Saionji family

The Kan'in line of the Northern branch of the Fujiwara clan. Seigake family. Also famous for playing the biwa. Founded by Michisue, the son of Kinzane in the late Heian period. Originally called Omiya, in the mid-Kamakura period, Kintsune, the great-grandson, built Saionji Temple in Kitayama, on the outskirts of Kyoto, and the family name was adopted. Kintsune assisted the Hojo clan in the Jokyu War (1221), and with their support after the war, he became the Grand Minister of State for successive generations. He also took a woman as his empress, and as an in-law, he demonstrated his power beyond that of the five regent families. During the Kenmu Restoration, the family temporarily declined, but was revived, and successive generations were promoted to the Minister position. Kinmochi, who was adopted from the Tokudaiji family at the end of the Edo period, played an active role in the Meiji Restoration and was awarded a marquis, and furthermore, during the Taisho and early Showa periods, he became a leading figure in politics as a Genro (elder statesman) and was made a duke. During the Kenmu Restoration, the family fled to Iyo and became feudal lords there, but after eight generations, they were annihilated while resisting Toyotomi Hideyoshi's conquest of Shikoku at the end of the Sengoku period.

[Harutake Iikura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

藤原氏北家(ほっけ)閑院(かんいん)流。清華家(せいがけ)。琵琶(びわ)の家としても有名。平安末期公実(きんざね)の子通季(みちすえ)を祖とする。初め大宮(おおみや)と称し、鎌倉中期曽孫(そうそん)公経(きんつね)が京都郊外北山に西園寺を造営、以来家名となった。公経は承久(じょうきゅう)の乱（1221）に北条(ほうじょう)氏を助け、乱後その後援で代々太政大臣(だいじょうだいじん)になり、また女子を后妃に入れ外戚(がいせき)として五摂家をしのぐ権勢を示した。建武新政(けんむのしんせい)には一時衰亡したが再興し、代々大臣に昇進した。幕末徳大寺(とくだいじ)家より養子になった公望(きんもち)は明治維新に活躍し、侯爵を授けられ、さらに大正・昭和初期に元老として政界の重鎮となり公爵となった。建武新政の際に伊予に逃れた一族はその地で領主化し、8代経て戦国時代末、豊臣秀吉(とよとみひでよし)の四国征伐に抗し滅ぼされた。

［飯倉晴武］

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