Imperial Princes VIII

Imperial Prince Saichū

¶Emperor Uda had eleven sons. His Empress, of the Fujiwara clan, bore Emperor Daigo, the fourth son Imperial Prince Atsuyoshi, Imperial Prince Atsukata, and the eighth son Imperial Prince Atsuzane. The Nyōgo, Consort, Tachibana-no-Gishi bore the second son Imperial Prince Saichū, the third son Imperial Prince Tokiyo, and Imperial Prince Tokikuni. The Naishi-no-kami, Principal Handmaid, Fujiwara-no-Hōshi bore Imperial Prince Noriakira, Imperial Prince Masaakira, and Imperial Prince Yukiakira. As for Imperial Prince Yukinaka, it is not recorded who his mother was. (Note: the Ichidai Yōki and the Kōin Shōunroku differ on the order in which the princes were born, and the Sonpi Bunmyaku agrees with the account of the Shōunroku. Here the years of their births and deaths have been estimated, and the order fixed by consulting both books. That Imperial Prince Atsuzane was the eighth son follows the Fusō Ryakki and the Shūi Ōjōden.)

Imperial Prince Tokiyo

¶Imperial Prince Saichū died in the tenth month of the third year of Kanpyō (891). (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki.)

Imperial Prince Atsuyoshi

¶Imperial Prince Tokiyo was granted Third Rank and became Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He was also appointed Kazusa-no-Taishu, Prince-Governor of Kazusa. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He took as his wife a daughter of Sugawara-no-Michizane, Minister of the Right, but when Michizane was demoted and sent away, the affair reached Tokiyo as well, and he entered Ninna-ji and became a monk. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku. That he entered Ninna-ji follows the Nihon Kiryaku.) He changed his name to Shinjaku. He died in the ninth month of the fifth year of Enchō (927) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku, the Ichidai Yōki, and the Sonpi Bunmyaku) at the age of forty-two. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He was called the Enjōji Prince (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku) and also the Hō-sanmiya, the Third Prince of the Dharma. (Note: following the Teiō Hennenki.)

¶His sons Hideakira and Moroakira were both granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. Hideakira was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper, was appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, and concurrently served as Sakon'e-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He excelled at poetry and prose in Chinese (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Honchō Monzui) and also at waka (Note: following the Sakusha Burui, the Kōin Shōunroku, and the Gosen Wakashū), and often exchanged verses with Tachibana-no-Aritsura. (Note: following the Fusōshū.) He once wrote a Chinese poem on his graying hair, in which he set out his feelings. In it he said that at thirty-five he had still felt no decline in his body, but that on looking into the mirror that morning he saw a figure streaked with white; he doubted the mirror and could not yet believe it, and rubbed his eyes to check his beard once more; alas, under the silver tweezers he plucked out several strands of white thread; autumn had deepened his sorrow, and now he added grief upon grief. When grief is at its height, he went on, one reflects on the nature of things, and the principle is plainly known: at sixteen he had been granted Fourth Rank, at seventeen he took up the office of Shūi, Imperial Attendant; in the bright reign of Enchō he had long climbed the palace steps, and in the tranquil calendar of Jōhei he had often borne the standard of the guard; by good fortune he was enrolled among the imperial kin and had received office and rank to match. Yan Hui was a sage of Zhou, yet left the world before he was thirty; Pan Yue was a famous man of Jin, yet early on set the mood of autumn down in verse; all of them had made their names younger than he, so that he who saw white hair only later should rather be glad. (Note: following the Honchō Monzui.) Moroakira's career ended with Junior Third Rank and the post of Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, concurrently Saehyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Left Military Guards. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) He was called the Hirohata Chūnagon. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He had a daughter who entered the rear palace of Emperor Murakami. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Imperial Prince Noriakira

¶Imperial Prince Atsuyoshi became Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ōkagami Uragaki), was transferred to Shikibu-kyō, Minister of Ceremonial, and was granted Second Rank. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) He excelled at waka. (Note: following the Gosen Wakashū.) He died in the second month of the eighth year of Enchō (930) (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Nihon Kiryaku) at the age of forty-four. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He was called the Gyokkō-no-miya. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.) His sons Nochifuru and Katafuru were both granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. Nochifuru was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and became Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice, and Katafuru was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He had a daughter, called Nakatsukasa, who was known for her skill in waka. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Imperial Prince Atsukata

¶Nothing further is recorded of the deeds of Imperial Prince Noriakira.

Imperial Prince Atsuga

¶Imperial Prince Atsukata came of age in the second year of Engi (902) and, by an edict in the emperor's own hand, was granted Third Rank. In the tenth year (910) he was permitted to wear a sword at court. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He was appointed Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs (Note: following the Saikyūki, the Nihon Kiryaku, and the Fusō Ryakki) and advanced to Second Rank. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki and the Kōin Shōunroku.) He died in the twelfth month of the fourth year of Enchō (926). (Note: the Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku give the first year, and the Ichidai Yōki gives the fifth month, but here the document reporting his death in the first month of the fifth year, found in the Saikyūki and the Fusō Ryakki, is followed.) His sons Munemuro and Munenari were both granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. Munemuro was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower; Munenari was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and became Jijū, Chamberlain. His second son was the monk Kanchū. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.)

Minamoto-no-Masanobu

¶Imperial Prince Atsuzane was made an Imperial Prince in the seventh year of Kanpyō (895). (Note: following the Ōkagami Uragaki.) In the seventh year of Engi (907), at the Uda-in, he came of age, made his formal visit of thanks, and was granted Third Rank. Soon afterwards he became Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki), was moved to Shikibu-kyō, Minister of Ceremonial (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and advanced to First Rank. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) In the second year of Tengyō (939) he was permitted to enter and leave the palace in a hand-drawn carriage, the rensha (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the entry for the second year of Tengyō in the Saikyūki Uragaki), and was also permitted to attend the palace on the days of the various seasonal banquets, the sechie, at his own convenience, without taking his place in the ranks. (Note: following the entry for the second year of Tengyō in the Saikyūki Uragaki.) In the fourth year of Tenryaku (950) he became a monk (Note: the Shōunroku gives the second year), changed his name to Kakushin (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and, since he lived at Ninna-ji (Note: following the Ōkagami), was called the Ninna-ji Prince (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku) and also the Rokujō Prince. (Note: following the Ōkagami. The Shōunroku writes Rokujō as Hachijō.) He died in the third month of the fourth year of Kōhō (967) at the age of seventy-five. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ōkagami Uragaki. The Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku give the second month of the third year as the date of his death, but which is correct is not known.) The funeral gifts numbered in the hundreds of tan of cloth. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) Atsuzane was fond of hawking and horses (Note: following the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku), excelled at waka (Note: following the Sakusha Burui) and at kemari, football (Note: following the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and was versed in all kinds of music, being especially skilled at the wagon, the Japanese zither. (Note: following the Taigenshō and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) His sons Masanobu, Shigenobu, and Kanshin were all granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. His other sons became monks. Kanshin was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower and became Sakyō-no-daibu, Master of the Left Capital Office. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The Ōkagami Uragaki writes Ukyō-no-daibu, Master of the Right Capital Office.)

Minamoto-no-Shigenobu

¶Minamoto-no-Masanobu was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower between the Jōhei and Anna eras, became Jijū, Chamberlain, and after serving as Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, was appointed Sangi, Consultant, and concurrently served as Saemon-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards. During the Tenroku era he was appointed Dainagon, Major Counsellor, and concurrently served as Michinoku-Dewa Azechi, Inspector of Mutsu and Dewa, and rose to Senior Third Rank. In the second year of Jōgen (977) he was advanced to Junior First Rank, was appointed Udaijin, Minister of the Right, and concurrently served as Tōgū-no-fu, Tutor to the Crown Prince. After that he was transferred to Sadaijin, Minister of the Left. At the beginning of the Eien era he was granted Junior First Rank and permitted the use of the hand-drawn carriage and the ox-carriage. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) In the fourth year of Shōryaku (993), his illness having grown grave, he resigned his offices and shaved his head. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Gonki.) His Buddhist name was Kakujitsu. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He died at the age of seventy-four. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku, the Kugyō Bunin, and the Gonki.) By imperial edict he was posthumously granted Senior First Rank, and he was called the Ichijō Sadaijin and also Takakasa. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku, the Kugyō Bunin, and the Shigō Zakki.) Masanobu was of lofty character and paid no heed to worldly matters, yet applied himself faithfully to public duties. (Note: following the Ōkagami.) He held high posts in the council of state under three reigns, and, being moreover the father-in-law of the Regent Fujiwara-no-Michinaga, his standing and repute were very great. At his death, court and country alike mourned him. (Note: following the Gonki. That he was Michinaga's father-in-law follows the Ōkagami.) In his youth the physiognomist Taira-no-Tokimochi examined his features and said, "He will reach the highest rank, First Rank, and in office will rise to Sadaijin," and afterwards it came to pass exactly as he had said. (Note: following the Kojidan and the Gōdanshō.) He excelled at waka and kemari, was also skilled in music, and was especially good at changing the use of his voice to create new melodies. (Note: following the Ōkagami.) His son Tokinaka was likewise versed in music and excelled at dance and kemari (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku); by successive promotions he reached Dainagon, Major Counsellor, and Junior Second Rank. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.)

Imperial Prince Yukinaka

¶Minamoto-no-Shigenobu was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower between the Jōhei and Tenryaku eras, became Jijū, Chamberlain, and served in turn as Saehyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Left Military Guards, and Shurifu-no-daibu, Master of the Office of Repairs. In the fourth year of Tentoku (960) he was appointed Sangi, Consultant, and at the beginning of the Ōwa era he concurrently served as Governor of Bitchū. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) Shigenobu was gentle, mild, and scrupulous by nature, and was especially favored by Emperor Murakami. At that time his father Atsuzane lived at Ninna-ji, and every time Shigenobu went to pay his respects to his father, he would always take a different road going and coming, and would go about looking at the palace buildings, and wherever there was damage he had it repaired on the spot. Such was the care he took. (Note: following the Ōkagami.) In the third year of Ōwa (963) he was granted Junior Third Rank. Between the Ten'en and Tengen eras he rose by successive promotions to Dainagon, Major Counsellor, concurrently served as Kōtaigōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Household of the Empress Dowager, was permitted by imperial command to wear a sword at court, and advanced to Senior Second Rank. At the beginning of the Eikan era he concurrently served as Michinoku-Dewa Azechi, Inspector of Mutsu and Dewa. During the Shōryaku era he was appointed Udaijin, Minister of the Right, was moved to Sadaijin, Minister of the Left, and concurrently served as Tōgū-no-fu, Tutor to the Crown Prince. He died in the first year of Chōtoku (995) at the age of seventy-four. An imperial envoy was sent to his residence, and he was posthumously granted Senior First Rank. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) He was called the Rokujō Sadaijin. (Note: following the Shigō Zakki and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) His son Michikata ended his career with Senior Second Rank and the post of Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Kugyō Bunin.)

Imperial Prince Tokikuni

¶Imperial Prince Yukinaka died at Ninna-ji in the first month of the ninth year of Engi (909) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki. That it was at Ninna-ji follows the Fusō Ryakki) at the age of thirteen. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.)

Imperial Prince Masaakira

¶Imperial Prince Tokikuni was a son born after the Retired Emperor Uda had taken the tonsure, and became an adopted son of Emperor Daigo. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kōin Shōunroku.) In the twenty-first year of Engi (921) he was made an Imperial Prince. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ōkagami Uragaki.) During the Enchō era, when Emperor Daigo made a progress to the Ōi River in the train of the Retired Emperor (Uda), he had Masaakira dance the Manzairaku. Though he was then only seven years old, his bearing was beautiful and his steps were in fine accord with the beat. The emperor was greatly impressed and praised him, took off the hanpi, the short-sleeved vest, that he was wearing and gave it to him, and by imperial command permitted him to wear a sword at court. (Note: following the Saikyūki and the Ōkagami Uragaki.) He died on the tenth day of the seventh year of Enchō (929) at the age of ten. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ōkagami Uragaki.)

Imperial Prince Yukiakira

¶Imperial Prince Masaakira was a son born after the emperor (Uda) had taken the tonsure, and became an adopted son of Emperor Daigo. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.) In the fifth year of Enchō (927) he was made an Imperial Prince (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki) and granted Fourth Rank. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He was appointed Kazusa-no-Taishu, Prince-Governor of Kazusa. He died in the fifth month of the second year of Tenryaku (948) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki) at the age of twenty-three. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki.) His son Shigehiro was granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason and Junior Fourth Rank Lower. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

[Emperor Daigo] Sixteen Sons

¶Emperor Daigo had eighteen sons. His Empress, of the Fujiwara clan, bore the second son Crown Prince Bunken, Yasuakira, Emperor Suzaku, and Emperor Murakami. A Nyōgo, Consort, of the Minamoto clan bore the fifth son Imperial Prince Tsuneakira, the sixth son Imperial Prince Noriakira, and the seventh son Imperial Prince Ariakira. A Kōi, Lady of the Bedchamber, of the Minamoto clan bore the first son Imperial Prince Katsuakira. A woman of the Fujiwara clan bore the third son Imperial Prince Yoakira. A woman of the Minamoto clan bore the fourth son Imperial Prince Shigeakira. Another Minamoto woman bore the eighth son Imperial Prince Tokiakira, the fifteenth son Imperial Prince Moriakira, and Minamoto-no-Takaakira. A Fujiwara woman bore Imperial Prince Nagaakira, Imperial Prince Kaneakira, and Minamoto-no-Yoriakira. Another Fujiwara woman bore the thirteenth son Imperial Prince Akiakira. Yet another Fujiwara woman bore Minamoto-no-Tameakira. (Note: all of the above follows the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The numbering by "which son" follows the Nihon Kiryaku.) A palace woman of the Minamoto clan bore Minamoto-no-Chikaakira. (Note: following the Kōin Keizu. According to the Nihon Kiryaku, the Kōin Shōunroku, the Sonpi Bunmyaku, and other books, the tenth son was Masaakira and the twelfth son was Yukiakira, but both were born after Emperor Uda had taken the tonsure and were adopted by Emperor Daigo. Here, following the actual circumstances, they have been placed in the biographies of Emperor Uda's sons, and so are not listed again here. As for the order of birth of the other princes, the original designations of the time are followed. Moreover, according to the Shōunroku, one of the emperor's sons was a white-haired child who styled himself the "Hermit Gentleman of Saga," but the deeds of the Hermit Gentleman of Saga have already been noted in the biographies of the sons of Emperor Saga, and so are not taken up here.)

Minamoto-no-Hiromasa

¶Imperial Prince Katsuakira, originally named Masayori, was made an Imperial Prince in the fourth year of Engi (904) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki), was granted Third Rank, and was appointed Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku. The Ichidai Yōki says Shikibu-kyō, Minister of Ceremonial, which is a mistake.) He died in the ninth month of the fifth year (905). (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) His sons Hiromasa, Masamasa, Kiyomasa, and Sukemasa were all granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku makes Kiyomasa the elder brother of Masamasa, but which is correct is not known.) Masamasa was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and became Tosa Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Tosa; Kiyomasa was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and became Jijū, Chamberlain; Sukemasa was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower and became Ukyō-no-daibu, Master of the Right Capital Office. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.)

Crown Prince Bunken (Yasuakira)

¶Minamoto-no-Hiromasa loved music (Note: following the Shōyūki and the Kokon Chomonjū) and brought to perfection his skill on the koto, the flute, the biwa, and the hichiriki. (Note: following the Taigenshō. For the biwa, the Gōdanshō and the Konjaku Monogatari are followed.) He wrote the Chōchikufu. (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku and the Taigenshō.) Once, on a moonlit night, as he was playing the flute at the Suzaku Gate, another person came at that moment to play the flute as well, and the sound was clear and beautiful, but who he was no one knew. From then on, on moonlit nights, the two always met. After some time Hiromasa realized that the other's flute was of fine material, and they exchanged flutes and played each other's; after that the stranger never came back, and Hiromasa too said nothing about it. After Hiromasa's death that flute entered the imperial treasury within the palace, and it is the one called "Hafutatsu." (Note: following the Jikkinshō and the Taigenshō.) Once a band of thieves broke into Hiromasa's house, and Hiromasa hid himself beneath his bed. The thieves carried off everything in the room but left behind a single hichiriki. Hiromasa took it up and played it, and the thieves, hearing it, repented, returned everything they had taken, and left. (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū and the Taigenshō.) His career ended as Kōtaigōgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Household of the Empress Dowager (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The Nihon Kiryaku and the Kōin Shōunroku say Taikōtaigōgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Household of the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Sonpi Bunmyaku says he served first as Ukon'e-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards), and he was granted Junior Third Rank. He died in the ninth month of the third year of Tengen (980) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin) at the age of sixty-three. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) In Hiromasa's time there was a man named Semimaru, who was a zōshiki, a menial attendant, of Imperial Prince Atsuyoshi. The Prince was a master of the biwa, and Semimaru loved it and always served at his side, until at last he brought his own skill to perfection. (Note: following the Konjaku Monogatari.) Later he withdrew to Ōsaka and lived in seclusion. Among the secret pieces of the biwa there were two, Ryūsen and Takuboku, which few people in the world knew. Hiromasa heard that Semimaru had inherited them and wished to learn them from him. He sent a messenger urging Semimaru to move to the capital, but Semimaru gave no answer. Hiromasa visited his hut every night to listen for him, and in this way three years passed without his ever hearing the pieces. Then, on an autumn night when the moon was bright, Hiromasa thought, "Tonight he will surely play the secret pieces," and went once more. And Semimaru, plucking the strings of his biwa, spoke to himself: "So there is someone in the world after all who shares my heart. I would like to enjoy this fine night with him." Hiromasa stepped forward and said, "I am Minamoto-no-Hiromasa." He then told of his single-minded longing, and Semimaru at last imparted the two pieces to Hiromasa. Such was the depth of his devotion. (Note: following the Gōdanshō and the Konjaku Monogatari.)

¶His sons were Nobusada, Nobuakira, Nobuyoshi, and Shikō. Nobusada became Junior Fifth Rank Upper and Saehyōe-no-suke, Assistant Commander of the Left Military Guards; Nobuakira became Junior Fifth Rank Upper and Ōkura-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of the Treasury; Nobuyoshi became Utanokami, Head of the Bureau of Music; and Shikō became a Kurōdo, Chamberlain, and Hōki-no-kami, Governor of Hōki. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Nobuakira and Nobuyoshi were both excellent on the biwa, and Nobuyoshi surpassed the other. Emperor Ichijō, wishing to have the two play, had the famous instruments Genjō and Bokuba brought out. When Nobuyoshi played Bokuba it sounded better than Genjō, but when the instruments were exchanged and he played again, Genjō sounded better than Bokuba. The people of the time remarked, "The instruments are not better or worse; it depends on the skill of the player." (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū.) Nobuyoshi was also excellent on the flute, and an Imperial Prince who was Minbu-kyō, Minister of Popular Affairs, hearing him play in the sōjō mode, (Note: examining the Kōin Shōunroku, no Imperial Prince is found who held the post of Minbu-kyō at that time, and who is meant is not clear) was deeply moved and called him "Lord Sōjō." The people of the world repeated this, and likewise called him "Lord Sōjō." (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū.)

Prince Yoshiyori

¶Crown Prince Bunken, Yasuakira, was originally named Takakata and became an Imperial Prince. In the second month of the fourth year of Engi (904) he was installed as Crown Prince. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) In the eleventh year (911) his name was changed to Yasuakira. In the third month of the first year of Enchō (923) he fell ill. By edict a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm in an attempt to avert the illness. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) But he died that very day (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Fusō Ryakki. The Ichidai Yōki and the Rekidai Kōki give the twenty-second year of Engi, which is mistaken) at the age of twenty-one. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku, the Fusō Ryakki, and the Ōkagami Uragaki.) At the funeral an imperial envoy was sent into the palace to offer condolences and sacrifice, and the posthumous name was set as Bunken-hiko-no-mikoto. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku. The word "mikoto" has been supplied from the document on the order of the investiture of the Crown Prince. The Kōin Shōunroku, the Sonpi Bunmyaku, and the Ōkagami Uragaki all give the posthumous name as Bunhiko, but the Kiryaku writes Bunken-hiko, and the order of investiture writes Bunken-hiko-no-mikoto; if so, "Bunken" is the posthumous name. "Hiko" and "mikoto" are honorific epithets of the time, added to the posthumous name. That the Kiryaku lacks the word "mikoto" is probably an abbreviation. That the various books take Bunhiko as the posthumous title is mistaken. Here the Daigo-tei Zōjiki is followed in heading this biography "Crown Prince Bunken," while the body of the biography records the full title Bunken-hiko-no-mikoto in order to show the facts.) The emperor once summoned a physiognomist and had him examine the features of Yasuakira and of the high ministers, and the man, pointing to Yasuakira, said, "The person in the foremost seat has a bone structure that surpasses the world's, and he will probably not live long." His words are said to have come true. (Note: following the Kojidan, the Genji Monogatari, and the Kakai-shō.) His son was Prince Yoshiyori. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kōin Shōunroku.)

Imperial Prince Yoakira

¶Prince Yoshiyori was installed as Crown Prince in the fourth month of the first year of Enchō (923). (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki, order of investiture of the Crown Prince.) In the sixth month of the third year (925) he died at the Shikinozōshi at the age of five. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Fusō Ryakki.) The emperor ordered Tachibana-no-Kimimune, Monjō-hakase, Doctor of Letters, Yamabe-no-Nagamichi, Daigaku-hakase, Doctor of the University (Note: the clan name follows the Nichūreki), and Hata-no-Koreoki, Jokyō, Assistant Lecturer, and others to discuss the length of mourning to be observed by the officials of the Crown Prince's household. Opinion in the assembly did not agree. He then summoned Kimimune and asked about precedents for the posthumous name of a crown prince who died young; Kimimune reported the old case in which the Jin dynasty gave the posthumous title "Chong Taisun" to Shang, the son of Crown Prince Minhuai, but this too was not adopted. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki.) Now Yasuakira had taken as his consort a daughter of Fujiwara-no-Tokihira, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left, and had by her Prince Yoshiyori and Princess Hiroko. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) But since father and son alike did not live long, the people of the time said it was the curse of the spirit of Sugawara-no-Michizane. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kitano Engi.) Princess Hiroko became a Nyōgo, Consort, of Emperor Suzaku. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Nihon Kiryaku.)

Minamoto-no-Nobumitsu

¶Imperial Prince Yoakira, originally named Masami (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki), was granted Fourth Rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin, the Nihon Kiryaku, and the Teiō Hennenki. The Shōunroku gives Third Rank, which is mistaken), became Hitachi-no-Taishu, Prince-Governor of Hitachi (Note: following the Kachō Yojō), and was appointed Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs. He died in the third month of the seventh year of Jōhei (937). (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) His sons Shigemitsu, Yasumitsu, and Nobumitsu were all granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Shigemitsu served in turn as Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, Saemon-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards, and Kebiishi-no-betto, Chief of the Police Commission, and rose to Senior Third Rank and Gon-dainagon, Provisional Major Counsellor. Yasumitsu, in the Tenryaku era, was examined in poetry by imperial edict and granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper; soon afterwards he passed and was appointed Monjōshō, Student of Letters, and ended his career with Junior Second Rank and the post of Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor; he was called the Momozono Chūnagon. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) His daughter, Princess Shōshi, became a Nyōgo, Consort, of Emperor Murakami. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Ichidai Yōki.)

Imperial Prince Shigeakira

¶Minamoto-no-Nobumitsu was permitted to ascend to the palace hall during the Tengyō era, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower, afterwards became Jijū, Chamberlain, was appointed Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, became Ukon'e-gon-no-chūjō, Provisional Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards, and concurrently served as Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor, of Bitchū and Iyo. In the third year of Kōhō (966) he was appointed Sangi, Consultant. Between the Tenroku and Ten'en eras he was granted Junior Third Rank, was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, and advanced to Gon-dainagon, Provisional Major Counsellor. He died in the first year of Jōgen (976) at the age of fifty and was known in the world as the "Biwa Dainagon." (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) When Nobumitsu was Kurōdo-no-tō he had received exceptional favor from Emperor Murakami. When the emperor died, Nobumitsu's grief and longing knew no end, and he is said to have ended his life still wearing mourning dress. It is even said that in a dream the emperor appeared to him and gave him a poem of his own composition. (Note: following the Jikkinshō.)

Imperial Prince Tsuneakira

¶Imperial Prince Shigeakira was originally named Masayasu. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) In the eighth year of Engi (908) he was made an Imperial Prince (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki) and soon afterwards was granted Fourth Rank. (Note: following the Chōya Gunsai.) In the sixth year of Enchō (928) he was appointed Kōzuke-no-Taishu, Prince-Governor of Kōzuke. In the eighth year (930) he became Danjō-in, Director of the Board of Censors. (Note: following the Ribu-ōki as cited in the Saikyūki.) During the Jōhei era he concurrently served as Dazai-no-sochi, Governor-General of Dazaifu. (Note: following the Chōya Gunsai.) In the seventh year (937) he was appointed Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs. (Note: following the Ribu-ōki.) In the sixth year of Tengyō (943) he advanced to Third Rank. (Note: following the Saikyūki, the Hokuzanshō, the Nihon Kiryaku, the Fusō Ryakki, and the Ichidai Yōki. That it was the sixth year of Tengyō follows the Saikyūki and the Hokuzanshō. The Shōunroku gives Second Rank, which is probably mistaken.) During the Tenryaku era he was moved to Shikibu-kyō, Minister of Ceremonial. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Ichidai Yōki.) In the fifth year (951) he was permitted to wear a sword at court. (Note: following the Ribu-ōki as cited in the Saikyūki.) He died in the ninth month of the eighth year (954) at the age of forty-nine. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the Ichidai Yōki.) Shigeakira loved learning and had a reputation for talent, and he also had excellent conduct. When Emperor Murakami died, his grief and longing knew no end. At that time all the officials laid aside mourning after the prescribed period, but Shigeakira alone went beyond the court's rule, using no figured silk, thin silk, or vermilion lacquer in clothing, food, or utensils, and kept mourning in his heart for three years. (Note: following the Shigeakira-ki as cited in the Kachō Yojō.) Yet he was also somewhat extravagant by nature. Once, when an envoy from a foreign land came to the court, Shigeakira went to see him, wearing eight sable fur robes one over another and riding in a carriage decorated with duck feathers. The foreign envoy had only a single fur robe, and was greatly ashamed. (Note: following the Gōke Shidai.) At the Higashi-Sanjō mansion where Shigeakira lived, he had transplanted cherry trees from Yoshino. (Note: following the Kojidan.) In the Tentoku era, when there was a fire in the inner palace and the cherry tree in the southern court was burned, it is said that by imperial command this tree was sent up as a replacement. (Note: following the Kinpishō.) In the Tenryaku era, at a banquet in the inner palace at which chrysanthemums were admired, a cup was bestowed on Shigeakira. It is said that the Son of Heaven's bestowing a wine cup with his own hand upon an Imperial Prince began from this. (Note: following the Kachō Yojō.) His written work is the Ribu-ōki. (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku.)

¶His sons Kunimasa, Yukimasa, and Nobumasa were all granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. Kunimasa became Jijū, Chamberlain (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and Sakyō-no-daibu, Master of the Left Capital Office. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.) In person he was tall, long-necked, high-nosed, and red-bearded, with exposed gums and a hoarse voice; his back and rump shook and jutted, his complexion was ugly as a dayflower blossom, and his bearing was coarse, so that people made him a laughingstock and called him "Lord Seikyō," or "Aotsunemaru," or "Ao-jijū," the Blue Chamberlain. The emperor heard of this and pitied him, and warned his attendants never to say it again. The people made an agreement that "whoever breaks the ban shall pay a penalty of wine, delicacies, and rare fruits." Afterwards, however, Fujiwara-no-Kanemichi was the first to break the ban, and the others demanded the forfeit. On the appointed day, Kanemichi and all his retinue came dressed in blue robes, with all their vessels and utensils of blue, and bearing a blue bird tied to a bamboo branch, which they carried in offering. Seeing this, everyone nearly fell over laughing. The emperor also watched in secret and laughed heartily, and from then on he no longer reproved the story, so that the name "Seikyō" spread all the more. (Note: following the Uji Shūi and the Konjaku Monogatari. "Ao-jijū" follows the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Yukimasa became Junior Fourth Rank Lower and Uma-no-kami, Director of the Left Bureau of Horses; Nobumasa became Junior Fourth Rank Lower and Minbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He had daughters, Princess Kishi and Princess Ryoshi. Kishi became a Nyōgo, Consort, of Emperor Murakami. Ryoshi, originally named Etsushi, became Saigū, High Priestess of Ise, during the Tenryaku era. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki and the Kijo Shō.)

Imperial Prince Noriakira

¶Imperial Prince Tsuneakira was originally named Masaakira. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) In the eighth year of Engi (908) he was made an Imperial Prince (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki) and was granted Fourth Rank. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki. The Shōunroku says that he was "granted Junior Third Rank and appointed Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice," which is mistaken.) He died in the eleventh month of the seventh year of Tengyō (944) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku) at the age of thirty-nine. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki.) His son Shigechika was granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper, and became Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.)

Imperial Prince Ariakira

¶Imperial Prince Noriakira was made an Imperial Prince in the eleventh year of Engi (911) and rose to Third Rank and Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs. He died in the twelfth month of the third year of Kōhō (966) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki) at the age of sixty. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki's statement that it was "five years after he became an Imperial Prince.") By edict, bolts of silk cloth were bestowed as condolence. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) His son Chikayori was granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason and rose to Junior Fourth Rank Upper. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.)

Imperial Prince Tokiakira

¶Imperial Prince Ariakira was made an Imperial Prince in the eleventh year of Engi (911). (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) In the third year of Tentoku (959) he was permitted to wear a sword at court. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He rose to Third Rank and Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki, the Nihon Kiryaku, and the Kōin Shōunroku. The printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku gives First Rank, which is probably mistaken.) He died in the intercalary third month of the first year of Ōwa (961) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki) at the age of fifty-two. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki.) His sons Tadakiyo, Masakiyo, Yasukiyo, and Morikiyo were all granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Tadakiyo served in turn as Sakon'e-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, and Sangi, Consultant, concurrently served as Kōtaigōgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Household of the Empress Dowager, Iyo-no-kami, Governor of Iyo, and Yamato-no-kami, Governor of Yamato, and rose to Senior Third Rank. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) Masakiyo became Senior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: the Shokuji Bunin gives Junior Fourth Rank Upper), Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, and Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Shokuji Bunin.) He was gifted at waka. (Note: following the Shin Kokin Wakashū.) Yasukiyo served in turn as Junior Third Rank and Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and became Sakyō-no-daibu, Master of the Left Capital Office. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Morikiyo became Junior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: the Shōunroku gives Junior Fourth Rank Lower) and Danjō-no-daihitsu, Senior Assistant Director of the Board of Censors. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) A second son became a monk. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.)

Imperial Prince Nagaakira

¶Imperial Prince Tokiakira was made an Imperial Prince in the fourteenth year of Engi (914). (Note: the Shōunroku and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku both record "Third Rank and Hyōbu-kyō," which is mistaken.) He died in the ninth month of the fifth year of Enchō (927) (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki) at the age of sixteen. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki's statement that it was "three years after he became an Imperial Prince." The Nihon Kiryaku says eighteen.)

Imperial Prince Akiakira

¶Imperial Prince Nagaakira was made an Imperial Prince in the fourteenth year of Engi (914) and was granted Fourth Rank. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) He died in the intercalary month of the seventh year of Tenryaku (953) at the age of forty-two. (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki's statement that it was "thirty-one years after he became an Imperial Prince." The "thirty-one" in the document is a mistake.)

Imperial Prince Moriakira

¶Imperial Prince Akiakira was made an Imperial Prince in the eighth year of Enchō (930). In the third year of Tentoku (959) he was permitted to wear a sword at court (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku), became Danjō-in, Director of the Board of Censors, and rose to Second Rank. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki. The Kōin Shōunroku, the Sonpi Bunmyaku, and the Teiō Hennenki all give Third Rank.) He died in the ninth month of the first year of Shōryaku (990) at the age of sixty-seven. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) His sons Chikamitsu and Takamitsu (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku) were both granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason and Junior Fourth Rank Lower. A second son became a monk. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) He had daughters, Princess Seishi and Princess Ryūshi. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Seishi was designated Saigū, High Priestess of Ise, during the Eikan era, but was dismissed before she went to Ise. Ryūshi became Saigū of Ise in the second year of Anna (969). (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku. The Shōunroku says that she was called the "Komatsu Nyoin," which is probably mistaken.)

Imperial Prince Kaneakira

¶Imperial Prince Moriakira was at first granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason and appointed Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury. In the fourth year of Kōhō (967) he was made an Imperial Prince and was granted Fourth Rank. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) He served in turn as Taishu, Prince-Governor, of Kazusa and of Kōzuke. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) In the second year of Kanna (986) he became a monk. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He died in the fifth month (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki, the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku, and the Ichidai Yōki) at the age of fifty-nine. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) His sons were Prince Koretada and Noritada. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Koretada was of Junior Third Rank. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Kōin Shōunroku.) Noritada was originally named Noritada and was granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason; he served in turn as Kōgōgū-no-suke, Assistant Master of the Household of the Empress, Sakyō-no-daibu, Master of the Left Capital Office, and Echizen-no-kami, Governor of Echizen, and rose to Junior Third Rank. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku. Sakyō-no-daibu follows the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The Shōunroku and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku treat Noritada and Noritada as two different men, which is mistaken.)

Minamoto-no-Takaakira

¶Imperial Prince Kaneakira was at first granted the surname Minamoto-no-Ason and became "the Second Minamoto." In the second year of Jōhei (932) he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper. In the third year (933) he was appointed Harima Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Harima. During the Tengyō era he became Kii Gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Kii, and Sakon'e-gon-no-chūjō, Provisional Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, was appointed Sangi, Consultant, and concurrently served as Jibu-kyō, Minister of Civil Affairs. Between the Tenryaku and Kōhō eras he rose by successive promotions to Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, advanced to Senior Third Rank, and concurrently served as Saehyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Left Military Guards. On the enthronement of Emperor Reizei he was granted Junior Second Rank and became Dainagon, Major Counsellor. In the second year of Anna (969) he concurrently served as Jijū, Chamberlain, but because he was implicated in the affair of his elder brother Takaakira, his right of attendance in the palace hall was suspended. In the first year of Tenroku (970) he concurrently served as Tōgū-no-fu, Tutor to the Crown Prince. In the second year (971) he was appointed Sadaijin, Minister of the Left, retaining his post as Tutor to the Crown Prince. By imperial command he was permitted to wear a sword at court and concurrently served as Kurōdo-dokoro-no-betto, Superintendent of the Chamberlains' Office. In the second year of Ten'en (974) he was permitted the use of the hand-drawn carriage. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) He was known in the world as the Miko-no-Hidari-no-Otodo, the Prince-Minister of the Left. (Note: following the Teiō Hennenki and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) During the Jōgen era, the Regent Fujiwara-no-Kanemichi monopolized power and wished to remove his cousin, the Udaijin Yoritada, and install him as Sadaijin in Kaneakira's place, and so falsely reported to the throne that Kaneakira was ill. (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari.) By imperial edict Kaneakira was dismissed from the post of Sadaijin, installed in the rank of Imperial Prince, granted Second Rank, and appointed Nakatsukasa-kyō, Minister of Central Affairs. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin.) Kaneakira inwardly resented this. (Note: following the Honchō Monzui.) Later he advanced to First Rank. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Honchō Monzui.) In the second year of Kanna (986) he tried to resign the post of Nakatsukasa-kyō but was not permitted. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Honchō Monzui. That it was not permitted follows the Nihon Kiryaku.) He died in the ninth month of the first year of Eien (987) (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin, the Nihon Kiryaku, and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku) at the age of seventy-four. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) Kaneakira was by nature of great breadth of mind, learned and gifted, especially excellent in prose composition (Note: following the Honchō Monzui), and also skilled in calligraphy. (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari and the Gōdanshō.) His reputation was the foremost of his time. He once built a mountain villa at Ogura in Saga and named it Okura-dono. (Note: following the Kachō Yojō.) He meant to retire there, but this too was obstructed by Kanemichi, and he could not fulfill his wish; so he composed the "Fu on Tokyū" and set out his thoughts in it. Its text runs as follows. "I had thought, at the foot of Mount Kame, to seek for the time being a quiet dwelling, to resign my office and rest my body, and to end my days there. But just as the thatched hall was nearly finished, I was unjustly brought down by one who held power. The sovereign is dim and his ministers flatter; I have nowhere to appeal. This too must be Heaven's decree. Vulgar men of later ages will surely reproach me, saying that I 'did not fulfill my long-held aim.' Yet Duke Yin of Lu intended to retire to the land of Tokyū (Tutu) and spend his last years there, and was killed by Prince Hui; still the righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Annals praised his intent and counted him a worthy lord. If among the gentlemen of later times there is any who understands my heart, I shall not hide it from them. Therefore, following Jia Yi's 'Fu on the Owl,' I make the 'Fu on Tokyū' to console myself." The verse that follows may be summarized thus. In the year Sekifunjaku, in the month of Seiwa, he climbed the western mountain and gathered bracken; chanting the Fu on the Owl, he was fearful by evening, and, looking back on Tokyū, he set out by morning. The calamity of Duke Yin was truly because Heaven had abandoned Lu; by what turn of the times had his own ill fortune come about? Heaven says nothing: the seasons turn and the myriad things are formed. He asked Heaven and received no answer, and so let his own feelings be the answer. Heaven is high and earth is wide, without beginning above and without end below; all things arise, vanish, and cease, wind and rain nurture them, heat and cold alternate, and amid such endless change what constant law could there be? Calamity and fortune lean upon each other, sorrow and joy have no fixed place, flourishing and withering share a single branch, and song and lament travel one road. Only the highest sage can neither grieve nor rejoice. Boyi won benevolence yet starved; Robber Zhi did every evil yet lived out his years; Jizi was made a prisoner and Bigan was killed, so that the belief that Heaven favors the good may be no truth at all. Thus Liuxia Hui, dismissed three times, felt no regret, and Zhuangzi departed with nowhere to return. How much more in an age like this, when Zhao Gao points at a deer and calls it a horse and Liang Ji does as he pleases: it is like a tiger in a cap, who cannot be spoken of by ordinary reason, or an owl reflected in a mirror, who cannot serve as a standard for human relations. Swords and halberds dislike softness and do not mind being so hard that they break; beams and ridgepoles are valued for being straight, not for sagging and leaning. The way of the ancient sages was neither to be stained by filth nor to drink the muddy brew; even if he went against the fisherman's advice, what would it matter, for he would rather follow the words of Yan Hui. The world has times of order and times of disorder, the age has times of flourishing and times of blockage, fate has times of passage and times of obstruction, and the traces of one's deeds are sometimes shown and sometimes hidden. The fusang tree is not without a shadow, but a drifting cloud darkens it at once; clustered orchids are not without fragrance, but the autumn wind withers them first. When Confucius looked back once, he lamented that Mount Kame hid Lu; when Qu Yuan looked back again and again, he grieved for Chu along the Yuan and Xiang rivers. He wished to seek the clear teachings of the earlier sages and match them with the deep principles of ancient times. Though the manner of Tang had changed, it still kept traces of the old, and though the virtue of Han had declined, why should one flatter what is new? What he resented most was that the wind of true kingship no longer flourished and the right way was already buried. Hearing the croak of lewd frogs, he sighed long, grieving that what is bent does not straighten. Men speak of waiting for the Yellow River to run clear, yet the floating clouds have passed through how many springs. A person's life in the world is nearly like dew upon a flower or a cloud drifting in the sky; going or staying is not fixed, nor is arising or perishing, and things gather and scatter, deep and entangled, beyond all telling. To keep silent and not speak is the illness of the elder Jōmyō (Vimalakīrti), and "those who know do not speak" is nothing other than the teaching of Gengen-shi (Laozi). The old man who lost his horse entrusted fortune and misfortune to the autumn grass, and Zhuangzi, who dreamed of the butterfly, left right and wrong to the spring thicket. In the dim principle there is neither agreeing nor contradicting, and in true suchness there is neither being nor emptiness. Alas, King Wen of Zhou is long gone; whom shall I follow? Nothing more can be done; this too is the decline of Heaven's decree. Now I shall hide among the rocks like a tortoise and return to Tokyū. (Note: following the Honchō Monzui.) At Kaneakira's death, the emperor asked his son Koretada, "What did your late father do at home?" Koretada answered, "He did nothing but cherish the Tokyū." The emperor wished to have the Tokyū fur robe presented to him, but when it was brought out and examined, it turned out to be the "Fu on Tokyū" that Kaneakira had once written. The preface of that fu contained such words as "the sovereign is dim and his ministers flatter." People of the time slandered Koretada, saying, "He is the son of a man of talent, yet he has not carried on his father's aims." (Note: following the Kojidan, the Jikkinshō, and the Kachō Yojō. The Kojidan and the Jikkinshō say that it was Emperor Murakami who asked, which is mistaken.) In the world he was called the "Ogura Prince" and also "Sakino Chūshoō," the Former Prince of the Central Secretariat. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Teiō Hennenki.) His sons were Koretada and Koreyuki. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Kōin Shōunroku.) Koretada rose by successive promotions to Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, concurrently served as Taikōtaigōgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Household of the Grand Empress Dowager, and Uemon-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards, and rose to Senior Third Rank. (Note: following the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Kugyō Bunin.) Koreyuki became Junior Fourth Rank Upper. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.)

Minamoto-no-Yoriakira

¶Minamoto-no-Takaakira was granted the surname Minamoto in the twentieth year of Engi (920) (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki) and became "the First Minamoto." In the eighth year of Enchō (930) he was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper. Between the Jōhei and Tengyō eras he became Ōkura-kyō, Minister of the Treasury, was appointed Sangi, Consultant, concurrently served as Uemon-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards, and Bizen-no-kami, Governor of Bizen, and advanced to Junior Third Rank. In the second year of Tenryaku (948) he was appointed Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, and concurrently served as Saemon-no-kami, Commander of the Left Gate Guards, and Kebiishi-no-betto, Chief of the Police Commission. In the seventh year (953) he advanced to Dainagon, Major Counsellor. In the ninth year (955) he advanced to Senior Third Rank. In the tenth year (956) he was permitted by imperial command to wear a sword at court. In the second year of Tentoku (958) he concurrently served as Michinoku-Dewa Azechi, Inspector of Mutsu and Dewa. In the first year of Ōwa (961) he was granted Junior Second Rank. In the second year of Kōhō (965) he concurrently served as Sakon'e-no-taishō, Commander of the Left Palace Guards. In the third year (966) he was appointed Udaijin, Minister of the Right. The following year, when Emperor Reizei ascended the throne, he advanced to Senior Second Rank, was moved to Sadaijin, Minister of the Left, was permitted the use of the hand-drawn carriage, and retained his post as Commander. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) Before this, Takaakira had taken as his wife a daughter of Fujiwara-no-Morosuke, Minister of the Right. (Note: following the Gukanshō and the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Her elder sister Anshi was a Nyōgo, Consort, of Emperor Murakami, but the emperor raised her to Chūgū, Empress, and had Takaakira concurrently serve as Chūgū-no-daibu, Master of the Empress's Household. Soon the Empress bore a prince, who became Imperial Prince Tamehira and was greatly favored by the emperor, who intended to establish him as the successor of Emperor Reizei. Takaakira offered his own daughter as consort to Imperial Prince Tamehira. But before long Morosuke died, and the Empress too passed away, and the emperor at last raised Emperor Enyū to be Emperor Reizei's Crown Prince and younger brother. Takaakira was greatly disappointed, and it showed in his words and his countenance. In the spring of the second year of Anna, the emperor (Reizei) had for several years been suffering from an illness of madness that had still not been cured, and everyone said, "He ought to abdicate." (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari.) At that time Minamoto-no-Mitsunaka, Uma-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Horses, Tachibana-no-Shigenobu, Nakatsukasa-no-shōyū, Junior Assistant Minister of Central Affairs, and Fujiwara-no-Chiharu, former Sagami-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Sagami, secretly plotted to raise an army in the Kantō in support of Imperial Prince Tamehira. But Mitsunaka and Shigenobu fell out with each other, and Mitsunaka, together with Fujiwara-no-Yoshitoki, Musashi-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Musashi, and others, instead informed against the plot (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki. Fujiwara-no-Yoshitoki follows the Nihon Kiryaku), and Takaakira was implicated in the matter. (Note: following the Gukanshō and the Eiga Monogatari. The Genpei Jōsuiki says "Takaakira knew nothing of the plot and was falsely accused by Mitsunaka and the others," but this book does not record that, and merely adds it here.) At that time Fujiwara-no-Morotada, Minister of the Right, was secretly seizing the opportunity of this affair to remove Takaakira and take his place. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.) He therefore held a council with the high nobles, sent Fujiwara-no-Fuminori, Sangi, to deliver the written denunciation to the Shikinozōshi, and ordered the gates guarded and closed against all passage. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He sent the Kebiishi, police officers, to surround Takaakira's residence and relayed an edict reproaching him for rebellion. (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari.) Takaakira was demoted to Dazai Gon-no-sochi, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku, the Kugyō Bunin, and the Eiga Monogatari.) The Kebiishi Minamoto-no-Mitsusue and others were also sent, who split up and arrested Minamoto-no-Tsuranu, Saemon-no-daijō, Senior Secretary of the Left Gate Guards and elder brother of Takaakira's concubine, the monk Renmo, Shigenobu, Chiharu, and their soldiers, and sent them all to prison. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku. That Tsuranu was the elder brother of Takaakira's concubine follows the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Takaakira thereupon shaved his head (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku, the Kugyō Bunin, the Gukanshō, and the Eiga Monogatari) and petitioned to remain in the capital, but this was not permitted. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) Renmo, Chiharu, and the others were all sentenced to exile. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Gukanshō.) In the second year of Tenroku (971) he was summoned back. In the fourth month of the following year he entered the capital (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Kugyō Bunin), lived at his villa at Kadono, and was granted a fief of three hundred households. (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku.) He died in the twelfth month of the fifth year of Tengen (982) at the age of sixty-nine. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Nihon Kiryaku.) He was called the Nishinomiya Sadaijin, the Minister of the Left of the Western Palace. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku.) The people of Bizen built a shrine and worshipped him. In the fifth year of Bun'an (1448), in the reign of Emperor Go-Hanazono, by an edict issued in response to their petition, he was posthumously granted Junior First Rank. (Note: following the Yasutomiki.) Takaakira loved learning and was versed in the rites and ceremonies of the court; his written work is the Saikyūki. (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku.) During the Ōwa era he petitioned that the students of the Shōgakuin be granted yearly office appointments after the precedent of the Kangakuin, and by edict this was permitted. (Note: following the Saikyūshō and the Nihon Kiryaku.) Earlier there had been a physiognomist named Tomo-no-Kadohira who was skilled at reading faces; looking at Takaakira's face, he said, "I have read many faces, but I have never yet seen so noble a countenance as yours," and when he came to see his back he said, "Probably there is a sign that you will be sent far away." His words are said to have proved true. (Note: following the Zoku Kojidan. That book also relates that once, as Takaakira was passing the northeast corner of the Shinsen-en, three great demons stood in a row inside the wall, their chests level with the top of the wall; when they heard the cry of the outriders they lowered their heads, and when the cry stopped they began to quarrel again; Takaakira was not at all alarmed and had the outriders cry often as he passed, and afterwards a demon called out Takaakira's name behind him. The Konjaku Monogatari also relates that when Takaakira lived at Momozono there was a wormhole in a pillar of the main hall, and every night something put out a small hand from it, as if beckoning to people; Takaakira disliked this and hung Buddhist sutras and images over it to seal it, but the strange events did not stop until he plugged the hole with a war arrow, after which, before long, disaster struck. What these two books record is in both cases rather fanciful, and so it is not adopted here.) His sons were Tadakata, Koreyoshi, Toshikata, and Tsunefusa. Tadakata became Junior Fifth Rank Lower and Saehyōe-no-suke, Assistant Commander of the Left Military Guards (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and shaved his head as his father had done. (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki and the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The Nihon Kiryaku calls Tadakata "Chikata" and says that he was Tajima Gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Tajima, and that he shaved his head together with Takaakira; this is probably Tadakata's first name.) Koreyoshi became Junior Fourth Rank Lower and Sakon'e-no-shōshō, Minor Captain of the Left Palace Guards. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.) Toshikata has a separate biography. Tsunefusa rose by successive promotions to Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, and was permitted by imperial command to wear a sword at court. During the Kannin era he reached Senior Second Rank and Kōtaigōgū-no-daibu, Master of the Household of the Empress Dowager, and, retaining that office, concurrently served as Dazai Gon-no-sochi, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu, and died at his post. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.)

Minamoto-no-Chikaakira

¶Minamoto-no-Yoriakira became Governor of Iyo and of Echizen. During the Tengyō era he became Jijū, Chamberlain, and Uhyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Right Military Guards. During the Tenryaku era he became Governor of Harima, was granted Senior Fourth Rank Lower, and concurrently served as Governor of Ōmi. In the second year of Tentoku (958) he was appointed Sangi, Consultant. (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin.) He died in the fourth month (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Saikyūshō) at the age of forty-one. (Note: following the statement in the Ruijū Fusenshō that in the twenty-first year of Engi he was four years old. The Kugyō Bunin gives forty-eight, which is mistaken.) His son was Mototada. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

Minamoto-no-Tameakira

¶Minamoto-no-Chikaakira became Junior Fourth Rank Upper and Governor of Harima. (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku, the Ichidai Yōki, and the Ribu-ōki.) He died in the seventh month of the fifth year of Tengyō (942) (Note: following the Ichidai Yōki) at the age of twenty-four. (Note: following the statement in the Ruijū Fusenshō that in the twenty-first year of Engi he was three years old.)

¶Minamoto-no-Tameakira became Senior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Kōin Shōunroku and the Ichidai Yōki) and Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice. He died in the sixth month of the first year of Ōwa (961). (Note: following the Nihon Kiryaku and the Ichidai Yōki.) His son was Fumiakira. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)