." This proposal was adopted. Soon afterwards Otondo died (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku), at the age of sixty-seven (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He had once, by imperial command, compiled the Kōteihan in three volumes and the Gunjaku Yōran in forty volumes. Together with Sugawara-no-Koreyoshi he also compiled the Jōgan Kyaku-shiki, the Jōgan Regulations and Rules; the memorial presenting it and the preface to the rules were all written by Otondo (Note: following the Sandai Jitsuroku and the Ruijū Kokushi). The prison at Nagaoka had fallen into decay and disrepair, and convicts frequently escaped. Otondo, as Kebiishi-no-bettō, moved the prison to the capital at Heian and set up a new prison gate. From then on no one escaped. Otondo also prepared food and gave it to passers-by. A certain elder said, "I have worked greatly for the state. Among my descendants there will surely be those who reach high office." His grandson Koretoki, and his descendant in the seventh generation, Masafusa, both rose to the rank of Nagon, Counsellor, and the words came true (Note: following the Gōdanshō).

¶Otondo's sons were Tamabuchi, Chisato, Shuntan, and Chifuru. Tamabuchi attained Junior Fourth Rank Lower and served as Shōnagon, Minor Counsellor, and Governor of Tanba (Note: following the Ōe Keizu). He was skilled in poetry (Note: following the Jikkinshō). Chisato was Hyōbu-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of War, of Senior Fifth Rank Lower, and was good at waka (Note: following the Keizu). Shuntan was of Senior Sixth Rank Upper and was Kii-no-jō, Third Secretary of Kii (Note: following the Jimoku Taiseishō). Chifuru attained Junior Fourth Rank Upper and was Iyo-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Iyo, and Shikibu-no-gon-no-taifu, Provisional Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial (Note: following the Keizu). He too was good at poetry (Note: following the Sakusha Burui and the Ruidai Koshi).

Ōe-no-Asatsuna

¶Ōe-no-Asatsuna was a son of Tamabuchi (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He carried on the scholarship of his father and grandfather, and his learning was broad and comprehensive. His literary style was elegant and beautiful, and in his youth he was recommended as a Monjōshō. He passed the Taisaku, the civil service examination (Note: following the Gōdanshō). In the reign of Emperor Murakami he compiled the Shin Kokushi by imperial command (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku), and also compiled the Konrenroku (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). Once, in the preface to a poem seeing off the Bohai envoy Pei Qiu, he wrote: "The road ahead is long, and I think of the evening clouds over Yanshan. The day of our meeting again is far distant, and my sleeves are wet with tears in the dawn at the Kōrokan." (Note: following the Honchō Monzui and the Wakan Rōeishū.) Pei Qiu was deeply moved. Later a man of Bohai asked a man of our court, "Has Asatsuna already risen to the Three Excellencies?" When told, "Not yet," he said, "Why does your honored country not value talent? His reputation has spread even to foreign lands in this way." (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū.) Asatsuna was also a fine calligrapher; he discussed brush technique with Ono-no-Michikaze, and neither would yield to the other. When they asked Emperor Murakami to judge between them, the emperor said, "Asatsuna's calligraphy does not equal Michikaze's, just as Michikaze's prose does not equal Asatsuna's." (Note: following the Gōdanshō.) He successively held the posts of Chūben, Middle Controller, and Daiben, Senior Controller, of both Left and Right, was appointed Sangi, Counsellor, and concurrently served as governor of Bizen, Mino, and other provinces. He reached Senior Fourth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) In the early years of Tentoku (957) he died, at the age of seventy-two (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). His writings include the Go-Kō Shōkō Shū (Collected Works of the Latter Minister Ōe) (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku). In the world, Otondo was called "Kō Shōkō," the Minister of Ōe, and Asatsuna "Go-Kō Shōkō," the Latter Minister of Ōe, to distinguish them. His sons were Sumiakira, Sumie, and Sumikage (Note: following the Keizu).

Ōe-no-Sumiakira

¶Ōe-no-Sumiakira was likewise gifted in letters, passed the Taisaku, and was appointed Hyōbu-no-jō, Secretary of the Ministry of War (Note: following the Honchō Monzui). He died before his father, and Asatsuna, grieving, wrote a lament for him. In it were the lines: "Of all sorrows, the greatest is to lose a son in one's old age. Of all regrets, the bitterest is to die young, before one's parents." (Note: following the Honchō Monzui and the Genpei Jōsuiki.) Sumie's grandson was Sukekuni (Note: following the Hyakurenshō and the Fusō Ryakki).

Ōe-no-Sukekuni

¶Ōe-no-Sukekuni was greatly gifted in poetry and prose. In the fourth year of Chōkyū (1043), together with Koremune-no-Takatoki, Minamoto-no-Tokitsuna, and others, he sat an examination at the Kyōshoden, the Hall of Documents (Note: following the Hyakurenshō and the Fusō Ryakki). He served four reigns, those of Emperor Go-Suzaku, Emperor Go-Reizei, Emperor Go-Sanjō, and Emperor Shirakawa. He became Kamon-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Housekeeping, and concurrently Echizen-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Echizen. Sukekuni's son Michikuni was also talented and received his learning from Fujiwara-no-Akihira (Note: following the Chōya Gunsai). He became Ōkura-no-daini, Senior Assistant Minister of the Treasury (Note: following the Keizu).

Ōe-no-Koretoki

¶Ōe-no-Koretoki was the third son of Chifuru. In his youth he was recommended as a Monjōshō, and after sitting the Sakushi examination he was selected as a Shūsai, Scholar of Distinction, and appointed Kurōdo, Chamberlain. In the Engi and Enchō eras (901–931) he was appointed Daigaku-no-suke, Assistant Director of the University, and was transferred to Monjō Hakase, Professor of Letters. In the Jōhei era (931–938) he became Shikibu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin), and lectured on the Wenxuan (Monzen) at the Hokusō, the Northern Hall. At the beginning of Tengyō (938) he completed the lectures (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). He was appointed Daigaku-no-kami, Director of the University, transferred to Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, and concurrently became Tōgū Gakushi, Tutor to the Crown Prince. In the fourth year of Tenryaku (950) he became Sangi, Counsellor. In the ninth year (955) he was granted Junior Third Rank. In the Tentoku era (957–961) he advanced to Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). By nature he had a vast memory and a firm grasp of what he heard, and was thoroughly versed in the classics and histories. Of the changes in residences since the transfer of the capital, and of the deaths of persons, he had memorized every date. (Note: following the Zoku Kojidan.) Once, when Emperor Daigo commanded him to record the names of the flowers blooming in the palace garden, Koretoki wrote them in kana. People mocked his talent, saying it was so poor that he did not even know the Chinese characters. Koretoki said, "It is not that I do not know them. I thought that if I used Chinese characters, they would be hard to read." When the record was finished and presented, the emperor ordered him to rewrite it in Chinese characters. Koretoki wrote it at once and presented it. As expected, people were unable to read it and came again and again to ask him. (Note: following the Kojidan.) The imperial personal names of the four emperors Suzaku, Murakami, Reizei, and En'yū were all selected and presented by Koretoki, and people regarded this as an honor (Note: following the Gōri Shū). In the third year of Ōwa (963) he died, at the age of seventy-six. By imperial edict he was posthumously granted Junior Second Rank, and was given silk, cloth, coin, and goods as a fu, a gift of condolence (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Nihon Kiryaku). He was called in the world "Kō Shōkō," the Minister of Ōe (Note: following the Keizu). His writings include the Nikkan Shū (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku). His sons were Shigemitsu and Tokimitsu. Shigemitsu rose to Sakyō-no-daibu, Master of the Left Capital Office (Note: following the Keizu). Tokimitsu passed the Taisaku and served five reigns, those of Emperors Murakami, Reizei, En'yū, Kazan, and Ichijō; he successively held the posts of Shikibu-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial, and Usōben, Junior Controller of the Right. He became Tutor to the Crown Prince a second time, was appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, concurrently became Shikibu-no-taifu, and rose to Sangi, Sadaiben, and Senior Third Rank. In the first year of Eien (987) he died, at the age of fifty-four (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). His sons were Tamemoto and Sadamoto. Tamemoto was of Junior Fourth Rank and was Mikawa-no-kami, Governor of Mikawa (Note: following the Keizu).

Ōe-no-Mochitoki

¶Ōe-no-Mochitoki was a grandson of Tamabuchi and a son of Nakanobu, Ōsumi-no-kami, Governor of Ōsumi (Note: following the Keizu). Mochitoki first bore the surname Yuge, and later returned to his original surname (Note: following the Azuma Kagami, entry for the fourth year of Kenpō). In his youth he received his learning from Fujiwara-no-Atsushige (Note: following the Gōdanshō) and passed the Taisaku. In the Chōhō and Kankō eras (999–1012) he was appointed Monjō Hakase, Professor of Letters (Note: following the Honchō Monzui), concurrently became Shikibu-no-gon-no-taifu, Provisional Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, and rose to Junior Fourth Rank Lower. In the seventh year of Kankō (1010) he died, at the age of fifty-six (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku).

¶Because Mochitoki had long been out of favor, the emperor wished to promote him, but the Sesshō, Regent, Fujiwara-no-Michinaga blocked it. Mochitoki, indignant, composed a poem in which he wrote: "Hawk and dove, in every age the eye that tells them apart should not change; yet deer and horse, at the whim of the powers of the moment, right and wrong can be confused." (Note: following the Kojidan and the Gōdanshō.) His vigorous prose and beautiful verses were in many cases widely transmitted to later generations. In his time he was ranked together with Ki-no-Tadana, and also together with his cousin's son Masahira (Note: following the Gōdanshō, the Honchō Reisō, and the Honchō Monzui). His kinsman Masafusa, discussing the men of talent of recent times, said, "Tachibana-no-Aritsura did not equal Minamoto-no-Shitagō; Shitagō did not equal Mochitoki and Yoshishige-no-Yasutane. All of them may be called outstanding men of their age." (Note: following the Gōdanshō.)

Ōe-no-Masahira

¶Ōe-no-Masahira was a son of Shigemitsu (Note: following the Keizu and the Chūko Kasen-den). In bearing he was tall, with sloping shoulders (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari). He began reading books at seven, composed poetry at nine, and received his learning from his grandfather Koretoki (Note: following the Gōri Shū). As he grew up his learning became broad and deep, and in his time no one equaled him. He also had a general understanding of the shin'i, the prophetic apocrypha (Note: following the Shōyūki). He was also excellent at waka (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari and the Chūko Kasen-den). In the Ten'en era (973–976) he was recommended as a Monjō Tokugōshō, Candidate Scholar, and appointed Shūsai. In the second year of Tengen (979) he sat the Taisaku. Soon afterwards he was appointed Uemon-no-gon-no-jō, Provisional Secretary of the Right Gate Guards, and became a Kebiishi, imperial police officer (Note: following the Chūko Kasen-den). People of the time remarked that it was truly exceptional for a Shūsai to receive the Kebiishi appointment (Note: following the Shōyūki). In the Eikan and Eiso eras (983–990) he was repeatedly promoted, holding successively the posts of Kai-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Kai, and Danjō-no-shōhitsu, Junior Assistant Director of the Board of Censors; he was transferred to Monjō Hakase, advanced to Junior Fifth Rank Upper, and served as the emperor's companion in reading (Note: following mainly the Chūko Kasen-den, with the Gōri Shū also consulted). In the Shōryaku era (990–995) he was appointed Jijū of the second rank and concurrently became Owari-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Owari. In the Chōtoku era (995–999) he concurrently became Echizen-no-gon-no-kami and Tutor to the Crown Prince, and became Shikibu-no-gon-no-taifu. In the Chōhō era (999–1004) he reached Senior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Chūko Kasen-den). In the second year of Kankō (1005), when Imperial Prince Atsuyasu first began his reading, Masahira again served as his Jidoku (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). In the seventh year (1010) he concurrently became Governor of Tanba and was made a Jijū (Note: following the Chūko Kasen-den). In the first year of Chōwa (1012) he died, at the age of sixty-one (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). His writings include the Gōri Shū (Note: following the Gōri Shū itself). Masahira's rank did not match his talent, his official career was unfortunate, and though he petitioned again and again without success, each time he lamented his ill fortune (Note: following the Honchō Monzui). Once, when he floated in a boat on the Ōi River with the people of the court and each composed a waka, Masahira's poem said that when he rode in the river boat and his heart went freely along, he did not think of himself as one who had sunk low in the world (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari). His sons were Takachika and Tokimune.

Ōe-no-Takachika

¶Ōe-no-Takachika passed the Taisaku early and became Harima-no-jō, Third Secretary of Harima (Note: following the Honchō Monzui). At the beginning of Eien (987), the emperor made a visit to the residence of the Sesshō Fujiwara-no-Kaneie and summoned men of letters to compose poems (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku). Takachika wrote the preface, and the emperor praised it and promoted him to Kurōdo (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden). Later Takachika's mother, Akazome Emon, composed a waka and presented it to the wife of the Sesshō Michinaga, stating her wish that Takachika be given a provincial post; her words were moving. Michinaga took pity on her, and at last Takachika was appointed Izumi-no-kami, Governor of Izumi (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari and the Akazome Shū). When he fell ill in his province, Akazome Emon was anxious about him, prayed to the god of Sumiyoshi, and asked to offer her own life in his place. After Takachika recovered, he heard of this and was alarmed and frightened. He said, "That my life should be spared by such means, to the loss of a parent, how could a son bear such a thought?" and went himself to Sumiyoshi to pray (Note: following mainly the Kokon Chomonjū, with the Fukuro Zōshi and the Konjaku Monogatari also consulted). In the fourth year of Chōwa (1015) he became Tōgū Gakushi (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari). When Emperor Go-Sanjō was still before his accession, Takachika served as his Jidoku (Note: following the Imakagami). He was repeatedly promoted, becoming Daigaku-no-kami and Shikibu-no-gon-no-taifu (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden and the Keizu). In the first year of Eishō (1046) he died. He had always been fond of the Buddha, and whenever he saw an image of the Buddha, he would invariably weep and sigh (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden).

Ōe-no-Sadamoto

¶Ōe-no-Sadamoto was a son of Tokimitsu. He took up the family calling early and excelled in letters (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden). In the Tengen era (978–983), because of the merits of his father and grandfather, he was promoted to Kurōdo (Note: following the Shōyūki) and soon afterwards was appointed Mikawa-no-kami (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden and the Keizu). At first he doted on Rikiju, a courtesan of Akasaka, and in the end made her his principal wife and drove out his former wife. When Rikiju happened to die of illness (Note: for Rikiju, following the Genpei Jōsuiki), Sadamoto embraced her body and wept aloud, and for many days continued the mourning without burying her; but gradually he came to loathe it, and in the end he buried her (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari). Through this he awakened to the impermanence of life. At about this time there was a woman selling mirrors, and when Sadamoto opened her box and looked, there was a waka in it. It said that as he looked into the mirror he thought it must be for the last time today, that his tears increased, and that he should not tell others of the familiar reflection he had grown used to (Note: following the Jikkinshō and the Kokon Chomonjū. ○ In the poem, "the mirror of increasing tears" is a pun, with masumi no kagami, a clear mirror, playing on masu, "to increase," in the sense of tears increasing). Sadamoto felt deep pity in his heart and gave her goods to relieve her poverty. His determination to renounce the world grew all the stronger. In the second year of Eien (988) he at last shaved his head and became a monk (Note: following the Hyakurenshō and the Ichidai Yōki). He entered Nyoirin-ji, took the monk Jakushin as his teacher (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden), and changed his name to Jakushō. Jakushin was none other than Yoshishige-no-Yasutane, the former Dainaiki. When Jakushō went out begging and happened to come to the house of his former wife, she gave him food while mocking him, but Jakushō ate it unperturbed (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari). He also studied the Buddhist Way under Genshin, a monk of Enryaku-ji (Note: following the Genkō Shakusho), and had long held the wish to cross to Song China. Because his mother was old he hesitated to travel far, but later he told her of his intention. His mother said, "In affection there is nothing deeper than between mother and child. To part from you now for so far is truly sad. But to have you pursue the Buddha's Way to its end is what I have always wished. How could I take your aspiration from you?" Jakushō was overjoyed, composed a vow text, and held for his mother the Hokke Hakkō, the Eight Lectures on the Lotus Sutra, at Hōji (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden). In the fourth year of Chōhō (1002) he at last crossed to Song (Note: following the Hyakurenshō and the Nihon Kiryaku). Previously, Genshin had drawn up twenty-seven questions on the Tendai teaching. At this time he entrusted them to Jakushō to put to Chili, a monk of Nanhu. Chili received Jakushō with great courtesy (Note: following the Genkō Shakusho). The emperor of Song received Jakushō in audience and asked about conditions in Japan. Jakushō asked for paper and brush and answered in writing, and presented the Buddha image he had brought. The Song emperor was greatly pleased and bestowed on him a purple robe and bolts of silk, lodged him at the Shangsi temple (Note: following Yang Yi of Song, Tanyuan, and the Genkō Shakusho), and granted him the title Entsū Daishi, Great Master of Perfect Penetration (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki, the Konjaku Monogatari, and the Songshi. ○ The Tanyuan says that Jakushō himself took the title Entsū Daishi). Ding Wei, Sansi-shi, Commissioner of Finance, treated Jakushō with great generosity. Chili entrusted his answers to Jakushō, and Jakushō intended to bring them home. Ding Wei tried to keep him there and spoke at length of the beauty of the landscape of Gusu. Jakushō therefore stayed at Wumen temple and sent men to carry the answers to Genshin. Ding Wei then divided his own monthly stipend and gave a share to Jakushō. Afterwards he gradually became able to understand the language, and his observance of the precepts grew ever stricter. Many monks and laypeople of the Wu region took refuge in Jakushō. He once sent Ding Wei an iron water bottle and a poem (Note: following Yang Yi of Song, Tanyuan). In the seventh year of Chōgen (1034) he died in Song (Note: ○ The Teiō Hennenki says he died in the eighth year at the age of seventy-seven, but the Zoku Ōjōden is followed here). The poem and waka he composed at the hour of death are transmitted in the world and are still recited (Note: following the Zoku Ōjōden). Jakushō excelled in calligraphy and studied the brush technique of the two Wangs, father and son, Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi. The people of Song praised the elegance of his script (Note: following Wang Zhu of Song, Tanlu).

Ōe-no-Tokimune

¶Tokimune. His father is not known. As a child he was intelligent, and his pupils were double (Note: the "double pupil," chōdō, is regarded as the mark of a sage). The Sesshō Fujiwara-no-Michinaga met a boy on the road. He was reading a book as he walked, and his manner was out of the ordinary. Michinaga thought it wonderful, took him home and received him into his household, and had him brought up as a son of Masahira. His talent and learning advanced day by day, and he became broadly versed in the classics and histories (Note: following the Jikkinshō). In the third year of Chōtoku (997), he presented a poem at the Shōshi, the examination of the Ministry of Ceremonial. Ki-no-Tadana, Dainaiki, pointed out its faults, and as a result he failed. By custom, on the day of the Shōshi the Monjō Hakase would meet with the other scholars at the Ministry of Ceremonial to give judgment, but in Tokimune's case the scholars did not agree with Masahira's opinion. Masahira argued in detail that Tokimune's poem in fact had no faults and that Tadana's assessment was unjust. The emperor had Tadana state his case, and Tadana submitted a detailed written statement. Masahira in turn cited precedents ancient and modern to rebut him, and in the end Tokimune was able to pass (Note: following the Honchō Monzui and the Chōya Gunsai). He sat the examination twice in all (Note: following the Jikkinshō. ○ The Kojidan says three times). His offices rose to governor of Kawachi, Mikawa, and other provinces (Note: the Chōya Gunsai and the Konjaku Monogatari were consulted).